E46 3 Series, E39 5 Series, E38 7 Series, E53 X5, E36 M Coupe and M Roadster... the early 2000s marked a brief period when BMW got literally every model in their line up just right.
The 80’s was much better; E21 323i, E30, E30 M3, E24 635 CSI and M635 CSI, E28 M535i and M5, E34 and E34 M5, E31, E32 7 and Z1. Plus the quality was much higher because they hadn’t yet started trying to make the cars recycleable, putting plastic in the engine and cooling system or aggressive cost cutting.
The E46 is really going to go down, in my opinion, as one of the very best cars of all time. Absolutely gorgeous from any angle, pure and coherent design, mechanically incredible as well, from its better build quality compared to earlier 3 series models, to its fantastic driving dynamics. There are very few cars I want more than this one Fantastic review Kennan, I’m praying and crossing every fingers in the hope that you would one day review the M3 GTR Strassenversion if you ever get the opportunity to
One of my neighbours have a Interlagos Blue Metallic BMW E46 M3 and he always daily drive the car. Every weekend I remember looking at him washing the car while I cycling around the neighbourhood. One time he offered me to wash the car together with him because he noticed that I always looks at his car when he's inside the house 😂 he's a really cool guy though. I learn a lot about his car from him. By the way, great review from Kennan as always!
You really got the full mid-2000s Microsoft exec experience, bombing around Mercer Island in an '06 M3 😂 I bet if you offload the rest of your shares in 2019, you'll be able send the kids to college and retire into a nice lake house on the east side with an M5 in the driveway!
This E46 M3 is the best (looking) M3's ever. I remember my good friend got an E46 330d (Diesel) and I was amazed by its handling. Great car. Definitely a future classic.
People we’re bitching bout him not being Doug when he first started but I think that’s part of his charm adds something more in-depth to these overviews great work man
Bought my dream E46 M3 through cars and bids over a year ago and still absolutely love it. Not a single BMW made since this generation delivers the same driving experience. My wife has a '17 M2 and it just doesn't even compare. Not by a long shot. I've had the privilege or driving and owning a lot of very amazing cars in my life time. The only brands that have given me the same kind of special feeling behind the wheel are Porsche and Ferrari. Since I've owned a 996 911 6mt and driven my buddies 997 GT3, the only move that makes sense from my M3 at this point is up to a Ferrari (more specifically a 360 or 430 in manual config). Just too bad I can't afford the Pista I drove in Vegas otherwise it would be right at the top of my realistic bucket list.
no your one in video isnt factory manual, look at back of steering wheel they didnt change the back section when they converted it from smg, and left the paddle holes in rear of it. I love my 60k mint restored M3 individual colour, i love the smg now its of a time and one of the better systems back in the day even over ferraris one if you ever drive one. Its part of the character of car....Once you flash the smg box with the csl update it improves it no end, the manual M3 box isnt the best anyway. Stick an air box on these and the second best mod after the csl smg update. Sounds incredible. Leave rest of system stock though. I have a modern 812 RS7 C8 i run too and i still loveeee to drive my m3 and the looks it gets and comments when im filling up is amazing
@@bngr_bngr Storie goes as follows: 1. At the start desgined for 4.0 V8 street version of P60 engine. Bulge and vents came from this. 2. Accountants deemed V8 version to expensive and ///M developed S50B32 further into S54 3. Finaly for racing against Porsches got M3 GTR with V8. GTR body style was the same, only difference was frond and rear bumpers for homologation in American Le Mans Series
I've got an E46 325i with 250,000km. She isn't too bad but needs a little love in the suspenion/vanos/cooling section. But, I LOVE DRIVING HER, the straight 6 naturally aspirated engine is phenomenal.
I find it really interesting that it’s the 46, with the Straight 6 is the desirable model, not the next model V8, I still would love the six cylinder. Despite the hype when everyone knew it was getting a V8....
