2003 BMW M3 Individual

Finished in Estoril Blue with a fetching blue and white leather interior, this E46 M3 Convertible came to its first owner courtesy of BMW’s M-only Individual programme on the 13th of November 2003.

Showing just four previous keepers on the V5 registration document in total, it’s been in the care of the vendor since March 2016. Fitted with the desirable six-speed manual transmission, it is said to drive every bit as well as it looks.

The E46 M3 is a purposeful old thing, isn’t it? With a wonderful stance and a resolute air, it looks every inch the inter-continental ballistic missile it is.

Of all the colours on offer, Estoril Blue is the best, surely? Vivid and joyful, it brings a lighthearted element to what might otherwise be a somewhat threatening look.

This one looks like it’s been taken care of. With good shutlines, well-aligned panels, good trim, and ripple-free flanks, it looks like a car with only a good tale to tell.

Of course, it helps that the two other major components, the roof and the wheels, are so good.

The former fits very well, being snug and taut and offering almost coupé-like weather-sealing with it and the full-on convertible experience when it’s down.

It’s also free of rips, tears, and other damage. It furls and unfurls as it should, and has a proper glass rear window complete with a heating element.

The 19-inch alloy wheels are just as impressive. Low-profile tyres like these look great and help the car’s dynamic performance but they give the expensive rims next to no protection. Luckily, these are in great shape and have Michelin Pilot Sport tyres on the front and Kumho Ecsta on the rear.

Work to do is minimal. There’s a mark on the nearside door handle (#195) and, well, that’s about it.

The blue and white leather interior makes a refreshing change from the more usual dark coal mine you see more frequently. It’s in a good condition too; while the driver’s seat shows the usual minor wear and light cracking you’d expect to see on a car of this age and mileage (e.g. #139), the passenger’s seat is even more lightly worn while the rear is barely marked.

The front seats are as deeply sculpted and supportive as you’d expect in a car with the M3’s predilection for high-G cornering – and they’re heated and electrically adjustable, too.

The carpets and door cards are also good, as are the instrument cluster, controls, pedals, and switches.

The first aid kit is still in its compartment under the passenger seat, which is a rarity worth pointing out, as is the tool kit in the boot lid. The tyre compressor is under the floor as it should be and the storage nets on the back of the front seats are still taut. The boot floor is solid metal.

All-in-all, the interior tells the same great story as the outside.

This means that flaws are few: Apart from the usual minor scratches to the hard-plastic surfaces every car collects over the years, there’s a mark on the door pull on the passenger’s side (#72) and another on the driver’s side (#84), plus some stickiness under the central armrest (#58).

It’s got a Sebring part exhaust fitted, which helps explain the unusually lovely exhaust note you can here – after you’ve admired the ease with which is starts, obviously.

The engine bay is pretty clean, so we can see that all but the most fastidious of owners will be happy to leave it as it is.

The underside looks solid and no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural corrosion or rust over the years, which should be reassuring.

The M3’s maintenance record is recorded in the service history booklet as follows:

· 07.11.2003 – pre-delivery inspection by Wheatley Hall BMW

· 30.12.2003 and 1,146 miles – running-in check by Wheatley Hall BMW

· 22.05.2006 and 9,090 miles – service by Sytner Nottingham

· 19.09.2008 and 16,966 miles – service by Williams BMW Service, Liverpool

· 09.06.2010 and 28,717 miles – service by Autotech Centre, independent BMW specialist

· 20.04.2012 and 45,356 miles - service by Williams BMW Service, Liverpool

· 19.08.2015 and 65,715 miles – service by Williams BMW Service, Manchester

· 13.09.2017 and 75,411 miles – service by Delaceys of Brighouse

· 09.07.2020 and 82,041 miles – service by SWSS BMW

The BMW’s MoT certificate is valid until December 2023 and it was gained with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clean and the car comes with the BMW book pack, a fistful of old invoices and MoT certificates, and two keys.

Despite being what many consider to be the best-driving M3 of them all, the price of the E46 has languished for years, possibly because no matter what they might say in public, most car enthusiasts are just as interested in what a car looks like as they are in its dynamic behaviour.

And yet, we can’t help but thinking that the E46’s time has come; it’s a neat, understated design that just gets better with age; while so many of its Johnny-come-lately contemporaries are losing their gloss, the E46 just quietly matures; it’s Sean Connery, on 19-inch rubber.

This new-found popularity is starting to be reflected in the asking price. We’re seeing a slow increase in value year-on-year and asking prices for the very best examples topped £40,000 a while ago.

Which makes the £15,000 to £20,000 we think this example will fetch look like fine good value indeed.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Cardiff, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.