Used BMW M3 Base for sale near Elgin, IL

This is the second car I've bought from CarMax (I also once sold a car). Every experience has been fantastic but this actually ranks as the best. Sales Consultant LaShinda John answered every question I had via email and then, for financing, by phone so that I walked in with the exact make, model and trim I wanted waiting for me to test drive and pre-approved for financing. The entire in-dealer experience took less than an hour and a half. Fantastic company and fantastic sales consultant.

I fell in love with the E46 M3 back in the days of high school. The styling, the handling, the aggressive fenders -- it was something to drool over at the time and age. I could not be any more proud of happy to own this car.

The 2001-2006 BMW M3 (chassis code E46). This generation of M3, like others was and still is and icon of sport and spirited diving. When new, this set the bar and was the measuring stick by which other cars were evaluated. Sure, it doesn't have all the current tech, even seeming Spartan compared to all the comforts of a large high-end luxury sedan or SUV, but that's never been why we love M3s. Now the E46 M3 is between 14-19 years old and it's performance on paper is comparable to that of a new Civic Si, but it still has something that very few cars have. Dare I say it at the risk being cliche? Soul. The M3 wasn't supposed to be the fastest in a straight line but a well balanced alround touring car. Its the perfect balance of handling, power not too much power, and class while still reasonable enough to drive everyday or just on those nice spring Sundays. It does "fun" VERY well and that is why it still is one of the most pleasing cards to drive. The looks are before a lot of the more controversial later BMW designs. It has that work of art, screamer of an in-line 6 cylinder S54 motor (2001 engine of the year winner and winner of the 3-4 L category for six straight years in a row 2001-2006). Though SMG had begun to increase in popularity, some E46 M3s still came with an honest to goodness manual transmission. This is what makes the E46 M3 one of the best of what seems to be a dying bread of cars and values should hold (or even increase) through the years like most other M cars have done historically. Cost of ownership isn't cheap. It's a BMW, no surprise there. However, failure and repair costs increase when considering SMG equipped M3's. Another thing you should consider is how much money you'll spend washing and waxing it then time sitting there and staring. That's one of my hobbies too... when not driving it. The E46 M3 is in an icon in a lineage of special cars and had become an instant classic.

Recently bought a S580 from this dealership and I was blown away by their professionalism and their attention to detail. Chris made sure my experience was TOP NOTCH. They also made sure my purchase was to my liking and they had no issue in making sure my vehicle looked fresh off the showroom floor. The whole transaction was very smooth and I do intend on purchasing from there again very soon! So if you want a good experience and a good deal, definitely give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

In the last twenty years my Wife and I have owned about 15 BMW'S , but the M3 is a street legal Race car , and i love it.

Recently purchased a barely used 2025 Honda from City Werks. Their price for the vehicle I wamted at the time was one of the lowest in the country. Steve A was my contact there and made the sale as painless and as easy as possible. They honored their price and didn't xxxxxx around. It was a relief to buy a car that was what I wanted but wasn't hassled and had to play the dealership game.

The E92 BMW M3 competition introduced in 2011 is a magical sweet spot in sports cars and the M lineup in particular. THREE circles overlap. ONE. The S65 engine is bespoke, only introduced in the 2008-2013 model. The normally aspirated 4.0L V8 weighs less than the inline 6 it replaces from the E46 and revs to 8300 rpm with 100 more hp. Literally the international engine of the year during every year of its production. Importantly it has no turbos. 8 separate throttle bodies, and a lightweight fly wheel. It will teach you what throttle response really means and overlaps with.. TWO. In the ZCP competition variant of the E92 this mates with a Getrag dual clutch. A manual lover, this made me switch religion. Odd/even transmissions and millisecond shifts with no gap in power pair perfectly with the race revving v8. And THREE.. sublime MDM traction control. All newer M models with turbo engines and comparatively sluggish throttle response include this. This is the final overlap. Instant throttle plus instant transmission plus instant handling equals the car dancing in and out of its performance envelope like a trained show dog. Buy one and good luck. I have several Ms. Not selling this one. Oh.. Minuses: Eats expensive tires like popcorn, sell your clutch foot to pay for brake platters. Head gaskets ooze around the 100k range. Worth it.

BMW's, specifically M series can sometimes get a bad rep for reliability and the markup in service cost if out of warranty. This couldn't be further from the truth...I've owned two f80 M3s and these things are extremely well-engineered and other than the random crankhub issues (typically caused by loose crankbolts from the factory or bad tunes that on-ramp torque too quickly) these cars are bullet-proof. I've put over 70,000 miles on this chassis and have had ZERO headaches, zero mechanical surprises and nothing but a xxxx eating grin from ear to ear each and every time I drive one. BMW did a knockout job mechanically and cosemetically with this generation F8X M3 and they've prooven to hold-up against the test of time. With petrol engines being phased out, this car is sure to continue to hold it's value!!!

In late September, my wife and I stopped to look at an Audi R8 and a Porsche 911 Targa 4S. We met Abed, Mir and Jimenez when we walked in and immediately felt like we could trust these guys. We test drove several cars and ended up trading ours for the Porsche. The experience was smooth, professional and really enjoyable. I would buy from these guys again in a heartbeat! Great experience. I had some questions post-purchase and they respond immediately and helped completely.

This mid 90's M3 is a true German instant classic! This 2003 coupe dressed out in German racing silver, interior wrapped in black leather. Generous sunroof. But what is fun is under the hood, one of the finest 3 liter screaming in line six's ever built without a turbo mated to a silky 6 speed manual transmission. Wonderful handling, thrilling to drive, 13 years of pure fun! I miss it already.

