Hey, I am kinda new to this forum and to BMWs. I am looking for an E46 M3 to buy in the next year or so. Now I am just doing research. What should be a good price for an E46 M3 with competition package? is it worth it to get competition package? by next summer with the launch of e92 m3, what price range will the e46 fall to? any additional info on how the e46 drives and problems to watch out for would be helpful. thanks in advance

comp pkg is M3 with 2005.5 or newer, so the price for those is gonna be high. expect no less than 50k.... and thats without taxes or lisencing.

i have a ZCP (competition package) and love it. to me, i did not really like the 19" alloys that came witrh the M cars and i like the comp rims a lot better. i love the brakes as well, although stock M3 brakes are very good.. personally i like every little bit of trim for the comp pkg, also.. the ZCP m3 is 30mm lower than the regular one because it has a stiffer suspension, as well as a less intrusive DSC (dynamic stability control), which makes it very good for agressive drivers like me who go to the track occasionally. basically, if you have ever heard/seen/driven/felt the M3CSL, the comp package is as close as you can ever get to that without actually buying one....

you might want to consider the 335 if you're gonna look at a 2005/06 m3...depends on if you like the new styling but with FI WITH a factory warranty you cant really beat that

the only prob w/ that is the car is somewhat unproven... with the M its been out for 5 years, the E46 i mean so theres a lot of stuff thats been posted about these cars, positives, negatives, things to look out for, etc....

with the 335, you are buying a new model car that is basically unproven.. also, buying a new car is fine if you dont mind taking the new car hit for the first 3 years.. when the price goes down the drain. personally i bought a new car because i wanted to be the first/only owner, so i know ALL service recordsand how the car has been driven/maintaned from day 1.... and thats just something that you have to chance buying used... granted you get a much better deal...

but in the end, i think id probably get a used M3, (03.5+) over the new 335i.

the M3 naturally aspirated is still about half a second quicker than the 335i forced induction....

and for about 45-50k which is what those 335is are gonna run, i can get a very very good condition 03 or 04 M with low miles...maybe even sneak myself into an early 05, a leased car or something with around 15-20k miles.

with the 335, you are buying a new model car that is basically unproven..


Are you seriously doubting that the car will kick ass just like all the 3 series have. The 3 will always be the sports sedan/coupe that is the ultimate.
All these cars last forever with even mediocre care sometimes.
You learn thins as you go along, things won't break for a while if much at all with proper care.


I'd still get a E46 M3 though, dont get me wrong ;)

im not doubting anything, im just saying with the first go around there can be issues, like the 01 E46 m3s and their engine issues, and the 02, first year of the SMG, had a ball-bearing issue with the tranny to the engine causing a lot of recalls.

i would rather buy a 335i than most of whats out there, but id still rather buy a proven tested been out for 4 years M3 that they have come closer to perfecting than something that just rolled off the concept floors.

im not doubting anything, im just saying with the first go around there can be issues, like the 01 E46 m3s and their engine issues, and the 02, first year of the SMG, had a ball-bearing issue with the tranny to the engine causing a lot of recalls.

In 2002 there were NO ball bearing issues with the transmission to the engine. Where are you getting these facts? There are no bulletins on that matter. 2001, 2002, and some 2003 models had defective connecting rod bearings.

comp pkg is M3 with 2005.5 or newer, so the price for those is gonna be high. expect no less than 50k.... and thats without taxes or lisencing.

i have a ZCP (competition package) and love it. to me, i did not really like the 19" alloys that came witrh the M cars and i like the comp rims a lot better. i love the brakes as well, although stock M3 brakes are very good.. personally i like every little bit of trim for the comp pkg, also.. the ZCP m3 is 30mm lower than the regular one because it has a stiffer suspension, as well as a less intrusive DSC (dynamic stability control), which makes it very good for agressive drivers like me who go to the track occasionally. basically, if you have ever heard/seen/driven/felt the M3CSL, the comp package is as close as you can ever get to that without actually buying one....

I would like to see some pictures of you tracking your car at a real track. :lol