What made you decide to buy an E46 M3?

[Laidback]

Let us know and your feedback:)

[greenxeyezz]

Well it started out like this...

wasn't looking for a car at all..

saw a cheap 325 2003 for about 15K...

in my head was like, for 4k bucks I can trade in and get this car! wow!!

so I started calling and looking...went from a 325 to MUST get a 330...found a good 330...called on it, said I could test drive it on tuesday, they sold it the next day...bummer...

saw a m3...and was like humm....for just a tad more, I can pay it off in 2 years and its like 12 more payments of what I currently had...

test drove one...FELL in love.....LOOOOVE...

I have only owned it a month, and I still think its dreamy that I own it...

[M threezzzyy]

basically the looks and the performance.
nothing can beat that combo.

i looked around for other cars but i could never see myself in one, but the M3 on the other hand begged me to buy it.... so i did lol

[MarqE46]

A nice substantial jump going from a E36 in terms of luxury, style and performance. Mine was black w/ beige interior, 4 door, non-M/3 series. So I thought I'd up it with something as different as possible that I never had before: Ti Silver w/ grey interior, convertible M3 which is a totally different car than what I had before.

[t3stman]

Well here is my story...

I was not looking to buy a new car because my '96 DD is still running strong lol. One day my dad who was 87yr old at that time (maybe he RIP) came up to me and said "son, you need to get yourself a better ride like a BMW. The price are good and it look sexy. I know you are not looking for a new car but damn it's time to treat yourself a nice new car, you work hard for it, and you deserved it. You can't be driving that POS with around with a beautiful lady in it :rofl:". He even offered to loan me some $$$ if i need to but i told him that i'm good. So while i was leaning on a 530i w/ sport package i could never get over the way the tail look.

A friend at work one day came up to me and pointed out there was a beautiful AW/IR parking at the building next to us where i work at. We went to look at it in person and i just fell in love with the color combo. I found the m3forum site and read through all the threads. One day while doing errands i saw a sexy AW/IR M3 on the fwy. I think to myself that is one sexy car and damnit you only live once in your life. When i got home i work out the #s and when one of the members on the m3forum has a hook up at Shelly dealership ($2k above invoice) i couldn't refused so i went to the dealership and ordered mine ASAP.

After 3 months of wait i finally picked her up and took my dad around and he just loves it. He gave me thumbs up and enjoyed riding in it as much as i enjoy driving her :D

[///NEM3SES]

Here's how he came to be:

**FORGOT TO ADD**
My older brother graduated from Berkeley in 02 and I remember going with him to BMW of Bakersfield and test driving these ultimate driving machines for the first time along with him! At the time my brother was a mercedes man, but even HE couldn't resist BMW's calling haha! Needless to say he eventually made his way to the showroom and was able to give me the privilage of sitting in a 02 BMW Carbon Blk M3 SMG fully loaded...I was in awe!!! complete awe!! The carbon black color was unlike any paint job I had ever seen, and the leather interior had that new car smell!! And when I touched the SMG knob I almost nutted haha! j/k but I was in the clouds seriously lol... they didn't even let him test drive it lol it was so new haha...Needless to say he ended up gettin a new 540 instead (he wanted a bigger car) but I remember the lease deal he was offered on the M3 was like something like $800/mo and the sticker being something like $55 or $60k!!! I also remember how completely bumbed I was that I couldn't afford one myself lol, I would have taken anything bmw a 325 at the time even lol...fast forward 6 years...

I came back from college to help out my family with the bussiness and thought to myself, NOW IS THE TIME! I used to have a "motivational" poster in my dorm room that had the ///M3 cluster/dash, Since 2002 I fell in love with this car and new it was for me....I had never driven one but I knew...

Then opportunity knocked, an older gentlemen had a 02 Jet Blk with almost 100K miles on sale in the local add for a cheap 18K! I ended up getting it for 17.5K no joke! All maintenance records oil changes and inspections were legit. The guy kept in in really good shape! And that was how I came accross M3LONY

Unfortunately my times with M3LONY were shortlived, a month later I decided to take a canyon cruise with the DSC off and totalled her...luckily I wasn't hurt. It was pretty painful, I felt like the biggest idiot I'm not gonna lie, and like barely a few weeks before the 1st Mfest...I was so bumbed...

