MAKE. BMW
MODEL. M3 E46 3.2 Coupe Manual (4 owners, 59000 miles)
YEAR. 2002
REGISTRATION. 02
OWNERSHIP. 4 owners – Last owner 8 years
MILEAGE. 59000 miles warranted
-
- Extensive, good supporting documentation of mileage and history
- Original M3 owners’ manual/book pack/owners’ wallet/documents/both keys present
- Recent documented oil and cabin filter service
- New MOT provided at point of sale
- Clear HPI report
EXTERIOR. Carbon Black Metallic
INTERIOR. Grey Nappa leather with Anthracite headlining and complimenting Silver Cube inlays and door panels
ENGINE SIZE. S54 type 3246cc Normally Aspirated In-Line 6 Cylinder Petrol – 343 ps / 364 Nm
TRANSMISSION. 6 speed manual
WHEELS/TYRES. 19” M Double-Spoke alloys (Style 67) 8.0″ wide with 225/40 R19 (front) and 9.5″ wide with 255/35 19 (rear) tyres
TOP SPEED. 155 mph (limited)
0-60 MPH. 5.1 s
KEY POINTS.
2002 02 Reg. BMW M3 E46 3.2 Coupe Manual
4 owners from new – Last owner 8 years
59000 miles
Carbon Black Metallic
Grey Nappa leather with Anthracite headlining and complimenting Silver Cube inlays and door panels
19” M Double-Spoke alloys (Style 67) 8.0″ wide with 225/40 R19 (front) and 9.5″ wide with 255/35 19 (rear) tyres
Leather multi function M-Sport steering wheel
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
Air-conditioning with electronic climate control
Cruise control
Electric memory sports seats
Bi-Xenon headlamps
Headlamp cleaning system
Rain sensitive wipers
Electrochromic auto dim dipping mirror
Harmon Kardon BMW Premium Hi-Fi with CD
Front centre armrest
Multifunction trip computer (MFC)
Remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser
Tailored BMW carpet mats
Front/Rear Park Distance Control (PDC)
MODEL SUMMARY.
Fabulous example of what is a truly fabulous drivers’ car. BMW M3 E46 3.2 Coupe Manual. Original pre-facelift model. UK supplied by franchised BMW dealers Halliwell Jones in North Wales to it’s original keeper in May 2002, and registered on an ’02’ prefix. Subsequently sold by Halliwell Jones to it’s 2nd owner in 2006 also, and later on in it’s life by BMW Park Lane…
Currently on a cherished plate but seen photographed with it’s original from new ’02’ prefix plate which it will be returned to upon sale
The last of the normally aspirated in-line 6 cylinder M Cars, with historically the in-line 6 cylinder configuration so synonymous with the fastest BMWs. Yes, there had been earlier 4 cylinder cars, and even the odd turbo, but, for many, a true performance BMW must always have an in-line 6 cylinder motor, and normally aspirated at that. Power derived from engineering, and with a strict requirement to be revved, and revved hard. Good cars followed, the normally aspirated E92 4.0 V8, and F80 3.0 with it’s turbos and finely tuned fuelling and boosting. Effective, but oh so sterile in comparison. And so, the E46 M3 really was the end of an era, the like of which is never to be seen again….
E46 M3s will be be found in a number of different guises, but few would argue that, other than for the holy grail CS and CSL versions, a manual transmission coupe in Carbon Black isn’t one of the most desirable incarnations. Add to that, that this car has had just 4 owners from new, with a low warranted mileage of 59000 miles, and it starts to become clear that cars such as this one are becoming ever harder to find, with a collectability that increases almost day by day
This car is also a non sunroof car. For us this isn’t important, but apparently is for some. We think this stems from the days when someone bought a MK1/Mk2 Escort Mexico or RS2000 to go rallying, and needed the most rigid shell for that purpose. In any case, purists will often prefer a non sunroof car, and this car does not have a sunroof….
In terms of service history, the original service book has sadly been misplaced along the way. However, there is extensive documentation that provides evidence of it’s mileage to be correct beyond any doubt, as discussed here
The car was supplied new by Halliwell Jones in North Wales, and we have documentation from both them, and BMW Customer Service UK that they maintained it between May 2002 until May 2006, prior to the MOT history beginning. Halliwell Jones then retailed the car to it’s 2nd owner, with just under 16000 miles, in May 2006, having maintained it exclusively from when new to that point in time. Due to time that has passed, and new computer systems, the early records are in terms of dates of visits of the car to the BMW franchised dealer(s) Later records introduce mileage, and in some cases specific notes of action. With the paperwork available, the history of the car in terms of visits to BMW franchised dealers, and MOTs carried out, can be summarised as below:-
22/5/02 Halliwell Jones (North Wales) – Vehicle registered and supplied to 1st owner
27/6/02 Halliwell Jones (North Wales) – Dealer Visit
5/8/02 Halliwell Jones (North Wales) – Dealer Visit (1st service ?)
29/1/04 Halliwell Jones (North Wales) – Dealer Visit
31/8/04 Halliwell Jones (North Wales) – Dealer Visit (Inspection ?)
