My Friend Bought an E46 M3 at 22 Years Old!

[@leekindell9937]

This kid has better taste than most lads his age to go with this is very very cool. Modern classic. Loved my e46 m3. Don’t sell it hang onto it. I regretted selling mine. I have a 911 turbo s. But I turn my head every time I see an e46 m3 still

[@AliasHSW]

Back when I debated on a 996 vs e46. Settled for M for having a rear seat. No regrets but still would like a 996.

[@spurs079]

I’ve got an e46 m3. You are right, it’s a great looking car and in my opinion there is nothing that looks that good.

[@AliasHSW]

@@spurs079 IMO when it comes to looks, only the e30 can rival the e46 in the M3 family

[@spurs079]

@ yes you are right although i do prefer the e46. IMO the e30 was let down by the engine output. That car should have had the performance of an integrale although on paper there wasn’t much in it.

[@craigsle]

E46 M3 is the ultimate M3 . Timeless classy design that just never ages , ridiculous lines , so beautiful . Exhaust sound amazing and the interior build and material quality is second to none . I drive a 2006 MK V VW GTI with the same attributes as this stunning M3 , great build quality , great power for what it is and an absolutely bangin daily driver . These older German cars are total sleepers and if you can find a real nice one like this that has been well maintained they just never age and are incredibly comfortable. I don't winter drive my GTI so it is immaculate, my daily driver is a 7.5 Golf Alltrack with a 6 spd manual which is also supremely comfortable but the MK V is just as nice . I love in Canada so need the all wheel drive for the crazy winter weather. Awesome car brother .

[@rallymouse1]

Congrats to James, nowadays its not common to see youngman like him true petrolhead. I am wishing to him all my best, hoping to have all the cars in his heart. Thank you for the video Darcy.

[@geoffclarke3796]

James has great taste in cars. I currently own an E92 M3 with a manual gearbox which i love and which looks great but I think the E46 M3 is the best looking M3.

[@rabmc]

Owned one for 7yrs now, they are a labour of love at this age now £££

[@paulc8821]

Great video, have to love the E46 M3. Well presented by you both. This example is spot on

[@Darcysdrive]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@Adrian-fy7rd]

So glad you explained the CSL style upgrades. I really like them on this car. Perfect looks with a manual knob. Dream spec. Loving your mate, James, too. Proper enthusiast!

[@Darcysdrive]

Glad you liked it! Yes he really is, needs to start his own channel!

[@JoJo-hc4dj]

Awesome video guys, you both have such passion for classic fast cars 👍🏼

[@Darcysdrive]

Thank you! 👍

[@dailystupidandinterestingv7794]

I bought my first one at age 19 and 2nd one at age 24! Both carbon black

[@jonathonbrett-qn1ic]

A brilliant car my favourite M3 Great video Thank you

[@Darcysdrive]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lloydlawrence2009]

This kid is makes so much sense 👍

[@erikkulp8819]

The E46 M3 is my favorite looking M3 for sure. I had a jet black on cinnamon manual for 6 years. Did some Autox and a couple HPDE with it and found it to be a pretty capable car. With that said I enjoyed my E36 more than the E46. The E36 was more fun and nimble to drive on a regular basis than the E46. My ultimate M3 would be putting the S54 in the E36.

[@jamesreeve3177]

I know a few people who have done exactly this, they wouldn’t go back.

[@ChinoDesignsNYC]

I hope my son is like him.

[@Benvlnt]

The only audio option in old BMWs in my opinion is the BlueBus. Hand built by Ted in America. Completely transforms the OEM unit into one with full modern functionality but retaining the OEM software. You must get one, I had one in my sapphire black 330Ci and I transferred it into my Silver Grey M3 6MT

[@kcw9313]

dude has great taste

[@philipbales4921]

I owned E46 M3 LCI for 2 year's had vanos changed apart from that a masterpiece of BMW engineering, swapped it for E92 M3 2013 1 of 500 limited edition sounds awesome but not that quick only produce 380bhp, now I own f82 m4 2015 running 560bhp and its very quick how an M car should be loads of torque, quality video by the way 🔥🔥🔥

[@cunrah]

As a E46 M3 Manual Owner, (I also have the E92 M3 Manual) i agree i also connect with the E46 more. Both epic cars! What i need to also say is, Not sure if you know, your wing mirrors don't look factory. They look aftermarket, not sure if you agree.(Possible previous damage?)

