I'm a BM tech. Got 2 words and a number for you...... Inpection 2, OUCH!
Be under no illusions, it may cost £10k to buy one but it costs shit loads to maintain one. Servicing costs are crazy and there's no "i'll get it serviced at speciallist, it'll be cheaper" because that'll cost you when you resell. Tyres cost shit loads regardless of if it has 19s or 18s. £300 for brakes? Think the pads are more than a ton aren't they? Sod it, i'll make a list......
Vanos! If it's rattling then it's knacked. £1000 for parts or cheaper for a rebuild that'll likely fail again.
Rear coil springs are made of cheese.
Rear brake pipes corrode.
Rear trailing are bushes are shit
Non LED rear light connection burn out.
Rear subframe mounting points known but uncommon
Grinding noise from rear diff on full lock means it needs an oil change if lucky or replacement if not.
Tyres last 5 minutes.
Door catches usally need adjusting
SMG II is nice but expensive when it goes wrong
Launch control just encourages idiots to burn out the clutch
Rear exhaust clamps snap and they're part of the rear box, £600 last time I checked.
Brakes are ridiculously expensive.
Castrol TWS is some daft amount of money like £15 -£20 a litre
Front brake reaction bushes are common MOT problem.
Thirsty as fook.
Needs to be run on the gucci petrol.
etc etc
All in all the E46 M3 was a fantastic car and i'd def buy one if i could be arsed working on it. I don't want to put you off, there are many positives to being an M3 owner.
