Karter16

Thanks! Yeah I'm really pleased with it.

Yep absolutely - appropriate checks were done prior to purchase (I knew what I was buying). The last service wasn't done by someone who knows BMW's - hence the purpose of the Inspection II is to set a baseline starting point for moving forward. Perhaps my wording in my first post wasn't the best :-) Yes it's the one that was with Buy Right.

Hey guys, I possibly introduced myself previous (about 10 years ago when I bought a 318i), but here goes. Picked up a 2005 E46 M3 (Silver Grey, SMG) a few weeks ago. It's the car I've wanted since I bought my 318i in 2006 :-) First steps are ensuring that the car is solid - it's going for an Inspection II + nose to tail check next week. Anyway - hi :-) Cheers, Matt

Picked this car up a few weeks ago. Got it for a good price. The interior is in awesome condition, had a lot of the trim panels replaced by the dealer so no scratches. The exterior has a number of marks, but not as bad as it's made out above (plan on re-spraying it in the next couple of years anyway). The car has a partial service history with Jerry Clayton, has had the rear subframe strengthened under warranty and has had the rear trailing arms replaced recently as well. I'm sending it in for an Inspection II next week (joys of partial service history), but all looking good so far. Thanks everyone for your input to this thread, helped me make the call to get it - cheers! Matt

Hi all, My 2000 318 E46 sedan has just been in for a service and it is going to need new shocks all round at some point in the near future. The guys recommended to me that it was better to go with after-market shocks rather than the oem items as it would work out cheaper for superior performance. Just wondering whether anyone has some comments on different after-market shocks out there for E46 318's and what things I might need to know before choosing what I want (I haven't done this before). If anyone has any input it would be really appreciated cheers Matt

Yea, its an E46 - I had noticed it was a bit of a funny surface. Sounds like its a bit of a complex job Any recommendations for where to get them done? Cheers

Sooo, I have to repaint the interior trim panels in my car (The attachment shows what I mean). Whoever owned it previously must have worn a watch with spikes on it or something cause they are pretty bad. A couple of questions: 1: Whats the best way to prepare the surface? (I was thinking some real fine wet n dry sandpaper to get it back to a smooth finish, but I don't want the plastic to go furry on me ) 2: What's the best sort of paint to use? (It's currently a gunmetal grey satin finish, n I want something that will give a satin finish again. Is ordinary satin finish paint in a can okay? or do I need something special?) Cheers

When you say a "new 3" are we talking E90's or E46's? Cheers

lol I believe you :-) I think i'll limit my self to simpler stuff on my 318i. Then maybe in a couple of years when I'm 25 the insurance company will let me get a 330i or something Thanks all

Hey guys, Thanks for the comments :-) that answers what I was wondering :-) I just didn't know how much of the drivetrain was the same... from what you say not much Cheers

Thanks for you comment but not really what I was wanting to know... I wasn't actually wanting other people's opinions on what is and isn't a real car... I would however appreciate any comments on the the question I asked originally :-) Cheers

Hi all, I know that this is a pretty general question, but any comments are appreciated. I'm just wondering what is involved in swapping out an M43 (1.9L) and putting an M54 (2.2 or 2.5L) into an E46. What else would need to be changed apart from the engine? Will the transmission (auto) and suspension etc. hold up or are they different for the larger engined E46's? Cheers

G'day :-), I have an E46 318i 2000 (2002 face-lift) and I'm wondering what material the exhaust tip is on standard E46 318's. To my non-expert eyes it looks a bit like stainless though I would be surprised if it was. If anyone knows I'd greatly appreciate getting a reply (I've spent time on google and couldn't find anything). Cheers, Matt

Hi All, I'm interested in getting an E46 320i, I was wondering if anyone has any input/advice regarding this vehicle. I am pretty new to BMW's but I really like this car and would appreciate any feedback. Many Thanks, Karter16