E46 M3 Convertible: Imperfectly perfect? UK Road Review by Shooting Brake
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2023
- This 2003 BMW E46 M3 convertible presents in pristine condition, finished in Topaz Blue with a grey Nappa leather interior. What’s it actually like to drive though?
In this video, we put the car through its paces down some twisty British B-roads and through Central London traffic. Watch to hear that S54B32 straight six sing through an Eventuri intake into an open top cabin…
If you like the look of this M3, or you're looking to sell your own enthusiast car, head over to shootingbrake.com/
Filmed, edited and produced by Iftikhar Khan @77cbi
Directed, written and presented by Ghaleb Rahim @ghaleboncars - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Hi everyone! This E46 M3 is back up for sale on Shooting Brake as of today, 07/03/2024! The auction ends on 17/03/2024 20:00GMT. You can find the car on shootingbrake.com - as usual, we have a full suite of stunning photos, a comprehensive writeup and an exciting auction format that allows you to get your dream car at a price which suits you. If you're in the market for a convertible, or an M3, you can't do much better...
That’s a shame, I would be very interested in this car but have zero interest in this auction fad we seem to be going through. Much prefer a price and the opportunity to get on with things and just buy a car, much better.
@@MrCaterhamr500 Auctions add a layer of transparency and clarity that you don't get in classifieds however. The hammer price is solely defined by how much interest the car attracts - no fluffy claims about sellers having someone to come view next week or being offered X amount previously!
Loved driving this convertible M3... as a dyed in the wool M3 Coupe owner this made me realise that 99% of the time the Convertible is a much more appealing car for the road. The use case is more E24 M635CSI than E30 M3, which is no bad thing! This example is easily the tidiest E46 I've ever seen in person and whoever wins the auction will be a lucky lucky owner!
I had the convertible for 6 years and picked it for the reasons you highlighted. I’m glad I did but in time the chassis became a frustration (wobbly and crashy over bumps even though mine was on 18s and I’d replaced all key components). Would be interested to see how much different the coupe is.
I recently purchased 2003 convertible M3 with over two hundred thousand miles on the chassis. the car is in great shape, purchased it in Duluth GA. and drove it over 400 miles home without a hiccup. Great for tearing up the interstate of just cruising with the top down around the countryside. So far I have had no issues with the car, we now own two E46's, My wife's 330ci and my M3.
Original engine and transmission?
Has it had the rod bearings change or are they the original do you know?
I have owned two E46 M3 convertibles, the best looking one was Carbon Black over a Cinnamon interior...very rich looking. The cars are OUTSTANDING. Also, let me congratulate you on the video, I am a new subscriber and really enjoy your content. This was a beautiful job, well done.
Great video, it made my day! Nice video footage with downbeat calm music (none of that racey bump-bum-bump beats you hear more and more...) and a beautiful car. I am driving a E46 M3 in midnight blue and grey interior in the Colorado Rockies. Best car purchase ever made! I drove a lot of pricier and more excotic sports cars but no other car gives me that many "smiles per gallon"... just unbelievable! On a crisp early morning put the top down, head into the Canyons of Colorado and listen to the glorious S54 just sing out loud in joy, reverberate against the rocky walls and you're in car heaven and you wish you'd never run out of road ahead... EVERY car enthusiast should experience that once in their lifetime.
Still got mine bought in 2014 masterpiece of design and engineering they smashed it.
Very happy to see some love for the E46 M3 convertible. I've had mine for four or five years and love it to bits. It's never going to be as dynamically excellent as the coupe but really who cares for most day to day driving. :-)
Great review, nice to see someone champion the cause of the ragtop M3.
🙌🏽🙌🏽
I dare anyone to come up with a more useful and all around great convertible. Of any brand 🤔👍
It's sad. This is a beautiful car. But car reviewers and the Internet made everyone believe that the convertible is no good.
