I had one, nice cars. Impressive top speed bragging rights if de-limted! Sounds awesome, especially first start of the day.

Things i found annoying where -


tyres -£220fronts £250rears - you ve got to have the 19"wheels and tyres must be pilot sport 2s. Wheels are easy to scratch and impossible to get a good repair job done.

Servicing- intervals are large so aim to get one that just requires an Oil service next. INspection 2 will cost around £6-800 from an indy if there is nothing wrong with it! Normally the rear bushes and disks are fecked by that stage if uve been having fun !

Rear springs smash from aggressive starts and jumping the car can smash all 4 even though its brand new (learnt from experience)

Be carefull first time u turn the TC off ... can be a little snappy to the uninitiated!

r

 

My e46 M3 has also been great, though only had it a few months.

£16k will get you what you are looking for from a decent independant dealer.

Running costs are not that high, budget for 20mpg average, especially if you are doing lots of short journeys.

Insurance, when you find somewhere that will insure you (depending on your age and history) comes in about the same as the S2000.

Tracker is a must for a lot of insurance companies, and thats £136 a year I think.

The rest, as above really, I think they are a lot of car for the money.

 

Thanks for the advice and opinions guys, at least now if I decide to take the plunge i'm going into it with my eyes open.

I think going for a slightly older/higher mileage car and leaving myself a couple of grand spare would be the better option.
At least then I would have a buffer to cover a few costs.

Its going to be well after new year before I make my desicion, so I have plenty of time to really think about taking on the reponsibility of owning an M3 and a couple or grand a year to own one of my lottery cars (997 GT3 next hehe) isn't that much overall, but we'll see.

If I do go ahead with it I'll make sure I post a few pics

 

Check when the following have been done/replaced etc

Tyres: from £600 - £1000 set of 4

Service (Main Dealer Prices)
Oil Service £160-250
Inspection I £600-900
Inspection II £750-1200

Shocks last about 60-80K £400-600 + fitting
Brake Discs 30K-50K £500-600 + fitting (Front & Rear) pads extra
RTAB £60 + Fitting
Clutch 60K+ £1000-1200 incl. fitting
SMG Pump £1200-1500 + fitting
Battery £100-150
Alternator £200 + fitting (reconditioned)
Starter £200 + fitting (reconditioned)

 

After being obliterated by a Z4M (I know thats not it's 'real' name) in the wet at a recent track day... I really would.
Awesome machine and very stable.
I get the Blurter thing now

EDIT: M Roadster

 

 

x2