I do have to say that the original X5 hasn’t aged well, but one of the most beautiful vehicles ever built wasn’t included....but they should just reproduce the Z8, in right hand drive....but I guess it is actually quite ok, my dad had the second generation which was fine, as long as you didn’t want to adjust air flow, or seats, and just let the music connect to whatever it wanted at the time....otherwise, it less comfortable than the 105 Series Landcruiser, faster though. Anyway....BMW are brilliant at design... Then people won’t be vomiting at the release of every new model. It honestly seems like a strange strategy to make the “Bangle” designs look good and older models go up in price. I’ll ask my 4 and 5 year old’s to draw a bunch of cars and send everything better to BMW. Haha not really, I can’t be bothered buying that much paper, or canvas...the pens, pencils and crayons will run out... But if a miracle happens and my children create a less ugly vehicle than a current BMW then I shall ensure I get a photo of the “magnadoodle” 😀
Always liked the E46 M3. Although on this particular model I'd change out that interior trim for black carbon fiber or aluminium. I'd also try and get my hands on some CSL wheels if possible, awesome
I’ve gone through a few E46 Ms and my forever car is weirdly a vert. 30k mile ‘05 carbon black/cinnamon 6 speed full Dinan s3-r supercharger, put her on öhlins and BBS LMs. Ticked every box cuz I’m never selling!
@@carsandbids I love the vert because I hear everything! Even in W LA people get out of my way if I rev to 3k lmao If I went broke I’d never need another car, it’s basically a car guy hood pass
You need to test some Alfa Romeo's..I liked the 156, Spider 70's version, 164, SZ, Duetto, Giulietta, Spider 90's version..etc etc Go for the V6 and V6 4x4's Veloce, Quadra Foglia Verde, Lusso, etc.The SZ os V8 i think and theres newer models obviously
It's bonkers, isn't it? I had someone tell me to stop fear mongering because "rod bearings don't fail on s54s", so I sent him a photot of my own rod bearings 😂 For those passing by, quality defects include: Rear axle carrier panel welds fail Rear top mounts fail Cooling systems fail Big end bearings fail Vanos fails Rear view mirrors fail and leak corrosive fluid Ignition coils fail Rear springs snap Head gaskets fail Then for the poorly designed bits that don't fail, but need upgrading: Stock airbox impedes airflow in to cylinders 1 & 6 The steering rack is too slow The brakes are frighteningly bad The diff is agricultural The gear shift is poorly mounted and obstructive The seating position is too high There is too much rubber in the suspension The exhaust manifold makes the exhaust note sound like Liam Gallagher
not a fan of the "old" front-end indicators and their white appearance. the facelift ones look great and ideally should be entirely clear. apart from that the e46 m3 coupe is one of the coolest cars ever!
I personally feel like Kenan would do well with his own channel, but he is not a sufficient replacement for Doug. Alanis King brings her own style and personality, which makes her stand out, whereas Kenan is taking more of a Doug approach. Just my opinion, and I wish nothing but success on Kenan, Alanis, and Doug.
I’ve been following Doug’s channel since the viper gts era and I’ve always liked his formula, but now with Kennan getting into the more technical details, I like it even more! Keep it up.
Indeed and I swapped my failed SMG to 6 speed manual tranny with short shifter kit and did the big 3 repairs (subframe, VANOS, transmission) now a great ride.
This is my favorite BMW of all time. In college the dealership had a Laguna Seca Blue one on the lot for a time. We'd go every Sunday and lust after it. Would love to own one of these one day but I'm afraid the window has closed on finding a good MT one for a reasonable price.
I would argue that the Competition Package was a limited edition as it wasn't offered until 2005 and in relation to the total production there's only a handful of them.
Its probably going to go for alot because of low miles and soon enough you'll be putting in a few grand for vanos, cooling system, rods, and eventually subframe
@@howarddavies136 the car can easily be modified to put out more than 400hp. I know as part of the Dinan Performance package on my car. There was a stabilizer bar in the trunk. I had heard that it had additional reinforcement in the rear and the front on the frame/body. I had about 70k miles on my 2006 model. I never thought that the car felt unstable or that it was over flexing. It had a very smooth ride. The car also had 19” forge wheels wish reduced the mass on the drive train.