You've made me want to buy a rag top m3, something I never thought I wanted.
You can buy this one! 👀
Love this. I have E93 M3 and love it top up or down around town. If you aren’t going to the track on weekends, and even if you do, there’s nothing wrong with the verts. They’re a joy to drive every single time!
I owned one of these same spec blue and grey interior. Left hand drive tho. 6 spd. That was a great car. Really miss it sometimes. Something about blasting your music and cruising with the top down just hits the spot for me.
Great review! I was a little hesitant before getting mine last year, but after a year's worth of ownership, I'm absolutely loving it and it's great to hear people giving the convertible some love! And Topaz Blue is fantastic (I'm biased as I had a 330ci in Topaz over 20 years ago).
E39 M5 at 11:58 great shot!
Loved this. Great review. That engine! ATB - Simon 😀👍
Ive owned mine for the past 13 years, silver gray with imola red leather , I even love smg gearbox, when I bought mine the manual coupe was the same price if not cheaper as I held out for the right one , Ive got the hard top and have even had a roof rack on that for my fishing gear and bikes , cracking cars …
Silver grey with Imola is one lovely combo! Wishing you many more happy miles :)
That car is sooo beautiful!
Had my 2005 one 8 years now and no regrets. it's in a condition most would describe as near showroom but it's got 142k miles and gets used regularly. Buyers note that if used often, then the bills will be plentiful, so be prepared for stuff needing replacing if the last owner hasn't seen to things and the mileage is climbing from 80k....
2005 and 6 models have the CSL manifold, so you will get a meatier sounds when leaning on the throttle, even even more of a CSL sound if combined with an Eventuri..
Great video. Made me miss my old E46 M3 convertible and buy this one.
Couldn’t agree more about cruising with the roof down. I toured Europe with the roof down in mine (at autobahn speeds) without problem. Awesome summer car.
Perfect summer car indeed!
Brilliant review 👍🏼 Good to see the convertibles getting some appreciation
🙌🏽🙌🏽
I drive an '06 e46 M3 Vert as a daily and I love it. Will never sell it.
Same here. Silver Grey 06, SMG, with hardtop. Great car
thoughts on smg?@@latibes
I've driven both manual and SMG. Once you get used to it, I think it's great. Especially with the CSL gear change upgrade, gear changes are smoother@@sohanx1389
Really awesome video, makes me wana buy one
You should!
Really enjoyed this video- gave me a new perspective on the vert and i definitely could see myself owning one, It would be the perfect london car
It would indeed 🤝🏽
Couldn't agree more with this review! Having had 2x E46 M3 cabrio's both estoril blue, one manual one SMG (latest) I can assure you all this car puts a MASSIVE smile on your face every single time. If you do buy one with an SMG simply make sure you get the CSL uprated software installed and change the gearknob (storm motorwerks look best IMO). Maybe consider a refurbed SMG pump and a karbonius CSLesque intake FTW. Matching hard top for the winter looks amazing too and is really unique and not often shown in reviews? This example will make someone smile on sunday mornings...
What do you think of the SMG? Curious about them but never had the opportunity to try one
I’ve also owned both cabs, but in CB. I did the opposite. Why SMG second time around??
I went for the SMG as I was set on an Estoril Blue cabrio and that was the only one I could get after some pratt wrote off my manual. To be honest the SMG (I got a rebuilt SMG pump with a lifetime guarantee) with the CSL software remap (did myself) is the BEST of both worlds. Fast changes for aggressive country fun and auto changes down when in town. CSL remap really is night and day with an SMG. Those with both will agree!
Love the shot with the E39 M5 going the other way… Thinking about selling my F80 for one of these. Had a new 330i ZHP two decades ago and feel the the E46 wears the high water mark.
Hard to disagree!
Is that's the prettiest car in the world
My friend has one he loves it soo much he said he would get rid of his c63 before even thinking about getting rid of the m3
Great review 🔥🔥
Thank you! We’re glad you enjoyed
sick car, great reviewer !!
