Color: Steel Grey on Imola Red
Prod Date: 09/2002
VIN: WBSBL93453JR18949
Mileage: ~ 215k
Location: Carlsbad, CA, USA
Sadly the time has come to part ways with my E46 M3. I picked her up in Sept 2006 with a paltry 24k miles on her, and here we are 15+ years later at nearly 215k. I’ve done a lot of work over the years, and took advantage of, as well as contributed to many of the DIYs on the old m3forum.
A lot has happened over 15 years, with all the major bullet proofing:
All the service schedules were followed. Most work was performed by me, except for things I wasn’t equipped to work on (subframe reinforcement, AC compressor/recharge). View the maintenance history sheet here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
Note: If you see something missing ask me, I reconstructed a lot of the early work on that sheet from receipts, and it wouldn’t surprise me if I missed adding something.
Other mods include:
The full disclosure:
I honestly was super torn about what I wanted to list this for, because the car is worth more to me than any amount of money I’ll realistically get for it, and I know I’ll look back at this moment with regret. It’s more important to me that this car goes to a good home, and I will happily wait as long as I need to for that person. If you're an avid DIYer I'll throw in the special tools. I always wanted this to be my forever track car, but space is starting to get tight with a new toy on the way.
Photos taken today here: https://imgur.com/a/0soluJE
Asking: $25k USD OBO
Prod Date: 09/2002
VIN: WBSBL93453JR18949
Mileage: ~ 215k
Location: Carlsbad, CA, USA
Sadly the time has come to part ways with my E46 M3. I picked her up in Sept 2006 with a paltry 24k miles on her, and here we are 15+ years later at nearly 215k. I’ve done a lot of work over the years, and took advantage of, as well as contributed to many of the DIYs on the old m3forum.
A lot has happened over 15 years, with all the major bullet proofing:
- Alternator (replaced thrice, at 56k, 66k, and 213k miles)
- CSL Airbox & DME (209k miles)
- SMG Hydraulic Pump Rebuild (Including new OEM accumulator, motor rebuild by Burkhart engineering, new seals, Burkhart fluid, etc.)
- Diff Rebuild (200k miles) with OEM 4.10 Ring/Pinion, Racing Diffs LSD Clutch Pack
- New OEM AC Compressor & System Recharge (199k miles)
- AST 4100 suspension rebuild (199k miles)
- New Rod Bearings (first one done before I bought it under recall, 2nd time in my garage at 197k miles)
- Subframe Reinforcement (inc. refreshed all OEM rear suspension bushings/diff bushings at 196k miles)
- Motor Mounts (twice, 96k and 197k miles)
- All wheel bearings replaced (196k miles)
- Driveshaft center support bearing replaced (194k miles)
- Pulleys/tensioners/belts (replaced a few times, most recently at 194k miles)
- Airbag recalls done (191k miles)
- SMG Gear Position Sensor replaced (154k miles)
- VANOS rebuild by Dr. Vanos (107k miles)
- Cooling System Overhaul (107k miles)
- Clutch & Components Replaced Due to Failed Throwout Bearing (96k miles)
- Rear view mirror recall/warranty replacement (I forgot the mileage, it was in 2007).
- GM5 Module repaired by BMWGM5.com
- Instrument Cluster repaired by BMWGM5.com
All the service schedules were followed. Most work was performed by me, except for things I wasn’t equipped to work on (subframe reinforcement, AC compressor/recharge). View the maintenance history sheet here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
Note: If you see something missing ask me, I reconstructed a lot of the early work on that sheet from receipts, and it wouldn’t surprise me if I missed adding something.
Other mods include:
- Early Vorsteiner CSL Bootlid
- Fucy (remember them!?) CSL Diffuser
- AST 4100’s
- OEM BMW Motorsport 4.10 Ring/Pinion
- OEM CSL Wheels (currently wrapped in PS4S)
- Karbonius CSL Airbox + OEM Flap
- OEM CSL DME (Kassel Performance)
- TTFS SMG Software
- AVIN Avant 3 (I still have the OEM nav if you want it, but it’s really just a museum piece at this point).
- OEM LED Tail Lights (installed in 2006, driver side was replaced in 2019 due to a failed LED)
- OEM Euro/Aspheric Mirror Glass
- E60 M5 Shift Knob
- Comp Package Brake Rotors (and caliper carriers)
- Supersprint Race Exhaust (headers & section 1/2 are OEM)
- Pillars/Headliner reupholstered in Genuine Alcantara (sold by Gulf Fabrics)
- Pre-wired for Valentine 1/Dash Cam
- Steering Wheel Rewrapped by Royal Steering (Thicker wheel + perforated leather + tri-stitch) in 2014
- HK system was replaced with Infinity Kappas up front (custom tweeter mounts), Kicker Comp 6.5" subs on the rear deck, powered by a JL Audio XD400 amp.
The full disclosure:
- Paint needs work (notably the mirrors, bootlid, and diffuser). Front bumper could use a respray as well. There have been no major accidents (except a love tap at a light on my rear bumper, and a few door dings here and there). I managed to key my own car (with a clip that was hanging out of my pocket, while squeezing into the car in a tight parking space), so the driver side was resprayed.
- Subframe was reinforced due to cracks.
- Driver side front suspension pillar was also reinforced due to a crack (even with the BMW reinforcement plate, go figure).
- Leather, while maintained, is about as good as I was able to keep it over 15 years. I didn’t tint until much later, so the rear seat backs could use a reupholster due to UV damage/shrinkage. Driver side seat was reupholstered about 10 years ago due to failed stitching.
- Driver side heated seat back does not work (and hasn’t worked for the last decade).
- It’s almost time for another cooling system overhaul.
- Clutch, sometime in the next 100k miles
- That’s it.
I honestly was super torn about what I wanted to list this for, because the car is worth more to me than any amount of money I’ll realistically get for it, and I know I’ll look back at this moment with regret. It’s more important to me that this car goes to a good home, and I will happily wait as long as I need to for that person. If you're an avid DIYer I'll throw in the special tools. I always wanted this to be my forever track car, but space is starting to get tight with a new toy on the way.
Photos taken today here: https://imgur.com/a/0soluJE
Asking: $25k USD OBO
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