Topic: From the Vault: 2003 BMW M3 Coupe

[Autos_Editor]

A From The Vault revival: Our 2003 review of a classic M3....

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[ChaosphereIX]

gorgeous car and one of the last amazing driver's cars from Munich...

that would be the one I would have, not the E30, not the E92/F30...but this one.

all subsequent cars from BMW seemed attempting to harken back to their past, or totally forgot what they were all about. BMW should look at this car and wonder "How did we go so wrong after this?"

Although personally I would have an S4 with that thundering V8, or because of my love of Alfas, a 156 GTA Autodelta 3.7 with 330hp, this car is just magnificent. Had the honour to drive one once, it was a joy.

Great review Paul, you summed this car up perfectly.

[tpl]

Must be part of a campaign to get Aqua to keep his.


That was a lot of money in 2003.

[Northernridge]

Great! An eleven year old review. 

[ChaosphereIX]

Great! An eleven year old review. 

just to remind us how far BMW has fallen...

[2JDM]

A soon to be classic. Timeless design.

[normancw]

Must be part of a campaign to get Aqua to keep his.

That was a lot of money in 2003.

The base 2014 M3 is much cheaper than the 2003 base.  $71,700 vs $73,800 (which is $89,000 adjusted for inflation)  

While the E46 M3 is a classic, I would rather have an E92-based M3 or a 1M.

[OliverD]

Unfortunately it seems like most of these M3s are pretty beat and the ones that aren't are not a whole lot cheaper than an early E90/E92 M3.

Still, I'd love to own a laguna seca blue coupe.

[mlin32]

Back then, this was my dream car.

Even now, I still aspire procure one of these used someday. Yes, it will be expensive to fix and maintain but then again, cars haven't ever been logical purchases. The styling, interior, and engine soundtrack are stellar even to this day.

[HeliDriver]

I remember the day I first saw one of these in the metal. I had been lusting after that car since I first started reading the reviews, and it was a real treat to finally see one. Even better, it was at the track, so I got to hear it scream, too.

The neat thing was that it was owned by an older lady (she had to be in her 70s) and she tracked the car regularly!  She wasn't super fast, but what the hell, good for her! And it was fun to say that my Civic was several seconds faster per lap than a new M3. 

[CAS]

Love everything about this car. The best looking BMW ever - it's got character and ageless style, unlike the modern ones which look generic to me.

[Fobroader]

I love this car....its everything that was right about the M cars. Id happily take one of these in one of those "if you could only drive one vehicle" scenarios.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

The Smoking Tire did a comparison of an E46 M3 vs a modern Fiesta ST...both available for roughly the same amount of money.  Entertaining watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbcj-zE7gBw

[lebowski]

I see tons of these in vancouver. There's a very nice white one in my apartment garage, lowered and sitting on BBS wheels. I believe the owner takes it racing, based on various little decals and numbers he/she occasionally has on the sides.

It's truly a timeless design and I think the E92 M3 will actually age just as well. Both cars have perfect proportions, IMO.

[johngenx]

It's tough to tell what will happen in terms of the market for these cars.  Anyone (like me) that would love an E30 M3 has watched their values go up significantly in the last few years, to the point where they're now becoming some of the most expensive used M3s on the market.  Why would an E30 M3 become so desirable?  It's far from fast in comparison to modern cars.  It doesn't have an art-work body like an E-Type or other classic.

It has "something."  It's hard to define, but whatever it is, people recognize and are willing to pay for it.  One factor I think is in play is the raw simplicity of the car and the feeling that with care, it would be possible to literally drive it forever.  These types of cars have been gaining traction in the enthusiast market in the last few years.  There is also the rarity factor, with pristine examples becoming less common thanks to the age and number that were stuffed into Armco or ruined through mods.

[Julie]

It's tough to tell what will happen in terms of the market for these cars.  Anyone (like me) that would love an E30 M3 has watched their values go up significantly in the last few years, to the point where they're now becoming some of the most expensive used M3s on the market.  Why would an E30 M3 become so desirable?  It's far from fast in comparison to modern cars.  It doesn't have an art-work body like an E-Type or other classic.

It has "something."  It's hard to define, but whatever it is, people recognize and are willing to pay for it.  One factor I think is in play is the raw simplicity of the car and the feeling that with care, it would be possible to literally drive it forever.  These types of cars have been gaining traction in the enthusiast market in the last few years.  There is also the rarity factor, with pristine examples becoming less common thanks to the age and number that were stuffed into Armco or ruined through mods.

A great reputation at the time the car was on the market as well as a perception that they're reliable.

Why is why E46 M3's with manuals are prized much more than those with SMGs. Especially E46 M3 manuals with the competition package (rare and desirable) and without nav.

[aquadorhj]

competition package for E46 doesn't come with cruise control...

but comes with alcantara wrapped steering wheel!!!

[ChaosphereIX]

competition package for E46 doesn't come with cruise control...

but comes with alcantara wrapped steering wheel!!!

it is an M3 meant for the track, who needs cruise control!?
j/k would be nice to have if you had a long drive TO the track I guess...

[HeliDriver]

It's tough to tell what will happen in terms of the market for these cars.  Anyone (like me) that would love an E30 M3 has watched their values go up significantly in the last few years, to the point where they're now becoming some of the most expensive used M3s on the market.  Why would an E30 M3 become so desirable?  It's far from fast in comparison to modern cars.  It doesn't have an art-work body like an E-Type or other classic.

It has "something."  It's hard to define, but whatever it is, people recognize and are willing to pay for it.  One factor I think is in play is the raw simplicity of the car and the feeling that with care, it would be possible to literally drive it forever.  These types of cars have been gaining traction in the enthusiast market in the last few years.  There is also the rarity factor, with pristine examples becoming less common thanks to the age and number that were stuffed into Armco or ruined through mods.

I got to drive an E30 M3 back in the day and agree that it's a spectacular car. But I also spent some time driving an E30 325is and loved that car, too. I always thought it was a bit of a shame that the M3 didn't have that incredible silky smooth I6 (yes, I know, the M3 had the four-banger because racecar  )

Just saying I'd be happy with either car, and maybe even happier with the 325is, if only because a good one would probably cost a fraction of a nice M3.