M3 Fake? please help

[manwithq?]

I have been looking at buying a 3 series for a while and came across a SUPPOSEDLY "2001 M3" first off the car is a 4 door. second there are no M badges on the car except for an over sized one (possibly after market/fake) on the trunk

another thing i don't have knowledge about is how the car has a BMW V8 engine and 6 speed transmission, which i'm sure has been swapped in, and runs with no obvious problems.

please forgive me if this is the wrong part of the site to post this. I am new to this forum and all forums in general! any insight on what kind of v8/what car this motor and trans. came from would be much appreciated.

i will try to post pictures tomorrow.

P.S. I would search this topic, but like i said i am new and have no idea on what to even look for

[TheKosherStogie]

2001 e46 m3 was only made as a coupe or convertible. The engine is a 3.2 liter I-6.

1. no 4 door made in this car
2. no v8 made in this car

this car is some kind of frankenstein. Goodluck

[ajvee]

2001 M3s came with an inline 6 with either an SMG or a 6 speed manual transmission. Also note that they only have 2 doors and are either coupes or convertibles.

If it is a 2001 car with a 6mt and a V8, it could either be a 540i or an M5. Form the sounds of it, I would walk away from this purchase.

[MRE90M3]

i believe i've seen videos of this car.
They implanted a e9x m3's engine with the tranny, also the dash has been changed to the e9x dash and meters. its pretty friggin fast. i think he bought the engine at 500 miles. The original owner of that engine, totaled the vehicle at 500, so the tranny and engine went with it. Pretty badass. ill try to dig that video and post up. GL =D

[calintexas]

Pictures would be good. If this is a car with an engine swap, it's likely not something you want as there would be numerous maintenance and repair challenges down the road even if the car works perfectly now.

[MRE90M3]

well if your paying a quarter of the price of an E9x m3.. who knows? i mean you get what you paid for right? save 40-50K easy engine bore or supercharged, you still have 20K for maint. iono my .02. dont take it too srsly =D

[RayC]

If it's a non-M with an engine swap, why hide it?

The fact that he/she is trying to advertise it as a M series car when it's actually a modified car makes me wonder...

[M3 Pilot]

2001 will have to be E46 bodies.

E46 M3s never came in 4 doors. Either coupe or convertible.

The E46 M3s did come in V8 but that is called the M3 GTR (coupe). That was manufactured in low numbers similar to the E46 M3 CSL for homologation purposes. I think its for Off-road use as well.

The E90 (current shape) is the first M3 that came with 4 doors.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by M3 Pilot

The E90 (current shape) is the first M3 that came with 4 doors.

The E36 M3 was available in 4 door for 1 one year which I believe was 1997. But a 2001 4 door would not be an M3.

[SlammedR8]

why would you want that?

id love to see pics tho

[GT3 Tim]

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

The E36 M3 was available in 4 door for 1 one year which I believe was 1997. But a 2001 4 door would not be an M3.

They made the E36 M3 in sedan form in 1998 as well. But those were the only two years of M3 sedans until 2008 with the E90.

I had a '97 E36 M3 sedan. Great car.

[JAX S50]

I D.D. a 97 E36 M3 sedan and love it, what a great car