BMW E46's--An education is requested

amg_rx7 wrote: I'd still rather have a Boxster

Boxster can't swallow a guitar, or a hockey bag

FWIW, I don't think convertibles and guitars are a good match. I went with an E92 coupe, which perfectly takes a vertical 16" hollow body case. Or, since they're vertical, whole stack of them. On my trip to Nashville last month, I had two hollowbodies, two suitcases, an amp head, cabinet and various other stuff back there, and had room left over. Shoulda bought that teisco I found in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

The ZHP also had different cam shafts along with the changed tune.

Yes, my wife's car has the dove gray leather interior. I didn't like it at first, but eventually it grew on me.

Just got done doing some work on it. Easy car to work on overall.

Tim Baxter wrote: FWIW, I don't think convertibles and guitars are a good match. I went with an E92 coupe, which perfectly takes a vertical 16" hollow body case. Or, since they're vertical, whole stack of them. On my trip to Nashville last month, I had two hollowbodies, two suitcases, an amp head, cabinet and various other stuff back there, and had room left over. Shoulda bought that teisco I found in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

Uh... Why not? Wouldn't have the top down with the guitar in the cab for more than 15 minutes. I've been doing since I was 16. And were you talking about the Tiesco that was on the LaSalle/Peru craigslist?

amg_rx7 wrote: I'd still rather have a Boxster

I'm very interested in a Boxster too, but if I have two kids and their gear that I need to bring to football practice, the only way I could do it would be to shove one kid into the front trunk and his gear in the rear trunk.

unevolved wrote: E36 M3, man, you can get a facelifted 325i sedan, and swap in an S54 for less than a ZHP. I know I sound like a broken record around here lately, but there's so much more value in a "lesser" E46. It's 90% of the car for 50% of the price. When I was looking for a car, I just went for the best condition I could find. I'd have preferred a 330i, but I settled on a better-condition 325i. Still better than any car I've owned previously.

Unevolved, would you PM me? I tried you but got an email failure.

Matt B wrote: I'm having a hard time finding that 50% price difference, at least in Atlanta on C-list and Autotrader. There is savings there, but it isn't $4-5K for comparable cars (mileage, condition, transmission, etc.). Seems more like $2-2.5K, on average at least. That said, I did see this 330i coupe manual for what seems like a deal and is more in-line with the statements above. It is the only one with a manual transmission not approaching 200K though. It's got minor/solvable cosmetic issues and I'm not personally excited about the color, but could be a great deal for someone here who isn't quite as picky as myself. ATL 330i coupe manual

I guess I should have been more specific. I was talking about how ZHPs will go for north of $12k with decent mileage. I bought a dealer-maintained 2003 325i with high-ish mileage (177k) for $4k, and at that time I was seeing 100k mile ZHPs from the same year going for as much as $14k. So yeah, it's not a perfect comparison, but I'm still always taken aback by the vast price ZHPs command for what could be easily achieved with a few thousand in quality aftermarket parts.

Hypothetically speaking, you could get a decent condition 330i for what, $6k? You could throw in some cams and a Sprint Booster from Turner for $1500, install some KWs for $2k, pay a body shop to install an M-Tech 2 bumper for another $1k, and you'd come out WAY ahead.

dyintorace: You have PM.

I think that the high $$ command from a ZHP is because they're somewhat rare compared to a M3, and it is a little more than a sport package.

Also, people on here that own E46s are reporting to spend less money maintaining their cars compared to my E36. I don't know if it's because of the age of the cars, the increased reliability BMW engineered in them, or a combination of both.

mtn wrote: Uh... Why not? Wouldn't have the top down with the guitar in the cab for more than 15 minutes. I've been doing since I was 16. And were you talking about the Tiesco that was on the LaSalle/Peru craigslist?

I think it may depend on where you live and how much driving you'd be doing under a hot sun.

Who's gonna pull the trigger on one now that we have had this education?

Harvey wrote: Who's gonna pull the trigger on one now that we have had this education?

Test driving a family friends M3 convertible that he might be interested in selling this weekend.

Also talking with my dad this weekend to get his opionion on it (he's owned 3 BMW's), and to talk to him about my current car, as he is technically the owner.

Harvey wrote: Who's gonna pull the trigger on one now that we have had this education?

I've been pondering one, but it was before this thread came along. Opinion varies depending on my mood and what I want out of the car. If I go E46, only an M3 would do. Mainly because after all these years of driving boring, under-powered cars, I want something that isn't either. I'd probably find the newest and lowest mileage example I could and be willing to pay more for it. The wild card might be a wagon, but probably not.

If I go the "cheap" path, I'd find a sub-$2000 E36 325/8is off CL and build it into a beater/track-rat.

If I was in the market for an e46 convertible, I'd be looking at this one this weekend. I love the color combo and it's a great price for the year and mileage.

M3 'vert for sale

dyintorace wrote: If I was in the market for an e46 convertible, I'd be looking at this one this weekend. I love the color combo and it's a great price for the year and mileage. M3 'vert for sale

That's an SMG car which I would avoid.

unevolved wrote: Hypothetically speaking, you could get a decent condition 330i for what, $6k? You could throw in some cams and a Sprint Booster from Turner for $1500, install some KWs for $2k, pay a body shop to install an M-Tech 2 bumper for another $1k, and you'd come out WAY ahead.

