New Car....Again...E46 M3

[imprezaworks]

Good luck with the plans mate. Get what you wanted for the bm?

 

[jamesycc]

No sadly. We were on the same shift but now we're not so don't see him to blag a go.

Ive been doing house renovations this year so haven't done any shows or track days either. So rarely catch up up the moment.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Good luck with the plans mate. Get what you wanted for the bm?

I got enough to be happy yeah. Past few days I'd noticed a lot more rust than I originally knew was there, so was never gonna get top money for it. Plus no paperwork for subframe, headgasket etc.

 

[charltjr]

Nice one

Got a duff coil on mine too, went south when I took it into work one day last week. Just a shitty idle and then after a couple of minutes it popped the EML on, other than that it’s all good so it’s sat forlornly on the drive waiting for me to get my arse in gear and get the spanners out. Looks like an easy job and at least there’s no M tax on the coils

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Nice one :smile:

Got a duff coil on mine too, went south when I took it into work one day last week. Just a shitty idle and then after a couple of minutes it popped the EML on, other than that it’s all good so it’s sat forlornly on the drive waiting for me to get my arse in gear and get the spanners out. Looks like an easy job and at least there’s no M tax on the coils :smile:

Piece of piss mate. Biggest faff is getting the engine cover back on. I've still not got mine seated properly at the back.

4 x 13mm nuts to take the strut brace off
6 x 10mm nuts to take the engine cover off

Then the coils just unclip and pull out. Dead easy mate

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

CSL wheels
CSL boot spoiler
Steering wheel refurb
New head unit to replace the non nav unit
Sort an abundance of interior rattles!
Try and keep it longer than 3 months ✓
Try not to break it
Try not to lose my license ✓

Achieved two of those things

 

[leeds2592]

Look forward to reading the Clio progress thread.

 

[Short Norman]

Achieved two of those things

would you have another, if yes would it have to be a manual or did you get on with the SMG.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

would you have another, if yes would it have to be a manual or did you get on with the SMG.

I'd have another in a heartbeat mate. It's just a fighting battle with rust now that's the problem, and I'm not prepared to be constantly chasing rust.

If it was to be a daily, then I'd probably go manual. Anything other, then SMG. Just make sure it's got paperwork to prove past work has been done, or keep some money aside incase the pump fails. It's not a massive cost anymore to be honest

 

[Short Norman]

I'd have another in a heartbeat mate. It's just a fighting battle with rust now that's the problem, and I'm not prepared to be constantly chasing rust.

If it was to be a daily, then I'd probably go manual. Anything other, then SMG. Just make sure it's got paperwork to prove past work has been done, or keep some money aside incase the pump fails. It's not a massive cost anymore to be honest

yeah I'm prepared for bills on the err larger side.

Thing is if a car doesn't depreciate then I'm more prepared (or happy so to speak) to pay out for expensive repairs. I read a guy on cutters saying that his F80 M3 is currently deprecating at £500/month, that's not for me. Somehow I view expensive repairs different to expensive deprecation.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

yeah I'm prepared for bills on the err larger side.

Thing is if a car doesn't depreciate then I'm more prepared (or happy so to speak) to pay out for expensive repairs. I read a guy on cutters saying that his F80 M3 is currently deprecating at £500/month, that's not for me. Somehow I view expensive repairs different to expensive deprecation.

Good way to look at it mate to be fair. Are you looking to use one as a daily?

Have you owned one before, or did you join upto cutters just to research?

 

[Short Norman]

It will be my daily but I work from home so don't do that many miles. Plus I also have an old 320d for menial tasks (my wife also has a fiat 500).

Never owned one before, I've been on cutter for three years now. Like to read up on common problems before buying. The cars for sale section is always entertaining.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

It will be my daily but I work from home so don't do that many miles. Plus I also have an old 320d for menial tasks (my wife also has a fiat 500).

Never owned one before, I've been on cutter for three years now. Like to read up on common problems before buying. The cars for sale section is always entertaining.

Yeah, laughing at their overpriced car ads is defo entertainment

 

[charltjr]

Yeah the SMG pump motor is the usual issue, £400 or so plus fitting these days which any decent specialist can knock off reasonably quickly or it’s DIYable if you’re handy with the spanners, so it’s nowhere near the issue it used to be. Not that I checked it out before buying an SMG car or anything.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Yeah the SMG pump motor is the usual issue, £400 or so plus fitting these days which any decent specialist can knock off reasonably quickly or it’s DIYable if you’re handy with the spanners, so it’s nowhere near the issue it used to be. Not that I checked it out before buying an SMG car or anything. :wink:

Bit more expensive than that for the guy who had mine done. Serves him right for using a main dealer haha

 

[charltjr]

Yeah BMW have apparently recently upped the price of the SMG unit and, of course, will only supply the complete assembly and not just the bit that fails........

Even if the solenoid pack does go (which is incredibly rare) BBA reman will do a complete reconditioned SMG unit with lifetime warranty for £600.

I really like the SMG, I am not a fan of the new dual clutch gearboxes because for me they take away too much of the feel of driving. Don’t get me wrong, they’re awesome bits of kit and really effective, but personally I like changing gear myself. The SMG keeps you just involved enough in the process that it’s still fun while being absolutely bleeding superb when you’re really pressing on.