Seats and door cards look great for the age. You can use seat doctor to touch up the seat leather. If I were you I'd keep it and restore it. Get a OEM euro front bumper or a CSL style bumper and keep the trunk but paint it white with a new badge.
I bought a 03 e46 M3 6 speed manual about three months ago. Mines also make that noise from 1-2 gear. It’s definitely the rear differential. It has new bushing and everything. From what different mechanics told me was that the past owner must of drift or burn tires a lot. Which wear the rear differential. Mine is a Titanium Silver with Imola red interior. It came modified with manual transmission swap, modifications reported by the seller include Status Gruppe headers, a Rogue Engineering Diablosport exhaust, TC Kline coilover suspension, Turner Motorsports sway bars, Bronze Apex 8 rims, Real Carbon Fiber front lip and diffuser. Currently in the process of switching the stereo. The build seems like it was a track/race car. Also wanting to make it more OEM. Clean Title and a minor fender bender reported on carfax. *Flaws that came in mine, driver door seems repainted and doesn’t match body, like if it wasn’t well blended. Passenger fender has a small scuff and shows metal. Imola red interior was good when bought but the driver seat has cracks and recently one crack ripped. So that’s definitely gotta get reupholstered, It’s a process brother, this was one of my dream cars specs as well and I got it, it isn’t perfect and it has stressed me out coming from newer M models that I’ve owned. I’m sure it will be worth it. I can relate on how you feel about your car as I did to mine lol. Excited to see what you can make out of it. Congratulations! Welcome to the e46 family.
Congrats! I mentioned on your community note that I have an E46 M3 Alpine White on Imola 6MT that i'll never sell, with almost identical miles to yours. While the Imola E39 is a dream spec of mine on those as well, I think it'll be worth it to have the LeMans and the E46 to enjoy (as well as your F80). The hood and mismatched paint definitely bugs me too, fix that stuff and catch up on maintenance and that thing will rip.
That clunk noise is normal. Check the diff and subframe bushings first. If they are done the clunk is normal. Service the diff clutch packs to fix the m clunk
Lol... Must say this was one of your funniest videos.. been watching your vids for a while. Sounds like you should have walked away but now you have it. You can make the best of it and make it yours or depending on the Carfax history and if the refurbishment costs are prohibitive then flip it. I had a Phoenix yellow E46 m3 along with my E39 M5 simultaneously for about 2 years. I could be wrong but the idle may be ok at just below 1k for your m3. As far as making the exhaust sound good it's doable. I had Meister Schaft on mine with a SuperSprint section 2... still a little raspy but much better and lower toned than stock. The Alpine white on cinnamon interior specs looks great and hard to see the paint mismatch on camera. The color spec and its rarity and the is one reason to hold on to the car if you can work through the other flaws.
I appreciate the support! I was going to walk away and ultimately I wanted to but at the same time I don't think they're will be another point I'll find an alpine white/cinnamon manual coupe this cheap that'll actually run and drive 😂 I'll have to play with the car to find out what I like but it's great owning both E46 M3 and E39 M5! Phoenix yellow is a beautiful color
I would check the Carfax, I won’t be surprised if it got title washed. Market has been down all around so flips nowadays aren’t what they used to be. I have the vert in same specs and my center armrest is black as well.
You can make them sound great but every one wants to keep the quad tips especially your an oem guy . But my 3.5 sigle exit with castles headers 2 ultra quiet reso sounds insane with absolutely no rasp . Everyone that hears my car says it sounds nothing like a e46 m3 🤷♂️
@@chacebarnes01 No problem, just watched the rest of the vid. For the clunk, could be diff bushings, center support bearing or even the struts/shocks. I have heard of all those things being addressed and people still hear the clunk. Its just an e46 thing and something you'll get used to it. Believe its something to do with the transmission if I remember correctly. And the sticker in the engine bay is not factory. Also idle is normal.
Just stumbled on this video, but why did you buy this M3 if it had a ton of things you didn't like about it?? I hope you at least got it cheap like $11K...
I've always wanted an Alpine white one with cinnamon interior, it needs alot of work but probably my only chance at getting this spec this cheap. The price point was equivalent to a high mileage SMG convertible, so I think it was worth it 😂
I have a feeling that the car doesn't have the original interior. It may be a theft recovery and someone pieced it back together. Honestly, I don't see a point in owning a M3 with those kind of miles. It's one thing if you enjoyed those miles but I think you are going to be stuck with the end of life problems that all cars have. If it was me, I would drive the hell out of the car and have a JZ swap on deck for when the inevitable happens.
My M3 has 176k miles as well, 40k of those of which were put on by me. I've taken countless road trips in it (one of which was from MD to Cali), gone to shows, tracked it, commuted in it, and everything else. S54's will do 300k+ miles if you address the admittedly expensive achilles heels. Now that I have a couple of other cars to drive, I will admit overdue maintenance is starting to catch up with me. But my engine is still stout and the car absolutely rips.
