Should You Buy a BMW E46 M3? 

Inline 6 cylinder* - just giving the S54 the respect it deserves… Interesting perspective, especially coming from a GT3 owner. Thanks for taking the time to film and share. 👍

It doesn't feel like a 30k car that's true... it feels like a 75k car.

Brother!! You drive that car all wrong!! Take my words as commandments of S54 operation. 1- It's a stroker motor, it builds torque with revs. Always keep that in mind. 2- the intake valve lift is kind of high, it doesn't make torque, useable for acceleration torque, below 2k rpm. Right at 2k rpm ,80% of the torque is there, it can accelerate nice from 2k up. But under 2k no torque, so you have to be patient with throttle till it gets up to 2k exactly. 3- the motor builds torque up to 5k. You can drive in any scenario with dynamism just using up to 5k rpm. I consider 5-8k range as the engines "expanded revs". They are used for when you need some hp. When you take off from stop. Rev 1st gear go over 4k , so that when it shifts to second the revs land higher than 2k , so you're in the meat of the torque. You don't want to shift 1-2 at 3k and have it land at 1450 rpm in 2nd. You need it to be over 2k rpm Just learning to drive like that. You'll enjoy your s54 the way it's meant to be enjoyed. And the handling of your car, can be fixed with camber plates and a good alignment. That's all you need. The setting you have now leaves a lot to be desired. The way I see you're driving it. You're not getting the elasticity factor of the motor. If you apply my input, you'll get closer to that connection with the motor that I can tell you're expecting. Also, engage the clutch at 1200-1400 max rpm to take off, I consider 1200 rpm the perfect 1st gear engagement revs, trust me. Once engaged in gear and rolling in 1st, and you're rolling, right at 2k get aggressive with the throttle and rev up to 4k,4200,4400,5000. Then shift. But get the momentum going and use the momentum with the shift. You'll land at 2500+ rpm in 2nd, and you will feel that the torque is there. Try to be ginger with the throttle but, still hold throttle, ever so lightly, even when you clutch. I never floor the throttle unless I'm over 6k rpm. This motor is about constant throttle modulation. You open the throttle at different amounts for different scenarios and revs you're at. If you learn what I'm saying. You'll learn how to operate all throttles better. Even your Porsches I think you'll crack this. Then the real fun starts Enjoy your m3

all s54’s need vanos/subframe and rod bearings. Right around 100k it’s about time to do it regardless of it being taken care well or not. Just do it for the peace of mind. Likewise nice car.

wheen u kompare a porsha getethr33 to thus 20yr old car it sux LOL

unpopular opinion 🥴

comparing a e46 to a buick is crazy especially saying that because you are THEN comparing it to a GT3 lmaooo 🤦🏽‍♂️

This coming from a guy who hasn’t hit the sport button and drives nowhere close to redline. This car comes alive when you do this. How do I know? My 2003 M3 manual Slicktop sitting in my garage. I’ve owned over 80 cars in my life and my buddy who owns a 911 Turbo S says the same of the M3. They are meant to be driven. You, sir, didn’t drive it. You coasted in it

good looking car!

Thanks for the video!

I find it extremely hard to believe that someone paid 23k for this car with all of that big 3 not being done. That person is looking at 10k investment the moment they buy it. 2 he says it's not a track car. I thought that's exactly what the E46 M3 was meant for. It's a street legal track car, hence the high 8k revs that you can never legally reach on public roads.

Let's not forget these are 15 to 20 year old cars. They've been used, neglected and abused. You can't just compare them to the brand new cars. Compare them after you replace All the rubber bushings, mounts, ball joints, steering coupler, do all the maintenance jobs, then talk.

Flat 6?? Dude if you dont even know what motor this car has, how do you expect us to take your review seriously.

You are comparing an almost 20 year old car to 4-5 year old examples?

Why are you comparing a gt3 with an M3 to begin with ? 😅 I just bought mine after owning several other e46’s it’s my first M. Am loving every drive. The big 3’s are already done on my car and also a tune. Running 373hp now.

Gotta agree with most comments, This car was not driven how it was intended to. You shifted at around 4k rpms majority of the time,and that's when the vanos kicks in. Also all e46 m3 need the big 3 there's no way to know if you need rod bearings without actually taking them out and the subframe with out actually dropping it.

In europe is too late the prices went wild.

Great POV shot.

You really should look into making other RU-vid videos not car related. This car is well loved for a reason and you seem not to understand what makes cars special. Don’t forget the same era 996 gt3 rs was only 10 seconds faster than the e46 m3 csl around the Nurburgring.

At over 100k miles it could easily need rod-bearings. Could...

There’s less SMG cars now, so manual lost the edge.

sounds like buddy needs to drive a csl on some real suspension...

If it's soft in the front its probably because the bushings are shot lol. It needs new front control arm bushings, and lollipop bushings .

I have a 2002 E46 Alpina White with imola red interior and thinking of selling it. It’s an smg wich i know it’s not as sought after but what do you think I should list it at? It has 138,000 miles

I have a CSL with a flat 6 too, road berings are fresh, Vanos is completed and the floor was inspected. It's a manual from the year of 2006 with the funny m colors on the seat inserts. Has a running horse logo on the exhaust tips maybe its ferrari exhaust. How much do you think is worth? oh 143k miles...