Factory Hard top and private registration will now be included in the sale
THE APPEAL
It took BMW three years to get around to launching an M3 version of the E46 generation of 3-Series, but it was well worth the wait.
For when it debuted in late 2001, the new M3 was instantly regarded as one of the finest performance cars in the world – delicately well-balanced, potent and wonderfully engineered, the normally aspirated 3.2-litre straight-six offered incredible performance with 0-60mph dispatched in just five seconds flat, along with incredible torque.
It was a sensation, and one that led to an immediate 18-month waiting list when it finally went on sale in 2001. Today, you don’t need to wait, but you do have to look hard to find a good one since many of them have been modified and/or used hard.
This 2003 example has to be one of the best around, and has been impeccably looked after by its M3 enthusiast owner. Finished in striking Phoenix Yellow, the convertible model has covered fewer than 75,000 miles from new and has been maintained well, most recently by an enthusiastic owner who has owned several M3s over the past 20 years. JLzXHNTjPnSwETVrTmEIzO3zfBX5Q1lpiApUDDNh.jpg1.28 MB
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
Original book pack
Service history book stamped to 72,509
Private plate included in the sale
Originally supplied by Wheatley Hall BMW in Doncaster and serviced by them until 2006
Subsequently maintained by independent BMW specialist in Edinburgh and then performance car specialist in Cambridgeshire
Recent invoice for brake system components from BMW main dealer, totalling over £800
MOT until January 2024
Genuine low mileage backed up by old MOT records and servicing documents
UK V5C in the name of the vendor
Cherished number seen in photographs available by separate negotiation
Correspondence from when vendor purchased the car confirming Vanos replacement
Previous for sale advertisement
Original glovebox torch
Period sales brochure
Private registration will be retained with the vendor
Inside, the M3 is a smart-looking car with supple black leather and matching carpets and door trims. It’s in good overall condition, the only minor flaws being some wear to the outer rim of the steering wheel and some very light scuffs to the centre console.
It has a BMW Business factory radio/cassette in good working order, plus a CD changer on the boot. The air conditioning appears to work and the chrome M3 kickplates and genuine BMW ‘M’ dealer mats are in good order.
In the boot, the load area is very tidy and the original tool kit is all present and correct, while it comes with a tyre inflation kit.
This is certainly not a car for shrinking violets – Phoenix Yellow is one of those colours that will get you noticed wherever you go, so be prepared to turn a few heads when you take to the road in the M3.
A head-turner it may be, but it’s undeniably a great looker. The body is in excellent order with no notable damage and there are no signs of any visible rust, while it retains a great shine. The light units – often faded on E46s – are crystal clear and all of the trim is pretty much flawless.
The M3’s 3.2-litre straight-six develops 343 bhp and is an eager performer – after all, this was a legendary performance car in its day and it still flies along today, accompanied by a raucous exhaust note from its factory exhaust system.
This one is equipped with BMW’s super-quick SMG sequential-auto transmission, which can be operated via the selector lever or through a pair of steering wheel paddles. The vendor reports that it drives without fault.
The car has just been returned to the road after three years in dry storage, and has had a comprehensive brake overhaul, along with a brand-new alternator and battery. It comes with a new advisory-free MOT, valid until January 2024. bBTT89YZL5VrBVg8Zx1f2kzjvU4Vw5fbpQDnPKZl.jpg1.36 MB
SUMMARY
If you want to get your hands on one of the true performance car icons of the 2000s, then here’s the perfect opportunity. One of the very best high-performance soft tops ever made, the E46 M3 Convertible is a modern classic that’s getting more and more desirable every year.
Even if it wasn’t such a vivid colour, this one would still be a difficult one to ignore!
Notice to offerers
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
