E46 M3 for the track

[Gedge]

So most of you know I currently own an RX7 FD which I use for track days. Its a great car which can take on cars many times its value, but it simply isn't reliable enough for the amount of track days I want to do a year.

Every time I go to a track, doesn't matter where it is, one car stands out and that is an M3. I drove an Exige round the tight and twisty Cadwell Park yesterday which is the perfect tool for the job and we were still struggling to keep up with totally stock, full interior E46 M3s.

I know a few of you have owned these and used them on a track. My main concern is reliability. I drive my cars pretty hard to be honest, so it needs to be able to take some abuse. I maintain my cars to a high standard, so this shouldn't be an issue.

Any advice welcome.

P.S. - Rotary crowd, please don't post anything about this on FDUK yet as its not a solid plan, also please keep on topic, cheers

[mikeb]

Loved my m3 e46 track car I had the SMG gearbox it was awesome on track There's a lot of weight you can remove without destroying the interior and they just keep going.

You will have to change the brakes as there not up to much I put k sport on mine and a bc coilover set

[Gedge]

Thanks for that, looks absolutely stunning!

How many track days a year did you use it? What was the reliability like?

Cheers

[RX7]

I'd hate to say no don't do it as the M3 is a car I have admired for many years and especially when I was taken round the Nurburgring in a stock E36 by the Ringhaus owner.

It was on my list to look at before I bought this Civic but wasn't enough room in it for me.

Superb cars mate, whether they have the presence of the Rex is another matter but certainly a capable car.

[Gedge]

Don't think ill ever match the presence of the rex mate but that doesn't make you faster on track. Practice does, and I don't get much of that with a constantly broken RX7

[Stuart]

E46 M3s are the best, real world money car that you can buy IN MY OPINION. By the way, the M3 you were following at Cadwell was owned by a client of mine, as I detailed his car today following the trackday Small world eh!!

If you want to pick his brains, PM him on here; his name is Tommy Lee By the way.......don't feel too bad about not keeping up. He is a bit of driving hero

[Gedge]

Thanks Stuart. Did you used to track one? Ever have any issues?

Ive just spotted the silver one on your fb page. Lovely job as always mate. He was with a guy with another stock looking one and there was a race prepped one which was the fastest thing of the day

[Stuart]

I had an E36 M3 that was purely for track/sprint use and it was driven harder than anything I have ever owned, for three seasons solid, won me my only sprint 1st place at Cadwell and was a grin from start to finish.

No issues other than those caused by me and the lads with E46's that I look after (7 now) all say the same. Very well built and very difficult to replace. Be cautious about what you buy, check the rear subframe work has been done properly (Google it) and be as fussy as you like. There are hundreds to choose from. I'd avoid the Kiwi leather becuase it peels like mad, other than that interiors are hard wearing. Exterior wise look for rot on the arches (fromt and rear) rust around the boot lid and lock, ensure that the door rubbers aren't hiding rust bubbles in the door shut area and look for water ingress around the rear lights. You'll have to move the carpets for this, but as many have had rear end taps/high speed hedge interfaces any signs of damage repair will be obvious with the carpet moved. You'd need to get the boot carpet out anyway to inspect the rear subframe repairs

Good luck with your search. Don't fret about buying one with coilovers. E46 M3's are more sensitive to good quality tyres than they are £600 BCs

[Gedge]

Thanks Stuart, very useful info. It looks like its going to happen as I've already preliminary sold some major components off the rex. Will be a sad day to see her go but I've bled enough for that car over the years, both physically and mentally! Its just not right for the direction I want to take at the moment. Maybe ill get another one, one day. Once you've caught the rotary bug it never really dies.

[RX7]

Sad times re your car mate but understand.
Tuning one of these wont be as cheap as the Rex though.

I, unlike most people really like the mustard yellow colour