2004 BMW M3

With four previous registered keepers and just 78,000 miles on the clock, this Silver Grey Metallic BMW M3 has weathered the passage of two decades with impressive aplomb.

With only light use recently and some hefty recommissioning work in the past three years, it also boasts CSL-style alloy wheels and a black Nappa leather interior, making it surely the finest colour combination of them all?

It’s been in the seller’s care since 2020 and he’s so confident in its quality it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid, so play nicely, eh?

BMW built some cracking cars back in the early noughties and few demonstrate the German’s firm’s credentials better than the E46 – and few E46s present better than this one.

Because even after twenty years the shutlines are impressively tight and consistent. The flanks are free of ripples and dinks. And the silbergrau metallic paint work looks stunning still, doesn’t it?

The lamp lenses, window glass, and badges are all good too, and the overall impression is of a solid block of alloy that’s been carved into the shape of an E46 before having its shutlines drawn in with a Sharpie and then judiciously decorated with the sort of goodies you’d expect to find on one of the planet’s best sporting saloons: ventilated front wings, a deep front valence, quad exhausts, and a subtle boot spoiler.

Oh, and a cracking set of wheels hidden under flared wheelarches. The 19-inch CSL-style alloy wheels are in fine fettle being free of scuffs and marks. They’re also fitted with matching Michelin tyres, and for those of you who have been living in a cave for the past few years, this sort of thing impresses the hell out of us because our experience is that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

As for work to do, the most pressing issue is the rust that’s developing on both rear wheelarches.

Once that’s dealt with you could turn your attentions to the nearside door mirror glass, which needs replacing. The nearside rear bumper also has a scuff on it, and there is what looks like a small area of overspray on the top right of the windscreen with a blemish just above it on the roof.

The Black Nappa leather interior is every bit as good as the coachwork. Mind you, with a mileage as low as this the M3 is barely broken in, so it’s no surprise to see the only obvious wear is to the driver’s seat – and even that is only mild creasing and mild colour loss to the outer bolster – and the steering wheel.

The front seats themselves are both deeply sculpted and plushly padded, thereby providing support and comfort in equal measure, thanks in no small part to the adjustable wings on the backrest that allow you to tailor their grip to suit your individual circumstances and body shape. 

The seats are electrically adjustable too, as well as heated and the driver’s seat can store three different positions in its memory. The rear seat is very good indeed, albeit with the odd indentation from what looks like a child seat.

The M Sport steering wheel is joined by a matching gearknob and M3 sill covers in addition to embossed front headrests so your passengers know they’re in the presence of greatness. (Apart from you, obviously.)

The headlining is taut and free of damage, the door cards are in good shape if a little grubby, and the carpet is good.

The usual goodies – factory headunit, Sport button, sir-conditioning, electric windows, etc – are present and correct.

The boot is in good shape being clean and well presented and plays host to the tool kit, compressor, and a bottle of tyre sealant. 

As for issues, the tray in the centre console is loose. 

A new nearside front brake caliper and alternator were fitted by Bryngwyn Service Station in March 2023, and this built on previous work by The Ramp Room in July 2022 who fitted OE front suspension springs after fitting new front and rear brake discs and pads, a genuine BMW differential input seal, and two rear Bilstein dampers in September 2021.

The service history booklet records the following routine maintenance:

• 20.12.2004 – pre-delivery inspection by Sytner Nottingham
• 06.01.2005 and 1,143 miles – service by Sytner Nottingham
• 26.07.2005 and 10,944 miles – service by Sytner Nottingham
• 23.03.2006 and 22,374 miles – service by Sytner Nottingham
• 02.11.2006 and 35,155 miles – service by Sytner Nottingham
• 31.08.2007 and 48,297 miles – service by Sytner Nottingham
• 18.02.2009 and 61,406 miles – service by Sytner Leicester
• 07.09.2012 and 72,366 miles – service by Wilson’s Garage

As you can see, it starts and idles well with no warning lights on the dashboard. (The dashboard shows the next service is due in 7,400 miles, but given it was twelve years ago, we’d suggest another is carried out immediately.)

The engine bay is in a pretty good condition with only a light veneer of dirt and some rusty fasteners and brackets for the new owner to deal with.

The underside looks good, although the MoT history does mention corrosion on the rear brake pipes, suspension arms, and coil springs.

The M3’s MoT certificate is valid until March 2025, and it’s racked up no fewer than twelve advisory-free passes in its lifetime.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the BMW comes with two keys, some old invoices, and the book pack including the stamped service history booklet and wallet.

Oh, and the registration number ‘B6 JHD’ you see here isn’t included; the original, of ‘FH54 DYY’, has been put back on it. 

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.

Which makes the £15,000 to £20,000 we think this example will fetch look like fine good value indeed, especially as it’s being offered with no reserve so will sell from the very first bid.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.