2004 BMW M3

We've chronicled our adventures in E30-chassis and E36-chassis BMW M3s, but what's life like with an E46-chassis example?

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2004 BMW M3

Latest updates

Mar 26, 2026 | BMW | BMW M3
Preparing our M3 for a coast-to-coast drive (not the one you think)

We're taking our E46 M3 on a road trip from the East Coast (of Florida) to the West Coast (of Florida).

Sep 10, 2025 | BMW | BMW M3
What do you buy your M3 for your ninth anniversary together?

This week marks nine years since we purchased our E46 BMW M3 project car. We're celebrating with a look back at the adventures we've had so far.

Aug 19, 2025 | BMW | BMW M3 | Photography
We took the M3 out of the garage and made someone’s evening

Another excuse to drive your cool car to an event? You never know when it'll make someone's day better.

May 24, 2025 | BMW | BMW M3
My project car was sitting, so I went and did something with it.

Car sitting too long? Give yourself a reason to drive the car–and don't be afraid to set the bar low.

May 17, 2025 | BMW | BMW M3 | Project car
Do you also have a project car that could use some attention?

It's high time we get our E46 M3 out to stretch its legs.

Dec 28, 2024 | BMW | BMW M3 | BimmerWorld | Red Line Bimmer Performance | Rod Bearings | Red Line Oil
BMW rod bearings: What is the real story here?

Does your BMW really need new rod bearings? Well, we found out.

Dec 23, 2024 | BMW | FIRM | BMW M3 | M3 | BimmerWorld | E46 M3 | E46 | Track Car | Track Test | Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park | BMW E46 M3
Can our E46 M3 run with a new Hyundai Elantra N?

Our E46 M3 project car is a street car built for the occasional track day. How does it compare to a new Hyundai Elantra N on track? Let's find out.

Dec 1, 2024 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | BimmerWorld | E46 M3 | E46 | Wheel Studs
Wheel studs: What you need to know before making the switch

Time to swap over to lugs? Your preferred vendor might offer more than one solution.

Nov 24, 2024 | BMW | brakes | BMW M3 | Project car
E46 M3 brakes don't feel right? How to tell if it's the ABS/DSC unit

After an investigation into why the brakes on our E46-chassis M3 felt off, we soon found ourselves on a quest to replace–and reprogram–the seemingly impossible.

Nov 17, 2024 | BMW | brakes | M3 | Big Brake Kit
Do all cars really need bigger brakes?

Some cars can benefit from bigger brakes, but do all cars really need them?

Nov 5, 2024 | BMW | M3 | BimmerWorld | E46 M3 | E46 | E46 BMW M3 | E46 BMW | Redline Bimmer
One simple trick to restore the steering feel of your E46 BMW

When the steering in our E46-chassis BMW M3 went from vague to more than vague, we knew something needed fixing.

Sep 22, 2024 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | E46 M3 | E46 | Warning Light
Figuring out what that warning light actually means

As it turns out, the owner's manual does have valuable information in it–like what that warning light on the dash means.

Feb 15, 2024 | BMW | M3 | E46 M3 | E46 | hvac
How we easily fixed our M3’s HVAC

Unlike some BMW repairs, fixing the A/C blower in our E46 M3 was as simple as replacing a small part that lives behind the glovebox.

Nov 21, 2023 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | BimmerWorld | E46 M3 | E46 | BMW E46 M3
What’s in this BimmerWorld box?

Guess what's in this BimmerWorld box correctly, you'll win the satisfaction of having the correct guess.

Oct 24, 2023 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | BimmerWorld | E46 M3 | E46
Maybe our stumbling was just a result of bad gas?

The coughing and sputtering our M3 did after some laps had us worried. So we called BimmerWorld for help.

Sep 5, 2023 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | BimmerWorld | E46 M3 | E46 | BMW E46 M3
Perhaps now is the time to stock up on those special M3 parts

An eye-opening realization? BMW isn’t likely to stock replacements of the special M3 parts forever.

Jul 18, 2023 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | E46 M3 | E46 | leather | Lithium Auto Care
A more cost effective alternative to buying new seat covers?

Seeing as replacement leather seat covers for our E46 M3 can cost hundreds of dollars, why not first try a $30 product that just might be able to prevent further …

Jun 12, 2023 | BMW | $2000 Challenge | BMW M3 | M3 | Hagerty | E46 M3 | E46 | Cars & Caffeine | BMW E46 M3
A friendly reminder: cars are meant to be driven

Don't be so worried about the number on the odometer, get out there and have fun with your car.

Apr 3, 2023 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | Photography | E46 M3
How to take a decent photo of your car in less than 20 seconds

Think you need hours to take the perfect car photo? We only needed 20 seconds.

Oct 10, 2022 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | BimmerWorld | E46 | Vorshalg
Vorshlag M3 camber plates: hot or not? | Project E46-chassis BMW M3

Was it a mistake to fit camber/caster plates to our M3?