[@mabskha7917]

i remember paying 7k for my e46 m3 back in 2012 with only 68k on the clocks. Also it wasnt the common carbon blue like this one, but your mate getting this for 15k? with just around 89k on the clocks and one of the last version, isnt too shabby

[@newtypecs700]

Smart choice ! Brother 👍 😊

[@essing8173]

Love it! I had the same idea. In 2019 I started looking for an E46 M3 coupe, but decided start with a 330 instead due to the price and first time BMW ownership. So in 2020 at 22 years old. I bought a 330Ci coupe, manuel with big spec list, moonroof and the beautiful Topaz Blau color. Unfortunately the prices of M3’s soon got unattainable here in Denmark (both prices and import taxes rose by a lot) Instead I have put at lot of money in the 330 and love as a summer car. I don’t know if I could go back in time I would pick the M3 instead, it would be some years before I could insure it.

[@essing8173]

For reference In 2019 when I debated buying M3 vs. 330 The plan was to buy a German M3 an import it to Denmark 🇩🇰. German car cost 17.000 pounds £ and import tax to Denmark was 6.700 pounds £ Today in 2024 German car cost 28.000 pounds £ and import tax to Denmark 17.000 pounds £ 2019 23.700£ vs. 2024 45.000£ my ship has sailed 😅🥲

[@billyverduzco2337]

I bought mine at 18, right after graduating boot camp

[@albertomarin9166]

I’ma doing that in 2025😂

[@Matdamwam]

Any info on how he got apple car play ?

[@makaveliangel87]

It would be that aftermarket screen you can get from eBay/china. Approx £150

[@KRAEMERP2010]

I've got 2 dream cars, the E46 M3 and the 350Z

[@mikebader3863]

350Zs are garbage don’t want your time or money, 370Z better option

[@KRAEMERP2010]

@@mikebader3863 Your opinion, nobody cares..

[@johnregan6078]

Welcome to the M3 dream brother 👍🏻

[@ChancellorBeeHaw]

not a bad sounding exhaust, nice interior though!

[@RiperSnifle]

I would happily have bought one when i was 22, but i couldn't afford to run the bloody thing now let alone 5/6 years ago. Shame, its a dream car for me .... maybe not such afford but just bemoan to pay the costs it takes to run it

[@jonnygti]

Lovely car😎 Leamington spa, I was born there (84) small world😁

[@mikebader3863]

“I never really bonded with the E46”… I’ve never actually driven one, or seemingly been in one until now. Internet car journalism at its finest

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

Really nice car and great spec but 40 mpg for the s54 in the E46 and with 19 inch wheels... 😂

[@jamesdreeveaudio]

Ha! Yeah only saw it once, stuck at 50mph on a long stretch of road… my average is about 28-30

[@matthewnicholas6365]

Had a convertible for 4 years and had wanted an(y) e46 m3 for a very long time before that. And......I just never got on with it. I'd owned a 330ci so I knew the platform well. I just didn't enjoy the engine at all. That 340hp isn't really accessible. 8k rpm is mid 30s in 1st and 70mph in 2nd. So to ever feel the 340hp you either drive in first/second gear or do prison speeds in 3rd or 4th.

[@rossbethell4187]

“Teach you how to drive a little bit” in terms of young drivers. 😮 when I was a young driver, anything rwd was heroic to have, anything near 200bhp was likely going to get you into a ditch. M3s were just widow makers. Did young drivers suddenly all become sennas?

