M Buyers Guide
Inspection checklist
M3 E46, 2001 to 2006
Before you go
- Open recalls. Run the VIN through NHTSA or a BMW dealer and ask for proof every recall was done.
- History report. Check the title, accidents, owners and mileage record.
- Service records. Ask for them in advance, ideally from a BMW dealer or specialist.
- Independent inspection. Book a pre-purchase inspection with a shop that knows this engine.
Known problems on this car
- Rod bearing wear about $2,500 to fix
Ask for receipts showing when the bearings were replaced and at what mileage. Without them, budget for the job, and listen for a knock on a cold start.
- Rear subframe mount cracking about $3,500 to fix
Have the subframe mounts inspected on a lift, and ask whether reinforcement plates have been fitted.
- VANOS wear about $2,000 to fix
Look for a VANOS reseal or rebuild in the records, and listen for rattling at idle once the engine is warm.
- Cooling system aging about $1,000 to fix
Look for a cooling system refresh in the records, and check for coolant smell or dried residue around the hoses and tank.
- SMG hydraulic pump about $3,200 to fix
On SMG cars, check that shifts are clean and ask whether the pump has been replaced. Some owners convert to the six-speed manual.
At the viewing
- Receipts for rod bearings with the date and mileage, VANOS work and subframe reinforcement.
- A subframe inspection on a lift.
- A cold start with no knock or rattle.
- Valve clearance adjustments in the records.
- On SMG cars, clean shifts and a record of the hydraulic pump.
Notes
From the M3 E46 guide at M Buyers Guide. Repair costs are the guide's estimates, not quotes; the guide says where each comes from. Problems and costs as of the date printed.