Sep 12, 2022 | BMW | BMW M3 | M3 | E46 M3 | A/C | Air Conditioning | Spiker Motorsports
Does anyone really know how automotive a/c works? | E46-chassis BMW M3

Driving our BMW M3 is cool, except when the A/C goes lukewarm.

Aug 28, 2022 | BMW | BimmerWorld
E46-chassis BMW M3 buyer guide | Project E46-chassis BMW M3

How to buy your own E46-chassis BMW M3.

Apr 22, 2022 | BMW
Can we occasionally slow down just to take in some car culture? | E46-chassis BMW M3 project

Sure, going fast is great and all, but what about going to a simple gathering of like-minded enthusiasts?

Apr 14, 2022 | BMW
Do we like chonky boi tires? | E46-chassis BMW M3 project

By going down a wheel size on our E46 M3 project car, we managed to save a little more money on consumables like tires.

Mar 28, 2022 | BMW
How to nip a potential electrical short in the bud | E46-chassis BMW M3 project

Why leave part of the electrical system open to the elements?

Oct 21, 2021 | BMW
The Orlando BMW scene comes alive at night (pics) | E46 BMW M3 project

What did we see at Ace Café's BMW night? A legit M3 Lightweight, lots of great-looking BMWs and–perhaps most importantly–people coming together over the love of cars.

May 22, 2021 | BMW
How to methodically find the battery drain in our E46–and fit an Optima battery, too | Project BMW M3

If you ignore that battery drain, sadly, it won't fix itself.

Dec 30, 2020 | BMW
How to Easily Change the Oil on a Lowered Car | Project BMW M3

Oil changes: Ya gotta do them.

Dec 24, 2020 | BMW
Lowering Our Track Day Budget Via 17-Inch Apex Wheels on Our E46-Chassis M3 | Project BMW M3

Apex offers 17-inch wheels for M3 track day participants.

Dec 4, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: Installing Wheel Studs and Wheel Spacers

Converting our BMW from bolts to wheel studs.

Sep 30, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: What Oil to Use in That S54 Engine?

Time for an oil change.

Jun 26, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: Dipping Into the Yokohama Catalog for Some Sticky Street Tires

Time to order tires for our E46-chassis BMW M3. Ideally something sticky. And black. And round.

Jun 12, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: Spacers and Square Wheels for Our E46

How do you create a fully square setup on an E46-chassis BMW M3? With wheel spacers.

May 27, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: Does Your E46 Need Front Strut Reinforcement Plates?

E46-chassis BMW front strut reinforcement plates: Necessary or not?

May 22, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: Bilstein B16 Coil-Overs for Our E46

The M3 needed coil-overs. Can’t have stock ride height, right?

May 20, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: E46 Bushings and Subframe Mounts

What’s one of the biggest weak points on the E46-chassis BMW? The rear subframe mounts.

May 15, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: Setting Goals

Know what every successful project needs, no matter the scope or subject? A goal.

May 12, 2020 | BMW
Project BMW M3: How BimmerWorld Grew a BMW Passion Into a BMW Business

What can James Clay teach others contemplating a business built around a passion, and how is BimmerWorld weathering the current storm?

Apr 23, 2020 | BMW
Moving the M3 to the Front Burner

It’s time to move this one to the front burner.

Sep 27, 2018 | BMW
Project BMW M3: Our Car Gets a New Foundation

We add some new suspension bits, plus wheels and tires.

Apr 27, 2017 | BMW
Slight Project Pause for Our BMW M3

Few things slow down our project car progress more effectively than a broken arm.

Mar 7, 2017 | BMW
Squaring Up Our M3

Our E46 M3 gets a new set of wheels.

Jan 19, 2017 | BMW
Speciality Insurance for Our Special M3?

Can you save 15% or more with Hagerty?

Jan 6, 2017 | BMW
Airbags for Our M3

We have our Takata airbag replaced.

Dec 27, 2016 | BMW
The Blackstone Oil Analysis for Our M3 Says…

When we bought our 2004 BMW M3, a big, big question loomed: How were those rod bearings?

Dec 23, 2016 | BMW
Hagerty Just Said It: Buy an E46-Chassis BMW M3 Now

The E46-chassis M3 tops their list of cars to buy now.

Oct 27, 2016 | BMW
Fresh Red Line Fluids for Our High-Revving M3

The E46-chassis BMW has a bit of a bad secret, and it lies near its heart.

Oct 26, 2016 | BMW
Gobbling Up the Miles (and BBQ) With Our M3

Nothing like a road trip in your new M3.

Oct 4, 2016 | BMW
Fresh Powerflex Bushings for Our BMW M3

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Sep 27, 2016 | BMW
First Stop With Our New M3: BimmerWorld

James Clay from BimmerWorld gives our M3 a once-over.

Sep 20, 2016 | BMW
Meet the Latest GRM Addition: an E46-Chassis BMW M3.

After years of lusting, we finally have our own E46-chassis BMW M3.

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