E46 M3 Project Car for $3K?

Hunter78 · 05-29-2018, 12:08 PM

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to find a clean e46 M3 at a reasonable price. I want to start a summer project! Is it possible to find something under 3k? I plan on swapping the engine so high miles is fine.

Thanks!!

Zara · 05-29-2018, 12:14 PM

If you want to find something under 3k then it's not going to be clean.

Mr. Tasty · 05-29-2018, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter78

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to find a clean e46 M3 at a reasonable price. I want to start a summer project! Is it possible to find something under 3k? I plan on swapping the engine so high miles is fine.

Thanks!!

A clean e46 M3 will run closer to 18k-22k. Even more for a low mileage car.

rjd_F30 · 05-29-2018, 12:24 PM

A clean E46 for under 13k is hard to find, let alone under 3k. Go for a coupe and 6MT and it turns into being impossible. They can be had for under 10k but they will not be clean. Then again you're looking for a project so I guess that works...

Kailec · 05-29-2018, 12:26 PM

As others have said that's not likely to happen. Anything in that price range will need a lot of work and will be high mileage for sure. That being said if you find one for that price I will pay you $6k to take it off you.

Hunter78 · 05-29-2018, 12:54 PM

I was looking at some salvage cars since I plan on rebuilding it myself. Most of the cars I have seen are way to damaged. Can you buy just the frame somewhere?

Chihuahua · 05-30-2018, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter78

I was looking at some salvage cars since I plan on rebuilding it myself. Most of the cars I have seen are way to damaged. Can you buy just the frame somewhere?

It's a unitized structure, there is no 'frame'.

If you're OK with an engine swap just buy a regular E46. There isn't a snowballs chance in Haiti of buying an E46 M3 for three grand that's in any kind of usable condition. They're appreciating in value.

Never_Enough · 06-19-2018, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zara

If you want to find something under 3k then it's not going to be clean.

DerEisbaer · 06-19-2018, 09:41 AM

It'll be difficult to find a clean E36/E46 with an MT for around 3k$, an M3 would be the unicorn we are all looking for

Early Z4s and some Z3s are still rather "cheap" here in Germany, might be a good alternative (Z3 would definitely make a good Miata equivalent). But even those will not be easy to find at a budget of 3-5k$.

yco · 06-21-2018, 10:10 AM

3k? really?

xander_g · 06-21-2018, 11:22 AM

No chance you'll find one for 3k. They're going up in price from what I've seen. I know someone selling one for 40k CAD but its flawless.

The Wind Breezes · 06-21-2018, 12:34 PM

Obviously you are driving your family's xdrive.

Look, you can still find a BMW to work on and drive with that budget but it WON'T be a a M3. Maybe a '90s E36. And you'll likely need to do a lot of maintenance, probably as much as you paid for the car.

You sound like you may be new to cars in general so good luck, because it will be a trial by fire.

10" · 06-21-2018, 02:17 PM

It's your lucky day!! have found you a clean E46 M3 for under $3k....and guess what it's a CSL! Lucky day!!

http://www.legacydiecast.com/bmw-e46...t-in-118-scale

M00011owner · 06-21-2018, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunter78

Hey Guys,

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to find a clean e46 M3 at a reasonable price. I want to start a summer project! Is it possible to find something under 3k? I plan on swapping the engine so high miles is fine.

Thanks!!

I know this is resurrecting an old thread, but if you are still interested, I've got a 2003 M3 SMG vert. (laguna seca blue). LMK if interested.

SunnyD · 06-21-2018, 02:24 PM

Why not do an e36 non M w/S54 swap? If I wanted a project car, that's what I'd do.

