How do you know if you should sell your E46 M3?

[Casa de Mesa]

A new car will happen regardless of what I do with the M3. Though it's a little annoying that there aren't really any n/a manual options asides for the GT3.

You looking at a "new-to-you" new car or a truly "brand-spanking-new" new car?

Have a friend with a 992 GT3 Touring. Pretty epic car, but pretty epic price.

I'm quite biased... but I went this route for another manual from Germany: https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...385#post358385

[M3llowM3]

don’t let it sit unused for months on end.

*Cries in Canadian winter*

[dreamdrivedrift]

It sounds like cars and driving are no longer a significant part of your life.
And if you're OK with that, then it's time to sell it. You can decide whatever dollar number you think is appropriate but the real realization is whether you want cars & driving to be part of your life or not.
Otherwise it's just another part of your life that requires your attention....for what...to feed your OCD?

That said - here's my pitch.

A few friends and I arrange drives twice a year. Up to the Sierras, down to LA, etc. Trailer up or drive up. Family oriented, drive half day and activities half day, group dinners, family oriented, ish. The guys go out driving in the morning, the girls and kids sometimes come and sometimes not, and everyone does an afternoon and evening activity together. It gives us a reason to take these cars out, enjoy a good drive, and keep our families in the loop.

We are turning that into a side project business to do 4-6 drives per year. Why?
We see so many like you. Who once had the passion - who still have the passion - but friends have moved away, and the cars just sit. Reminders of what once was, but is no more. What you still want, but cannot have.
Hoping for some success with the business to get more of you enjoying these cars and keeping the passion of driving alive. Soft launch later this year...

At least by the look of this thread you're not alone. We all have been there and made a decision at that fork in the road. Go for a drive. And if you really can't bring yourself to it... it's time to sell.

[old///MFanatic]

That has happened..

Stock M3 at ~3400lbs is a bit of a porker

Haha good one 👍🏻

[Slideways]

When this happens

That has happened..



Stock M3 at ~3400lbs is a bit of a porker

[old///MFanatic]

When this happens

[terra]

The other side of this coin is that today's turbos and superchargers are not those of yesteryear. The new M2/M3/M4 are all super fun and available in manuals. N/A then GT350/Mach 1/Dark Horse? Yes they weigh more, but they are absolute beasts with a Tremec transmission that makes our M3's seem stupid bad (as they should, its newer after all). I own a Mach 1 HP and that car is so much fun on Cup 2s its stupid. Just stupid. Its visceral. Nothing surgical about it. My M3 is my favorite car, but I'm not tied to the notion that its N/A or bust. I've got a 2025 Corolla GR manual, super fun. Totally different car. In my mind, having cars that are very different from each other is the move. Every time I get in one of my cars there is a different experience to be had.

Yeah I mean I probably will buy a turbo enthusiast car. I was quite tempted by the M3 CS Handschalter. But my local dealer wouldn't let me be on the list for both that and a Carrera T... and I decided I'd rather have the 911

[terra]

That much rust?

Sheer surface area wise no. But rockers and between the trunk/bumper at least, so wouldn't be particularly cheap or easy to deal with (and would probably just come back anyway).

[01SG]

Meh.

Base model is already borderline too fast to be fun.

I'd say it is already way too fast to have fun. Stingray is 3 seconds to 60 and 11 in the quarter. The e46 really hits the sweetspot in that regard.

[Obioban]

I’ve heard the z06 helps you forget about some of the c8’s short comings

Meh.

Base model is already borderline too fast to be fun.

[Hammerfang]

C8 is way more disconnected feeling than C5/6/7 was. I found it hugely disappointing, as a car I was pretty excited about. Drive by wire brakes, EPS, automatic only, managed to make a mid rear engine sports car feel... boring.

Really hoping in C9 they can bring some connection back. I'd be a possible customer for that.

I’ve heard the z06 helps you forget about some of the c8’s short comings

[Obioban]

To each their own. I’ve tracked a new M2 and M3 at Monticello and they were certainly fast, but honestly had worse steering then my Tesla, felt “faker” and I think wouldn’t be any faster then a Model 3 Performance. All the while requiring a lot more to keep running.

I deliberately drove my e46 up to Monticello that day and on the drive home had absolutely no interest in buying a new M3. In fact I annoyed (not on purpose) the BMW rep at the end by saying the same thing in the survey they gave us.

Something from Porsche’s GT lineup or maybe a C8 is another story. But those cars aren’t really daily drivers.

C8 is way more disconnected feeling than C5/6/7 was. I found it hugely disappointing, as a car I was pretty excited about. Drive by wire brakes, EPS, automatic only, managed to make a mid rear engine sports car feel... boring.

Really hoping in C9 they can bring some connection back. I'd be a possible customer for that.

[Hammerfang]

I would never want to drive a manual/car I care about messing up in any major city, let alone NYC. In that situation I would want an EV too. Depends on the commute.

I remember going to a Jeff Beck concert at MSG and there was a major traffic jam in the Bronx heading for the NET. We had to drive my 540i up a bike path on a hill to escape (lots of us did). The look on the faces of those odd people bicycling at 2:00 am was priceless.

Hahaha NYC is a special place for sure.

Thankfully I don’t drive all the way in (don’t get me started on NJT) but the few times I have definitely added to my growing number of grey hairs lol.

[01SG]

I like my job (in NYC)

I would never want to drive a manual/car I care about messing up in any major city, let alone NYC. In that situation I would want an EV too. Depends on the commute.

I remember going to a Jeff Beck concert at MSG and there was a major traffic jam in the Bronx heading for the NET. We had to drive my 540i up a bike path on a hill to escape (lots of us did). The look on the faces of those odd people bicycling at 2:00 am was priceless.

[Hammerfang]

Haha man you and I couldn't be further apart. All of that just sounds terribly boring. New ICE performance daily capable cars are so much better than electric, based on the assumption that you are spending at least 50% or more of your time in one. I do recognize that our definitions of "better" are different.

To each their own. I’ve tracked a new M2 and M3 at Monticello and they were certainly fast, but honestly had worse steering then my Tesla, felt “faker” and I think wouldn’t be any faster then a Model 3 Performance. All the while requiring a lot more to keep running.

I deliberately drove my e46 up to Monticello that day and on the drive home had absolutely no interest in buying a new M3. In fact I annoyed (not on purpose) the BMW rep at the end by saying the same thing in the survey they gave us.

Something from Porsche’s GT lineup or maybe a C8 is another story. But those cars aren’t really daily drivers.