Tommy's awe-inspiring Ccoupe
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From: DC/VA
CL203
Sorry for this off topic question, but I have an 02 coupe 6 speed, and today when i turned it on and tried putting it in first gear it wouldnt go in all the way, and it grinded when i pulled the clutch out a little. It seems to be harder to put it in other gears too now, i have to apply more force with each gear and i have to guide it all the way in, it seems like it was just last week when i just pushed the shifter and it went in easily. Anyone know the problem?
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Miami, FL
2002 Miata
I had Service B done in January, i think they should've replaced it. In the service B list it indicates that they 'Check and replenish' all fluids. I just got this car last september, so not sure if previous owners replaced the clutch but I'm pretty sure its still on OEM clutch, the car has 89,000 miles right now. I'm familiar with replacing clutches with other vehicles, never tried it on MB's though. Did you replace the clutch yourself? And im actually in South FL lol.
Since I've had the car the only servicing done has been Service B. There were 2 previous owners, not sure if they did anything
Since I've had the car the only servicing done has been Service B. There were 2 previous owners, not sure if they did anything
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
I had Service B done in January, i think they should've replaced it. In the service B list it indicates that they 'Check and replenish' all fluids. I just got this car last september, so not sure if previous owners replaced the clutch but I'm pretty sure its still on OEM clutch, the car has 89,000 miles right now. I'm familiar with replacing clutches with other vehicles, never tried it on MB's though. Did you replace the clutch yourself? And im actually in South FL lol.
Since I've had the car the only servicing done has been Service B. There were 2 previous owners, not sure if they did anything
Since I've had the car the only servicing done has been Service B. There were 2 previous owners, not sure if they did anything
Service B wouldn't do the tranny (be careful of that Adam's apple!); by fluids, they mean the cheaper ones. Didn't do the clutch myself. Very low mileage 02 you have there!
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W203
Abarth is still slow, and very pricey for what you get. e46 M3s OTOH can be found used for a good deal and surprisingly are not that expensive to mod, plus they don't need much modding.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
I agree that you can get more for the money used, but when is that not the case?
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
An E46 M3 would likely cost a Fiat Abarth in upkeep for you to keep it for any significant period of time. They're all 7 years old at best now and are pretty much guaranteed not to have had an easy life.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Really? 'cause if I were to go down the used car avenue, my contenders have been:
RSX Type S
1st Gen Z4, any
E46 M3
S2000, if I can ever fit in one
Honda Si (EP3)
1970s 3.0 CSi (ok, had to throw it in there; either that or a tii would be a dream car for me)
I'll have to go through e46fanatics to see the horror stories
RSX Type S
1st Gen Z4, any
E46 M3
S2000, if I can ever fit in one
Honda Si (EP3)
1970s 3.0 CSi (ok, had to throw it in there; either that or a tii would be a dream car for me)
I'll have to go through e46fanatics to see the horror stories
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W203
Most actually have easy lives, low mileage weekend cars that never hit the track. That's why unmodified ones go for a premium over even the slightly modified ones.
Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 229
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From: Miami, FL
2002 Miata
Really? 'cause if I were to go down the used car avenue, my contenders have been:
RSX Type S
1st Gen Z4, any
E46 M3
S2000, if I can ever fit in one
Honda Si (EP3)
1970s 3.0 CSi (ok, had to throw it in there; either that or a tii would be a dream car for me)
I'll have to go through e46fanatics to see the horror stories
RSX Type S
1st Gen Z4, any
E46 M3
S2000, if I can ever fit in one
Honda Si (EP3)
1970s 3.0 CSi (ok, had to throw it in there; either that or a tii would be a dream car for me)
I'll have to go through e46fanatics to see the horror stories
Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 229
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From: Miami, FL
2002 Miata
And yea i was lucky to find this! I went to this dealer in search of an mx5 they were advertising but it wouldn't even start when i got there lol, so i noticed they had this and got interested in it
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Edmunds.com InsideLine owned an E46 M3 from 49,000 to 74,000 miles and spent nearly $6,000 in repairs and upkeep. It was a pristine example about the same age as they all are now and they paid $30k for it. I don't know about Tommy, but I drive way too much for that kind of crap.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; Jun 8, 2012 at 03:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
The best things about the E46 M3s are the optional colors; love the Laguna Seca Blue and the puke yellow/green, ie,
An older BMW would probably be as much of a PITA as my Benz has been.
