Have always had some spirited driving in my blood, so I finally bit the bullet and bought my first M3 yesterday. Picked up an '03 Imola Red coupe with the red leather package. The pictures of the red leather on the internet do NOT do these cars justice. Everyones photos look to be a cherry red color, but it is more like a dark cranberry. So far I haven't had the opportunity to test this thing out...mostly because it's been snowing since I bought it. It'll hibernate in a heated shed most of the winter, unless some clean highway days present themselves. The car's a manual 6 speed with every option you could get. I think I'm in for one heck of a ride! Thanks to all who have answered my dorky questions, because it made buying one that much easier. My previous rides have been a 944, 944 turbo, 300ZX twin turbo, and my last car...an Audi A6 2.7T. I'm here to learn.
jddealer

Welcome.

Welcome!!

Nice to have you...

Les

Congratulations! Take care of her :D

Have always had some spirited driving in my blood, so I finally bit the bullet and bought my first M3 yesterday. Picked up an '03 Imola Red coupe with the red leather package. The pictures of the red leather on the internet do NOT do these cars justice. Everyones photos look to be a cherry red color, but it is more like a dark cranberry. So far I haven't had the opportunity to test this thing out...mostly because it's been snowing since I bought it. It'll hibernate in a heated shed most of the winter, unless some clean highway days present themselves. The car's a manual 6 speed with every option you could get. I think I'm in for one heck of a ride! Thanks to all who have answered my dorky questions, because it made buying one that much easier. My previous rides have been a 944, 944 turbo, 300ZX twin turbo, and my last car...an Audi A6 2.7T. I'm here to learn.
jddealer


Welcome!

Let's see some pics!

and any planned 'mod' path....

pics pics pics pics:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Congrats man. The first time you open her up will def be an experience that will leave a smile on your face :D

welcome. You will love it, just bought mine in may and i'm pissed that its too snowy to drive it.

Hi JD,

Congratulations on your new M. What a great car. I personally have an '04 E46 M3 in Silver Gray Metallic with SMG. Without a doubt, the best car I've ever owned. We're kind of partial to M3's so we have somewhat an emphasis on them. Please feel free to PM, IM, e-mail us at sales@bimmerperforancestore.com or call us at 805.482.1234 is there's anything we can do to make your new M3 experience better.

Sincerely,

Bob DeLellis, President
Bimmer Performance Store, Ltd.

Welcome to the club!:redspot

Here's a pic if i get it to post correctly. I was hoping to hold out for an SMG, but I was so picky on the options the car had to have, that when I finally found one close, it had everything but the SMG. I live in rural IA, so the little shifting I do with the manual is really effortless. I guess I thought I was getting lazy with age and needed the "auto" capability, but I'm sure I'll manage. Thanks for all the responses. Here's a photo of it in the dealer's showroom at the time of purchase.

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc33b3127cce9588bfe9c71100000016108BZNmzhuzcC">

Here's a pic if i get it to post correctly. I was hoping to hold out for an SMG, but I was so picky on the options the car had to have, that when I finally found one close, it had everything but the SMG. I live in rural IA, so the little shifting I do with the manual is really effortless. I guess I thought I was getting lazy with age and needed the "auto" capability, but I'm sure I'll manage. Thanks for all the responses. Here's a photo of it in the dealer's showroom at the time of purchase.

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc33b3127cce9588bfe9c71100000016108BZNmzhuzcC">

I hate you! :eek: :eek:

balis///M...right back at ya!

JD that is a gorgeous car man prob one of the best and rare color combos. Im looking for my own E46 M3 right now and i was wondering what kind of a deal you got for yours? How many Miles? Thanks

Congrats...that's a pretty one.

JD nice car. Heres mine.

Thanks for all of the compliments. I thought I had done a lot of research, but I am learning something new every day. Apparently, my car is a mid '03 model, because it has the LED taillights. Didn't realize it when I bought it, but I washed it inside at night, and I was checking to make sure all the lights were working. Wow, those LED's are bright. Gonna have to let the girlfriend drive it and me follow to see what they look like. I can already see this is going to be fun.

Congrats man! She's a beauty

Nice! Just got mine a few weeks ago too. Don't turn off the traction control too soon!

If all you wanted the SMG for was the "auto capability" then you really lucked out, because the auto mode in SMG is pure hell. I think i have used mine once, for maybe 5 minutes, and couldnt take it anymore....

oh yeah, and thats a sweet ride...

Congrats on the purchase. The car looks awesome. I'm personaly not an M3 owner... I am the red-headed stepchild of the S54 family that drives the M Coupe, haha.... I love E46 M3's, and I am hoping to buy one sometime in the future.

Any plans for the car (other than waiting for summer to drive it?)

Congrats on the purchase. The car looks awesome. I'm personaly not an M3 owner... I am the red-headed stepchild of the S54 family that drives the M Coupe, haha.... I love E46 M3's, and I am hoping to buy one sometime in the future.

Any plans for the car (other than waiting for summer to drive it?)

Well, don't know yet. It's snowed every single day since I've bought it...but when it does become nice out, I want to see what she's got. There could be a chip and intake in the future, and possibly a short shift kit. For now, I'm happy with what I have (although, the mod bug has bitten me hard before).

Well, don't know yet. It's snowed every single day since I've bought it...but when it does become nice out, I want to see what she's got. There could be a chip and intake in the future, and possibly a short shift kit. For now, I'm happy with what I have (although, the mod bug has bitten me hard before).

In all honesty, I am sure the S54 will keep you happy for a while before you really will feel the need to mod it... just make sure you make good use of the redline, because low rpm's don't do the car justice.

Ya, I see that is the case. It's been a while since I had to really hug redline to keep a car in its powerband. I owned a twin turbo Z for 10 years, and with the mods I had done to that, it had gobs of power from 3k rpms and up. Gonna have to change my whole mind-set to keep this up where it should be.