Ummmm....
Well, I wish it had the optional 19-inch wheels-- I don't think those 18s do the car justice.
And I wish it had the model year 2004-and-up tail lights -- I just can't get down with the awkward-looking backup lights on our '02. It's like an early version of the X3 mismatching tail light syndrome (credit goes to Automotive Editor John DiPietro for pointing this out and thereby causing my permanent obsession with e46 M3 tail lights).
And...ummmm...
Did I mention that I lust after this car?
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com @ 58,309 miles
ahightower says:
09:44 AM, 07/ 8/08
Gee, thanks for pointing that out. Now I'll notice them every time.
Dan Edmunds says:
09:54 AM, 07/ 8/08
Sure, 19-inch wheels might make this car look better. But I tend to shy away from ultra-short sidewalls because I drive in the real world of cracked asphalt, potholes and not-so-level railroad crossings. A little tire compliance goes a long way, and I'd rather not cough up the cash to replace a bent rim because Mayor Villarigosa couldn't find his shovel.
Standard-equipment wheels have long since eclipsed what the aftermarket used to call the "plus-one" concept. Some cars are up to plus-three or plus-four by now. Bigger is not always better. It's time to stop, already.
m_thrizzle says:
09:58 AM, 07/ 8/08
You can do an LED retro-fit to get the newer taillights on your '02. I believe it involves an ECU flash at the dealer though to allow them to work. I have never noticed the taillight mismatch on my 2001 M3 -- hopefully it won't bug me now!!
As for the wheels, I have 19" BBS CH rims and an aftermarket suspension so the ride can get fairly choppy sometimes. I bet the 18" wheels make things smoother! Not to mention 18" tires are cheaper than 19's. If you are dying for the polished 19's, you can find 2nd-hand ones for a fairly cheap price on some M3 web forums/eBay. Or go for the Competition Package (CSL-like) wheels.
Dan Edmunds says:
09:59 AM, 07/ 8/08
My point, exactly.
subytrojan says:
10:19 AM, 07/ 8/08
m_thrizzle, it's not quite that simple. E46 Coupe LED taillight retrofitting is also dependent on what options a vehicle has such as xenon headlights, foglights, and the rain sensor. In some cases, a reflash of the light control module ("LSZ" in BMW tech-speak) using a GT1 computer may be enough. In other cases, an LED retrofit would require purchasing a LSZ and then flashing it after it has been installed.
E46 M3 light control module (LSZ)
subytrojan says:
10:26 AM, 07/ 8/08
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BL93&mospid=47714&btnr=61_1060&hg=61&fg=35
It looks like we can't use HTML anymore. :( SnakeDoc will be very disapointed.
subytrojan says:
10:27 AM, 07/ 8/08
disappointed*
No edit feature FTL (for the loss)!!!
bimmerjay says:
11:34 AM, 07/ 8/08
Yeah, what's with crapified update to the blogs? No more edit button and no "New Comments" indication? :-(
empowah says:
12:40 PM, 07/ 8/08
The 18s give it that sleeper look. If the tails bug you, there's always the option of tinting/smoking...
A debadge might be cool, too.
subytrojan says:
01:02 PM, 07/ 8/08
The MY2005+ Competition Package (ZCP) forged BBS wheels are really cool. I was hoping the LT E46 M3 would receive them as a gift sometime during its tenure here. :(
clarkma5 says:
01:42 PM, 07/ 8/08
I don't care for the optional 19" M3 rims, they're too showy. The 19" Comp. Pack rims do look great, though.
joefrompa says:
02:39 PM, 07/ 8/08
How about some lightweight & strong forged 17" wheels with some nice rubber on 'em? Eh? How about using that chassis with a little give in the rubber to help keep the wheels planted. Can you honestly say that you'd lose ANY performance going to a slightly taller sidewall and a lighter wheel? You'd probably gain in all areas.
I wish BMW had made a 4-door e46 M3....I'd buy it.
Joe
Josh Sadlier says:
02:48 PM, 07/ 8/08
Joe,
Re: 4-door e46 M3, I sat in the backseat of our M3 this morning out of curiosity, and at a lanky 6'1", I actually fit pretty well -- my hair was grazing the headliner, but legroom was adequate, and the seat itself was quite comfortable. Two average-sized adults could ride back there for hours without issue.
I'd like to test the rear accommodations of an E90 3 Series (i.e., the four-door) and our M3 back-to-back; I bet they'd be surprisingly close.
-Sadlier
cx7lover says:
06:05 PM, 07/ 8/08
No thx to sidewall flex. wider rubber plz
sgude says:
04:45 AM, 07/ 9/08
I have loved all the variants of the M3, but the E46 is the bee's knees for me. When I get one, I will tint the rear lenses and (maybe) get 19" wheels if the car does not already have them. That's all it needs.
A funny thing about German performance cars -- does anyone else notice that at 80+ mph with the a/c running, if you get into the throttle, the car sounds better than with the a/c off? Or is it just me? I noticed this with my two GTIs and now with my 325i, where it is really noticeable (and gives me an excuse to play with the throttle!). The sound is deeper, snarlier... better. Do you get that with the M3, which is already louder than the 325i?