[@Darcysdrive]

Newer cars have so many driver aids and are much easier to drive

[@jaromor8808]

I am thinking, wouldn't it be nice to do these with two cars? I.e. you following/recording the car from your XJR? Unless you wanna keep the odometer low, of course. Also you would have a reference for the XJR, like "I couldn't keep up with you" or "I could actually keep up with your car with ease." Cheers

[@Darcysdrive]

I wanted this one to be a personal chat in my friends car about his BMW 👍🏼

[@jaromor8808]

@@Darcysdrive Understood. Having the conversation would be possible still, but admittedly technically more complicated. 👍🏻

[@MichaelSmith-ov1nf]

E46 is the second nicest m3 in my book. Go drive aE 92 and you won’t want the e46 anymore. Then again I live in Miami and we have the roads to let the V8 stretch its legs

[@jamesreeve3177]

E92 is a fantastic car, drove both before deciding on the E46. Unfortunately UK roads don’t allow you to really get out all the performance and additionally fuel is immensely expensive here, so to try and get all that performance out of the E92 you would be burning your wallet over here. Great choice of car over in Miami though! Although if I was there I’d be looking for a ZR1 C6

[@LeBeausMachines]

I think he a financially smart decision 😂😂 *man maths*

[@jaromor8808]

I suspect you didn't help the sound in your XJR by going with a cheap BT. I got myself the BT-adapter from Jagaux, and it sounds great. (But my car's got the Alpine premium sound.)

[@blacktemplar2377]

Why buy the 06 one tho, you're paying twice as much in tax as an 05 iirc

[@mohammedhussain6753]

whats an iirc? and thats the tax difference

[@adebrade172]

Yeah its a 06 tax much dearer, pain

[@timallsopp8656]

£715 p/a?

[@rabmc]

I own a 2004 model, crazy the tax difference just due to years.

[@kona328_BD]

​@@timallsopp8656yup. Deal breaker right there

[@matthewnicholas6365]

Pre 2006 tax is more like £320

[@AliasHSW]

Kid was 0 years old when the e46 was in period

[@Evil-La-Poopa]

i wish i could afford this i need to do what this 22 year old is doing lol

[@Darcysdrive]

He’s working in sound design for games 😊

[@alexcostin8082]

Sounds like is 1.2 engine

[@matthewmason5501]

Great car. Not sure why it's been debadge?.

[@jamesdreeveaudio]

Had a CSL Bootlid fitted and the previous owner decided not to re-add the badge, I'm debating getting a new one put on.

[@gianniarduini3644]

1540 kg to be fair

[@jamesdreeveaudio]

This is correct! ^

[@gianniarduini3644]

@ we all wish it would have been 1400kg but depending on what you want very easy to get to that weight

[@jamesdreeveaudio]

@@gianniarduini3644 Yeah for sure! I'm lucky to have a carbon fibre roof and fibre glass bonnet & bootlid; balances up nicely!

[@darrenboston342]

I bought an E30 M3 sport Evo at 19.👊 Got two 46 M3 cabs in my collection👌

[@melaniezimmermann-jv7th]

Nice. ❤👍💋💋💋💋

[@stevesas632]

Waiving at scum hunters? 😢

[@DavidSirotinsky]

do not sell CAR

[@DavidSirotinsky]

keep for life... mark my wooors my friend. *mark my FKin words

[@DavidSirotinsky]

you're also gay

[@jamesdreeveaudio]

@@DavidSirotinskyThank you David

[@Ulesca12]

E46 is not lighter than e92, common misconception. E46 m3 is 1570kg +/- depending on trim, and e92 m3 is 1580kg +/- depending on trim. Not sure why this misinformation is still floating around in 2024

[@jamesdreeveaudio]

Very true! Forgot to mention that my Bonnet and bootlid are fibre glass & my roof top is carbon fibre! Will correct this in a future video.

[@kona328_BD]

Indeed. Owner has bias for sure.

[@carlosbonilla1637]

Big mistake.. period. Unless he comes from $$$$ family, this car will bankrupt him

[@HD33P1]

How exactly?

[@RobloxStudioBeLike]

@@HD33P1 Insurance.

[@mittortz]

Have dailyed mine for about 3.5 years... It's absolutely expensive to do. What makes it doable for me is I was willing to learn to work on it myself.

[@kona328_BD]

Indeed very expensive to run. I can afford to have and run one but living in the UK I can't get the most out of it on my daily commute and tax and running cost are simply a rip off. Hats off to owners that run one, but for me it's not worth the money, like many sports cars...

[@spurs079]

For him to buy it means he can afford it. Not a chav.

[@chrisaris8756]

Oh dear! Not another BMW that’s really tedious.

[@Darcysdrive]

That's two videos! There is going to be a variety of cars on this channel, you can just not watch the BMW ones.