Maybe trade '02 330ci & order M3. Any changes/facelift...

...due for the M3 soon. I'd like to wait and order an '04, so I can put more down, but I'd bite the bullet and order an '03 if Bangle & Co. are going to uglify it like they did the 7 and Z3 (just my opinion, but it's a popular one).

So, does anyone know if any changes are planned for the '04 MY or sooner? Thanks in advance.

facelift in March

Originally posted by atyclb
facelift in March

CR@P$HIT! Say it ain't so.

front

I very much doubt that there will be a facelift of the M3 in March .The car has only been out for 2 years .Just because they are facelifting the 3 series coupe and convertible does not mean they will be facelifting the M3.I don't think there will ever be a facelift of the current M3.

Nope, no facelift for M3 in March (well, I don't think so)

but...but...



I bet it will happen

Holy Sh*t ! How did I miss that ?

But it doesn't make a sense. Facelift after two years ?

OK, I just checked my docs, it was introduced in March 2000 at the Geneva Motor Show.

When did it hit the production ?

Does it make financial sense for them to run the whole E46 coupe convertible line on the new facelift while keeping the limited production (relatively speaking) M3 coupe/cabrio on the old design? Even though the bumpers, fenders, and hoods are different, I think BMW is going to want to keep the whole line looking alike. They don't want the M3 coupe and 330Ci coupe to stand out as totally different cars when on the lot, for example, they want them to both be identified as E46 coupes.

Originally posted by atyclb
but...but...

Did anyone else notice that there is no mention of the 330Ci or 330Cic in that memo?

Although it would seem unlikely that BMW would exempt the 330s from any type of 2-door appearance change (particularly if the M3 were included), the info is very specific as to which models are scheduled to be receiving the facelift.

Seems like if all the E46 coupes/convertibles were getting the facelift, it would have been written:

'3 series (E46) Ci/Cic/M3 Face Lift'

Maybe they just ran out of room in the memo...

And, after seeing the 'clues' from that spy photo, my money is on the entire E46 line getting the sedan's front headlights, grills and fenders (M3 keeping exclusive front fenders), and rear tail-lights. It certainly makes the most economic sense of any mid-cycle change.

While there's still a chance of the coupes/convertibles simply getting the 7-series (and new 5-series) headlight 'eyebrow' turn-signals, my guess is that BMW is saving those for the next generation 3-series.

They probably won't facelift the M3. Just like when the 3-series changed in 99-00, and they left the M3 the same for another year w/ the older E36 bodystyle. It'll probably happen that way again.

Originally posted by M3Inline6
They probably won't facelift the M3. Just like when the 3-series changed in 99-00, and they left the M3 the same for another year w/ the older E36 bodystyle. It'll probably happen that way again.

I´m pretty sure they will facelift the M3. I think it would be very strange if they didn´t since it´s based on the ordinary 3-series Coupe. It´s like they would´nt have facelifted the E39 M5 when the facelift of the E39 came just because M5 had only been out for two years. It would be strange if they want the top-of-the-line models look older than the other cars in the range.

You have a beautiful car by the way and eventhough it is still fairly new (02) and probably still smells new, I understand fully why you want to move up to the M3.

The M3 can not be resisted and if it within your reach, you have no choice but to take advantage of it. You can't go wrong with a M3 either way.

Maybe a similar comparison can be attributed to hot looking women. There is always going to be a hotter woman out there even if you date a supermodel. It's endless.

Good luck!

Originally posted by M3Inline6
They probably won't facelift the M3. Just like when the 3-series changed in 99-00, and they left the M3 the same for another year w/ the older E36 bodystyle. It'll probably happen that way again.

Um, your facts are wrong.

The '99 3-series SEDANS are E46s while the '99 3-series coupes and convertibles are E36s. The '99 M3 was the "old body style" because ALL 2-doors were. There were no '00 M3s.

The M3 has never been in active production in a bodystyle other than that of the then current non-M equivalent 3-series vehicle.

There were no '99 M3 sedans because the '99 sedans were all E46s.

Originally posted by bmwguynj
You have a beautiful car by the way and eventhough it is still fairly new (02) and probably still smells new, I understand fully why you want to move up to the M3.

The M3 can not be resisted and if it within your reach, you have no choice but to take advantage of it. You can't go wrong with a M3 either way...

...Good luck!

Thanks for the compliment. I love my current 330Ci, but.....an M3.....*drool*. I don't have any liabilities - no outstanding credit (save the 330ci), no wife, no kids, no mortgage. If all goes according to plan, I should be in a position to get one within the next month or 2 without even breaking a sweat. So tempting...

Originally posted by TD


Um, your facts are wrong.

The '99 3-series SEDANS are E46s while the '99 3-series coupes and convertibles are E36s. The '99 M3 was the "old body style" because ALL 2-doors were. There were no '00 M3s.

The M3 has never been in active production in a bodystyle other than that of the then current non-M equivalent 3-series vehicle.

There were no '99 M3 sedans because the '99 sedans were all E46s.

TD, unfortunately, is right again. The sedan changed to e46 in '99 and ALL coupes (not just the M3) remained e36. In 2000, the e46 coupe was introduced and the M3 disappeared.

Then again, that was a MAJOR platform change and not just a facelift. If I were a betting man (and I am) I'd put my $$$ on the M3 being Banglefied this Spring.

Gonna do some more research...

Originally posted by Damon

TD, unfortunately, is right again.

I gotta' ask.

Is it unfortunate that I am right or is it unfortunate that the fact I put forth are right?

Originally posted by TD
I gotta' ask.

Is it unfortunate that I am right or is it unfortunate that the fact I put forth are right?

Originally posted by TD


I gotta' ask.

Is it unfortunate that I am right or is it unfortunate that the fact I put forth are right?

In all probability, the e46 will be facelifted come Spring. That is unfortuate, since I am not of the opinion that the proposed facelift is an improvement. I've got no beef with you.....It's ff I can't stand.

For the record,I never said there was an 00 M3. Maybe my words were misunderstood. I was just stating that in 99 the M3 was still an E36 bodystyle (as all the coupes were).

Originally posted by Damon

Thanks for the compliment. I love my current 330Ci, but.....an M3.....*drool*. I don't have any liabilities - no outstanding credit (save the 330ci), no wife, no kids, no mortgage. If all goes according to plan, I should be in a position to get one within the next month or 2 without even breaking a sweat. So tempting...

I hear you, less overhead, less liabilities so enjoy life while you are still young. Have you considered a 2003 540i with the new M sports package? That car is soooo sweet. Any other different vehicles also in contention? The M3 would be my top choice too. I can't think of any other car right now besides the 540i.

Man i really want an m3, I have a chance to purchase a salvage E46 m3 but the risks are to high. IM scared i get the car and the engine failure happens to me and it won't be covered by bmw or the fact that you don't know what has been done to the car.

Originally posted by Alex Baumann
OK, I just checked my docs, it was introduced in March 2000 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Anybody remember this cover..?

The car presented at IAA 1999 was only a prototype.