05-29-2018, 12:08 PM	#1
Hunter78 Private 15 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW 328i XDRIVE M SPORT Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ATL, GA iTrader: (0)	E46 M3 Project Car for $3K? Hey Guys, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to find a clean e46 M3 at a reasonable price. I want to start a summer project! Is it possible to find something under 3k? I plan on swapping the engine so high miles is fine. Thanks!!
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05-29-2018, 12:14 PM	#2
Zara Lieutenant 621 Rep 445 Posts Drives: 2014 335i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	If you want to find something under 3k then it's not going to be clean. __________________ 2014 335i 6MT /// Mineral Gray - Red Coral \| M Perf Spoiler \| M Perf Lip & Diffuser \| M Perf Grilles \| M Perf Side Splitters \| M Perf CF & Alcantra Interior Trim \| \| Wagner Evo II FMIC \| VRSF DP \| AA CP \| CTS Turbo Intake \| MHD Stage 2 Tune \| H&R Sports \| Bilstein B8s \|
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05-29-2018, 12:24 PM	#4
rjd_F30 Brigadier General 2016 Rep 3,681 Posts Drives: 2013 335i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	A clean E46 for under 13k is hard to find, let alone under 3k. Go for a coupe and 6MT and it turns into being impossible. They can be had for under 10k but they will not be clean. Then again you're looking for a project so I guess that works... __________________ Instagram: rjd_f30 \| Current: EBII 2013 335i 6MT RWD & Sprint Blue 2008 Audi RS4 \| Retired: 2013 328i, 2000 XTerra, 2022 Civic Si \|
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05-29-2018, 12:26 PM	#5
Kailec Lieutenant Colonel 595 Rep 1,953 Posts Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 328i xDrive [0.00]	As others have said that's not likely to happen. Anything in that price range will need a lot of work and will be high mileage for sure. That being said if you find one for that price I will pay you $6k to take it off you.
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05-29-2018, 12:54 PM	#6
Hunter78 Private 15 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW 328i XDRIVE M SPORT Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ATL, GA iTrader: (0)	I was looking at some salvage cars since I plan on rebuilding it myself. Most of the cars I have seen are way to damaged. Can you buy just the frame somewhere?
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06-19-2018, 09:41 AM	#9
DerEisbaer Private First Class 100 Rep 147 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & VW Golf Mk2 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Frankfurt - Germany iTrader: (0)	It'll be difficult to find a clean E36/E46 with an MT for around 3k$, an M3 would be the unicorn we are all looking for Early Z4s and some Z3s are still rather "cheap" here in Germany, might be a good alternative (Z3 would definitely make a good Miata equivalent). But even those will not be easy to find at a budget of 3-5k$.
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06-21-2018, 10:10 AM	#10
yco i'm just saying 6021 Rep 2,634 Posts Drives: E71 X6M '10 (sold) Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Istanbul & Kyiv iTrader: (0)	3k? really?
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06-21-2018, 11:22 AM	#11
xander_g Major 1074 Rep 1,161 Posts Drives: G30 M550i Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 BMW M550i Xdrive [0.00]	No chance you'll find one for 3k. They're going up in price from what I've seen. I know someone selling one for 40k CAD but its flawless.
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06-21-2018, 12:34 PM	#12
The Wind Breezes Lieutenant Colonel 919 Rep 1,848 Posts Drives: 135i N55 DCT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Obviously you are driving your family's xdrive. Look, you can still find a BMW to work on and drive with that budget but it WON'T be a a M3. Maybe a '90s E36. And you'll likely need to do a lot of maintenance, probably as much as you paid for the car. You sound like you may be new to cars in general so good luck, because it will be a trial by fire.
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06-21-2018, 02:17 PM	#13
10" Colonel 5110 Rep 2,297 Posts Drives: orange BMW 1M. Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: world iTrader: (0)	It's your lucky day!! have found you a clean E46 M3 for under $3k....and guess what it's a CSL! Lucky day!! http://www.legacydiecast.com/bmw-e46...t-in-118-scale __________________ don't read this. too late...
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06-21-2018, 02:24 PM	#15
SunnyD Major 478 Rep 1,316 Posts Drives: M4 GTS Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA iTrader: (1)	Why not do an e36 non M w/S54 swap? If I wanted a project car, that's what I'd do. __________________ '16 ///M4 GTS '11 ///M3 E90 ZCP \| DCT '06 ///M5 \| SMG - Gone '98 ///M3 \| 5MT - Gone '07 ///M Coupe \| 6MT - Gone
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