Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire picks up an E46 M3

[maw1124]

For me it is more about the combination of colors versus just the exterior.

1. OG/cinnamon might be my favorite
2. Silver/red or cinnamon (classic)...

TiAG/Imola is an underrated combo IMO (TiAG owner )…

I agree with these sentiments that TiAG / Imola is probably the most “classic” yet interesting spec for these “bygone era” cars… which somewhat explains to me why a YouTube influencer would chose that combo to showcase… I think a convertible would have been better to showcase, but these guys care about likes, and convertibles in these cars don’t drive likes so I can understand why the like-seeker would stay away from it… the car presents well, and will likely appreciate well… as far as colors, that discussion is really about value… and while the forum guru might fawn over a particular color combo, the guy who’s likely to write the biggest check is more likely a “doctor or lawyer” who’s not looking to show up anywhere in PY or LSB… that “hey look at me” scream is more likely a fad product of our times AND a young person’s game. In classic spec, you’re probably looking for something like TiAG over Imola… I see that color combo well represented in “classic” circles, which is why it was the only combo I ever considered.



My $.02 contribution to this thread.

maw

PS, I will say that I drove 2 Carbon Black over Imola cars when looking for mine, one at EAG, both were stunning to look at … but in the end I thought the timeless silver would age better.

[Obioban]

My first e46 M3 was TiAg/imola. I regretted my exterior color choice from the day I picked it up at Spartanburg.

[Slicktop]

If you remember, the cars took three months to build and arrive at port then dealer for pickup so six months was due to demand the first few years. You may not have been old enough to drive then but cars were selling for sticker if you knew people or a markup at that time. Most cars were not silver, they were an assortment of colors and silver never dominated any of the dealer lots or car meets I was going to at the time.

You're right thought, I did know one guy who was an attorney who funny enough tend to prefer convertibles.

Yes the markup at the time I believe for the car he wanted was $3,500. What the dealer had told him was they were getting 3 in, all silver, all coupes, two were on dove and one on black with all 3 being stick. The cars that they had ordered were super base because they wanted to meet demand for them. I think a few days after we went back in and he decided not to do it was when they told him any other cars would be closer to a year out if done how he wanted it.

Just based on production numbers alone TiaG is just way more common of a car. Maybe a bit of a sweeping generalization but dealer spec'd cars around me were mainly silver.

[Thoglan]

Tiag is a classic German colour. There are people outside of the circle that still regard it as the colour of choice and don't care about rarity. I have tiag and I don't love it or hate it. It's muted and subtle, but I would probably change it for something else if I could, though I'm not sure what I'd prefer as I don't like the main hero colours. I would never respray mine because I value originality over a nicer colour though.

That being said I think we can all agree, of the boring colours tiag>carbon black

[Jimbo's M]

That being said I think we can all agree, of the boring colours tiag>carbon black

No, we all don't agree.

[Nate047]

Matt is actually cool and down to earth in person despite his polarizing online persona, I've worked with him a few times over the years. I'm pretty sure he will leave this car alone. Silver on red is really underrated combo IMO.

[02_lsb]

Can't stand the guy. Him buying E46M is just following a recent trend. All of these guys will be looking to buy E60 M5 in a few months.

what’s the craze with e60 m5? Did someone figure out how to make it functional for more than one drive per year?

[02_lsb]

For me it is more about the combination of colors versus just the exterior.

The oceansize power rankings.

1. OG/cinnamon might be my favorite
2. Silver/red or cinnamon (classic),
3. imola/imola
4. JB/cinnamon or red,
5. CB/cinnamon,
6. white/cinnamon or red
7. estoril/cinnamon or black
8. PY/Black
9. LSB/Black (I'm one of the few who actually doesn't particularly care for LSB after I saw one in person).

green is a British car color. Doesn’t look right on any German car IMO, but it’s your car your list - no wrong answers here.

In my opinon, Imola, PY and LSB (maybe ILB?) are the most indicative colors of that BMW era.

[Maxima SE]

what’s the craze with e60 m5?

5 liter high revving v10 for 20-30 grand. Seems like an experience you should get your hands on while you can since everything else seems to be either powered by energizer batteries or 1.5 liter turbos.

[02_lsb]

5 liter high revving v10 for 20-30 grand. Seems like an experience you should get your hands on while you can since everything else seems to be either powered by energizer batteries or 1.5 liter turbos.

Ehh. If I go that route it’ll be e39.

[TexaZ3]

what’s the craze with e60 m5? Did someone figure out how to make it functional for more than one drive per year?

Drive mine almost every day. Absolutely one of the best cars BMW ever made. If you know, you know.

[maw1124]

5 liter high revving v10 for 20-30 grand. Seems like an experience you should get your hands on while you can since everything else seems to be either powered by energizer batteries or 1.5 liter turbos.

Funny… but I’ll pass… drove one expecting to be thrilled… nowhere close… didn’t even love the sound, but admittedly the stock exhaust is bottled up… I’m used to more torque… MUCH more torque… I DO think it’s one of BMW’s best however (Top 5) but that’s actually not saying much. For me, only the E46M and E39M require any mention compared to what MB AMG, Audi and Porsche (often together) were turning out during the same times… maybe the E28M, E38Dinans and E9X… maybe.

maw

[02_lsb]

Drive mine almost every day. Absolutely one of the best cars BMW ever made. If you know, you know.

I’ve driven one. I’m not impressed. N52 is better engine. E61 is a better car.

[cobra]

Never been a big fan of Fatt Marah

[jet_dogg]

Never been a big fan of Fatt Marah

😂😂