bare bones ///M3

Hi all.
I was wondering how many people here bought a bare bones ///M.
I mean no sunroof, no leather, no nav, etc......

I will be in the market for a used ///M and have started an early search. It seems like everyone has gotten at least leather or a sunroof, and I know for sure that I don't want those two options. I think the only option that I do want are the xenons......and maybe the nav. for those long drives to who knows where!

Just trying to get an idea if anyone on here has gotten a bare bones ///M.

Thanks
arg

this guy

yes.....that would be ideal.
although the amount of work he has done would probably cost more than buying a new ///M, I would love to be able to do that.
It's the reason I want to start out with a bare one.

The car WOULD be my daily driver, weekend auto-x'er, and occasionally see a few HPDE's.
I don't plan to mod extensively. Racing buckets, LTW wheels, and suspension would probably be all.......possible roll bar/cage if the HPDE's become any more addictive. At least for a couple of years.........

There are folks that have ordered lightly optioned M3's, but finding them used will probably prove to be fairly difficult.

Originally Posted by atyclb

There are folks that have ordered lightly optioned M3's, but finding them used will probably prove to be fairly difficult.

yeah, it seems as difficult as finding an '02 ///M coupe.

I think Fabryce at InTrax ordered a 'bare bones' e46 M3 with no sunroof, cloth, etc. I think the only option he got was the upgraded headlights.

This is what I would like to do, which brings up the question of ordering cars. Do dealers not like to order these types of cars since it seems they want all the bells and whistles to sell to people? A barebones M3 with a custom color and xenon and smg is all I want.

Originally Posted by Fisch330ciTB

This is what I would like to do, which brings up the question of ordering cars. Do dealers not like to order these types of cars since it seems they want all the bells and whistles to sell to people? A barebones M3 with a custom color and xenon and smg is all I want.

yes, I doubt any dealer would order a non-leather M3 with few options for their stock.

In your case, you would almost certainly have to order a new car, especially considering your desire for a custom color.

Which color do you want? Estoril seems to be most popular these days, especially with you wacky Fanatics

Originally Posted by Fisch330ciTB

This is what I would like to do, which brings up the question of ordering cars. Do dealers not like to order these types of cars since it seems they want all the bells and whistles to sell to people? A barebones M3 with a custom color and xenon and smg is all I want.

It would be nice if BMW were to offer a "trackday ///M3".
racing buckets, no back seats, factory roll cage while keeping the interior panels......considering we don't get the CSL.

Originally Posted by atyclb

yes, I doubt any dealer would order a non-leather M3 with few options for their stock.

In your case, you would almost certainly have to order a new car, especially considering your desire for a custom color.

Which color do you want? Estoril seems to be most popular these days, especially with you wacky Fanatics

estoril is nice, and my second favorite e36m3 color...but either Techno Violet or LeMans Blue would be my choices.

Originally Posted by Fisch330ciTB

either Techno Violet or LeMans Blue would be my choices.

nice

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

I think Fabryce at InTrax ordered a 'bare bones' e46 M3 with no sunroof, cloth, etc. I think the only option he got was the upgraded headlights.

Actually, I believe that was his friend James Sofronas at GMGracing.com.

The car is also for sale, from what I was told. However, I don't think it comes with the cool wheels.

My 2003 ///M3 options include: ///M cloth, HK sound system, cold weather pkg, xenons, and width and lumbar adjustable seats.

I stumbled across a IR, 2002, with only heated seats, premium sound, headlights and leather. Basically only the low wieght options.

Just in case you guys didn't know the "No Leather Option" seats that came on the E36 were sweet!

By the way, the cage in that car on this thread is sweet.

Originally Posted by atyclb

this guy

POST MORE PICS!!!!!

Originally Posted by hsmith

My 2003 ///M3 options include: ///M cloth, HK sound system, cold weather pkg, xenons, and width and lumbar adjustable seats.

I was gonna order an M3 w/Xenons and HK, but then I got a little carried away.

Originally Posted by arg

It would be nice if BMW were to offer a "trackday ///M3".
racing buckets, no back seats, factory roll cage while keeping the interior panels......considering we don't get the CSL.

They tried that, with the LTW (roll cage excepted). It was an unmitigated sales disaster, not helped by the fact that BMW priced it above the regular M3. Chances of it happening again in the US are zero - 99% of punters want a loaded gin palace and 1,600 kg kerb weight, I'm afraid.

Originally Posted by andy_thomas

They tried that, with the LTW (roll cage excepted). It was an unmitigated sales disaster, not helped by the fact that BMW priced it above the regular M3.

It wasn’t a sales failure.... Where do you get that?

It was a limited production car that sold out before it was released. The intent was to sell most of these cars to people that intended to race in IMSA Street Stock or possibly GTS (not likely). Not to mention that many were purchased by BMW enthusiasts who turned them into dedicated track cars.

Its sole purpose in life was to be a halo car for the BMW brand. And it worked perfectly in that capacity.

Originally Posted by LmtdSlip

It wasn’t a sales failure.... Where do you get that?