Thats impressive! I could imagine an S54 doing crazy high mileage when taken care of. There are a few known issues with the S54 that can quickly add up. I wouldnt want to be stuck with the bill and have a 200k plus miles engine.
My s54 hit 376k mid summer,still rips like a MF!needless to say I just pulled the motor to completely overhaul the lower end and put forged parts in her.really love my f30 (alpine white)daily driver tho.looking a very clean f80 if anyone knows of an alpine white on the east coast.must be near perfect with low miles.
@@chacebarnes01 I’m looking to get a e46 as well. Hopefully a white one with the red interior. I subscribed to your channel. Can’t wait to see the progress on your new car. 🔥
I vote for you to keep the car. I love mine, appreciate the kind words. Agree with you on most of your opinions other than imo black interior is better than cinnamon. Also, if you lookup Adam lz e46 m3, he has some type of witchcraft to make it sound good, no rasp.
When your car died man, it’s the fuel pump you got a check. It happens to all cars and my favorite car is is a Toyota supra and E46 BMW M3.
Previous owners turned a race car into a rice car
Thankfully all of that junk is easily reversible
Seats and door cards look great for the age. You can use seat doctor to touch up the seat leather. If I were you I'd keep it and restore it. Get a OEM euro front bumper or a CSL style bumper and keep the trunk but paint it white with a new badge.
I bought a 03 e46 M3 6 speed manual about three months ago. Mines also make that noise from 1-2 gear. It’s definitely the rear differential. It has new bushing and everything. From what different mechanics told me was that the past owner must of drift or burn tires a lot. Which wear the rear differential. Mine is a Titanium Silver with Imola red interior.
It came modified with manual transmission swap, modifications reported by the seller include Status Gruppe headers, a Rogue Engineering Diablosport exhaust, TC Kline coilover suspension, Turner Motorsports sway bars, Bronze Apex 8 rims, Real Carbon Fiber front lip and diffuser. Currently in the process of switching the stereo. The build seems like it was a track/race car. Also wanting to make it more OEM. Clean Title and a minor fender bender reported on carfax.
*Flaws that came in mine, driver door seems repainted and doesn’t match body, like if it wasn’t well blended. Passenger fender has a small scuff and shows metal. Imola red interior was good when bought but the driver seat has cracks and recently one crack ripped. So that’s definitely gotta get reupholstered, It’s a process brother, this was one of my dream cars specs as well and I got it, it isn’t perfect and it has stressed me out coming from newer M models that I’ve owned. I’m sure it will be worth it. I can relate on how you feel about your car as I did to mine lol. Excited to see what you can make out of it. Congratulations! Welcome to the e46 family.
Alpine white on cinnamon is dope. Congrats
my e46 m3 has always idled like that, and by the looks of it, they all do.
Good to know thank you!
SOLID car. Just needs that right touch bro, congrats on the E46!
Thank you I appreciate it! 🤝 It needs some love but it's the perfect base
CSL airbox, supersprint stepped headers, supersprint cats, supersprint race cat back exhaust. The sound is beastly.
That set up also costs more than the M3 he just bought. 😂😂😂
@@bentremy 10 thousand euro new, 5 thousand euro used. In Europe M3 is now 40 thousand euro.
Congrats! I mentioned on your community note that I have an E46 M3 Alpine White on Imola 6MT that i'll never sell, with almost identical miles to yours. While the Imola E39 is a dream spec of mine on those as well, I think it'll be worth it to have the LeMans and the E46 to enjoy (as well as your F80). The hood and mismatched paint definitely bugs me too, fix that stuff and catch up on maintenance and that thing will rip.
Alpine white is a great color and can't go wrong with Imola or cinnamon! It'll need some work but it's definitely a great base
Put it back to stock/oem + and then flip it eventually... haha
Looks good! Those grills got to go!
Soon 😂
That clunk noise is normal. Check the diff and subframe bushings first. If they are done the clunk is normal. Service the diff clutch packs to fix the m clunk
Lol... Must say this was one of your funniest videos.. been watching your vids for a while. Sounds like you should have walked away but now you have it. You can make the best of it and make it yours or depending on the Carfax history and if the refurbishment costs are prohibitive then flip it. I had a Phoenix yellow E46 m3 along with my E39 M5 simultaneously for about 2 years. I could be wrong but the idle may be ok at just below 1k for your m3. As far as making the exhaust sound good it's doable. I had Meister Schaft on mine with a SuperSprint section 2... still a little raspy but much better and lower toned than stock. The Alpine white on cinnamon interior specs looks great and hard to see the paint mismatch on camera. The color spec and its rarity and the is one reason to hold on to the car if you can work through the other flaws.