After the insurance cashed me out, (and I came up $8K-so lucky, State Farm FTW!!) I remember I was so desperate to get back into an M3! I still had my old car, a toyota camry, and I remember I almost wanted to cry when I first sat down into the camry's seat lol all uncomfortable and not hugging me at all lol. I searched for another month until I found NEM3SES at Century West BMW. Before that I almost bought a 03 silver M3 from a guy in San Diego but he didn't have it paid off and the deal seemed shady to me. WHen I saw NEM3SES online I fell in love with the picture, and even more so with the IMOLA RED!!! I called the manager and told him exactly the following:

"I have 10K to give down on this car, your asking $37K plus taxes and fees which you claim is around $40 out the door...Ill give you the 10K down and you finance $25K and Ill take it out the door for $35K. heres my info, call me back if this is doable as I don't wanna waste your time or mine" lol.. and that afternoon the deal was done lol and I drove up to N. Hollywood after work to pick him up

It was funny because when I went my dad thought it was the worst investment ever and pretty much spoiled my excitement to pick him up...

The salesman was like "why aren't you excited" I was like, "I know what I'm getting, just let me sign the papers, give me the keys, and let me go home" lol

Do I regret my buy? HELL NO!! I LOVe this car and Im never letting him go! E46 M3 till i die lol..

[Laidback]

Damn i enjoyed reading your stories....keep em coming!:)

[yellowfever]

loved the e30 m3, disappointed with e36, fell in love with e46 so i ordered it.

[t3stman]

Tony, love the rolling picture! Stean is da man.

[yellowfever]

to bad not full pixels:(

[nismo skyline]

my buddy who would drive me to my saturday class before I had a car showed up in his brand new alpine white M3 to take me to class one day. By the time I was at the end of the block my mind was made up and i knew i would own one some day

[xixicemanxix]

I saw one of the first pictures of it in 99 and was amazed and fell in love ha, and now that I have one im still in shock

[t3stman]

Keep them coming fellas...

[Laidback]

The e46 M3 is really going to be a classic...+1 when the first pic came out i was really impress with the lines how BMW came up with 333 hp back then...I saw one of the first pictures of it in 99 and was amazed and fell in love ha, and now that I have one im still in shock

[ZeroG]

I still remember when the E46 ///M3 was first introduced with the flagship Laguna Seca Blue paint and the ungodly 333 HP S54. I knew right then and there I wanted the LSB convertible fully loaded. I never got it, but.....

I had an '01 LSB Coupe, and I now have an '04 LMB Vert. Maybe someday I'll have my dream car...

[BCsoCal.]

I love the sporty feeling.
The sport style. I love my coupe & the e46 just looks good.
Coming from my Acura, **** its nice inside.
The looks. (03 and it still gets looks :)
The Rush (Ya that one, you know the one. It makes you feel alive.)
Cheaper than a GF. seriously
I could list all day, but these are some good perks.

[DTM Tom]

i bought my m3 because every car in my family's garage is a Alpine White BMW so im like ok i guess ill sell my honda and get one. It was because i wanted more of a mature and classy car. ever since then ive been content and happy with my choice to the point where i dont ever want to get rid of it. :)

[Bimmerlifestyle]

what is there not to like about a M3,, it has it all:)





sick ass ride dtm tom!!!!

[greenxeyezz]

yeah i will have to say, even though its a 2003, it still looks "new" and "good"!

[t3stman]

:bump: Keep them coming people :D

[dummptyhummpty]

After supercharging my A4 3.0 and having the engine blow I knew I needed something that was fast from the start. My friends kept telling me about the e46 M3, but I wasn't interested. I tried to lease the new G37 and then purchase an A3, but could not get the credit. I found a used 2003.5 M3 and here I am! I miss the interior of my Audi, but this car is a blast to drive and I'm happy with my decision.

[john]

Moved up from the E36 M3.

[marioalex24]

before i got the m3. i was really into muscle cars. not that i didnt like the m3s, but i always looked at them as a dream car some what like a Ferrari, which unless you have the money, then you can buy one. therefore i didnt really think i could ever afford one. i was a big fan of the E30s. that was the first M that caught my eyes since i was small.. but when the E46 M3 came out. i was like wow.... thats my gole to save and get one. so then i sold my 35 anniversary camaro ss and one day at work i was just going on line because i was bored and thats when i came across my M3...

[godzilla4rilla]

I think car lovers tend to choose vehicles that define them. I started out quick, scrappy, and efficient and rolled around in CRXs through college. When I started making money, I wanted something sportier, yet classy enough. The best bang for my buck at the time was a '93 Nissan 300zx. It didn't say I made it, but it stated I was getting there. Two weeks ago (just months before my 30th bday) I found a gorgeous titanium silver M with everything I wanted, nav, clear turn signals, lowered, and tasteful exhaust. She was fast, sophisticated, and established, a perfect fit for my current state of mind. I was so excited after I bought it that I couldn't sleep for two days afterwards. Now I jump out of bed every morning when I wake, I just can't wait to go for a ride!

