The E46 M3 generated huge excitement when it arrived, especially in the United States. The E30 M3 had sold poorly when new in the United States on account of the high price that its racey engine mandated. Consequently, the second generation American M3 (the E36) received a less exotic and therefore considerably less expensive engine which had the desired effect on sales, which exploded in North America. Lacking the individual throttle bodies and ~100 hp per liter specific output of the European E36 M3 engine, the North American S52 was a very good engine but its spec sheet and outright performance left American enthusiasts pining for the Euro version. This all changed with the E46 M3, which offered the 8000 RPM 333hp 3.2 liter 24-valve S54 inline-6 with individual throttle bodies to the American market, very nearly the same power unit that the rest of the world received.
The commercial success of the E36 M3 meant that the E46 M3 became the first M car to receive bespoke body panels, which came in the form of a unique hood with power bulge and widened fenders, which added air intakes on the front ones. The tracks were widened to fill the fenders (or more accurately, the fenders were flared to cover the wider track) and nearly every component of the suspension was revised in some respect to improve handling. The chassis was strengthened, the steering ratio quickened and the resulting car is a practical performance icon that still remains exciting today.
The majority of M3s built are somewhere on the black to white continuum, with a couple of grays in between. In North America, the cars were around $50,000 and dealers usually equipped their inventory with the features that most buyers at that price point demanded: sunroofs, power seats, fancy stereos, heated seats, and so on. As a result, this particular car is, shockingly, a one-off. One of just 19 coupes (14 of which were stick shifts) ordered for North America in Laguna Seca blue with Cinnamon leather interior, this M3 is the only manual transmission North America car in this color combo without a sunroof. To add further sporting appeal, its original owner ordered it with manual seats. He did opt for Xenon lights, Harmon Kardon stereo, and the cold weather package, which includes heated seats.
Also noteworthy is that this is a “facelift” car (LCI or lifecycle impulse in BMW parlance) which appeared partway through the 2003 model year and incorporates LED tail lamps and widened trunk plinth and chrome trim around the grille kidneys. Facelift Laguna Seca blue cars are particularly rare as the color was discontinued after the 2004 model year during which only 154 Laguna Seca blue coupes were made for North America out of a total production of 1,128 cars.
This car was produced to special order for its original owner. It was completed in October 2003, although he did not take delivery of the car until the following January because the car was retained by BMW North America for some marketing work before being dispatched to its original supplying dealer, Baron BMW in Merriam, Kansas. The original owner is a physician and pilot and retained the car until February 2024, at which time it had covered just 28,500 miles. At that time, the car still retained its original front Continental tires.
Since then, the car has received a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, a Beisan Vanos rebuild, and new headliner to replace the sagging original. Service records from throughout the car’s life are also included.
This is a genuinely unrepeatable opportunity to acquire one of the most desirable North American M3s built. Finished in an impossibly rare color combination, this one-owner 29,000 mile slicktop with manual seats is shockingly the only car so ordered new and presents in superb condition throughout. It comes with service records, books, tools, and window sticker.
