Reviving the CHEAPEST E46 M3 in the Country! | Upgrade or Unload

We're excited to bring you our new series "Upgrade or Unload!" In this series, we bring in cars that need some TLC. We throw some awesome parts at it and see if those upgrades are enough for the owners to keep their cars, or if it's too far gone and they want to unload it!
Thanks to ‪@mikeomalley1683‬ for bringing us his car!
Brands and Parts featured:
‪@liquimolywebtv‬ - bit.ly/3Q9fFOh
Dinan - bit.ly/44N4qPZ
‪@HengstFiltration‬ - bit.ly/3HcMlSy
Ina - bit.ly/3Y7Xevg
FAG - bit.ly/474mQNH
‪@EBCBrakesUK‬ EBC Big Brake Kit - bit.ly/3O4vaEu
EBC Rear Brake Pads (Red Stuff) - bit.ly/47jVHqn
‪@TurnermotorsportBMW‬ Turner Motorsports CSL Intake - bit.ly/3SpavfX
Turner Triple Baffled Power Steering Reservoir - bit.ly/3QhukXE
ECS Tuning Coilovers - bit.ly/3KbIENF
For all your European Auto Parts needs, visit our website: www.ecstuning.com/
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#E46M3 #BMW #ECSTuning

[@egiles]

Unfortunately, the cosmetic changes are more of a downgrade....it looked better beforehand.

[@mikeomalley1683]

Thanks for the feedback. Out of curiosity, what cosmetics do you think are a downgrade?

[@egiles]

@@mikeomalley1683 in my honest personal opinion, all of them. The black wheels, the smoked corner and taillights, the yellow fog lights with those covers, that front splitter...even the blackout kidney and fender grills. To me, they make the car look 'cheap'. One of the current E46 M3's I own is a silver convertible, that was probably even less expensive than yours due to the bad transmission and some terrible cosmetic modifications that had been made (hideous wheels, poor quality CSL style trunk, blackout grills, etc). On top of that it also has a salvage title from a previous accident. I replaced the transmission (original 6sp car), the trunk, cooling system, suspension (stock springs with Bilstein B4's), and installed a set of original ZCP/CSL style wheels...essentially returning it back to an unmodified cosmetic condition. Although I previously hated convertibles, a silver E46 M3 vert with the wheels you have (or the CSL style) is one of the best looking designs I've seen in a stock configuration. I think it's great that you are trying to save the car instead of parting it out, as likely most people would with a high mileage M3 6sp vert...I just think it looked great as-is. Enjoy your M3!

[@mikeomalley1683]

​@@egiles Thanks man. I actually did like the stock wheel color, But the Brakes became invisible. I wanted a contrast so you can see them. And they also had hunks of aluminum missing. If I wanted to restore the polished look. I would have had to tig weld and have them spun machine finished. The reason I smoked the Lenses was due to aging and small stress cracking. By tinting and clear coating them, I was able to save the OEM, and not have to buy aftermarkets. And I also Don't like any chrome on a Car. So the kidneys and side vents had to go. But thanks again for the feedback, Enjoy your Bmw's

[@yhp99]

@@mikeomalley1683 Although I too tend to like the original look better, in the end its a matter of personal taste. Enjoy the car the way you see fit. Its really a great machine. Been driving one for past 7 yrs now and it keeps getting better

[@Nachizl248]

Not even gonna clean those throttle bodies while in there 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@DejaVu0]

No one is going to mention the oil? Pretty sure the s54 needs 10w-60 not 5w-40.

[@mikeomalley1683]

Thanks for catching, I'm changing before driving!

[@igip831]

VINwiki shirt no wonder he found it cheap 😂

[@DropTopKingM3]

Nice work! I would definitely address the rod bearings unless there’s proof they were replaced by the previous owner. Also I’m sure at that mileage the cooling system can use an updating.

[@Mirekeh]

Nope, coilovers, carbon intake and other shit is more important than doing something actually important...

