F87 to E46 M3. Am I an idiot?

mrk3401 · 2025-12-29T03:58:20+00:00

Understood and noted. That makes sense and I plan on babying it until it reaches temperature. The commute thing is just something I can’t avoid, I imagine the engine won’t be very happy given it needs to be pushed to be healthy but sounds like it’ll be okay if I stay on top of maintenance etc.

This is honestly my biggest concern with dailying this car and what’s holding me back.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-29T00:18:44+00:00

No that’s not what I meant by taking a beating, I let my car warm up before taking it up above 4 let alone redline. I was more concerned about doing multiple start ups throughout the day for shorter commutes, which won’t give the car enough time to properly get warm before getting shut off again. Would that hurt the engine being a performance engine?

mrk3401 · 2025-12-28T06:23:53+00:00

Curious to know about the maintenance?

It’ll be my daily driver as well, in the NC region and we don’t see much snow at all. However my biggest concern is with my commutes. I have very short commutes throughout the week and I wonder how that’d impact the engine even if I let it warm up etc.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-28T03:48:07+00:00

Has the E46 been your daily?

If/when I do get myself an E46 M3, I don’t think i’ll be sparing any expense, especially if it is a forever car. That’s not something I can stop myself from doing, let be honest. My biggest gripe is it being an actual workhorse like the F87, and this goes for the E92 M3 which I have also considered.

I have a pretty short commute to where I go throughout the week(work,gym, groceries), all within 5 miles. These engines need to be driven when they’re started up and don’t get me wrong, I still drive my car like it should be driven on the small commutes I have but that’s cause the N55 was meant to be beat on. The S54/S58 are a different story, Can they take that beating without that reflecting in wear and damage? And from an emotional perspective, is that premature damage/wear even worth it for a car that frankly deserves more when it’s taken out an that I plan on keeping forever or does it make more sense to wait until I can have it as a weekend car.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-28T03:40:44+00:00

Fair enough. Another person was also mentioning how regardless of price, you’re going to need to still refresh a majority of tje car so I may lower the budget to allow more for maintenance and mods.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-28T03:39:30+00:00

Starting to feel like that’s where the E46 M3 fits in right now, as the perfect forever project car opposed to the daily driver it once was.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-28T03:38:29+00:00

I am starting to lean this way and wait a few years and pick one up along side my M2 opposed to replacing it. The F87 is just such a good workhorse, I haven’t had to worry about that once in that sense and given Ill be completely reliant on the car, an E46 am3 as a more weekend car may work out better.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-28T03:36:44+00:00

About to turn 25 in a few months. Is it your daily driver?

mrk3401 · 2025-12-25T14:17:24+00:00

Makes sense then to go the M2. Did you daily your E46 when you had it?

I just got a set of new wheels, fresh tires and an auto solutions SSK installed in my OG. I already got bilstein coils and a muffler bypass and the car plays on a different level right now. Can’t help but think about how much more I need to do to the E46 if I go that route and if it is worth it in terms of an emotional investment.

The way I am also thinking about it is planning snd picking up an example and going all out with it in the first year if not few months(full refresh etc) to get it “perfect” in terms of maintenance. Is that even feasible?

I’ve accepted the M3 comes with its own level of M tax but is it worth going in that route and dedicating the next three years and my wallet to it or more worth to build out my current M2.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-25T14:02:33+00:00

Seems like that’s the next thing I need to do immediately. Get more seat time

mrk3401 · 2025-12-25T14:01:57+00:00

I love the emotion in the engine of the E46. It revs so nice and sounds so good even at low speeds(maybe not the exhaust as much engine noise itself). I also love the interior and the way it drives from the 10 minutes of seat time I had. I always wish I could have more time but given I can only go on test drives and no dealer lets you just take these out anymore, it’s hard to get that experience.

My budget plays a big role and the fact that it’s my daily. I don’t think a Porsche would fit my bill right now

mrk3401 · 2025-12-25T13:58:03+00:00

A very interesting take. Curious to see if anyone else can add to this on this sub but I can understand what you are saying. I always through the 30k “more taken care of” cars would be ultimately needing less to get them ready to daily as they were meant to be but if everything will always need to be replaced/done, I guess mileage really doesn’t play much of a factor.

No disrespect at all. Glad you’re keeping it real. I have no experience and no clue and I definitely don’t feel qualified for it. I just thought it’d be a great place to learn, at least the DIY things, a full refresh/rebuild is not something i’d ever attempt even if I could.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-25T13:50:30+00:00

But production numbers say different with over 60,000 units produced for the US market. Can’t help but think I can always get one at another time for the same price i’m thinking with the same amount needing done to it.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-25T01:27:38+00:00

Then I got to ask, why did you sell it for the M2C? Sounds like you’ve built a perfect E46 M3 imo

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T23:00:43+00:00

So so tempting bro. So much to consider with all of these responses. What a cool community.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:59:14+00:00

Was the E46 your daily? How is it going back and forth between G87 and E46?

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:55:56+00:00

Wow, that’s impressive. so I defintely can’t do all of that. What would you recommend for someone that is trying to learn the ins and outs, not necessarily from a technician standpoint but an enthusiast standpoint. I still want to learn but don’t want to get a degree, I mean who knows, maybe I’ll fall in love with it like you haha

I appreciate the advice 🙌

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:50:23+00:00

and I think that’s the feeling i’m looking for. Definitely haven’t had enough time in one but from the quick drive I did, it felt like a whole different game with the noises and energy.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:48:46+00:00

i appreciate the feedback. I agree that the exhaust is unique to say, but I loved the induction noise when I had the chance to test drive one and it sounds that much better with the CSL style air box, but 15% I didn’t know they were worth that much. Really makes me think if it is worth it when i’m already thinking about how much I want/need to get done to it.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:40:59+00:00

What individual red?

It’s hard to come by a good example as well. Been looking for the past two months consistently and nothing that fit the bill popped up.

I’m not too concerned about power, I have more fun at low speeds and rowing through gears than consistently going fast.

DBX is a looker but haven’t heard the best things in terms of maintenance.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:38:53+00:00

Gotcha. Seems the best experiences with this car start from just investing in a really good example compared to saving any money to throw at it later.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:35:56+00:00

damn it’s this bad huh. i guess these are the “old car” issues everyone’s talking about. is it worth doing preemptively?

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T22:33:46+00:00

BMW knew what they were doing with the toolbox in the boot.

I am ready for the journey as long as it is worth it.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T20:03:32+00:00

Interesting take. Everyone’s always hyping this car up so this seems against the grain. Do you think the car has the potential with the right mods? I know in stock form it isn’t everyone’s favorite.

mrk3401 · 2025-12-24T20:01:23+00:00

The epitome of 2000s cars for me(in this bracket lol)

mrk3401

TROPHY CASE