Is an E46 M3 good to buy as your first car? Plus Project car recommendation.

It would be absolutelly great. Only makes sure that the one you buy hasn’t been thrushed becaise a lot of them jave been

I’d suggest first driving manual on a less powerful car as the clutch will be cheaper to replace, but as long as you can afford the potential maintenance costs, it’s a great car. I’ve driven a couple and they’re really nice to drive :)

Definitely not, unless you can afford the ridiculous maintenance costs. Driving-wise, you would probably be fine. 333hp is a good amount, but not too much if you have self control and discipline. The maintenance and insurance is a different story. They are much more expensive to maintain/insure than their non-M E46 counterparts, not to mention an example worth buying is $10k+. I would suggest a 330i. Not as powerful, but plenty powerful for a first, much cheaper to buy/insure/maintain.

Its great but be careful with it. I would say yes seeing as you’ve been in the 525 for a year but I can’t make it clear enough that it is dangerous. At the age of 28 I’ve had 1 of my friends die and 2 get seriously injured in these cars driving them at a young age.

An E46 M3 is a bit much for a first car for multiple reasons (expensive to maintain, insurance will be through the roof, and they cost a pretty penny to begin with.) If you’re looking for something newer, E36 and E46 3 series (excluding the M3) are great bang for the buck and easier to maintain. If a classic is what you desire, the E30 (I prefer plastic bumper cars myself) and e28 would also be excellent choices to restore or buy in decent shape and modify to your will. Keep in consideration that although you may have the money to buy the car, make sure you factor in the cost of buying parts and minor repairs that might be needed depending on the condition of the car you end up purchasing. Also don’t rush yourself and purchase the first car you come across, better deals will come along. Patience is key, it might take a few months to find the perfect car, but in the end it will be well worth the wait. You might want to take a look at other options besides BMW’s. Keep driving your parent’s car until you find something that really intrigues you and works nicely with your budget. Good luck, Joe.

M3 is probably a bit too much car, but a normal 3 series I can definitely recommend. Insurance will be reasonable, they’re still a lot of fun, and fuel/repair costs won’t destroy you. Just be sure to do your research and find a good example, and you’ll be fine.

“I’m American so I’ve never driven a manual but the one I’ll buy is going to be!”
I don’t get this - since u have been driving ur parents car for over years now it means u got driver license right? While taking the driver’s license didn’t u drive manual?

I’m 25 and I drive a 2002 530i and the maintenance costs are pretty high. And I do all the work myself! I would recommend against it considering your age, the insurance costs, and maintenance costs. An E46 330i is a much better alternative.

Go with the E30. Im not saying it for the cost, but for the experience. You need to know how to drive to keep an M3 on the road, and you will want to impress your friend.

Big no-no even if its my fav car, wouldn’t havee gotten it!

id say a 330ci ZHP would be the best. M3s are great, but yes maintenance and parts are way more expensive. i also found that the m54b30 seems to be a bit more reliable than the s54 found in the M3. my 330ci is plenty fast, and its sitting at 215 whp and 253ft/lbs of torque with mostly bolt ons and still naturally aspirated.