[@MurphyAM]

Cheaper than my 2500$ m3!? Though with the subframe already beginning to separate from the chassis, the strut towers cracking away, rusty rear arches, faded paint, and two spun rod bearings, it was a fairly fitting price! Glad to see another high mileage m3 getting some love! Mine had 245k on it when I got it, and the only warning light on the dash was for a pad wear sensor. After tackling the rear subframe and the rod bearings, the car has been quite a joy to drive, and glad to have saved it from the part out it was facing.

[@ecstuning]

At the time when Mike purchased it, it was the cheapest, running E46 M3 on the market. Yours was definitely cheaper though! It really is awesome to see these cars in their high mileage states, and still running and driving!

[@Stooks91]

Got mine for $1800 145k, only needed a front left caliper, they told me it had a transmission issue not letting them go into gear (it was SMG), I accepted the challenge, towed it home scanned it no fualts, i guess they never closed the hood all the way bc thats all i had to do to get it back shifting gears lol 5 years later today i have 174mi have only done regular maintenance on the engine, waterpump, plugs etc, and a 6speed conversion, just now putting new brakes and overhauling the suspension lol I have yet to see a cheaper running e46 M3 than mine

[@KelvinR79]

As a fellow E46 M3 owner, I really enjoyed this video…Subscribed and look forward to more awesome content!

[@jwd1112]

Cool upgrades to this M3… great job ECS!

[@friguy4444]

If you want one to drive then do the maintenance replace parts that are needed and test the compression and power. These cars and the S54 engines are excellent cars even with high mileage! If it all works out then drive it and enjoy. However the convertibles are heavier due to the extra bracing so are not as desirable. So if you want the best example to drive get a hard top.

[@friguy4444]

Woah! Just wait a tick there boys! What about the shifter?? It NEEDS a short shifter. AND you don't need to spend a lot of cash to make a huge improvement on it! Ebay $25 Chinese short shifter and it will sift like a dream! No joke.

[@uses0ap]

Quarter million sounds more impressive than it really is

[@racecarcamp9056]

Except on factory original bearings, it's a miracle for these motors. Would be interested to tear it apart and see if they are original still.

[@mikeomalley1683]

For a dry sump 6 cyl. with bearings that are a normal wear item. It's quite impressive. The engine appears to have never even been cracked open!

[@mittortz]

@@racecarcamp9056 It's only a "miracle" going by internet FUD about the "big 3". Spun bearings are a *risk*, not a guarantee, heavily dependent on how the car was driven/warmed up. Very similar situation with the RACP (subframe). As well as the IMS situation on 996s.

[@user-lw4wx9tp5l]

Yeah its not impressive for your mother’s camry,but for a bmw m3 that has been abused more or less for the past almost 20 years it is very impressive!

[@tribewu3223]

@@racecarcamp9056huh? Lmao you contradicted yourself

[@lamboferruccio]

Yes those upgrades make for great KZbin content but knowing those cars, I would have definitely pulled the engine and gone through it at that mileage, reseal everything, new rod bearings, new vanos etc, not to mention all new suspension bushings, do the rear subframe reinforcement, like everything man, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing none of that wasn’t done properly.

[@luckgrip252]

That might have been addressed before, but yeah, if it is due to all that important stuff, then I wouldn't be able to sleep either without replacing all that as a preventative measure at the best

[@mikeomalley1683]

Valid point. Bearings, Timing chain and Vanos are on the radar. In it's current condition the engine is surprisingly healthy. Leak down and compression test came back near prefect. There's no need to do a subframe reinforcement on an 04 convertible. Especially a street car.

[@sebastianfranco7626]

Ready to get upgraded

[@metno_]

Hate when wheels are painted to black, silver wheels always look so much better, especially on bmws

[@spannersautoandcomputerser1649]

The PS reservoir is a stout piece, however all the issues with leaks are typically issues with the hoses and fasteners. New hoses or clamps and the issues is resolved.

