Six-Speed BMW E46 M3 Is For The Driving Enthusiast

It may not have the naturally-aspirated V8 of its successor but the E46-generation BMW M3 remains one of the most desirable iterations of the legendary sports car.

Finding pristine examples, equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, is difficult but this car, currently for sale on Bring A Trailer, has definitely caught our eye. At the time of writing, the online auction had six days left to run and the max bid was resting at $12,350.

The seller says that the M3 has had just two previous owners and just 45,000 miles (72,420 km) under its belt. That may seem like quite a lot but most six-speed E46 M3s have significantly more than that. Purchasing the manual is also a much safer bet than the available SMG transmission which is known to have issues.

The 19-inch wheels were refinished at 25,000 miles (40,000 km) and come equipped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires measuring 225/40 at the front and 255/35 at the rear. The car also includes xenon headlights and a power sunroof.

Inside, black leather adorns the seats and dashboard and is offset by Aluminum Shadow accents. The cabin also includes an aftermarket Bluetooth and auxiliary input system as well as wiring for a radar detector.

If, for some strange reason, you didn’t know, the E46 M3 is powered by a high-revving 3.2-liter inline-six engine delivering 333 hp at 7900 rpm.