oonowindoo

Hey Yumcha i might move into your neighborhood when that happens.

TacoBello

Subaru really needs to stop riding on its rally history coat tails. I'm not surprised it came in last. It's been consistently getting bitch slapped by the Evo, for years.

TacoBello

We don't like your kind over here.

Yumcha

Embrace the socialism that is Canada.

Although, warning, the province of BC is close to becoming their own Trumpness in regards to people of the ilk thanks to the people from PROC messing up the economy with all their $$$$$$.

cu2wagon

Hey! Back of the line buddy...

I'm already trying to sweeten Yummy up to live in his basement.

oonowindoo

I am moving to Vancouver. So i think it's too late for not liking my kind. It feels like home there.

oonowindoo

I dont need his basement. I am i will buy the house next to his, demo it, and built my own 3 story house and block his sunlight. That is how we do it here in the 626.

Yumcha

Correct...and all your high-end cars are white.



And you'll have no lawn. If you do, it will be weed-infested cuz, WTF... people do yardwork!?!??

Yumcha

And all those high-end white sports cars are paid in cash.

2012wagon

my wife's wrx has been solid, but it certainly isn't EVo

Glad to see Rs moving the chains

Competition is good for the consumer

Hopefully STI ups it's game now

TommySalami

What's the best part you can buy for a Miata?

A BMW!



I picked this up last week as a second car. 2003 330ci with 5spd manual. It's sooooo nice to drive this thing around. I've totally joined the BMW dark side. Makes me love the Miata that much more now that I don't have to drive it everywhere.

Curious3GTL

Congratulations on your BMW! I don't mean to steal your thunder, but I am considering this local car for myself.

Cars for Sale: Used 2005 BMW M3 in Convertible, Cary NC: 27511 Details - Convertible - Autotrader


Do you know of any active E46 forums? I want more information on what to look out for, but the one I found was very dead. My brain says no, but my heart says yes. hahaha.

TommySalami

e46fanatics has loads of info on what to look for in buying an e46. The forum isn't that active anymore, but all the info is there, much of which is in the general e46 section. The main thing to check on an m3 is the rear subframe, you can search for that on the forums and you'll find tons of info - basically the rear subframe tends to crack on these cars and it's a very expensive repair

That car seems like a good deal as long as everything's in check. You can have it taken to a local independent bmw shop as well to be inspected

Curious3GTL

Yeah, I did find the subframe issue. Also possible VANOS issues as well. Thanks so much for the information.

Are you loving the 330? I have always loved silver cars. It looks like it's in great shape.

ttribe

Congrats on the BMW. Hope it treats you well.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

You live in the Raleigh/Cary area?!

Yumcha

Congrats on the BMW, Tommy!

TommySalami

Yeah I am loving it. I've always thought the E46 was the perfect car. Just simple, timeless styling inside and out, and it drives great. It's "only" got 225 hp but that's plenty for me, anything more is asking for trouble with the hardass northern Virginia cops.

It's got 119k miles, and I picked it up for $5500. Not too shabby, I think. Just need to have a leaky rear diff repaired and do some small cosmetic fixes.

I've also spent a lot of time driving/racing an E46 M3, and think they're some of the best cars ever. Right now is also the best time to buy them. You can find them in great shape, and their prices are low. Later down the road, it's just going to get much harder to find clean ones like the one you linked. I think you should go for it

Aman

Congrats TS! You have two of the top cars I want to replace my Accord with.

Curious3GTL

Yep, I live in downtown Raleigh and work in RTP. You can imagine my commute everyday. I see you're in Charlotte, I went to high school there.

That's so awesome. I am so happy for you, and it sounds like you got a great deal. I also think they're great, but my parents think I am out of my mind of wanting a 12 year old BMW.

I think you're going to love it. When I was in high school I used to babysit a family, and the mom had an extra car which was an 04 325Ci Convertible. I got to drive it all the time, and it was epic. I do love the E90/91/92/93 as well, but they're a little more pricey. There's so much love for the E46, and it's awesome.

SamDoe1

E46 Fanatics is still pretty active but is unfortunately turning into the 16 year olds who are buying their first car and ricing the fvck out of it. I've been on E46F for 6ish years now but only hang out in OT these days which is still the same crew that has been around forever. Finding any info to DIY work for the E46 is pretty widely available at this point.

I had an E46 Xi 6MT for 5ish years and loved it. Unfortunately it just got too expensive to keep running so I ditched it for something else. Still kind of regret that move. For those who are considering buying one or have already bought one, you should assume that you have to replace the cooling system, valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, and the front control arm bushings unless you have proof that it has been done. Depending on the age, you might want to consider a suspension refresh too, they burn through shocks and springs in about 100k miles easily. It's pretty easy to DIY as I did all my work myself.

Long story short, awesome car (esp with MT), lots of work. If you guys have questions, feel free to ask or PM me. I've been around the block several times with the E46.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Funny, I'm the opposite. I grew up in Cary, went to college south of Raleigh, and now live in Charlotte

I40 is better than it used to be! Wade Avenue still sucks though

Curious3GTL

PM sent, thank you so much!

Ah, nice. I came to Raleigh for school and have stayed in the area so far. Charlotte is a great city though. Plus it's really nice now that they expanded 485.

I live off Wade so I drive it almost everyday. hahaha. Luckily I avoid the part of 40 that's under construction. What kills me is the intersection of Wade and Faircloth. That light is almost always red.

oonowindoo

nice!!

a proper BMW...when BMW was still a BMW.

TommySalami

Yeah luckily all that was replaced recently before I got it. Turns out the oil pan gasket was leaking too though so it's at a local indy shop right now getting that repaired. Unlike the other gaskets, that one is a bitch and a half, so it's gonna cost me $$$$, but I'll know it's fine for a long time now.

Short list of things to do:
Angel eyes
Tint
ZHP shift knob
Aux input retrofit
Golf tee mod

Keeping this mostly stock otherwise

SamDoe1

For the love of god, don't add angel eyes...they look so tacky on the E46.

Rest is good to go and easy to do. I did the golf tee mod for a little bit, then got sick of the drone when driving for long periods of time so I put it back. YMMV though.

SamDoe1

No PM received, sure you sent to the right person?

Curious3GTL

I don't see it in my sent items. Let me try this again, hahaha.

I figured out what I did wrong. I didn't put in a subject yesterday so it didn't send. Problem fixed.

SamDoe1

lol makes sense. replied, any other questions let me know.

TommySalami

Sorry but angel eyes look perfect on these cars. Just hnnnnng

To each their own


HNNNNNGGGGG

oonowindoo

I remember back in the days that the E46 cars would catch on fire because of those aftermarket angle eyes relays

Hopefully the quality has improved in the past 13 or 14 years. fuk i am old.

SamDoe1

I can think of no better test bed for sketchy electronic items than an old German car.

Nothing will go wrong, I assure you.

srika

oonowindoo

^ top speed 50mph?

00TL-P3.2

.....wut?

srika

def won't be too fast

Yumcha

Still faster than the 335.

srika

there she blows!!!

thoiboi

Just use LED's instead of crappy CCFL.


Personally, if I had an e46, I would do a quad projector retrofit in addition to LED angel eyes.

This might help: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...ghts-only.html


TRS has a pretty sexy e46 with quads

oonowindoo

tell that to Mr. T, not me