[@racecarcamp9056]

Nice, thanks for that clarity! Not filmed but we ran into that as an issue in addition to the leaky reservoir. New OEM replacement lines and the PS reservoir should dry that all up nicely! Surprisingly the pump was super clean!

[@adcampo7601]

Cool project. I'm surprised you didn't address the rod bearings and subframe crack issues.

[@ecstuning]

The verts don't have the same subframe issues the hardtops have and we did not see signs of cracking on this car. Since it's a dedicated street car, we didn't see much reason to do the subframe. However, we did some welding on our E46 330 track car earlier this year if you want to see that build: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ml7cpKSHnbSKm6M Similarly, the rotating assembly in this M3 didn't show bad compression or leak down nor metal flake in the oil so we opted to leave it undisturbed. But we do agree, bearings would be on the short list for a lifetime collectible!

[@adcampo7601]

@@ecstuning thanks. I’m sure you guys were all over it.

[@RadDadisRad]

I should buy one. I forgot they made convertibles. Would have to be a manual.

[@ecstuning]

Manual is definitely the way to go!

[@borisp9499]

You should use feeler gauges to center the caliper on the rotor

[@PunjabiSylhety]

Started the car and immediately began to rev the engine… If those rod bearings weren’t toast before, they probably are now.

[@alanburke76]

Does EBC have big brake kits for mk7 Golfs? Used EBC pads for years and would like to upgrade to a BBK.

[@racecarcamp9056]

Kind of. The Mk7 has factory BBK options from VW and the "performance pack" brake kit. EBC has those larger pad options to support those larger brakes. If you want to check out those OEM+ BBK brakes, ECS added them to the Racewagen MK7 GTI in the other youtube series.

[@brothereric2979]

Hello my 09 320i shut off after replacing the timing chain and it won't start the mechanic says it's the tensioner he checked it and said it's good but it still won't start what can I do

[@leonakopov]

Got an E60 M5 with 130k that I got recently for cheap in need of some love if you wanna upgrade it, also I do believe it to be one of the cheapest in the country.

[@sebastianfranco7626]

I got a f83 m4 from 2015 so its convertible hard top

[@ecstuning]

If you've got some good content to share on KZbin, send us some info to our partnerships email.

[@leekindell9937]

nice, just ditch the bl;ack grills and nasty tinted indicators and front lip it will look even nicer.

[@sebastianfranco7626]

I whould love to get some upgrade

[@dawiskid187]

Nice build Mike congrats

[@mikeomalley1683]

Thank you!

[@pipolebnene]

Would have been nice to see the i terior since the steering wheel and driver seat looked beaten up

[@MurphyAM]

If the convertibles really don’t have subframe issues, that would be a huge perk to buying one. For anyone not familiar, it is a lot of work! Here is a Timelapse of the process on my m3, the front right subframe bolt was practically falling out of the car when I bought it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6qlhHR5q9Rqhqc

[@MurphyAM]

I’m sure if I had MIG welded it instead of tig, only welded the 4 subframe mounts instead of also the RTAB pockets and other smaller plates, and had a trans jack to make removal and install of the rear end a lot easier, I could have saved some work.

[@Jey_Ace]

Oof that rattle when you turn on the m3 sounds hideous. Maybe get the rod bearings and VANOS done.

[@erezyoal]

Fix it don't flip it

[@marccusumano1138]

Unattainable? Verts are still $15-$25k unless you want a collector

[@racecarcamp9056]

Yeah $15-25k for a 20 year old car is unobtainable to the average Joe.

[@camui191]

There's a new invention called gloves😂

[@seanshepherd6767]

My e46 could use some upgrades lol ❤

[@charlesberry4958]

243k how’s the rust factor?

[@ecstuning]

Surprisingly very clean! Not even a little bubble in any of the common spots. We didn't film every repair, but there was a leaky power steering line that did a nice job undercoating the car for years ha ha. It's fixed now, let's hope no rust moved in!

