2003 BMW E46 M3

Equipment

Titanium Silver metallic paintwork, Black Nappa leather upholstery, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, 6-speed SMG transmission, CSL SMG software upgrade, Heated and electrically adjustable front sports seats, Electric seat backrest width adjustment, Multifunction M steering wheel in Alcantara, Alcantara interior trim, Xtrons touchscreen multimedia head unit with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, Front armrest, Park Distance Control (PDC), Automatic Xenon headlights, LED rear lights, Rain-sensitive wipers, Air conditioning, Dynamic stability control (DSC), Headlight cleaning system, Anthracite headlining, Alarm system, Spare key, Maintenance charger.

Exterior

Very nicely presented in metallic Titanium Silver this 2003 M3 coupe looks fantastic beneath our studio lights. Defying both its years and mileage the condition of the body is excellent, and following a machine polish by our in-house detailer the paintwork retains a deep swirl-free shine with no scuffs or scrapes to the report. The headlights are crystal clear and she’s pin sharp along both flanks. The underside is also notably tidy having received a significant overhaul and boot floor reinforcement in September 2021. The original 19-inch forged M alloy wheels are free from kerb marking but some typical lacquer wear around the centre caps is visible on close inspection.

Interior

Inside you’re greeted by an interior that looks to have seen only half the mileage. The black Nappa upholstery still feels soft to the touch and the bolsters are firm with no signs of excessive wear or damage. The leather on the seats and armrest retains a factory matte sheen, and the Alcantara parts are all perfect with no marking. The steering wheel has been fully re-trimmed with the correct tri-colour M stitching, a theme that continues to the handbrake and SMG lever gaiters. Quite remarkably there are no scratches in commonly worn areas such as the ash tray lid and around the cup holders, and all the switchgear functions correctly. The addition of a high-resolution touchscreen head unit brings the car up to date multimedia-wise (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, etc.) whilst integrating seamlessly into the dash with a subtle OEM+ finish. The footwell carpets are well protected by a set of tailored floor mats, and at the rear of the car the boot area is clean.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Under previous ownership the M3 was treated to over £13k’s worth of preventative maintenance that included the desirable conrod bearing upgrade, Vanos refurbishment, timing chain replacement, a comprehensive suspension and underside refresh including boot floor reinforcement, a new clutch, Inspection II service, etc, etc. Most recently, the car has just returned from a fresh oil change, MOT, and health check with no issues reported. The engine bay is expectedly tidy with no signs of accident damage or modifications.

History File

Originally supplied by Cooper BMW Reading in September 2003, this fantastic non-sunroof coupe has now driven 86,777 miles from new. Looking through the accompanying paperwork, the car has always been well maintained throughout its life, especially by the previous owner who spent in excess £13k on it between 2021 and 2024. £10,800 of this work was completed by marque specialists, Everything M3s, who were tasked with carrying out not only the conrod bearing upgrade but also a complete refresh of the underside including (but not limited to) the brakes, suspension, boot floor, pipework, etc. The Vanos unit and timing chain were then replaced by Mr Vanos in 2022, and in August 2025 a fresh service and check over were carried out for the new keeper’s peace of mind.

29/08/2003 at delivery miles – PDI

08/10/2003 at 2,290 miles – service

13/02/2004 at 10,104 miles – service

06/11/2006 at 26,674 miles – service

14/04/2008 at 34,814 miles – service

16/06/2010 at 42,586 miles – service

23/07/2012 at 55,498 miles – service

22/01/2016 at 65,298 miles – service

06/10/2017 at 72,495 miles – service

18/07/2020 at 72,520 miles – service

26/05/2021 at 73,168 miles – service

29/09/2021 at 77,189 miles – service, rod bearings, underside and suspension refresh, clutch, etc.

14/07/2022 at 79,000 miles – new timing chain + refurbished Vanos unit

02/04/2024 at 83,110 miles – service + new coil packs

08/05/2024 at 84,125 miles – new thermostat + rear shock top mounts

08/08/2025 at 86,763 miles – service + health check