Category Archives: BMW

For Sale – My E46 M3 Convertible

By far the longest I’ve ever owned a car and still not 100% sure that I want to sell but here is the info:

With a 3.2l straight 6, 343 bhp engine, this is a beautiful, E46 M3 Convertible in excellent working order with no modifications.

Details – Titan Silver, 6 speed manual, Black Leather, Sat Nav + TV, Harmon Kardon, 6 disk cd changer, 19 inch wheels, hard top prep, parking sensors, heated folding wing mirrors, xenon head lights, rain sensors, call assist, tracker, air conditioning, all facelift items such as the rear LED lights and so on. I’m not aware of anything that this car doesn’t have.

Recent work – over £3000 has been spent within the last 4000 miles including disks, pads, hubs and sensors all round. Rear springs, engine cooling fan, battery, trim parts, exhaust components including back box. Wheels refurbished by Lepsons to original spec i.e. diamond cut.

I am an ex-BMW employee and have only used genuine BMW parts in my near 3 years of ownership. The car has full service history from main dealers and specialists only.

There is over 13000 miles indicated until the next service, MOT until 15/03/2012 and Tax until September.

I believe this to be a genuine original condition M3 and I have the HPI clear documentation from when I purchased the car. Private plate included in the sale.

2000km/1250m running in service carried out on time and by BMW, Wheatley Hall.

E46 M3

E46 M3

E46 M3

E46 M3

E46 M3

E46 M3

E46 M3

E46 M3

Hartge Z3 Coupe 5.0l

Hartge Z3 Coupe 5.0l V8

Stats:

Engine: 5.0L (4930cc), V8, 420hp and 520nm

Performance: 0-62 in 4.5 and 190 mph

Time owned: 02/2007 – Current

Valuation: £50,000 in 2010

Mileage: 65,879

Parts/Servicing costs: BMW rates

Insurance: Approx £800 fully comp for a 30 year old with 5 years no claims

History: New price when Hartge sold it in 2001 was 120.000 euros in Germany and 160.000 euros in the Netherlands (incl. BPM). I’m the third owner, Herbert Hartge was the first, I have also the German road papers and TUV and of course Dutch road registration, still the only real Hartge as a brand ever registered in NL.

Hartge Z3 Coupe 5.0l V8 Full Review

BMW Unscripted

Sabine Schmitz has become famous in the UK for appearances on Top Gear, such as helping Jeremy in a Jag at the Nurburgring and then trying to beat him in a Ford Transit van. She is now a popular host for boys motoring holidays and providing the ‘Ring Taxi’ in a BMW M5.

I’ve stumbled across this fantastic piece of marketing for BMW

Wiki ‘Sabine Schmitz (Sabine Reck while married; born 14 May 1969), is a German former professional motor racing driver for BMW, now known for driving the BMW “Ring taxi” around the Nürburgring race track as well as being a television personality.’

BMW M3 (E46)

This is no ordinary E46 M3, this is MY M3!

A recent service and MOT by BMW and the mechanics commented what a fine example this car is. Having covered 70,000 miles and being 8 years old, there are no dents, scuffs or any sign of neglect so I’ve decided to give my pride and joy some loving on my day off.

E36 and E46 M3 Convertible
E46 M3 Convertible

E46 M3 Convertible Interior

My old E46 M3 with Schnitzer suspension and interior / exterior modifications.

E46 M3 AC SchnitzerE46 M3 Coupe with AC Schnitzer modifications

What is the best M3 to date?

The BMW M3 is one of the best all rounders on the market today. Available in Saloon and Coupe form, the E92 M3 can frighten the life out of you on country roads pumping out in excess of 400 bhp through the rear wheels but it’s also perfectly at home on the daily commute or pootling around towns. This seems to have caused a problem – is the latest Munich Monster too accomplished that it has lost some of the ‘rawness’ of the E30 and E46?

BMW M3 Convertible (E92)Picture from BMW

I’m still partial to a bit of E46. The E36 had good power and handling but it was a bit too smooth and soft to be a real sports car. The E30 is one of my all time favourites and one of our users has this meticulously maintained example:

E30 M3
BMW M3 Evo (E30)

Which does make me run for the nearest copy of Top Marques or login to Pistonheads to see what’s up for grabs!

The last two M3’s I’ve owned are here:

E36 & E46 M3 Convertible

Yes, they’re convertibles and I have just been talking about the E92 loosing some of the rawness. So really we have a variety of sports saloons, coupe’s and convertibles for anyone to enjoy.

So the question is:

What is your favourite M3 and why?

The real drivers choice must be the E46 CSL.