[@miilsk]

I have an 01 E46 sedan with 256k miles and a suspension to match. Please help.

[@ecstuning]

If you've got some good content to share on KZbin, send us some info to our partnerships email. If you are looking for some inspiration, checkout our 243k mile E46 330 track car build! We go through pretty much every pain point on the car!

[@andrethevegan_]

i never plan on selling my m3 i hope it reaches 300k miles but i'll still take an upgrade

[@karpetcm]

Please upgrade my e55 Amg.

[@joshuadelgado3130]

Upgrade my MK7 bone stock GTI or give some love to my E39 M5 would love to see some more E39 videos

[@ecstuning]

Upgrading a bone stock GTI is definitely something on our list! We'll reach out to you about it!

[@joshuadelgado3130]

@@ecstuning!!!!

[@ecstuning]

Submit your info to our Partnership Program on our website ecstuning.com

[@joshuadelgado3130]

@@ecstuning I emailed the email associated with the partnership do they reply back?!

[@AnthonyFinney]

“Quarter million mile” , just say it has 250k miles lol

[@Stoney1985]

Rear brakes aren't even bedded in properly

[@mikeomalley1683]

Yes, I'm still waiting on the tune to be emailed back unfortunately. Car does like 3mph.

[@seanthies7696]

I have a 2002 e46 m3 that needs a lot of work. I’m trying to upgrade myself but I’m a college student. It would be awesome if you could help me out.

[@moist.teabag]

How much was it?

[@sebastianfranco7626]

I have sum things i want to buy from you guys too

[@elbertbeam6891]

I need my car updated

[@pinche_juannn]

the music was unnecessarily loud & annoying lol ECS great job and nice upgrades too bad the owner ruined it with all that tacky **** horrible paint work aswell lmao

[@mikeomalley1683]

Odd...I think the Paint looks great, It gets tons of compliments. it's a 20 year old 250k Car, Should we bust out the rotisserie? LOL. Thanks for the comments😂

[@pinche_juannn]

@mikeomalley1683 bust it out . Yeah, im sure you get compliments all the time

[@deejay4837]

Why does ECS block vpn users...since you guys started I've been buying my parts from all the competitors.

[@elbertbeam6891]

I have a e46 330 I m3

[@bentremy]

My E46 M3 has 278k on it. How can I get you guys to come hook me up?

[@frankrocha8579]

Ooph those exterior “upgrades” are questionable at least 😬

[@user-wj4ed2js2i]

Please help me finish my 2002 e46 M!!! Would be so grateful.

[@TreatsOnTheStreets]

Upgrade my e36 m33333333

[@ecstuning]

Hey great idea, we'll send you a message regarding it!

[@TreatsOnTheStreets]

@@ecstuning looking forward to it 🤘

[@ricolam4916]

NJ car 😅

[@QRS365]

ya'll stop making mods for E53?

[@ecstuning]

Actually we just released a BUNCH of NEW mods for the E53 X5. Checkout our overland build series on that truck. The new products featured in that video have been put into production so you can mod your own truck! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJTEXmZqja2tmZY

[@vandalov777]

why you name video "cheapest" but not talking about price he paid???? maybe cheapest in neighborhood or New Jersey..talk price dont make clickbaits

[@mikeomalley1683]

Lol true, Didn't want to give exact price in case I wanted to sell it. But it was under 10k. thanks!

[@vandalov777]

@@mikeomalley1683 i m selling right now e46 m3 for 9500 and cant sell..so mine basically cheapest in country right now and nobody buying for a few month already

[@mikeomalley1683]

@@vandalov777 What's the details? Miles? Coupe?

[@vandalov777]

@@mikeomalley1683 2003 convertible 199k miles smg

[@sambathkong4141]

At least wear some gloves 🧤

[@darrenboston342]

Oh dear!!🙄….. that’s coming from a 46 M3 owner!