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2005 E46 M3



  UR R26R.5, VW Golf R
Having sold my previous M3 prematurely to pay off a loan or two, I thought I'd go back to old ground again, hopefully this time for a little while longer. Won't be to everyone's tastes, but nevertheless:

Quick spec of the car, as purchased:


  • 2005 Silver Grey
  • 48k
  • SMG II
  • Sat Nav, Digital TV, Bluetooth HFT
  • Full Black Nappa Heated Leather
  • Electric Memory Seats
  • Parking Sensors
  • Folding Heated Mirrors
  • Outer Skin Protection
  • CSL Alloys
  • OEM 19's
  • FBMWSH and Inspection II by Redish

Parts I've bought and fitted


  • Depo Smoked Front Indicators and Silver Bulbs (since removed)
  • Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta 265 Rears, Vredestein Vorti 235 Fronts
  • 12mm Hubcentric Rear Spacers
  • 15mm Hubcentric Front Spacers (since removed)
  • 12mm Hubcentric Front Spacers
  • BM54 Stage 2 Upgrade
  • Intravee II
  • Alpine KCA-420i
  • BC-R Coilovers
  • CSL Style Diffuser (Don't like. Selling)
  • Matt Black Kidney Grills (colour coded outers)
  • Exhaust Clamp Upgrade
  • Exhaust Euro Tips
  • CSL 345mm Brake Discs
  • CSL Brake Carriers
  • Performance Friction Z rated pads
  • Goodridge Stainless Hoses front and rear
  • Super Blue Brake Fluid

One thing I was debating was whether to go for a big brake upgrade or simply stick to OEM and save over £800. I ended up going for the CSL upgrade which was new, larger discs and carriers whilst retaining the OEM calipers, I also bought a set of Performance Friction Z rated pads, Goodridge stainless hoses and Super Blue brake fluid which was fitted recently. Wasn't cheap at around £800 overall but a good saving on a BBK all the same.

I also contemplated whether Depo smoked front indicators were the way to go. At night, this thing looks fantastic parked up. However, during the day, I just can't put my finger on it. I think it might be that it looks a little "soft" with the smoked indicators. It's lost its aggressive, rugged edge in a way. I hope you can see what I'm trying to get across from the first few images, prior to me removing them. Don't get me wrong, it still looks great with them on, and honestly the pictures do not do this car justice - when I took it in to the local bodyshop to get a quote on spraying the CSL diffuser and kidney grills, the lad was surprised at how well the front end has coped with stone chips, as there's a distinct lack of them. One thing that does need rectified, however, is the drivers side wing mirror mount - it's suffered the common aluminium oxidisation and started to bubble up. Sadly this isn't covered by BMW's anti-corrosion warranty, so I'll have to get that sorted myself. But sort it I will.

I also had a couple of tiny - like pin sized - dings taken out of the door and rear quarter panel. The chap from the dent removal company said it was like trying to get into Fort Knox trying to manoeuvre through the crash barriers that line the inside of the M3's skin; "Bloody hell. It's well protected this thing, eh?" :cool:

I took the car to my local BMW Dealer for a once over, and for them to check the subframe. Darren Woods checked it in 2012 and then Redish had a look in 2013; both found no crack. The guy at Lloyds raised the car up and then took me through for a look at the underside and to talk through where the problems would be. Thankfully it was perfect. Not a mark or problem at all, he said. Most of the components and items were still M3 stamped and it was really clean. It's still under warranty for the subframe until May 2015, but still nice knowing it was in such great condition.

Anyway, like I say, work in progress but the later pictures show I'm almost there!

Pictures Prior to Mods
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Pictures as she is now
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Think that's me done. Originally wanted a CSL bootlid over anything else, but now I think I'll leave it.

Comments welcome :)
 
  Impreza RB5 #054
Was your last one manual? How you finding the SMG? Hated my old manual on the daily drive.

Lovely looking car.
 

Herr Flick

aka Herman Ze German
Lovely mate. Bet that was top dollar.

Shame it doesn't have red leather. I loved mine in steel grey with red leather.
 

Stay Puft

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio 172
Awesome looking car. Looks fantastic considering it's almost 10 years old and the styling still fits in.
 

Hixle

Hi Kiss Luke E****
ClioSport Club Member
  E90 M3
Absolutely love that mate, it's perfect. I'm awfully tempted by an E46 M3 myself, need to get the house purchase complete first though sadly.
 
  UR R26R.5, VW Golf R
Was your last one manual? How you finding the SMG? Hated my old manual on the daily drive.

Lovely looking car.