20/5/06 Halliwell Jones (North Wales) – MOT @ 15720 mile
26/5/06 Halliwell Jones (North Wales) – Vehicle sold to 2nd owner @ 15728 miles
18/7/06 Sytner (High Wycombe) – Dealer Visit
13/3/07 Sytner (High Wycombe) – Dealer Visit
10/5/07 Seer Green Motor Co. (Beaconsfield) – MOT @ 21199 miles
22/11/07 Sytner (Tring) – Dealer Visit @ 23642 miles
4/4/08 Sytner (Tring) – Dealer Visit
3/6/08 Sytner (High Wycombe) – Dealer Visit
16/5/08 Seer Green Motor Co. (Beaconsfield) – MOT @ 26644 miles
31/3/09 Sytner (Tring) – Dealer Visit
8/5/09 Seer Green Motor Co. (Beaconsfield) – MOT @ 33227 miles
14/4/10 Sytner BMW (Tring) – MOT @ 37170 miles
14/5/10 Sytner BMW (Tring) – Dealer Visit
3/6/10 Sytner BMW (Tring) – Dealer Visit @ 37764 miles
19/5/11 Seer Green Motor Co. (Beaconsfield) – MOT @ 43337 miles
13/6/11 Sytner BMW (Tring) – Dealer Visit @ 43815 miles
21/7/11 Sytner BMW (Tring) – Dealer Visit @ 43948 miles
17/8/11 Sytner BMW (Tring) – Dealer Visit @ 44206
20/1/12 Sytner BMW (Tring) – O2 and PDC sensors, Suspension mounts
12/3/12 Sytner BMW (Tring) – Dealer Visit at 46006 miles
2/5/12 J F Auto Services (London) – MOT @ 46495 miles
14/5/12 Sytner BMW (Tring) – HiFi amplifier
18/5/13 Eden Park Motorist Centre (London) – MOT @ 49522 miles
6/6/13 Stephen James BMW (Bromley) – Dealer Visit
28/9/13 Stephen James BMW (Bromley) – Air Bag Module @ 50948 miles
16/5/14 Eden Park Motorist Centre (London) – MOT @ 52738 miles
20/5/15 One Stop Auto Service (Bromley) – MOT @ 55790 miles
8/1/16 Stephen James BMW (Bromley) – Dealer Visit @ 57841 miles
26/1/16 Stephen James BMW (Bromley) – Dealer Visit @ 58105 miles
3/4/19 Victoria Street Motors (Manchester) – MOT @ 58823 miles
21/5/24 Victoria Street Motors (Manchester) – MOT @ 59327 miles
17/10/24 RSV Automotive (Deeside) – Oil service with cabin filter @ 59653 miles
It terms of other documents present, we have the original owners’ wallet/pack, M3 owners’ manual and all other booklets, both keys (one of which appears never to have been used) and a clear HPI report. Additionally there is a new period correct service book that perhaps could be stamped by visiting the dealers above…
As will be seen above, the car has recently had an oil service with cabin filter courtesy of Deeside based BMW specialists RSV Automotive, including inspection of the boot floor and VANOS system
In Carbon Black with Grey Nappa leather with Anthracite headlining and complimenting Silver Cube inlays and door panels, and 19″ M Double Spoke alloys, it has a suitably high specification with some key options fitted, and includes a Leather multi function M-Sport steering wheel, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Air-conditioning with electronic climate control, Cruise control, Electric memory sports seats, Bi-Xenon headlamps, Headlamp cleaning system, Rain sensitive wipers, Electrochromic auto dim dipping mirror, Harmon Kardon BMW Premium Hi-Fi with CD, Front centre armrest, Multifunction trip computer (MFC) Remote central locking with alarm and immobiliser, Tailored BMW carpet mats and Front/Rear Park Distance Control (PDC)……..
….all quite befitting of a car which cost in excess of £40000 in 2002
In our view, these are very much an up and coming classic. No-one has a crystal ball of course, but cars of this ilk are just not made anymore. RWD, manual gearbox, an S54 type true thoroughbred screamin’ 8000rpm 343ps in-line 6 motor, with individual throttle bodies, taut chassis, relatively light weight, and an almost perfect 50/50 front/rear weight distribution. The best vehicle engineering, give or take, that the Germans could offer at the time, and it works as well today as it ever did
This particular car is totally superb, both mechanically and cosmetically. The motor is beautifully quiet, the suspension and steering taut, and the cabin refined and (essentially) rattle free. It truly is one of the best and most original E46 M3s that will be found, with all the major highlights that made it so special then, so evident now
Driving it is an absolute hoot, everything about it, the noise, steering feel, chassis finesse, not to mention the unquantifiable ‘feel good’ factor, each time an event
The absolute key, as with all classic cars, is getting one that remains as it was, and not been ‘got at’ for want of a better expression. For that reason, ownership and mileage provenance, and overall originality is everything. As we have said, this car is totally that, and it remains much as it would have done so when new in 2002
It’s condition is truly excellent, standard, and original. It is everything that one would wish it to be, a little gem, that provides such a high level of driving enjoyment, along with pride of ownership, and which may prove to be a very good investment
P/EX OF CAR OR MOTORCYCLE WELCOME
PRICE. £24995