Thank you!
The prices are also amazing only $15,000 for a normal 6-speed example near me. Up to $20k if you go for something extremely fancy
So much value for money!
The thing is that the convertible drives almost the same as a coupe. The whole torsional rigidity thing is bollocks as an e46 Cabrio is still STIFFER than the e36 COUPE. And those e36s make amazing track cars.
The Cabrios have a hatred for some reason, I think they are brilliant. I’ve taken mine to the Nürburgring a few times and easily stuck with some 911s, plus roof down and thrashing some backroads is an experience that you really can’t get in a coupe.
We think the effect of torsional rigidity on driving pleasure is overstated, however the additional weight of the Convertible is noticeable over the Coupe. It's still a fantastic drive though!
A very good review indeed, usually I watch so called car reviewers on YT and they have very little or superficial knowledge.
You clearly know this car, I used to own a Schwartz black example albeit SMG, and in a strange way I’m looking back at them as a fun daily. I have a lovely Porsche 996 C4S as a weekend car and had money for a fun daily car, and have tried several more modern cars, thinking fastest is most fun but it absolutely is not the case. I have a tuned Golf 7 R that does 0-60 in 3.8 seconds verified, but it, like many modern cars is just sooo boring.
I’m looking at getting rid of the Golf R and getting back into an E46 M3 cab as my work daily, albeit I’m after a manual so I can fit a nice short shift and a lightened flywheel, I’ll change the rear diff ratio for a bit more urgency and that will do me just fine.
I did experience quite a bit of scuttle shake in my old e46 M3 cab, but that was on 19’s, I think my next one will have to be on 18’s as they look quite nice with some spacers.
Thank you for the review really enjoyed that, and also thank you for actually revving the car out properly, there are so many reviewers that just bang on and on and on but barely give the car any throttle it’s just waffle (Jayemm I’m looking at you) but your review was well balanced between hearing how the car goes and revs and providing great info, cheers to a proper car enthusiast and not one of the bandwagon types with bugger all knowledge.
Thank you for your kind feedback! An E46 M3 with a shorter diff ratio and lightweight flywheel makes for a brilliant car. Great to hear about the 996 C4S as well, we are big fans of the 996 generation 911 and have some great content coming up soon on them.
I’d love it if you could do a review of an e39 m5
It's on the cards!
Started looking for E46's recently in the U.S. hopefully I can find a nice example. Was also looking for S2000's too but I think this video sold me.
Both are amazing cars in their own right’s with very different use cases. Either way we don’t think you’ll be disappointed but we’re glad to hear this video helped your decision 😉
Excellent video
Thank you
Looks a very stately beast at low revs … and then you have lots of beans when you cain it .
Ive got the metallic grey with Imola red interior full scorpion system sounds the nutz ..be nice to have another 100 brake in it though
Fit a shorter rear diff ratio, wakes it up nicely.
if you are not going to track the car this is the cheaper and better option
would you sell it
About 5% of those that slag off Verts are track heroes. The rest are full of shit.
I see it hasn't got heated seats. That's a bit crazy for a convertible!
The wind deflector and nuclear hot BMW HVAC heating more than make up for it!
Mine has heated seats
You can retro fit them if you can tack down some heating mats; wiring loom and switch panel are easily found
for sale??
Sold on shootingbrake.com! We always have M3s coming to the platform though so do check back to see if we have anything suitable for you
I’ve got two in my collection, both SMG , one in silver grey & the other in Phoenix yellow, both cars are immaculate inside & out & both have done less than 40K.👌
Wow, we do love a phoenix yellow M3 here! Thank you for sharing, wishing you many more miles with both 😁
Standard exhaust but the tips look bigger, are they the euro tips? They look similar to the ones I have on mine
Yes correct, this car has the euro tips
The car is in Europe, might be a clue..