BMW M3 (2001 - 2006) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The E46 M3, in regard to timeless styling and performance is probably my favorite overall car around. When I bought mine it was in 2013 and I got a convertible with the SMG transmission. To my dismay this was the worst combination available. The convertible is a bit more squirrly, the SMG never works correctly and costs you 4 figures every 6 months when it needs fixed. With this said I recommend only looking at manuals and in the future I plan to have a manual coupe. It will eat tires It will hurt when the brakes need replaced It will get you speeding tickets It will also put a smile on your face everytime you turn the key. It will jump up to 100 then you think youre doing 70 and beg for more. When the off ramp says 30 you will be doing 60. This car is a beast, without question. And dollar for dollar you are hard pressed to do better! I have owned an e36, e46, and currently an e90. Although the e90 is faster the e46 is raw, it has character, it has its flaws. Its a vehicle you build a relationship with, as you learn more about the cars characteristics, its handling, you will love it more and more and it will treat you well. The sound system will ultimately need replaced as its garbage from the factory but who really cares when you can listen to the inline 6 scream? I had the Dinan free flow exhaust on mine and would highly recommend this tasteful upgrade. Dinan is a leader in M3 performance parts. Overall this car is a fantastic weekend driver, a fantastic track car, and a great summer car. I would not recommend for winter driving, but i would recommend for anyone who loves driving, or wants to rediscover their love for driving. After 3 years without an M car, prior to buying my e90, I longed for the feel, that smile, the thrill that the BMW M series brings. No others will compare for the same $. Will own a proper manual e46 again soon enough. Until then, im going to be redlining this V8 .Aug 18, 2020

If you have every owned a BMW, then you know the joy of the ultimate driving machine. The BMW M3 however is on a different level of ultimate driving machine, its level is racing machine. Bmw recommends racing oil for the engine, and keeping it well maintained. The M3 is a beautiful car to own because it handles, looks good, and is respected by people who know. The negative is that its not an every day driver car. It gets low miles per gallon, not a family car, terrible in the winter, and seem to have loss remarkable value within a short period of time.Jul 17, 2012

Provided you know how to maintain an engine correctly this car is a beast and cant possibly let you down. knowing how to work on it yourself is definitely recommended to keep maintenance costs down to a minimum. the car is incredibly reliable provided you treat it the way it deserves to be treated. its fast and handles like a champion, you dont have to worry about riding it hard as long as you take care of it correctly. fuel economy is pretty impressive considering its got 333 horsepower, driving conservatively i average about 25 mpg.Aug 19, 2011

This is one of the greatest cars in the world, 3.2 engine that produces 343 HP, the car is very comfortable, reliable and fast, I love driving it all the time. Quality is excellent; appearance is awesome for aggressive shape lovers and interior is very sexy for a racing car passionate. Cost? if you can afford it, just buy it. It is fun to drive the car on the roads all the time.Dec 24, 2009

Back in the days when tuning hit its peek when I was in CEGEP. This was my dream car, and I prayed one day for it to be in my possession. That day came sooner then I had expected. At the time, I drove the Jetta around and mod it inspired by the M3. If you look back at the Jetta, it had M3 style wheels. When came time for me to buy a new car. I had not even look at the M3 as I was thinking it is still an unattainable dream. Instead, I was in search of a different kind of sports coupe. More reliable and cheaper in maintenance, an alternative to my dream M3; the Infiniti G35 coupe. In search of a Pearl White with black interior and 6-speed transmission, the G35 had far-fetched search criteria. However, I was fortunate enough to have ran into 4 of them in my path, yet none of them felt right. One lucky turn of events, a M3 Coupe in Alpine white rose to the market, without even putting in the search effort. Unbelievable find! I knew it had to be mine. After many trips to the bank, and thorough negotiations... The dream became a reality! This is love. Before this purchase I had tried many G35, 350Z, a Porsche 911 and a Audi S4, but it did not have the right feeling. What those cars where lacking is the balance of power, handling, and usability. I wanted a sports coupe, there eliminating the Audi. I needed the rear seats, thus G35 shot to the top of the list rendering the 350Z & Porsche useless, since the seats in the Porsche are made for anorexic kids and models. The G35 lacked a godly handling, such was found in the M3, given it did have a more musical exhaust howl. Undeniably, my heart remained with the M3. Once behind that wheel it felt like you where in control of one of Gods chariots! Stability, control, power... all in perfect harmony. To top it all off, it can still be used as a grocery getter given its spacious boot. The sound from the Inline-6 is incredible, a little too raspy to my taste but nothing short of the Beethoven musical notes of motorsports. Absolutely, pure driver's car. No gimmicky technology added, a completely unrestrained best yet still very civilized. The build quality is absolutely exquisite. Can you expect any less from BMW? One look and you can say it is bold, very solid, and German muscular. Yet very easy on the eyes as it isn't too busy. Even those side vents became an inspiration of plethora for many other car design today. The engine design is definitely one of the greatest, no wonder the ///M had been the power-plant for, even until today, one the fastest cars in the world; the Mclaren F1. Extremely great follow up, from the legendary E30 M3. The E46 M3 really lived up to the hype. Truly and undeniably the real last purest M3 of its kind. Oct 14, 2009

The E46 M3 is the best handling car that I've ever driven. The performance is just superb - including the powerful yet smooth engine, stable and solid handling, and excellent braking. I am an average driver, but my M3 makes me feel like I'm a Formula One driver. Every single minute I spend behind its wheel is a sheer pleasure. Just can't think of driving any other car.Oct 14, 2008

SMG 411: The SMG M3 uses exactly the same transmission and clutch as a manual gear box, but they are actuated by an electro-hydraulic control system, which also has authority over the throttle. There is no clutch pedal in the car, and the conventional shift lever is replaced by a complex switch, supplemented by paddles mounted to the back of the steering wheel. Shifting can be accomplished using either control. Sequential mode responds to driver input. In automated mode, the computer does its own thing, as if emulating an automatic transmission. There are five settings for shift aggressiveness (speed) in each mode, plus a "maximum-attack" sixth level available only in sequential mode with DSC turned off. BMW states that SMG, in its fastest settings, is faster and more precise than any human could be.Aug 16, 2008

While working at BMW I had the chance to drive A LOT of their cars, especially the E46 M3. This car, now a used vehicle for most purchasers, should be on the top of the list. The build quality is second to none. The performance is seamless. The 332hp I6 is still just as wonderful as it always was, delivering a thrilling exhaust note. Handling is perfect with 19" wheels all around, and a limited slip rear differential. I happen to prefer the regular 6 speed transmission, but the SMG on these cars isn't bad either, although totally impractical for the street. For the price, this car delivers prestige, luxury and performance in spades.Feb 11, 2008