UPDATE: PICS OF NEW 2005 M3 Clubsport Package

[possessed_beaver]

Originally Posted by ccarlisi Enough, it's time for a reality check. Those things should come standard on an M model. The M is, or at least was, their designation for track ready models. A premium for a different steering wheel fabric? A premium for more direct steering-at the very least that should come standard. I think the E46M is one of the least inspiring 40k+ machines on the road today. It sounds coarse, feels numb and heavy, cost a fortune, and doesn't look much different from all the other base model BMWs, yet people buy them anyway. Now apparently BMW is adding the things they took out of the current car, which were inseparable from the character of the previous models, back in as costly 'options' on top of the already expensive 'M' option. Remember the e36? The M model came stripped and the luxury package was an option. That seemed reasonable because things like wood, leather, auto climate control, power seats all add cost. I don't see how taking those things out of the standard E46 model should drive up the price. Is it me or does it seem like BMW is gouging the very segment of the market that supported the M division when it use to build nothing but hard edged cars? That's gratitude, nice company.

i think they are just trying to flog as many off as possible..
and it's a case of most m3 owners know other m3 owners, and it becomes a pissing contest amoung the rich as to who has the best M3..

[Johns]

I have this baby on order, what a long wait

[ae86_16v]

Originally Posted by ccarlisi Enough, it's time for a reality check. Those things should come standard on an M model. The M is, or at least was, their designation for track ready models. A premium for a different steering wheel fabric? A premium for more direct steering-at the very least that should come standard. I think the E46M is one of the least inspiring 40k+ machines on the road today. It sounds coarse, feels numb and heavy, cost a fortune, and doesn't look much different from all the other base model BMWs, yet people buy them anyway. Now apparently BMW is adding the things they took out of the current car, which were inseparable from the character of the previous models, back in as costly 'options' on top of the already expensive 'M' option. Remember the e36? The M model came stripped and the luxury package was an option. That seemed reasonable because things like wood, leather, auto climate control, power seats all add cost. I don't see how taking those things out of the standard E46 model should drive up the price. Is it me or does it seem like BMW is gouging the very segment of the market that supported the M division when it use to build nothing but hard edged cars? That's gratitude, nice company.

Umm, I don't think a 333hp 3.2L engine is anything but uninspiring.

[styla21]

is that supposed to read 333hp 3.2L engine is inspiring, or Uninspiring. The e46 m3 engine is in a unique class - breaking that 100hp / litre barrier. that elite status surely qualifies it as being 'inspiring' right?
btw, the engine is 343hp in australia.