e46 m3 information wanted

dxb335d · 01-17-2009, 05:41 AM

Everywhere i look it says 2000-2006 for the E46 M3, ive not see any Y2K ones though.

I remember them when they came out and were a few Y plates then 51 more so etc.

Any X platers from 2000 knocking about in the UK, anyone have any concrete info for me?

mikem · 01-17-2009, 05:57 AM

It was launched March 2001 on a Y plate bud.

Porscha! · 01-17-2009, 05:58 AM

Thinking of swapping dxb for one?

Anyway sure there some PHer with an X or a Y on BMW bit.

Steve A · 01-17-2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikem

It was launched March 2001 on a Y plate bud.

mike this is not correct, my xboss had an X plate Phoenix yellow Manual M3 on 18s, i can remeber is being a f**king beast.

mikem · 01-17-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve A

mike this is not correct, my xboss had an X plate Phoenix yellow Manual M3 on 18s, i can remeber is being a f**king beast.

Car was launched Sept 2000, first RHD cars were produced 02/01 and first UK registered were 03/01.

Any X reg must be either a personal import or maybe a press fleet car ?

http://www.bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=19

dxb335d · 01-17-2009, 06:48 AM

Mike i thought it was launched October 2000?

So no UK cars were registered before Y plate March 2001?

But there may have been some Press cars registered early 2001? On an X do you think?

mikem · 01-17-2009, 07:21 AM

Production of LHD started Sept with the cars "launched" in the Oct. RHD started Feb 01 with official UK launch in March 01. I guess there must`ve been some RHD press cars registered early or maybe some collected straight from the factory (I really can`t see BMW allowing anyone from the UK to purchase a car before BMW UK start selling them `tho as the waiting list for the E46 was huge, cars were being traded at 1yr old for list price) or perhaps the "X" reg cars are on private plates ?

Whatever the reason, a lot of people tried to find pre march 01 cars last year when the increased RFL was announced and as far as I know, nobody was able to track one down in RHD.

dxb335d · 01-17-2009, 08:34 AM

when collected from germany they stil register them normally for UK yeah?

thanks for the help mike.

MattOz · 01-19-2009, 04:45 PM

There are one or two X registration LHD cars about, but not many. You really want to get an 02 plate or later as these had the wider 16:9 nav screen etc. The earlier ones started out with the smaller 4:3 screen.

Apart from that, many of the early Y plate cars were BMW cars and have NBL or OBL at the end of the reg. Worth bearing in mind.

Matt

dxb335d · 01-20-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattOz

There are one or two X registration LHD cars about, but not many. You really want to get an 02 plate or later as these had the wider 16:9 nav screen etc. The earlier ones started out with the smaller 4:3 screen.

Apart from that, many of the early Y plate cars were BMW cars and have NBL or OBL at the end of the reg. Worth bearing in mind.

Matt

As in demo cars yeaH Matt? Surely some customer cars were registered 1st march 2001 also?

MattOz · 01-20-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

As in demo cars yeaH Matt? Surely some customer cars were registered 1st march 2001 also?

I'm sure there were some customer cars mate. It's just that I'd avoid anything ending in NBL or OBL just in case it's been an abused demo/management car. Clearly I'm not saying that they'll all have been abused but it's just something to consider.

Matt

dxb335d · 01-20-2009, 09:50 PM

Thats tosh mate, they aint anymore abused than what any owners have done over the past few years.

mikem · 01-21-2009, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Thats tosh mate, they aint anymore abused than what any owners have done over the past few years.

Any test drive I`ve been on has always involved the salesman driving first and I`ve never, ever heard one say "we need to let it warm up a bit first." Again as soon as the customer gets to drive, excitement takes over.

Even the GT3 I took out was ragged to death from stone cold by the salesman, it wasn`t untill we got to the first tight corner from high speed that he "remembered" they`d fitted new discs and pads all round which had no bite whatsover.

Also don`t forget any car bulilt before (Feb 03 I think) will have had a bottom end re-build at the dealers under re-call rather than at the factory.

MattOz · 01-21-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Thats tosh mate, they aint anymore abused than what any owners have done over the past few years.

