Looking for a good investment? Did the BMW E30 M3 train just fly by? Thinking about what classic M3 model might go up in value next? Well, look no more. The BMW E46 M3 seems to be the next big hit with collectors, prices for mint models already starting to rise right now. There are a few things you should know before investing in such a car, so this one here might just hit all the right spots.
Listed right now on Bring-a-Trailer is a mint, Imola Red BMW E46 M3 with a decent 37,874 miles (60,952 km) on the clock. It may seem like a lot and yes, collectors are usually looking for low-mileage, garage queens, but it’s not exactly a huge number either. The car looks absolutely stunning took, considering its a 2003 model but the biggest plus is found inside the cabin: this is a manual model!
It may not seem like a big deal to some, but most of the BMW E46 M3 models sold back in the day were fitted with an automatic gearbox, the SMG unit to be more precise. If you’ve been around BMW fans before, you probably heard that the SMG gearbox isn’t exactly ‘dreamy’ and thus the manual six speed is the way to go. Therefore, this BMW E46 M3 almost ticks all the right boxes. At the moment it’s quite a good bargain too.
When I first saw the listing, the price tag was around $15,000, but in the meantime, the bids reached $30,000. Most likely, there will be a few more bids in the next couple of days and it will be interesting to see just how much the car can raise by the time the auction ends.
The BMW E46 M3 came with a 3.2 liter inline-six engine developing 333 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It could hit 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and had an electronically controlled top speed of 155 mph. The I6 in the E46 M3 is one of the better one’s BMW ever made. With its Double VANOS variable valve timing and 7,900 rpm redline, the 3.2 liter screams through the rev range with smooth and linear power. It also makes a fantastic sound doing it.
