And in terms of maintenance, the only thing this BMW M3 Competition might need is a valve adjustment. The only remaining ones are VANOS and water pump failure, BMW Tuning says. Those are the biggest E46 headaches, along with the SMG transmission, which this car doesn’t have. However, in this 2006 car’s case, the rod bearings and rear subframe have already been addressed. In short, this coupe is a real performance bargain.Īs with any used car, a pre-purchase inspection is recommended.
But even so, a fair-condition manual E46 M3 ZCP usually costs about three times as much, Hagerty says. True, it’s a modified example with some accident history. RELATED: Watch: How Much Horsepower Does an Old BMW M3 E46 Make on a Dyno?Īs of this writing, this 2006 E46 BMW M3 Competition is listed on BaT for $8250 with two days left in the auction. This E46 BMW M3 Competition is a bargain-priced high-water mark, but will it be reliable? Also, the fuel filter, engine mounts, drive belts, and oil-pressure inlet valve were replaced three years ago. In addition, the S54 engine’s rod bearings were recently serviced for recall work the LSD was resealed at the same time. And apart from that and some paint chips, it’s in good shape for a 125,000-mile car. However, it doesn’t appear to show any remaining signs of damage. It’s worth noting that this 2006 E46 BMW M3 Competition does have two accidents-including a minor one-in its history. Plus, this car has a hardwired Valentine radio detector and a reinforced rear subframe. There are also several Dinan suspension components, as well as upgraded trailing arms. Those components include a short-shifter kit, performance exhaust, LSD, high-flow air mass meter, pedal covers, throttle bodies, and a Stage 4 ECU tune. It has multiple components from Dinan, a factory-approved BMW tuner. However, this 2006 BMW M3 Competition isn’t stock. Plus, it has xenon headlights, LED taillights, rain-sensing wipers, a sunroof, fog lights, automatic climate control, and a Harman Kardon audio system with Bluetooth. So, on top of all the other features, it also has adjustable stability control, traction control, bolstered heated front sport seats, and a trunk-lid spoiler. The 2006 E46 BMW M3 currently listed on Bring a Trailer has that Competition Package. And it made an already great car even better. It added a quicker steering ratio, Alcantara steering wheel, additional driving mode, 19” alloy wheels, larger cross-drilled front brakes, and tweaked suspension components. Avoiding a repeat of the E36 M3 GT situation, BMW brought over some of the Euro-only E46 M3 CSL’s goodies in the ZCP Competition Package, MotorTrend explains. 8hNOao3元q- Bring a Trailer September 27, 2021īut if the ‘regular’ E46 BMW M3 is “peak M3,” the 20 M3 Competition is peak E46. Now live at BaT Auctions: Modified 2006 BMW M3 Coupe 6-Speed. There’s a Dinan-modified 2006 M3 ZCP up for auction on Bring a Trailer All of this added up to a fun-to-drive car that’s still lauded today.
The company added a front strut-tower brace in 2002 and a revised steering rack late in 2004, R&T says. stiffened the E46’s chassis, installed new aluminum suspension components, widened the track, and upgraded the brakes. Straight-line speed, though, isn’t the E46 M3’s main forte. Regardless of the transmission, though, the E46 BMW M3 goes 0-60 mph in less than five seconds. That goes to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential and either a six-speed manual or, starting in 2001, an optional six-speed single-clutch automated manual.
This “gorgeous gem” of a motor, as Hagerty calls it, makes 333 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s the 3.2-liter ‘S54,’ one of the last naturally-aspirated engines M Division used. Like the E30 and E36 before it, the E46 M3 has a naturally-aspirated inline-six engine. That honor belongs to its predecessor and the E36’s successor, a car some consider “the greatest M car ever built,” Road & Track says. But while the E90/E92 M3 is still a highly-praised sports car, it’s not the best M3, Hagerty argues. And the E90/E92 M3 is the only model with a V8. But they never lost their performance edge, even though each generation offered a distinctly different take on the matter.įor example, the E36 M3 softened the E30 formula just enough to make a quality road car. While that car was a genuine race car for the road, its successors were more luxurious and road-focused. The M3 has come a long way from the original E30.