If you don’t own this far you should .. it has style , class , sporty look , good for the family and it is very comfortable

BMW E46 M3.. while many cars can out perform the older M3, this is my favorite, for classic, gorgeous BMW coupe looks, the last of the non-tubo 6 cylinder, and elegant interior with more than enough technology underlying the simple cockpit and controls and yet outstanding performance when you want, and docile enough to enjoy around town. Really, just an all around sweet package!

Given I ordered the car with a cool optional paint color, it gets much attention wherever I go. In addition, the overall look, sound and performance enhance the attention. I have owned many performance cars over the years and to date the 2022 M3 Competition is the best car the I have owned and the most exciting and rewarding to drive.

Purchased a car from this dealer everything went smooth. Sales persons were polite no hassles would buy again from this dealer. Car was just as ad stated.

Car is typical BMW M, plenty of power great brakes high end interior, it was difficult to find one with a 3 pedal manual and sunroof, this M3 did NOT come with cockpit adjustable suspension and it was scary to drive at the limit, I put fully adjustable coil over suspension on which lowered the center of gravity, improved the stance and made it handle more like an e46M3, still not perfect but much better than stock!

No pressure. Buying process was fast and easy. It was a pleasure to do business with.

I got a lot of head nods on drive home People seem to like it. May be because the new style is eye catching I have owned other sport car. This one is my favorite.

Thanks Dennis and Team for all your work with me picking up a classic car! Can't wait for it to arrive!

E92 M3 V8 .. is a HIGHWAY vehicle ... six (6) speed .. to which M logo should and ONLY be applied Motorsport BMWs instead of silly' M+series logo??>? .. M3 ROCKs .. and will continue to do so ... til'???

I would like to thanks Mel for nice smooth and quick transaction! Thumbs up @xchangemotors

I bought my M3 (e92) as a fun car for occasional use on track. It’s a project car really, and I’ll upgrade the car as I can afford to do so. So far I’ve had the car out on track twice, without any modifications apart from better pads and racing fluid for the brakes. The car handles extremely well, and performance in the high rev range is astonishingly good for a car that is so docile around town. The only areas requiring some attention are front brakes and exhaust. The front brakes are perfectly ok for normal driving, but for track use I’ll probably change the callipers and discs. The exhaust is ok, but a previous owner has done something with it to make it more noisy...sounds great but at 110db it fails most race circuit noise tests. There isn’t much about this car I don’t like. If I were to be picky maybe the interior is a bit bland, but it is a BMW, and after 78,000 miles there are no squeaks or rattles.

Staff is very knowledgeable when it comes to specialty collectible vehicles. I ended up building a relationship and purchasing multiple cars they were able to ship them directly to my front door step. I own a business and consistently change out of cars. This company has been accommodating in helping me get the right cars for my collection they have sources and connections throughout the automotive industry.

One of the top sports cars of 1995, the BMW M3. So fun to drive. Tight handling, great pickup, awesome on back roads. If you want a fun car to drive, this is the one.

Chris Antzaras at Ultimo Motors has represented my family for 2 car purchases at Ultimo Motors East. He made the purchase of my Corvette Z06 so easy. He is professional, knowledgeable and easy to work with. I understood everything. He’s honest too. I will never purchase from another agent. What a great experience!

The car met and exceeded my needs. I have always wanted to own a BMW M3 because of their reputation and because i am big BMW fan.

My experience is always amazing! Steven, Carlos and the other guys in the service department have exceptional customer service skills. They are very knowledgeable and genuinely cares about their customers.

This car is incredible. It has exceeded my expectations and they were high to begin with. I love that it is a split personality car with extremes in comfort and high performance.

EXOTIC MOTORS HAS HANDS DOWN THE MOST EXOTIC AUTO COLLECTION I HAVE EVER SEEN IN ONE LOCATION. I FOUND MY DREAM CAR A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG GLE 63. THE SALES AND PROCESS WAS THE SMOOTHEST I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. DONT GO ANYWHERE ELSE EXOTIC MOTORS IS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP WITH TOP QUALITY VEHICLES AND SERVICES. THE BEST IN MY BOOK!. IM DISABLED AND THE RIDE IS A BIT HARD ON MY SPINE BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL RESOLVE THE MINOR ISSUE TO A AMAZING TRUCK, ILL KEEP UZ POSTED WITH AN UPDATE. DENNIS IS A GREAT SALES MANAGER AND SALEEM IS JUST A SOLID BUSINESS OWNER WITH THE BEST INTEGRITY!. THANKS GUYS! ANDRE RODRIGUEZ.

What more can I say it's an M3- the ultimate driving machine. Hands down the best M series ever produced and having a manual kept it super fun.

Diamond Motorworks is truly a hidden gem! Rami and his team made the entire buying process an absolute pleasure! Their showroom is gorgeous and their selection of high end inventory is second to none! Thanks so much for making the first of many of my dreams come true 😊

Easy to upgrade (e.g. DINAN) and can actually fit 4 people. Strong motor from the famous E46 series and stays glued to the road. Though a smaller convertible, it is heavy and solid giving a very safe feeling. Also, you can actually have the top down with golf clubs or groceries in the trunk!

I bought this car a year ago because I drove one like it in the Black Forest ten years ago and it was a blast I never forgot. This convertible's inline naturally aspirated 6 is the best sounding and revving engine ever! It has a Dinan exhaust which completes the package. With 19s al around it sticks to the road like glue!!I can't wait to drive it every time I can and hate storing it over the winter!!