Hello
Other member from EU here

M-Sport 2 package cars are the most wanted one. Go one with manual gearbox and M-Sport 2, rustfree and definetly 330i.
M-Sport 2 package includes as you said, different suspension setup, different interior (seats, bodykit, sill trims etc. There is no any difference in engines.

I recently bought M-Sport 2 330ci from Holland, and it was really expensive. I searched 2 years for mint condition 330i with manual box from Germany, unfortunately demand was so high that most of the cars in mobile were already sold when i emailed. Some cars were sold in 2-5 hours. Prepare to spend 10.000euros minimum if you want low mileage, manual and m-sport 2 without any modifications.
There is less and less good cars available every year, better be fast.

 

Thank you for your answer! The 330i is out of my budget, as taxes and insurance are too high for it. This is why I chose the 325i. I'm aware that the nice M packs sell really fast, but I don't really care about the milage. The general condition of the car is much more important to me. But then again, the question is whether a factory M pack is worth the hassle, or I can just retrofit the cosmetical elements, drop in a new set of nice coilovers and be just as good to go.

My understanding from the US is that the M-pack, mechanically, was limited to what we consider the Sport suspension, lower higher rate springs and slightly stiffer dampers, but not the heavier-duty control arms that our ZHP got and definitely not any M components.

Yes, but from what I've found online, the EU market M pack is practically the ZHP with the regular 325i engine. (so without the higher profile cam and whatever else the ZHP offered)

The suspension question shouldn't be that big of a consideration anyway since, given the age of these cars now, it'll be about time to refresh the suspension anyway so put what you want on it.

Exactly my thoughts, but I'm not sure how big of a deal the M3 control arms are? Maybe they do not even matter that much if I swap some quality coilovers in and refresh the bushings and ball joints?

 

My understanding from the US is that the M-pack, mechanically, was limited to what we consider the Sport suspension, lower higher rate springs and slightly stiffer dampers, but not the heavier-duty control arms that our ZHP got and definitely not any M components.

 

The suspension question shouldn't be that big of a consideration anyway since, given the age of these cars now, it'll be about time to refresh the suspension anyway so put what you want on it.

 

There's only one thing I can't figure out:

1) You can refresh sport suspension to OEM specs for a very good price in Europe if you don't buy it from BMW. Matching Sachs shocks/struts are still available to buy directly from them. Unfortunately Sachs catalog for 2018 did not list Sport package (and Sport Suspension Settings package for 323/328) springs any more. But luckily Lesjofors is still manufacturing matching springs for sport package and sport suspension settings package. This will last the car's remaining lifetime.

3) Complexity of M Package retrofit can be split into two parts: exterior and interior. Exterior can be easy if you know any good people or your friends/family can hook you up with someone trusted in the auto body industry, but if you get unlucky it can get super difficult if you stumble onto lazy and disrespectful idiots that will overspray the car, break half the plastic clips, take the car for joy rides.. (welcome to the Balkans).

Sourcing the exterior parts (bumpers, side skirts, door sills) can be done in 3 different ways:

- get used but original PP+ (polypropylene+other plastic types) parts from junkyard or cars being parted out in classifieds. Cheapest method, but you are buying preowned parts that will have scratches, possible cracks and will be repaired by the body shop. But they are original PP+ material that is much better material than ABS and Fiberglass Chinese replicas. These will also typically come as a *complete* package, with lots of small parts that replicas do not provide and people don't even think they need (M sport brake cooling ducts, rear diffuser water guard, front bumper grid adapter, M door sills). This is typically between 400 and 700EUR.

- get new but not original ABS parts, eBay, local classifieds, they are everywhere you look. This is typically between 800 and 900EUR, valued more because they are "new", but made of shitty plastic that will crack easily, and incomplete so you must spend another few hundred Euro completing the set with M door sills, brake cooling ducts, water guard, and assorted hardware. They arrive in primer that is "ready to paint" but it's **** and needs to be sanded and redone anyway.

- buy all new parts from BMW, complete package. My last calculation was that complete set (and I do mean complete, every small and large part) is around 2000EUR, *unpainted*, but your BMW dealer may give you like a 10% discount for cash.


