On a 17 year old M3, the results of a PPI, how well its been maintained and how current the services are is the major driver of value. Quite a few cars are going to need much in the first few months of ownership.

 

Well car seems in good shape and I can tell the guy takes good care of he’s cars but I’m sure I’ll need some work eventually

 

Prices vary widely. Assuming good condition, I’d start here as most of these tend not to be beaters... E46 M3 ... after condition, mileage, convertible (or no), SMG (or no), color combo seems a major price driver. The one you’re looking at sounds like a $22k car +/- $3k depending upon color combo.

maw

 

Maw is spot on ,after shopping for a good month before finding mine, the manual cars are commanding a hefty premium over SMG cars. Low miles 6 speed, will command plenty. Only thing that would make it more expensive is if its laguna seca blue.....

 

... or if the interior is Cinnamon or Imola Red...

maw

 

I started my search for 4-seater convertible looking for an E36 in Avus Blue over either Tan or Imola. Never happened. And rather than turn that one into a science project to get more power, I decided to just get an E46. Same classic looks and 4-seater convertible, with a better drivetrain. Looked for a Phoenix Yellow over Imola or Cinnamon. Never happened. Finally settled on timeless TiAG over Imola. Took a while but I found one, and it's aging the way I suspected it would -- timeless -- people don't know if the car is 80's, 90's, 00's or what. And the Imola interior keeps it sexy.

So my view of these cars is, the car is the car. It is what it is, and they made tons of them. No real news there. What turns heads and therefore drives value is the color combo (and I think, convertibles, current trends notwithstanding). Because so many came with Black (boring) or that horrid Gray interior, almost anything else (Cinnamon or Imola) is what drives value.

maw

 

I bought my 2006, M3, 6 Sp Man., Convertible with 64K on the car but only 24K on an M factory replaced engine, (catastrophic VANOS failure), for $18,500.... The car looked perfect with factory condition paint and flawless interior. Enerything worked, top, radio, OEM Nav, Air, Seats, (movement and heat) and power Windows.... Since then, new rear coil springs, replaced RTAB, new rotors/brakes, all new hoses/belts, power steering line, a replacement radio/sound system and multiple brake fluid flushes..... Close to $5,500 later..... I love this car, but you'll have to expect ongoing maintenance costs... Find a good BMW private garage unless you can perform the work yourself.....

 

Now there's something I never thought I'd see.... A whole lot full of cars the same color.... All but that one lonely silver metallic one.... Nice piece of history...

 

Another one to the point that color combo drives value, even more than SMG/6MT or Coupe/Vert...

27k-Mile 2003 BMW M3 Convertible

Bid for the chance to own a 27k-Mile 2003 BMW M3 Convertible at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #34,105.

bringatrailer.com

Sure, Coupe and 6MT are driving value... until a rare or desirable color combo comes along, at which point SMG Verts do just fine on the value scale. My $.02. Full disclosure, that's also what I thought when I bought mine 10 years ago, so maybe I'm overly biased and hopeful (not that I view cars as investments).

maw

 

What does the community think about the value of a 2003 Carbon Black Metallic w/ Cinnamon interior vert with SMG in mint condition, 16k miles?

 

$35-$40k unless those are the hardest miles ever.

maw

 

Awesome. Just picked this config up - having it shipped in next week. Looks like a garage queen. Service records were all in good shape. Excited to share pics when I get it!

 

To me, Cinnamon is the best interior color for Carbon besides Imola. I drove two Carbon over Imola drop tops (one SMG, one 6MT) before settling on a timeless TiAG over Imola. I like a manual shifter for about 15 mins.

Hope you like it. In this market you probably stole it.

maw

 

It’s in the trailer now coming from Illinois! Excited. I think I got a decent deal (sub $30k) we’ll know for sure when it gets here...

 

Let us know what you think when it arrives. For reference I paid just under $25k for my '05 SMG vert with about the same miles (still under factory warranty) almost 10 years ago, and after a dip prices have held more or less steady over that time period.

