Description
Hi
Welcome to the sale of this gorgeous E46 BMW Coupe. I simply adore these cars and think they are one of BMW's very best cars. Alongside the E39 5 series the E46 is BMW at its absolute peak!
Trying to find low mileage examples is like finding a needle in a haystack these days with examples being squirreled away into long-term collections.
This particular example is a bit of a unicorn for a couple of reasons. Firstly it has had just two owners from new.
The last owner bought the car from Halliwell BMW in Chester as a retirement present to himself when he retired from being a Professional Golfer. He absolutely LOVED this car and the delivery driver who transported the car to me told me there were tears when he loaded the car up...
The other factor is that the car hasn't been messed around with and is still in it's original form right down to the OEM stereo system etc.
A quick summary:
- pre-facelift (pure) example
- 2. 8 litre, the largest engine available at the time
- 5 speed automatic
- upgraded from factory 18" Style 32 alloys
- Steel blue metallic
- cream leather
- high gloss wood trim
- electric glass sunroof
- just 2 owners from new
- only 65, 000 miles
- looks and feels so fresh
- original spec and condition (no modifications)
Options on the car included:
- Automatic gearbox £1, 220
- Leather upholstery £1, 350
- 18" wheels £440
- Front armrest £125
- Hi-Fi speaker system £470
- 6 disc CD changer £425
- Myrtle wood trim £290
- Electric glass sunroof £895
- Electric folding mirrors £194
- Sports steering wheel + cruise £465
- Tyre pressure monitor £280
- Xenon lights £545
- Parking sensors £340
- DSC traction control £740
The car cost £35, 000 back in 1999, which according to the Bank of England inflation calculator is the equivalent of £64, 000 in today's money!!
I have a particular soft spot for the early pre-facelift cars. We do run a 2003 Sport Coupe as a daily driver but there is a certain 'purity' to the pre-facelift cars particularly when coupled with the lighter interior.
The interior on this example is to die for. The light carpets, leather and plastics make the interior feel so cheery and pleasant and the glass electric sunroof helps to flood the interior with light. It genuinely brightens your mood up... which you will see for yourself if you are the car's lucky new owner. By contrast a black interior car, with no sunroof (like our 2003 daily driver) is a much more sombre place to sit.
The carpets are unworn as are the seats, the steering wheel etc. The original BMW cream carpet mats are also present and correct and in excellent condition. It is like a time warp in here and I've spent many an hour detailing and cleaning and fettling so the interior is show car quality.
Externally the coachwork is excellent. There is a tiny amount of bubbling on the NSF wing edge and a tiny patch on the OSR wing where it meets the bumper but it's only noticeable if it's pointed out to you. I know what these cars can look like after 20 - 25 years and whilst not perfect this example is MILES ahead of most other examples in terms of presentation.
I also like the fact the car comes with the original orange indicators. Years ago there was a fad for replacing them with clear indicators but they just look wrong when done like that. This car, never having been modified at all, retains the original orange lights - perfect.
I have spent quite some time machine polishing the paintwork to maximise the inherent gloss in the finish and the car has come up very well, even if I say so myself. Exterior plastics have been coated in GTechniq's C4 semi-permanent trim dressing and the paintwork itself has been ceramic coated for protection. It also makes cleaning the car a doddle because dirt simply wont stick to the car!
The wheels really make the car. They were optioned from the factory and are 18" staggered "Style 32" wheels. There simply isn't a better factory wheel for the pre-facelift cars than this one! they have been refurbished recently and also coated in ceramic protection.
Tyres have excellent tread all round.
The engine bay is in stunning condition too - you could eat your lunch off the components in here...
Mechanically the car is fantastic. Everything feels tight, strong and purposeful. The gear lever for instance moves with a beautiful oiled precision you can only get from a low mileage car. The car starts first time, every time with no smoke or untoward noises.
All the interior toys work as they should and there are no warning notices or lights on the dashboard. It feels as fit as a fiddle, with no hint of drama.
The original book pack is present and correct along with a raft of paperwork including all MOT's plus receipts and invoices etc. I have just serviced the car with top quality BOSCH parts including doing the spark plugs and cabin filter so the car is ready to go and be enjoyed from the off.
Low mileage non-M3 E46's are now nudging around the £10, 000 barrier but still offer great value for money. They are so versatile it makes them a very flexible proposition. This car classifies for classic car insurance for example, so can be used very cost effectively for high days and holidays. Equally it can be taken to shows and will hold its own. Alternatively it would make a lovely modern classic daily driver, with the low mileage giving you years and years of future service.
You'll also create a bit of a stir in one of these? Sunny day, sunglasses on, light pouring into the light interior, birds singing and other motorists thinking "gosh that looks incredible for a 23 year old car...!"
Anyway that's probably enough from me. As you can tell I can bang on about these cars for ages because I think they are superb and getting rarer and harder to find as time goes on. It won;t be long before they go the way of the E30 and you'll struggle to buy a low mileage one at all, regardless of your bank balance.
I can have the car professionally transported to you if that helps, because I know when trying to find a low mileage E46 you need to cast the net wide. My last low mileage example went 250 miles away and was transported so I will make the same offer this time.