On the interior sport steering wheel and sport seats are major items, M dead pedal and weighted ZHP shift knob are nice to have.

- sport steering wheel easy to find and relatively cheap to buy, easy to trim in new leather if old leather is ruined. There's also a guy in Bulgaria that buys them in bulk and does them in all kinds of leather, makes them thicker... always advertising on bimmerforums (mentioning it because it's close to you, would arrive quickly by mail).

- seats are more difficult. It's all about luck, finding the right seller, the right eBay post, or the right forum post, or someone crashing their car at the right moment in time when you are on the market. You can go with Sport seats or M3 seats, almost identical. Problematic part is the leather or alcantara condition. Most seats are worn, cracked, dented, or driver side foam is collapsed. These cars are very old now, that is to be expected. Mint condition interior is rare. Even when you think you've found "mint" condition from some guy in Denmark you don't really know if he had them redone in fake leather, until they arrive at your door and then it's too late. Replacing real leather on seats is around 1000EUR where I live, but its quality is never going to top the quality of BMW original leather, it's always a shame when it has to be thrown away (and car loses resale value if you care about such things).

 

Notaligned, very detailed description. I agree best option is original M-Sport 2 car. Then you know that bodykit is just correct and factory installed.

In S338A M-Sports 2 package has ///M logos in control arms. That is for sure.
Front control arms are different parts compared with standard cars.

 

guys you forgot to mention the Clubsport version, which is even more rare than a simple M package e46..

 

I didn't even know that in Europe they M packaged anything less than a 330... A 325 M Technic would be interesting.

 

in fact we don't

Mtech is a kit and is not offered (at least in Italy) as specific M package.
it can be ordered with car (no matter which model) or retrofitted but no specific Mtech version for e46. only bumpers and side skirt

Clubsport is something like your ZHP, small differences in terms of bodykit/ painting and specific door sills, AFAIK this was offered on 320/325/330 (not that sure on 320)

 

in fact we don't

Mtech is a kit and is not offered (at least in Italy) as specific M package.
it can be ordered with car (no matter which model) or retrofitted but no specific Mtech version for e46. only bumpers and side skirt

Clubsport is something like your ZHP, small differences in terms of bodykit/ painting and specific door sills, AFAIK this was offered on 320/325/330 (not that sure on 320)

We even have 318i and 320d M Packet over here also, they seem to be more common than the SE models in the UK, in convertible and coupe guises anyway.

Saw this 03 325ci near where I live the other day, really clean, no car park dings, scuffs or rust, checked on the government website at it's MOT history, only 75000 miles on the clock. Love the colour too, unusual here in the UK. I wanted it.

The Puke Sunburst Gold Individual one is a 318ci, (abandoned near where I live), also looks rust free. I think that it's done its final journey though!

Thanks for the informative explanations guy, I really appreciate it. I looked the options up and read about them. The clubsport is interesting... minus the tunnerboy rear spoiler.

 

in fact we don't

Mtech is a kit and is not offered (at least in Italy) as specific M package.
it can be ordered with car (no matter which model) or retrofitted but no specific Mtech version for e46. only bumpers and side skirt

Clubsport is something like your ZHP, small differences in terms of bodykit/ painting and specific door sills, AFAIK this was offered on 320/325/330 (not that sure on 320)

We even have 318i and 320d M Packet over here also, they seem to be more common than the SE models in the UK, in convertible and coupe guises anyway.

Saw this 03 325ci near where I live the other day, really clean, no car park dings, scuffs or rust, checked on the government website at it's MOT history, only 75000 miles on the clock. Love the colour too, unusual here in the UK. I wanted it.

The Puke Sunburst Gold Individual one is a 318ci, (abandoned near where I live), also looks rust free. I think that it's done its final journey though!

Thanks for the informative explanations guys, I really appreciate it. I looked the options up and read about them. The clubsport is interesting... minus the tunnerboy rear spoiler.

 

It might be also worth consider what is difference when you sell that car. It is original M-packet car or retrofit. If you are planning to retrofit bodykit only, there is still lot of parts missing compared with genuine M-packet.
In my country original M-package cars are in high demand.