It'll be interesting how much I "make" or "lose" if and when I sell it, but I don't see prices going down from here. I think the trough is past, and from here well kept, good interior, sub 100k mile cars will only appreciate, 6MT or SMG, coupe or convertible. Mine had every option and I've made some smart upgrades since then that I don't think anyone is going to penalize me for (head unit, BavSound, engine and SMG tunes, tint... nothing engine, exhaust or suspension related).

And this sale should help your cause ... 39k-Mile 2003 BMW M3 Coupe 6-Speed

GL

maw

 

Let us know what you think when it arrives.

It is a beauty. In basically mint condition. Looks newer than my 2017 330xi (and has half the miles on it)


I researched how to properly drive the SMG and I have to say I’m digging it.

Probably won’t be putting too many more miles on it so should be able to keep it under 1k per year average overall, keep it super clean, hopefully will appreciate in value over time.

Going to add a BlueBus to it and that’s about it, no mods etc

 

Convertible and SMG knock off a considerable amount of money on M3s.

 

There’s no “proper” I don’t think, but I find it to work best in M5 (or M6), with a slight letup on the gas during shifts. When I want hard shifts, I don’t let up on the gas during shifts, but that’s brutal and not very fun. By the way, before you flame me, it’s basically what the AMG TCUs do (load reduction during shifts) but they don’t publish that. So try that... at least you don’t need both feet.

I don’t really see the point in using A at all, actually, unless I’m just feeling ultra lazy (at which point I usually drive another car).

Cheers,

maw

 

A works great around town or when you have a coffee in your hand. (I know I shouldn't bring coffee into that Cinnamon interior!)

 

Or a friendly friend in the passenger seat... works with Cinnamon or Imola... Jokes.

maw

 

Most def.

 

Not to start another MT / SMG debate, I think you will enjoy it once you get the hang of it. Having grown up on manual cars, I still enjoy it. Keep in mind, my '06 vert is my daily and I was originally commuting in WashDC traffic. But put that bad boy in sport, turn off traction, crank the SMG all the way up, and it is the definition of snappy shifts. Some might even call them violent under full throttle.

Interesting read: In Defense Of SMG | BimmerLife

I strongly recommend the SMG tune from Tuning Tech (Performance Engine Tuning and Dyno Facility | Tuning Tech FS). Not terribly expensive and notably improved shifted (at least IMO).

Good luck!

 

Well if you like SMG and it works that's all that reallly matters. Enjoy and be well.

But like I stated the SMG's do not command the same price as the manuals. Even Wheeler Dealers who flip cars, on their episode dedicated to the E46 M3 said the SMG M3s get 30% less price than the manuals.

 

Yep, I get that the MT’s are worth more pound for pound. My car might have been way too much money for me if it had manual (16k mile mint manual probably would command a hefty sum) so I’m glad it had SMG - plus it’s awesome to drive.

 

If you were open to consider an SMG (not a MT purist or track day superstar, don’t care about resale, etc.), you’ll never regret it. And for your car, color combo and all, unless you drive it into the dirt, the resale will be just fine. One of my other cars is a 500hp AMG monster with “Speedshift”, and the SMG puts that transmission to shame. Granted, that’s a continent crushing sedan and not a sports car by any sense of the word. I also fairly regularly drive a supercharged E9X in 6MT, which I love for about 15 minutes, and then I’m ready to be out of it.

But this is YOUR car. Enjoy it!

maw

 

Any idea how much “rare” options add to a car’s value? I have an 03.5 Carbon Black 6spd with cinnamon interior. The “rare” bits is that it’s a slick top (sunroof delete) and has manual seats. But it also has cold weather package so it is heated. It has 42k miles so far.

 

That sounds like a BMW Individual car. If so, prices are “whatever you can get” higher. I still say track the M3 sales on BaT for the best indication.

maw

 

Unless there’s an accident in this car’s history, this looks well bought to me...

2006 BMW M3 Convertible 6-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a 2006 BMW M3 Convertible 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #35,551.

bringatrailer.com

maw