@@bngr_bngr what mods are you running for 400hp? IIRC, the Dinan package included a set of cams and enlarged throttle bodies, which would be about £4k to buy, install and tune. That's not easy or cheap modification. Very few S54s will see 400hp without forced induction, and those that do will have cams, airbox, manifolds, and would potentially need larger throttle bodies, head work, and maybe even a crank with a different throw, supported by lighter rods and pistons for a higher rev limit. I'm happy to stand corrected, but everything I've seen and read says the s54 is not a convenient base for extra power. I'm running an evolve remap, schrick 280/272, stock airbox, stock cats and stock manifolds. I'll do the airbox and manifolds at some point, but that's honestly just for the sound. I've no idea what it's putting out, and although I'm not chasing power, I'll put it on a dyno at some point. Dropping a 4.1 gear set in to the diff is probably the best way to make an e46 m3 faster.
I have a 2003 BMW M3, carbon black, SMG, cinnamon leather and aluminum interior trim with 65k miles. Never driven in winter, never in an accident. Rear subframe reinforcement done. Factory 19” rims.
This car is a manual conversion. Ask me how I know. OK, I'll tell you. Next to the air box is an oil reservoir for the SMG. Nothing wrong with a manual conversion. It is the same transmission.
The difference in horsepower between the US and european version is not 10 horsepower, but 5. The car has 333SAE HP, and in europe 343PS. US and euro horsepower are not 100% identical, so 333HP is 338PS, and 343PS is 338HP
I understand everything but the M3 did not get a facelift it’s just early model M3 and late production Facelift is Headlight front end Design where the side markers or turn signals are built into the headlights 😏
It's ironic that the Hitlermobile, the VW Beetle, became so loved by hippies and people who wanted a cheap car. Better not drive any Japanese cars either.
@@bwofficial1776 no problem.... I don't like foreign cars... I'm GM 31-79 It's a shame these kids driving the cars of people who would see you dead.... (Here's a history lesson... your vaunted Lancer was made by Mitsubishi.....the same company that made the kamikaze planes in the war...the P zeros 🤦)
I have to disagree about the steering and shifter for this car having driven it a bit as well as owning a z4m. The m3 is definitely built more like a DD than a sports car. The shifter is loose feeling and the steering ratio is quite slow in comparison to my z4m. However i would argue this m3 is the best looking bmw coupe or all time
The E46 is relatively reliable compared to its successors. Just make sure you check the subframe and *avoid the SMG transmission*. It's a German car, it will need a lot more love than its American and Japanese counterparts.
@@damilolaakannithe car is prone to electrical problems among other things. Once I was driving down the street. The car decided to completely shutdown. Apparently it thought the battery level was to low to continue to drive. I got rid of the car just before the warranty expired.
The Vanos can result in a total loss The rear road springs are brittle little things The SMG is crap and of anything built to last there is a total lack The single din elecrical system has obsalesence built right in I love the car but you can't trust it to get you very far Compared to the beemers of years gone by I wouldn't call it a star@@carsandbids
This version of the M3 could easily make 410hp. I originally got the Dinan Performance package. Exhaust, air box, cams, and programming. Back then, Dinan gave a 100k mile warranty or 10 years that was honored by BMW dealers. Plus I had suspension, brakes, and forged wheels.
Probably $6k. The hydraulics of the SMG might fail. The repair is $4k. I would only buy a M3 that originally had a manual transmission. Who knows what hack job was done on the car to do the conversion.
Objective feedback: I’ve given three different videos with Keenan reviewing the cars and none of them have been up to snuff in any capacity. He has no charisma or personality behind the camera in the knowledge of the cars is OK at best. Speaking with friends they feel pretty much the same way and I’m slowly dialing back watching any cars and beds are Doug DeMuro videos now because of it so just in case, if you were wondering what effect you have putting different people on these reviews just look at your number of minutes watched in views tumbling because you’re turning these channels into Jalopnik, which is a terrible idea.
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