jonyb

Anyone here own one? I'm in the market for an 03-04 (no more than $33K) with low mileage. This would be my first BMW so other than SMG and 6mt what else should I look for?

Is there a preference of SMG over 6mt?

They don't look to be selling very well in ebay or autotrader either. There's a BMW dealer here in town but to buy one of these cars I'm gonna have to travel. Located in Western, KY.

Jupiter Sunsation

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o20894-en.html This is a decent price and looks clean.

I had an 02 Conv that was a good car but I preferred my previous M3. The E46 cars suffered from fatal engine flaws in the early cars so BMW extended the warranty on the engines to 100K miles for free. I don't recall the flaw but the earlier the car the better chance it had it. An 03/04 car shouldn't have the issues. Keep in mind the new V8 M3 is heading stateside shortly which will dropped used prices on the current cars being they are the older style/ 6 cyl. cars.
Tires can be pricey since you can't rotate front to back on the staggered setups. The conv. gets a decent amount of cowl shake if you add the front shock tower bar. The early cars didn't get one, but late 02 and beyond had them.

I drove my 02 6 spd. about 20K miles in 30 months and sold it without ever having anything but BMW service completed on the car and one set of tires.

jonyb

I think the 01-03.5's have a rod bearing recall, and that's pretty serious. Thanks for posting that one up, but I forgot to mention that I wanted a coupe and will never own another black car in this lifetime.

Did you ever drive an SMG? I'm just wondering how it would compare to the 6 spd..... More importantly how well the SMG does for normal driving.

Chris Sunkin

Bought one for my wife in the fall. Tires don't last long and they suck in the snow. Other than that, there's nothing like it for zooming around in. I like it better than my old Boxster in terms of fun to drive.

Jupiter Sunsation

Hated the SMG cars. My buddy bought one then traded to a F430 F1 and told me Ferrari got it right whereas the BMW was still developing theirs.........

jonyb

For what he paid for the Ferrari, I'd hope he got something right.

Jupiter Sunsation

He is a car nut, the F430 lasted about 6 months and an 08 911 GT3 replaced it. I have seen most of the cars but every once in a while he will slip one by me then tell me later he already traded it. GT3 runs 30 MPH faster on the back straight at Moroso than the Ferrari and is a better built car. He was having panic attacks leaving the Ferrari outside, at the mall, etc. The 911 is just a car he can drive and drive hard on the track.

Phantom1

I loved my M3................until I drove the M5.

Personally, I love the SMG, but it takes a little getting used to. I went with it on the M5 as well.

tblrklakemo

Get a manual if you want to shift yourself (i would.) Or get an auto and put it into drive and not worry.

PremierPOWER

We have an 04 SMG M3 and a 95 5 speed M3. I hate the smg, but its all personal preference