A BMW M3 E46 Just Sold For $90,000, Will This Become The New Normal?

Last week, we brought you the story of a 2003 BMW M3 E46 which was attracting a huge amount of interest online.

When we wrote our original article, the car had attracted a highest bid of $52,000 over on Bring A Trailer with roughly a week left in the auction. Fast forward to yesterday and that auction ended. The final sales figure? A cool $90,000.

Unless we’re mistaken, this might well be the highest anybody has paid for a used E46 M3 in recent years which isn’t a rare CSL model. It could be an indication of where the market for used E46 M3s is heading.

Also Read: This 16k Mile, Manual 2003 BMW M3 E46 Is Stunning, But It’s Already Passed The $52k Mark

The first, and perhaps most important, aspect of this particular E46 M3 is that it is equipped with the available six-speed manual transmission. Demand for cars with this transmission is much higher than the troublesome SMG which the car was also available with from the factory. In addition, this M3 sold with just over 16,000 miles (25,749 km) under its belt, a very low figure considering the vehicle’s age.

What is surprising about the final sales price is the fact that this M3 is far from stock and ordinarily, cars of this sort which are kept in their original condition sell for more. Among the modifications made to this example are 19-inch wheels, JRZ RS1 coilovers, adjustable front and rear sway bars, a Beisan Systems VANOS unit, and Turner Motorsports subframe reinforcements. The car also features beefed-up brakes with six-piston Brembo calipers at the front with 380 mm discs and four-piston units at the rear with 355 mm discs.

There is absolutely no doubt that the E46 M3 is becoming a hugely desirable collectors’ car and those interested in buying one would be wise to do so soon before prices continue to soar.