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      05-29-2018, 11:08 AM   #1
Hunter78
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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, 11:14 AM   #2
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If you want to find something under 3k then it's not going to be clean.
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      05-29-2018, 11:14 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter78 View Post
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.
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      05-29-2018, 11:24 AM   #4
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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...
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      05-29-2018, 11:26 AM   #5
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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, 11:54 AM   #6
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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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      05-30-2018, 05:41 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter78 View Post
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.
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      06-19-2018, 08:11 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zara View Post
If you want to find something under 3k then it's not going to be clean.
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      06-19-2018, 08:41 AM   #9
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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, 09:10 AM   #10
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3k? really?
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      06-21-2018, 10:22 AM   #11
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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, 11:34 AM   #12
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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, 01:17 PM   #13
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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
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      06-21-2018, 01:24 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter78 View Post
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.
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      06-21-2018, 01:24 PM   #15
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Why not do an e36 non M w/S54 swap? If I wanted a project car, that's what I'd do.
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