I appreciate the support! I was going to walk away and ultimately I wanted to but at the same time I don't think they're will be another point I'll find an alpine white/cinnamon manual coupe this cheap that'll actually run and drive 😂 I'll have to play with the car to find out what I like but it's great owning both E46 M3 and E39 M5! Phoenix yellow is a beautiful color
Nice M3, I’d daily the heck out of that thing. 😎
Keep it and fix it to how you want it ! Would like to see it on the channel
Will do 🤝
I would check the Carfax, I won’t be surprised if it got title washed.
Market has been down all around so flips nowadays aren’t what they used to be.
I have the vert in same specs and my center armrest is black as well.
You can make them sound great but every one wants to keep the quad tips especially your an oem guy . But my 3.5 sigle exit with castles headers 2 ultra quiet reso sounds insane with absolutely no rasp . Everyone that hears my car says it sounds nothing like a e46 m3 🤷♂️
Keep it and restore it to oem+ in a series
Definitely will be the plan!
hz motorsports axle back exhaust makes it sound incredible very limited rasp.
I'll have to look into it!
idle is good. Fix it and have fun with it. Subscribed for more m3 videos
Thank you I appreciate it!
Clucking could be the diff. diff is bank might as well upgrade to a different ratio
I'll get under the car and look around & also service the diff! Hopefully it helps
Definitely stock headlights with aftermarket corners
Thank you! I wasn't sure because of how poor they actually work 😂
@@chacebarnes01 No problem, just watched the rest of the vid. For the clunk, could be diff bushings, center support bearing or even the struts/shocks. I have heard of all those things being addressed and people still hear the clunk. Its just an e46 thing and something you'll get used to it. Believe its something to do with the transmission if I remember correctly. And the sticker in the engine bay is not factory. Also idle is normal.
Just stumbled on this video, but why did you buy this M3 if it had a ton of things you didn't like about it?? I hope you at least got it cheap like $11K...
I've always wanted an Alpine white one with cinnamon interior, it needs alot of work but probably my only chance at getting this spec this cheap. The price point was equivalent to a high mileage SMG convertible, so I think it was worth it 😂
Would you sell the hood outright chace? How can we chat?
Yes possibly, my Instagram is Bm.chace_
I have a feeling that the car doesn't have the original interior. It may be a theft recovery and someone pieced it back together. Honestly, I don't see a point in owning a M3 with those kind of miles. It's one thing if you enjoyed those miles but I think you are going to be stuck with the end of life problems that all cars have.
If it was me, I would drive the hell out of the car and have a JZ swap on deck for when the inevitable happens.
My M3 has 176k miles as well, 40k of those of which were put on by me. I've taken countless road trips in it (one of which was from MD to Cali), gone to shows, tracked it, commuted in it, and everything else. S54's will do 300k+ miles if you address the admittedly expensive achilles heels. Now that I have a couple of other cars to drive, I will admit overdue maintenance is starting to catch up with me. But my engine is still stout and the car absolutely rips.
Thats impressive! I could imagine an S54 doing crazy high mileage when taken care of. There are a few known issues with the S54 that can quickly add up. I wouldnt want to be stuck with the bill and have a 200k plus miles engine.
My s54 hit 376k mid summer,still rips like a MF!needless to say I just pulled the motor to completely overhaul the lower end and put forged parts in her.really love my f30 (alpine white)daily driver tho.looking a very clean f80 if anyone knows of an alpine white on the east coast.must be near perfect with low miles.
@@joenoworyta6649did you bore the cylinders? Still amazing!
It idles higher with the ac on lol
That thing needs saving
@@syygnis it's really not that bad 😂 especially for the price i paid
@@chacebarnes01 When I mean saving I mean to be unmolested
I’d say keep
it was probably a 330i and someone started converting it to an M3
The amount of work to convert a 330i into a full M3 😂 let's leave that option off the table
@@chacebarnes01 I’m looking to get a e46 as well. Hopefully a white one with the red interior. I subscribed to your channel. Can’t wait to see the progress on your new car. 🔥
I’d trade trunks, but I’m located in northern GA.
Actually, never mind. Just noticed it’s not an actual CSL style trunk as it has the trunk release handle still.
@x_Heffe_X 😂 you're too far anyways, your car looks great in your profile picture though
I vote for you to keep the car. I love mine, appreciate the kind words.
Agree with you on most of your opinions other than imo black interior is better than cinnamon.
Also, if you lookup Adam lz e46 m3, he has some type of witchcraft to make it sound good, no rasp.
Unlimited money glitch
the music is horrible pls stop it
otherwise great vid
Not my first choice 😂 it's the best of what I can use
So negative person