This 2003 BMW E46 M3 Convertible was ordered in Laguna Seca Blue over a Black Nappa leather interior and equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. It was sold new from BMW of Peoria, Illinois, where it was regularly serviced before relocating to Florida in 2014. The car later spent time in Maryland and Ohio before moving to New Jersey where it is now being offered for auction showing approximately 94k miles on the odometer.
The exterior is finished in Laguna Seca Blue (448) with a power-operated black convertible soft top. The M3 can be distinguished from a standard 3-Series by its wider fenders, side air vents, front bumper, mirrors, rear valence, and quad-tip exhaust. Other equipment includes bi-xenon headlamps with washers, fog lights, LED tail lights, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. A carbon fiber front lip spoiler has been fitted in addition to paint-matched front marker lenses. The seller reports the driver’s side rear fender was refinished at one point and notes some scuffs beneath the front bumper. Detailed images are provided in the gallery along with a clean CARFAX report. The forged 19” Style 67 wheels are mounted with 2019 Vredestein Giugiaro Ultra Vorti tires in front and 2018 Michelin Pilot Sport tires in the rear.
The interior is upholstered in Black Nappa leather and features deeply bolstered 14-way powered M-Sport seats with matching door panels and carpeting, accented by Shadow Brushed Aluminum trim. M3-specific details include a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with M stitching, specialized M instrumentation with warm-up lights, and M3 door sill guards. Amenities include an onboard computer, cruise control, full power accessories, Parking Distance Control, and navigation. The original sound system has been upgraded with an Alpine amplifier, subwoofer, and speakers connected to the original head unit. Custom floor mats with blue piping have been added and the seller reports some wear to the driver’s side seat bolster.
The E46 M3 is powered by a 3.2L S54 inline-six with individual throttle bodies, quasi-dry sump lubrication, and Double VANOS variable valve timing. Up to 330 HP and 269 lb.-ft of torque are sent to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. An M front strut brace has been added and the seller states the most recent service was completed in June of 2022 including an oil change, parking brake adjustment, replacement of the clamshell motor for the convertible top, and restringing of the convertible top guides. The idle air valve was changed in February of 2022 and new front wheel hub assemblies were installed in October of 2021. Additional maintenance records dating back to 2019 are said to accompany the sale.
This sale will include a clean title, the original owner’s manuals, some records, and a set of two keys.
Comments (48)
@Karp92, congrats, great buy. I think you got a great deal, you won't lose money if/when you go to sell it - if/when you do.
@dominick9998 I agree with you to a point, coming down somewhat, but slowly!
@Blubyeyou ehh.... car prices are starting to fall though. Armed with this, overpaying is an inevitability.
Wow! Looking forward to picking it up! Thank you!
Sold for $19,500
@dominick9998 Are you kidding? Put this on another auction site, BaT, and it would do $25k
You guys are overpaying
@jaxt88 You don't unless the auction specifically says NO RESERVE
@jaxt88 The reserve has been met
Bid in the amount of $19,500
How do you know if reserve is met?
Bid in the amount of $19,250
Bid in the amount of $19,000
Bid in the amount of $18,750
Rare color 6 speed, looks really nice. Predict reserve not met. If I didn't already have this car in an SMG, I'd be bidding! Good luck. These are so smooth!
Bid in the amount of $18,500
Bid in the amount of $18,250
Bid in the amount of $18,000
Bid in the amount of $17,750
@collectorcars thanks
All yours
Bid in the amount of $17,500
Bid in the amount of $16,750
Bid in the amount of $16,500
Bid in the amount of $16,000
Bid in the amount of $15,250
Bid in the amount of $15,000
Bid in the amount of $14,500
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@Ambassador-Auto PCar Market will upload the pictures shortly.
@pmannion24 No problem on your questions and sorry for the delay on this. I needed to take some pictures and get this info. I have uploaded some pictures of the different screens on the radio. Please see the link to the upgraded version that is in this car. https://avinusa.com/avant-4-multimedia-navigation-system-for-bmw-3-series-e46-m3.html
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Apologies, last question, any pictures of the navigation screen / infotainment on?
Bid in the amount of $14,000
Bid in the amount of $13,500
Bid in the amount of $12,500
@pmannion24 none needed. Glad I could help.
@Ambassador-Auto apologies on this!
@pmannion24 actually it was answered 3 remarks below your question. There is also a link to the BMW Bulletin mentioned that the rod bearings were only an issue in cars built until 5/03 and this car was built later than that. I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Any idea if the rod bearings were replaced? I don’t think the question was answered below. I saw all the documentation but didn’t see anything about these
Bid in the amount of $12,000
@pmannion24 No problem on the Mutiple questions. Picture #227 is the invoice on June 9, 2022, for work that was performed in getting the top operating correctly, which included a new clamshell motor and re-routing all the top strings to keep everything working in sequence. also, please see above the video that is in the listing of the top operating to show that it works smoothly, without any issues or hitting the valance. I hope that helps.
Understood on rod bearing. Convertible top issues? Like e36 MP3’s any rod tensioning issues or one side going down lower than the other or roof hitting the valence? Apologies on the three in one questions.
@LJB790 I have just been corrected by a fellow BMW enthusiast. apparently, the rod bearing issues was corrected at the factory and only applies to cars that were built before 5/22/2003 and this car was produced in July of 2003, so it does not apply to this car. Please see the link to the BMW Service Bulletin outlining this issue. I hope that helps. http://www.siwilson.com/BMW/Service_bulletins/S54%20Bearing%20shell%20Service%20Bulletin.pdf
@LJB790 Thanks for the questions. All documentation that I have is in the listing /gallery with the car. other than the subframe being examined when the car was in the shop and no cracks or wear was visible. I tried my best to show them in the gallery.
Do you have any info on the Rod bearing recall and wether the subframe reinforcement was ever done on this car?
@pmannion24 When the car was in the shop on February 18, 2022 (invoice in gallery), checking for the idle issues, they ran all diagnostic test and there were no fault codes or faults with the Vanos System. They replaced the Idle Air Valve that fixed the idle problem. In addition, there are no noises coming from the solenoids or any loss of power. The shop indicated everything was working properly and the performance of the car and the way it drives also indicates there are no issues.
How is the VANOS system?
Bid in the amount of $10,000