Considering that there were only 125 of them, there were some that did not leave the dealerships until as late as 1998. There were quite a few in California that only sold after the dealers installed air conditioning in them. Remember, in 1995, 41K or more for a regular M3 was a lot of money and the lightweights were about 48K if the dealer wasn't trying to mark it up. The loss of some creature comforts coupled with the 20% difference in price made it a tough sell for the average buyer.

For the people looking for a outstanding track school car or BMW club racer (and had the money) they were great, but I think in a lot of race organizations, the extra performance enhancements got them classified (penalized) in brackets where it was tough for the car to be completitive (like SCCA T1).

I'm a big fan of the e36 M3 ltw and if I sell the M Roadster at some point (another car not considered to be a big sales success), I'll look to get one.

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

Considering that there were only 125 of them, there were some that did not leave the dealerships until as late as 1998. There were quite a few in California that only sold after the dealers installed air conditioning in them. Remember, in 1995, 41K or more for a regular M3 was a lot of money and the lightweights were about 48K if the dealer wasn't trying to mark it up. The loss of some creature comforts coupled with the 20% difference in price made it a tough sell for the average buyer.

For the people looking for a outstanding track school car or BMW club racer (and had the money) they were great, but I think in a lot of race organizations, the extra performance enhancements got them classified (penalized) in brackets where it was tough for the car to be completitive (like SCCA T1).

I think you miss my point. The car was never intended to be for the "average buyer". BMW intended this to be a competition car aimed squarely at the IMSA Street Stock class. So if it was penalized in any other class it didn't really matter. T1 was an oddball class anyway that ended up being the playground for Corvettes and Vipers.

I can tell you that in the southeast they had virtually everyone presold before the car hit the dealer's lot. Sure a customer may have added AC to the car but I doubt that any dealer HAD to do it in order to move the unit.
Which dealer had a new M3 LTW on their lot til 98? I don't belive that for a second.

Again, Its sole purpose in life was to be a halo car for the BMW brand. And it worked perfectly in that capacity.

Originally Posted by LmtdSlip

I can tell you that in the southeast they had virtually everyone presold before the car hit the dealer's lot. Sure a customer may have added AC to the car but I doubt that any dealer HAD to do it in order to move the unit.
Which dealer had a new M3 LTW on their lot til 98? I don't belive that for a second.

Oh yee of little faith. You're going to make me dig up the research on that, aren't you - okay, I'll do a little. I know for certain of at least 2 cars (out of only 125) that did not move until '98 and I haven't the time to trace down more. One at Shelley BMW in Buena Park and one at Peake in Louisiana (I was very close to being the 3rd owner of that car). Shelley had to put AC on that car to move it (at least according to people that worked there). There was at least another car in the bay area that had AC put on it (that car is in New Mexico now - where that AC will come in handy).

I think you missed Andy's point. It was only 125 cars and it took years to sell them all (although, I doubt dealers were putting them on out for red tag sales - they probably demanded at least MSRP right up until the very end). I don't think BMW will do that exact same experiment again with the e46 M3.

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

I don't think BMW will do that exact same experiment again with the e46 M3.

the dealer I spoke with here in NY told me that the reason we're not getting the CSL here is because we, Americans, would not buy a car without leather, a/c, sunroof......
It's sad to think that BMW thinks that it couldn't sell the car here. Although, I'm sure it also had to do with emissions/crash safety.

I think they would sell far more than 125 LTW E46's.
But I don't have the statistics that BMW has.
I guess that if they see that only a handful of people are NOT getting the leather, sunroof, fully loaded optioned out cars, they fear that it's not worth the risk.

I know that the chance of me finding a used, non-optioned E46 //M3 are pretty slim.

Have u consider the Sti or the EVO?

Originally Posted by arg

the dealer I spoke with here in NY told me that the reason we're not getting the CSL here is because we, Americans, would not buy a car without leather, a/c, sunroof......
It's sad to think that BMW thinks that it couldn't sell the car here. Although, I'm sure it also had to do with emissions/crash safety.

I think they would sell far more than 125 LTW E46's.
But I don't have the statistics that BMW has.
I guess that if they see that only a handful of people are NOT getting the leather, sunroof, fully loaded optioned out cars, they fear that it's not worth the risk.

I know that the chance of me finding a used, non-optioned E46 //M3 are pretty slim.

I'm not willing to say they couldn't sell the CSL here, just that they would have to market it differently than they did the e36 M3 ltw's. Maybe by special order only and factor that production rate into the price. There are some buyers out there that would get the car at almost any price.

I can ask Fabryce if that GMG project M3 is really for sale.

Originally Posted by ayn

Have u consider the Sti or the EVO?

I have, but dismiss them after a little thought.
I'm not sure i want 4wd.....might be too much control.
I like highly tuned, high revving NA engines. The sound, the technology.......
My last car was an Integra Type R. I've always considered a 4 cylinder version of the ///M. Over 100 hp/liter, high compression, 8500 rpm redline, designed as a car you can take from the showroom onto the track. No sunroof, no sound deadening material, no a/c on the first ones offered.
The car was a blast to drive.
Well, it got stolen.
Now, a couple years later, I'm trying to think what to replace it with.
I go through the same list.....STi, EVo, S4, M3.
I think it's down to the EVo, or M3.
EVo for the modding/hp potential that it has.

M3 because it's really EXACTLY what i'm looking for. RWD, high hp, high revving, NA power.