That sounds like a fun car. If you want to mod and keep the car for a long time I can't argue.

But I will.

With that plan you also just spent $4500 on mods for a $6000 car, an investment you're not likely to recoup. Plus all the time and effort to install them. Incidentally, that is pretty much what I'm guilty of with my MR2.

I agree, that color combo is amazing. I'd prefer a saddle over that one, but that is still awesome.

Harvey wrote: Who's gonna pull the trigger on one now that we have had this education?

I'm in the market for my next toy, but in no hurry. Winter is the best time to buy a convertible, so we're just entering prime buying season. I'll buy any time between now and February when I figure out exactly what I'm getting and the right one comes along. The only potential snag is that I'm very likely having hip surgery sometime in late winter. That'll make it hard to drive a 3 pedal car for a month or so...

That green M3 is really nice, but no automatics for me...my Prius is an auto and that's all I need.

Matt B wrote:

unevolved wrote: Hypothetically speaking, you could get a decent condition 330i for what, $6k? You could throw in some cams and a Sprint Booster from Turner for $1500, install some KWs for $2k, pay a body shop to install an M-Tech 2 bumper for another $1k, and you'd come out WAY ahead.

That sounds like a fun car. If you want to mod and keep the car for a long time I can't argue. But I will. With that plan you also just spent $4500 on mods for a $6000 car, an investment you're not likely to recoup. Plus all the time and effort to install them. Incidentally, that is pretty much what I'm guilty of with my MR2.

Yeah, you pretty much figured out my plan. I've about decided the E46 sedan is the perfect daily driver for me, with the right balance of fun, practicality, and comfort. I don't intend on ever selling it, and 14 months after purchase, I still feel that way.

If you're planning on selling said hypothetical within a decade or two, ignore all previously stated advice. Buy a ZHP, they keep value well if you're going to flip them.

In reply to unevolved: If I didn't endorse your plan at least a little bit, I'd be a total hypocrite. It's just fun arguing.

Speaking of, how much power can you expect from the sprint booster and cams? Have you picked out any particular cams? I'm totally unfamiliar with the sprint booster thingy.

I haven't used one, personally. (This whole time, I've been meaning Shark Injector, not sprint booster.) Turner claims 14 horsepower with the ZHP cams, and I think people have reported close to 20 with Schrick cams.

I've been spending all my money filling my car with no-fun maintenance parts. :(

mtn wrote:

Tim Baxter wrote: FWIW, I don't think convertibles and guitars are a good match. I went with an E92 coupe, which perfectly takes a vertical 16" hollow body case. Or, since they're vertical, whole stack of them. On my trip to Nashville last month, I had two hollowbodies, two suitcases, an amp head, cabinet and various other stuff back there, and had room left over. Shoulda bought that teisco I found in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

Uh... Why not? Wouldn't have the top down with the guitar in the cab for more than 15 minutes. I've been doing since I was 16. And were you talking about the Tiesco that was on the LaSalle/Peru craigslist?

Sorry, just saw this.

My convertible experience is MGs, Triumphs and Miatas. On those, the ONLY place a guitar will fit is in the front seat, which is wildly insecure and kinda annoying if you have, you know, a passenger. And tops for BMW convertibles take up a lot of trunk space. They're not pup tents like cheap convertibles.

The Teisco was a neat hollow body, cheap, a bit east of Cape Girardeau MO, or just west of Metropolis, at some place called Mayberry music. I really, really shoulda snagged it.

Tim Baxter wrote:

mtn wrote:

Tim Baxter wrote: FWIW, I don't think convertibles and guitars are a good match. I went with an E92 coupe, which perfectly takes a vertical 16" hollow body case. Or, since they're vertical, whole stack of them. On my trip to Nashville last month, I had two hollowbodies, two suitcases, an amp head, cabinet and various other stuff back there, and had room left over. Shoulda bought that teisco I found in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

Uh... Why not? Wouldn't have the top down with the guitar in the cab for more than 15 minutes. I've been doing since I was 16. And were you talking about the Tiesco that was on the LaSalle/Peru craigslist?

Sorry, just saw this. My convertible experience is MGs, Triumphs and Miatas. On those, the ONLY place a guitar will fit is in the front seat, which is wildly insecure and kinda annoying if you have, you know, a passenger.

I can fit a dreadnaught in a hardshell case in the NB Miata trunk. Your argument is invalid.

(Actually, it is a 12 string case, since the Epiphone Frontier headstock is huge.)

Trunk open, stick the headstock side of the case in to the little cubby on the left. Put the case in (it is now standing on its side, in the trunk). Then you can rotate it into the trunk, and it fits.

I can even fit enough for a week-long vacation with it in there as well, alhtough it is admittedly in grocery bags.

MTN, my hat is off to your packing ability. I could never get a hollow body in mine. Fitting a dreadnaught is impressive.

But I still think guitars and convertibles go together like peanut butter and ass.