Price: SOLD
Mileage: 91,800 Miles
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Interlagos Blue Metallic Exterior (A30)
Interior: Gray Leather Interior (N5TT)
Additional features:
Cube Aluminum Interior Trim
Slicktop (no sunroof)
Dinan Suspension (original ZCP Suspension Included)
Turner Adjustable Front Sway Bar
UUC Underdrive Pulley
AFE Intake Elbow
Competition Package (ZCP):
ZCP Spring Rates
ZCP Steering Rack 14.5:1
ZCP M Track Mode
ZCP Front and Rear Brakes
Manual Sport Seats
Auto Dimming Rearview Mirror
Automatic Headlights
Automatic Climate Control
Rain Sensor
On Board Computer
M Alcantara Steering Wheel
Individual Anthracite Headliner
White Direction Indicator Lights
Fog Lights
Fold Down Rear Seats
Style 163 19-Inch Staggered M3 ZCP Wheels
Michelin Pilot Super Sport Tires
SSR GT2 18-Inch Track Wheels
1-Owner
Colorado Car
Clean Carfax
The E46 generation M3 was the last of a legacy of normally aspirated, inline 6-cylinder M cars that defined the marque for a generation. At the heart of the E46 M3 was the 333-horsepower S54B32 engine, an evolution of the architecture that reaches back to the original M535i and M1. The S54 won multiple engineering awards upon its release and, at the time, it produced the highest horsepower-per-liter for a normally aspirated production engine. A pull to its screaming 8000-RPM redline is a smile-evoking experience that is only made better by the communicative and composed E46 chassis. The best M3s were equipped with the Competition Package (ZCP), offered only for the final two years of production. For $4000, the ZCP got you exclusive 19” Style 163 wheels, slightly firmer spring rates, a quicker steering rack, bigger brakes, and an M Track Mode tuned Dynamic Stability Control button on an Alcantara steering wheel. Interlagos Blue was an exclusive ZCP color, along with aluminum cube trim. The ZCP results in a sum greater than its parts, making the E46 M3 ZCP significantly more potent in the right hands than the regular E46 M3.
This one-owner 2005 slicktop Interlagos Blue over manual Gray Leather seats ZCP M3 is a very rare combination. In fact, E46 M3s don’t get much more desirable than this one, read that list again: one-owner, slicktop, manual seats, competition package Interlagos Blue M3. Interlagos Blue was a ZCP-only color and is striking over the Style 163 ZCP wheels. It complements the Aluminum cube trim and Gray leather interior wonderfully. The only modifications are a ZHP shift knob and Dinan suspension (the original suspension is also included), Turner adjustable front sway bar, UUC under drive pulley, and AFE intake elbow. It also comes with a second set of eighteen-inch SSR GT2 wheels you can use for your track rubber. I have known this car for many years; it came to us from a fellow pilot and BMW CCA instructor who reluctantly sold it to me thanks to taking delivery of an M2 Competition. The odometer reads 91k miles, but those miles have benefited from fantastic ownership and maintenance history. This has resulted in an M3 that looks, drives, and feels like a car with a third of those miles. It was originally delivered on March 3rd, 2005 by Co’s BMW Center in Loveland, CO and always serviced there or by independent specialists SCR Performance and Poudre Sports Car. The maintenance records show regular services, inspections, alignments, brakes, transmission and differential fluid changes, and valve adjustments. In preparation for sale we gave it a fresh inspection II, including a valve adjustment, an oil pressure relief valve, air conditioner belt, brake fluid flush, and an oil change. The Carfax shows no accidents, but has one damage report due to the front bumper being cracked. It remains that way, but we can replace it for additional cost at the buyer’s discretion. The sub-frame mounts are crack-free and the VANOS is quiet. BMW M3 floor mats are included, along with two keys, all owners’ manuals, and a binder of records.
The Interlagos Blue Metallic paint is in excellent condition. It has clearly always lived indoors and been spared harsh weather and UV exposure. There is a crack on the lower lip area of the front bumper, along with some less than perfect old clear bra. Closer examination reveals moderate pitting of the headlights, as well as some typical rock chips on the hood and mirror caps, although the primary leading edges have been protected by clear bra. All panels appear to be original and the factory VIN placard is in place. There is no rust. All trim work is in place. The windshield is crack-free with only minor pitting. The side and rear glass are tinted. The headlights are halogens, which have no self-leveling system to fail. The fog light lenses are crack-free. The LED rear tail light lenses are crack-free and look great! The Style 163 19-inch ZCP wheels are straight and true with only some small chips and nicks from use. They are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires with 60% tread remaining on the front, and 40% remaining on the rear. The second set of SSR GT2 wheels are also free of curb rash and are wearing older Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires with little tread remaining.
The Gray leather interior is in excellent condition, clearly being spared harsh bolster wear and excessive UV exposure. The carpet has no stains or tears and is protected by BMW M3 front floor mats. The seats are in great shape, with no excessive wear on the bolsters. Even the driver’s side bolster has minimal wear. The rear seats are the desirable fold-down type. The Alcantara M steering wheel is in good shape for the mileage. There is no failed M-colored stitching. There are no failed pixels in the instrument cluster, radio, or HVAC panel, and none of the warning or check-engine lights are illuminated. The auto-dimming rear view mirror has no leaking fluid (late model M3s had mirrors with solid state internals). The headliner does not sag. The BMW HiFi sound system sounds great. The heat blows warm and the air conditioning blows cold. The blower motor does not chirp, and the final stage resistor functions correctly (common issues). The center console storage compartment and ashtray covers are not scratched (another common issue). The M3 shift knob with the single piece boot is very nice and the Alcantara E-brake handle is not worn. The cup holder has been replaced with a cubby with a sliding cover. All power windows, door locks, and the sunroof operate correctly. The door cards are tight and the window regulators are quiet. The driver’s door card and trim has some small nicks. The trunk tool kit is complete (lug wrenches were not included with M3s because of the mobility kit).
All preventative maintenance is up to date and all common issues have either been addressed or are not present thanks to the work we performed, mentioned in the summary paragraph. The last S54 valve adjustment was just done at 91,400 miles; and with that we only found one valve needed to be adjusted. The brake fluid was flushed with Motul RBF6000, which should be good for the remainder of the season if you plan on going to he track. The engine fires on command, idles smoothly and pulls strongly to redline. It does not leak, drip, or spot. The VANOS is quiet. The clutch take up is correct and the shifter is crisp. The ZCP brakes are noticeably better than the regular E46 M3 brakes with lots of pad life and rotor run-out remaining. The suspension is taut and compliant and the ZCP steering rack is fantastic. The records show the power steering lines being replaced once. The subframe mounts show no evidence of cracking or failure, pictures are included in the gallery on our website. There is no driveline or wheel bearing vibration or whine. It has seen periodic track usage over the course of its life, but always in the hands of a skilled BMW instructor who is smooth and fast, but not abusive. I drove it lightly for one instructor drive at the most recent BMW CCA driving school and it was utterly fantastic! The ZCP really is a sum greater than its parts. I encourage whoever buys this M3 to continue to use it in its intended environment; performance driving instruction is available if desired.
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