Titan silver is by no means an uncommon colour on a BMW of this era, and that’s probably because it suits them just fine. The gloss shadowline and black rubbing strips however are less common and bring a touch of contrast to the overall look, enhancing the shine of the freshly polished paint.

The E46’s design has aged gracefully, and this specific example certainly doesn’t look like it has been around for a quarter of a century. Even upon close inspection, the car bears merely a couple of minor defects and some very mild stone chipping. The wheels have also recently been refurbished. Sharp and purposeful is probably the best way to summarize this car’s appearance. 

The general theme developed on the exterior continues on the inside. The black leather sport seats offer the support you’d want for a spirited drive, but also the luxury of full electric adjustment (with memory) and heated cushions. 

The optional black headliner and black Alucube inserts are all very in keeping with the sporty tone of this car. Equipment also includes factory tinted rear windows, the M leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors and even a mobile phone. As on the outside, everything is in remarkably good condition.

The M54B30 is one of the smoothest and tractable engines ever produced by BMW, and the five speed manual ZF gearbox is certainly the most engaging way to enjoy its ample powerband. It has of course been duly serviced, with our recent maintenance including items such as the oil filter housing gasket and oil pan gasket, along with an overhaul of the cooling system.

The clutch and flywheel were replaced in 2019 by a BMW main dealer with OE parts and the DISA valve was replaced in 2021. If anything, this is proof the previous owner wasn’t cutting corners on the car’s upkeep.

Of course, a full service including all filters, sparkplugs gearbox and differential oil change has been performed.

This car came with the sport suspension package from the factory. It has since been upgraded to high quality B8 Bilstein shock absorbers while retaining its specific front wishbones. 

As part of its recent overhaul, it has also received new sway bar links and bushings front and rear, new rear trailing arm bushing and the M3 rear knuckle bushing upgrade. An alignment was of course carried out, and the car drives like an absolute charm. While it is certainly more focused than most E46s, it cruises nicely and remains perfectly compliant for everyday use.

The car’s underpinnings are of course in excellent condition as can be seen in our photo gallery.