Perfect Winter Car?

[s8ilver]

How about a wagon, AWD, 6spd manual with an S54 swap?

Found one locally, but no price listed yet.

[jb1856]

Wow.... I'd sell my 2008 S4 6 Speed wagon for that.

There was an e46 wagon with a full M3 interior (front seats) and drivetrain swap (IIRC) for sale in Buffalo a couple years back. I regret not pursuing that, even if it was RWD.

Good luck with your pursuit!

[s8ilver]

Yep, this is an E46 AWD 6spd S54 wagon.

Expecting a record snow year in Denver this year, and not sure how thrilled I am driving the Coupe through it. Two winters down, and so far so good (without snow tires even!), but I think this could be the year that changes my mind on my automotive needs. When it snows we usually just commute in the wife's Accord, but our work schedules are diverging and we'll probably have to drive solo quite a bit.

I sold a D2 S8 and a final year Bronco to get the Roadster and Coupe, so I've never had this traction problem before.

[BimmerBreaker]

Eh I'm not interested in anything AWD myself but I see the allure living somewhere with that white cold stuff on the ground occasionally...

E46 M3 widebody wagon is definitely a dream daily driver for me though

Have to imagine they are gonna ask $10-20k. They usually sell for $7-15k depending on the quality of the swap. I'm not sure AWD will command a premium or hurt the value, probably won't affect the value really - less fun but more practical with AWD.

Good thing M54 oil pans fit on S54's to allow swaps like this eh

[amancuso]

I picked up one of these.


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[s8ilver]

Eh I'm not interested in anything AWD myself but I see the allure living somewhere with that white cold stuff on the ground occasionally...

E46 M3 widebody wagon is definitely a dream daily driver for me though

Have to imagine they are gonna ask $10-20k. They usually sell for $7-15k depending on the quality of the swap. I'm not sure AWD will command a premium or hurt the value, probably won't affect the value really - less fun but more practical with AWD.

Good thing M54 oil pans fit on S54's to allow swaps like this eh

From what I can tell so far, quality is good. If sold locally, AWD will demand a premium for the right buyer IMO. I even like the color...

E46.1.JPG

[RedOctober]

I picked up one of these.


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Love these.

[s8ilver]

I said CAR! I always liked those too.

Crickets from the seller. I think he's drumming up interest before he prices it.

[campy1951]

Being from the Boston area, a perfect winter car would a Z3 in Florida.

[s8ilver]

Being from the Boston area, a perfect winter car would a Z3 in Florida.

20180210_155346.jpg

Our weather is slightly different than Florida.

[BimmerBreaker]

The X5 isnt bad but avoid avoid AVOID the 4.6

The facelift V8 ones all need valve stem seal replacenents at some point too...

[328 Power 04]

.. and all the air suspension fun.

[s8ilver]

.. and all the air suspension fun.

Don't forget that the tail lights die and you get to replace the entire units...at least that happened on my mom's 4.4 a couple times. Dealer tried to repair after warranty ran out and the fix(es) they tried never worked long term.

I did consider a 2005-06 X5, but really wanted the 6MT. Those are hard to find.

[BimmerBreaker]

.. and all the air suspension fun.

The air suspension really isn't that bad. They make aftermarket high quality airbags and the replacement process is pretty easy. It's all done from below on the X5's IIRC. On the E39 wagons with SLS, it's all done from below except I think one connection up top that is under the carpet. Easy to get to in all cases.

Z3 coupe rear suspensions are a LOT worse to work on

4.6's are all blowing rod bearings and timing chain guides now
4.8's all need valve stem seals
4.4's need timing chain guides
3.0 more like three point slow
E53's are great cars but also they are awful, awful cars

[ZGator]

I have been a bit obsessed over brand new 6 speed manual, AWD, VW GolfSportwagen S 4Motions - which now can be had for under $20k, 7 yr/ 72k mile warranty to boot..

[s8ilver]

I have been a bit obsessed over brand new 6 speed manual, AWD, VW GolfSportwagen S 4Motions - which now can be had for under $20k, 7 yr/ 72k mile warranty to boot..

Hmm, just read up on it. It does tick a lot of boxes, and looks like you could bump it to over 300hp in a weekend. It would be way outside my comfort zone. I've never bought a car less than 7 years old. I have a very hard time with depreciation.

http://www.superstreetonline.com/fea...motion-manual/

[ZGator]

Hmm, just read up on it. It does tick a lot of boxes, and looks like you could bump it to over 300hp in a weekend. It would be way outside my comfort zone. I've never bought a car less than 7 years old. I have a very hard time with depreciation.

http://www.superstreetonline.com/fea...motion-manual/

Yep, read that article too, 18s have a few more upgrades too, I agree with you about depreciation, I figured the Z3 was my last car that I would buy new, however with the incentives now at VW to unload the 18s, I think it will hold it's value and possibly appreciate slightly, it's rare and hard to find and you have to be flexible on colors, I honestly think it would hold most of it's value for years, since it's inexpensive to start with. The 19s will not have the incentives.

[s8ilver]

you have to be flexible on colors

I told myself anything but red. What did I find when I searched under $20k...red.

[z3forlife]

You better not look in my garage then Nathan. IMG_1535.jpg

[s8ilver]

You better not look in my garage then Nathan. IMG_1535.jpg

Haha. Frank, in Denver with a red car, might as well write yourself your own speeding tickets! Growing up I always wanted a Guards Red 911 Turbo Slantnose. It was my bedroom poster car. I also told myself I'd never own another black car, so I bought a black Coupe. Go figure.

In order of colors:
Piss yellow Subaru GL10
Black E30 325i
White E28 553i
Blue Bronco
Grey E34 M5
Black Bronco
Silver Audi S8
Silver M Roadster
Black Z3 Coupe
Red?

Maybe it's time.

[khammack]

If you do believe the weather wizards about the Denver snow this year, you may want to consider ground clearance and then get the best snow tires you can. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

[s8ilver]

There's a Camaro I see every time I drive to the mountains. It's got a 6" lift and some massive tires.

Maybe the Z3 needs the same...

Z3Lift.jpg

Predicting 5-7" tomorrow just south of me (us...just realized you're in Denver too!).

Now they're just messing with me...

VW.JPG

[jrkoupe]

Yep, this is an E46 AWD 6spd S54 wagon.

Expecting a record snow year in Denver this year, and not sure how thrilled I am driving the Coupe through it. Two winters down, and so far so good (without snow tires even!), but I think this could be the year that changes my mind on my automotive needs. When it snows we usually just commute in the wife's Accord, but our work schedules are diverging and we'll probably have to drive solo quite a bit.

I sold a D2 S8 and a final year Bronco to get the Roadster and Coupe, so I've never had this traction problem before.

how can u drive coupe in snow w/o snows? I have like 5x......its really treacherous.......and Im very capable. Dont even tell me its fine..............sure its doable.......but smart?......no

[s8ilver]

Dunno, haven't had snow tires in almost 20 years. I've been running the Continental Control Contact Sport A/S (specially made for the region) and have been ok.

It's just the really deep stuff I worry about.

AS.JPG

[jrkoupe]

kudos...


hey Ive done it........in 2 -4 inches..........its not fun...........the coupe just often gets too sideways

maybe alone in a parking lot it is..lol......but not side by side w/ big suv's