No mate, both been SMG. Can be a big bill if it goes wrong, but it's pretty awesome and effortless on the paddles.

Looks really nice. What are these like to live with

Seems to be around 28mpg currently. Big bills if and when they go wrong (SMG, Vanos, subframe) but for a £50k car you'll get £50k running costs regardless of how much depreciation has hit them. Normal oil service is around £160, Inspection I £400 and the big Inspection II around £800. They are on a loop so oil/Ins I/oil/Ins II/oil etc. Next up for me is oil in 10k miles then Inspection I in another 15k or so.

:)
 

lemonnobby

ClioSport Club Member
No mate, both been SMG. Can be a big bill if it goes wrong, but it's pretty awesome and effortless on the paddles.



Seems to be around 28mpg currently. Big bills if and when they go wrong (SMG, Vanos, subframe) but for a £50k car you'll get £50k running costs regardless of how much depreciation has hit them. Normal oil service is around £160, Inspection I £400 and the big Inspection II around £800. They are on a loop so oil/Ins I/oil/Ins II/oil etc. Next up for me is oil in 10k miles then Inspection I in another 15k or so.

:)

Thanks for that mate. Not to worried about servicing just things going wrong etc but like you say goes with the car.
 
  UR R26R.5, VW Golf R
Thanks guys.

Yet another car that I haven't test drove or viewed prior to purchase. Every car I've owned has been a first timer.
 
  UR R26R.5, VW Golf R
Thanks for that mate. Not to worried about servicing just things going wrong etc but like you say goes with the car.

Worth bearing in mind a warranty on the E46M is around £1600, and that's with less than 60k miles on the clock. It's mental.

Budget costs;
SMG repair: £1600
Vanos: £1200
Subframe reinforcement/repair: £1600 (BMW goodwill on subframe is 10 years. Some crack, some don't. 2005 models have a design tweak so less likely).

These are all Indy prices. The subframe repair from BMW is around £4k - £6k! Redish do this work a lot, though.
http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46M3FloorSubframeCrackRepairReinforcement.html
 
Can't they do the resin injection to strengthen the subframe even if there are no cracks now? I'd be worried that they would start to appear just as the 10 year period passes and leaves you footing the bill.
 
Car looks amazing by the way! Similar spec to what I'm lusting after, only I think I'll end up getting a manual. Need to test drive an SMG first though before I rule it out.

How are you finding it? Is it your only car? I've just joined m3cutters, trying to get as much info as possible before making the plunge!
 
  UR R26R.5, VW Golf R
Car looks amazing by the way! Similar spec to what I'm lusting after, only I think I'll end up getting a manual. Need to test drive an SMG first though before I rule it out.

How are you finding it? Is it your only car? I've just joined m3cutters, trying to get as much info as possible before making the plunge!

It's been excellent so far. The SMG is a very clever piece of kit, although dated now when you compare it with the DCT etc.

sold the r26?

No mate. Will be going up for sale shortly :dapprove: Needs must.

Can't they do the resin injection to strengthen the subframe even if there are no cracks now? I'd be worried that they would start to appear just as the 10 year period passes and leaves you footing the bill.

Yes you can but if there no cracks there's no cracks. The bill for failure is around £1600 so yeah there's a risk but even getting the resin injection you may still get the cracks later on. Plus only 2005 or very late 2004 models will have the warranty still.
 
  Z4
That's a good looking M mate!
I've always hated depos, good on you for ditching them, always thought they looked a bit Essex.
I'm surprised you don't like the csl rear splitter? That's the only real cosmetic improvement I'd do, the rear bumper looks a little awkward with the cutout IMO.

The only things that could improve this would be baller red chairs and a csl bootlid. If it were mine I'd do neither, they cost too much! Would look perfect then though.

How does it compare to the r26? I've been in one before and didn't like it much, quite clinical. The throttle response of a N/A M car is hard to beat.
 
  FN2 Type R +MK6 Golf
Lots of independents do their own repairs to the subframe for a lot less than that.

Gorgeous car scutchio,that's exactly how I would like mine to look if I had one,

It sits perfectly too.
 
  UR R26R.5, VW Golf R
Lovely Scutchio!! You'll be sad to see the R26 go, eh?!

Definitely mate. If I could keep them both I would. The R26 has been fantastic. Just need to do an ad for it now, but got to PM a few folk first.
 

Ray Gin

ClioSport Club Member
  Cupra Leon & Impreza
That's a good 9/10 from me, would have been a 10 if it had red leather interior!
 
  Range Rover Sport
I do miss mine, this thread really doesn't help!

Pure awesome-ness!

I actually think the CSL bootlid would look good. Stunning car & spec.
 


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