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W203
Edmunds.com InsideLine owned an E46 M3 from 49,000 to 74,000 miles and spent nearly $6,000 in repairs and upkeep. It was a pristine example about the same age as they all are now and they paid $30k for it. I don't know about Tommy, but I drive way too much for that kind of crap.
$4500 in repairs, yet they used the stealership which is just dumb. That $4500 should easily be < $2K with the most expensive thing being the 60/60/90/120/... mile service that is really for adjusting the valves.
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtest...er-wallet.html
$1200 to replace rear training arm bushings (RTAB) and an alignment? I just replaced mine, it took 3 hours including doing springs, shocks and shock mounts - and that's with jack stands and no air tools. Total cost: $60 including $20 to rent the RTAB tool.
I would expect a shop to charge < $400 including an alignment or < $300 since you don't need an alignment if you mark the outline of the RTAB bracket and line up during reinstall.
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W203
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Well, despite you naysayers, I took some time after work last night and put in the Sprint Booster I bought several months ago. Install took more time than I expected, as the old connector's push-in tabs are about as worn out as Lindsay Lohan these days. The switch feature is interesting, I guess; just now have to find out how to install it properly in the center console (no, Matt - not in the trash can!! 
) Yes, all it does is accelerate the gas peddle, but I still like the feel of driving the car much better than before - it removes the driving through jello feeling that I have when it's not equipped.
So there.
) Yes, all it does is accelerate the gas peddle, but I still like the feel of driving the car much better than before - it removes the driving through jello feeling that I have when it's not equipped.So there.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
http://www.insideline.com/bmw/m3/200...02-bmw-m3.html
$4500 in repairs, yet they used the stealership which is just dumb. That $4500 should easily be < $2K with the most expensive thing being the 60/60/90/120/... mile service that is really for adjusting the valves.
$4500 in repairs, yet they used the stealership which is just dumb. That $4500 should easily be < $2K with the most expensive thing being the 60/60/90/120/... mile service that is really for adjusting the valves.
The whole point is that unless Tommy wanted to jump from the frying pan into the old German car fire, he should do like the rest of us and fondly remember the E46 M3 as a great car we would have liked to own.
Tommy if you were going to buy an older car but wanted something reliable, have you considered a NSX? Mostly though I think you'd be well served by the Abarth.
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W203
Since you want to nit pick you'll notice my sentence I state the $4500 in repairs could be < $2K with the 60K mile service - ie since you need clarification, the repair bill should be ~$1000 total and the $60K service < $1000 depending on the shop and what needs to be done (valve check < valve adjustment).
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Girls, girls, girls!! Separate corners right now! 
Since I know you both as well as one can on these silly forum thingies, I'll chalk it up to too many beers/Jaeger in both camps, even if it's not so.
Back on topic, my baby handled a round-trip drive to Atlantic City for a conference at the Borgata (I'm guido-ed out ). Almost at 154k!! 
The car felt most bumps on the road, but I still like the firmness of the Konis anyway. Will be focusing on the crx for a while; goes in tomorrow for inspection/new front Chargespeed lip/VIS hood w/Aerocatch pins, and still have to try to shoehorn my new rollbar in there sometime - it's a tight fit, which usually is a good thing, but not in this case.
Since I know you both as well as one can on these silly forum thingies, I'll chalk it up to too many beers/Jaeger in both camps, even if it's not so.
Back on topic, my baby handled a round-trip drive to Atlantic City for a conference at the Borgata (I'm guido-ed out
). Almost at 154k!! The car felt most bumps on the road, but I still like the firmness of the Konis anyway. Will be focusing on the crx for a while; goes in tomorrow for inspection/new front Chargespeed lip/VIS hood w/Aerocatch pins, and still have to try to shoehorn my new rollbar in there sometime - it's a tight fit, which usually is a good thing, but not in this case.
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From: San Mateo, Ca
C230 Coupe Silver
I'm still upping the boost too... So I'm curious to find out that same thing... Except... I am a little scared that my supercharger is 150k miles old and getting pushed to new lengths now :/ lol.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
This morning, threw a crx hood, 4 15x7 rims (all for sales this evening, more $$ for my next fix on the Benz ) in their original boxes, my laptop, and gym bag in the car without any real problems.
Try doing that with your girlyman sedans.
) in their original boxes, my laptop, and gym bag in the car without any real problems. Try doing that with your girlyman sedans.
