2002 BMW E46 M3

Equipment

Imola Red paintwork, Black Nappa leather upholstery, 18-inch alloy wheels, 6-speed manual transmission, Electric sports seats with driver’s seat memory, Electric seat backrest width adjustment, Lumbar support, Rear parking sensors (PDC), Automatic Xenon headlights, Headlight washer system, Rain-sensitive wipers, Automatic air conditioning, Auto-dimming rear view mirror, Anthracite headlining, Front armrest, On-board Computer, BMW cassette radio, Front fog lights, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Alarm system, Original velour overmats, Spare remote key.

Exterior

Surely the perfect spec with gleaming Imola Red paintwork, black leather upholstery, three pedals and no sunroof. This cossetted example is fresh from long term ownership and while it has been regularly driven and enjoyed by the current owner it has also been very well cared for. Defying both its years and miles the condition of the car is spot on. The paintwork is remarkably well presented throughout, and the wheels are unmarked having recently been refurbished by Lepsons with new Michelin PS4 tyres all round.

Interior

The interior of the car is excellent and original. The black Nappa leather is in great shape with only a few expected wrinkles to evidence the mileage, and all the electric adjustments work as they should. Other commonly worn items such as the plastic centre console trims and leather gear knob are also notably tidy. Another nice touch is the original cassette radio which is pleasingly still in place having never been swapped out for an aftermarket head unit – we also appreciate the cleaner satnav-free look. In the footwells the carpets are spotless having always been protected by genuine BMW mats, and at the rear the seats appear to have seen very little use.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

The 3.2-litre S54 straight-six fires up with an intoxicating rasp and sounds great through the original exhaust. In this one it’s paired with the sought-after manual gearbox that still feels tight and precise to operate. The engine is also in excellent fettle and benefits from a recent preventative rod bearing replacement carried out by marque specialists, Munich Legends. In addition to this work there are 14 service stamps in the original maintenance book, all from either BMW main agents or notable BMW specialists, so the car has always been maintained to the highest standards.

History File

Sometimes a car comes along that ticks all the right boxes… desirable specification, excellent history, and good useable mileage so it can continue to be enjoyed by its next custodian. First registered in June 2002 and supplied new by Neep BMW of Colchester, this Imola Red manual coupe has driven 107k miles in the hands of 5 registered keepers. The current owner purchased the car back in 2011 and reading through the history it’s clear that he has always kept on top of the maintenance. Since 2018 it has been looked after by Munich Legends who have not only serviced the car but also carried out various additional jobs including reinforcement of the boot floor and replacement of the rod bearings.

The accompanying History File comprises the original BMW document wallet with all manuals, the original service book, a stack of invoices and MOT certificates, tracker documentation, a spare remote key, and the current V5C showing only 4 former keepers. The service history is as follows:

27/06/2002 – PDI – Neep of Colchester BMW

21/08/2002 at 1,591 miles – Neep of Colchester BMW

08/01/2004 at 10,815 miles – Damon Hill BMW

02/12/2005 at 22,038 miles – Trainer Swansea BMW

21/10/2006 at 25,433 miles – Trainer Swansea BMW

17/10/2008 at 29,500 miles – Trainer Swansea BMW

14/03/2011 at 33,737 miles – Bryn Motor Workshop BMW specialist

31/08/2012 at 46,300 miles – Cooper Thames Ditton BMW

04/09/2013 at 54,972 miles – Cooper Thames Ditton BMW

03/03/2015 at 66,178 miles – Cooper Thames Ditton BMW

22/04/2016 at 75,745 miles – Cooper Thames Ditton BMW

23/06/2017 at 84,335 miles – Cooper Thames Ditton BMW

20/06/2018 at 91,101 miles – Munich Legends BMW specialist

11/07/2018 at 91,320 miles – Munich Legends BMW specialist – boot floor reinforcement

30/12/2020 at 101,213 miles – Munich Legends BMW specialist

09/01/2023 at 105,686 miles – Munich Legends BMW specialist

25/04/2024 at 106,356 miles – Munich Legends BMW specialist – con rod bearings