I beg to differ mate! LOL

Mike is right about the test drives and I'm sure that management cars are little different on the whole.

Matt

MattOz · 01-25-2009, 01:27 PM

Hey Carlos.

I was clearing out my garage this morning and found an Autocar publication from 2003 with the 100 greatest roadtests. On the cover is an Imola red M3, reg number Y271 NBL, leaving a nice fat set of "Number 11's"

The Phoenix Yellow car in the mag is on an X plate. It's LHD and is X908 SUT. The roadtest was 14.02.01. They loved the car, reckoning on a 13.4sec standing quarter, 0-60 in 4.8, 0-100 in 11.5 and 30-70 in 4.1.

Cheers
Matt

01-17-2009, 05:41 AM	#1
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	e46 m3 information wanted Everywhere i look it says 2000-2006 for the E46 M3, ive not see any Y2K ones though. I remember them when they came out and were a few Y plates then 51 more so etc. Any X platers from 2000 knocking about in the UK, anyone have any concrete info for me? __________________ 997.2 GT3
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-17-2009, 05:57 AM	#2
mikem Lieutenant Colonel 83 Rep 1,557 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	It was launched March 2001 on a Y plate bud.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2009, 05:58 AM	#3
Porscha! Should be on www.retrorides.com 95 Rep 3,573 Posts Drives: Porsche 944 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Derbyshire iTrader: (0) Garage List 1978 MG Midget 1500 [0.00] 1987 BMW E30 325i C ... [0.00]	Thinking of swapping dxb for one? Anyway sure there some PHer with an X or a Y on BMW bit. __________________ "FIRE UP THA PORRSCHAAH" - The 80's are back! Front Engined Porsche
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2009, 06:48 AM	#6
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Mike i thought it was launched October 2000? So no UK cars were registered before Y plate March 2001? But there may have been some Press cars registered early 2001? On an X do you think? __________________ 997.2 GT3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2009, 07:21 AM	#7
mikem Lieutenant Colonel 83 Rep 1,557 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	Production of LHD started Sept with the cars "launched" in the Oct. RHD started Feb 01 with official UK launch in March 01. I guess there must`ve been some RHD press cars registered early or maybe some collected straight from the factory (I really can`t see BMW allowing anyone from the UK to purchase a car before BMW UK start selling them `tho as the waiting list for the E46 was huge, cars were being traded at 1yr old for list price) or perhaps the "X" reg cars are on private plates ? Whatever the reason, a lot of people tried to find pre march 01 cars last year when the increased RFL was announced and as far as I know, nobody was able to track one down in RHD.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-17-2009, 08:34 AM	#8
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	when collected from germany they stil register them normally for UK yeah? thanks for the help mike. __________________ 997.2 GT3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-19-2009, 04:45 PM	#9
MattOz Lieutenant Colonel 342 Rep 1,826 Posts Drives: Alpina G21 D3S Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Midlands iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 E90 M3 [0.00]	There are one or two X registration LHD cars about, but not many. You really want to get an 02 plate or later as these had the wider 16:9 nav screen etc. The earlier ones started out with the smaller 4:3 screen. Apart from that, many of the early Y plate cars were BMW cars and have NBL or OBL at the end of the reg. Worth bearing in mind. Matt
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-20-2009, 09:50 PM	#12
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 949 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Thats tosh mate, they aint anymore abused than what any owners have done over the past few years. __________________ 997.2 GT3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-25-2009, 01:27 PM	#15
MattOz Lieutenant Colonel 342 Rep 1,826 Posts Drives: Alpina G21 D3S Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Midlands iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 E90 M3 [0.00]	Hey Carlos. I was clearing out my garage this morning and found an Autocar publication from 2003 with the 100 greatest roadtests. On the cover is an Imola red M3, reg number Y271 NBL, leaving a nice fat set of "Number 11's" The Phoenix Yellow car in the mag is on an X plate. It's LHD and is X908 SUT. The roadtest was 14.02.01. They loved the car, reckoning on a 13.4sec standing quarter, 0-60 in 4.8, 0-100 in 11.5 and 30-70 in 4.1. Cheers Matt
	Appreciate 0 Quote