[Whoa_ItsWee]

I was into my Junior year in college and one day after class going to the mall I saw an M3 in the parking lot. I knew absolutely nothing about BMWs or M3s. I got out took a picture next to it, (yes i was stunting) LOL. Had the picture on my desktop and told myself I'm going to buy one. When I graduated from school in 03 shortly after joined M3forums and read on em and was quite impressed... 3 Years after graduating college working and saving up, bought me a condo and an M3 to go along with it.

[john]

those are a couple of great stories

[///M3Lover]

Flashingback 9 years ago. God, I feel old. :rofl:

Back in Grade 10, I was introduced to Initial D in an anime club back then. That was when I met my friend Ricky. At that time, PS2 came out, and I bought GT3. After playing the game, I got GTR34. I loved the look of that car. So, I asked Ricky was it sold in Canada. Apparently not, still isn't. :(

I told him I liked something aggressive looking as the GTR34. So, he showed me, BMW E46M3. (At that time, I had no idea about cars and driving skills) "Wow, I want that car!" That was my 1st impression. Then, he showed me the sticker price of $73,000CDN. My 2nd reaction was, "oh man... so many zeros." I couldn't even afford buying anymore PS2 games after buying the system and GT3.

A year later, grade 11 (2000), my parents were deciding a car for me. I asked Ricky what's a good European car with AWD back then. (my mom loves AWD because of the snow). He recommended BMW 325xi or an Audi A4, definitely not the Mercrdes (they didn't have 4 matic yet for C-class)

After driving 325xi for a year (Grade 12), i got a ticket and couldn't drive for two months. (don't want to get into the ticket story. too long). I got my license back. And suspended again after 5 months, this time it was for 6 months. So, my parents decided to sell their 325xi.

It was 2003 entering 2004. My parents got me a brand new fully loaded white 330xi with M package. (I was good driving their car for a while with a clean record. man, I hated the bus).

After owning the 330xi for two weeks, 500km. The car battery died... my parents got very angry at BMW and asked them to take the car back. (who knows... at such an early stage to have a problem is usually not a good sign). My parents fought very hard with the Sales manager. We lost $5000 in two weeks! :(

And traded for a brand new 2004 E46 M3 Alpine White M3 aka Jacqueline! :D

(From 2000-2004, during this time, I read about M3's over and over again drooling at other drivers owning such a machine, I finally earned it with my high university mark in Biochem and clean driving record after my 6 months probation)

Finally in 2007, I decided to get into the modding scene with my savings and taking out a loan. That's when I met a friend who I was working for, but we departed based on different values. Then, I started distributing parts on my own using my E46 M3 as a marketing tool. My parents gave me such a car with a great responsiblity. Then, taking some marketing courses, I thought to myself, "Why not modify my E46 M3 and show people my passion and help them mod their cars." After almost 2 years of searching, negotiating, and hardworking, today, I am proud of my company's end result becoming the Master Distributor of NEEZ in Canada and establishing business relationships with Eurodyne, IND, and 360Forged. :D

End of day, I thank my parents for giving me such a car. Now, I am here to give and offer my service to the Mfest community. :cool:

Thank you for reading.

Henry

[neeco]

those are some great stories. :)

here's mine...

My family has owned BMWs as far as back as i can remember. I just knew i was going to be in one when i can start driving. Got my license when i was 16 and my dad gave me his DD 1985 325e. Fast forward to my 1st year of college (2004) and my parents decided to help me get into a 'newer' car. iI searched high and low for an 'affordable to me' E46 M3, but i just knew i couldn't afford the monthly at the time. My parents helped with the down on a 1999 BMW M3 and even though it wasn't an E46, i was real excited that i had an M3 :D

Fast forward 2 years, I was driving down Brookhurst and Garden Grove Blvd (for you locals that know the area) and as i was crossing the intersection, a guy in a SUV waiting at a left turn lane decides to make a right instead. Sadly, we met at the intersection and it was not a pretty sight. :( Insurance claimed that the car totalled and i was devasted. At the time, i was looking for a S/C E36 M3 to replace my old one. I also had my sight on a Steel Grey M3 and finally decided on it. Drove all the way with my parents to the Bay Area to take a look at the car. Again with the help of my parents and the money from the insurance, went home with the car.

Thank my parents with all the help they've given me. This car is such a blast to drive and i love every minute of it.