<E46> 4 Door M3

[Keith Wollenberg <MFreude@xxxxxxx>]

>
>Bradley writes 
>>>Well, I know BMW says that there will not be a e46 M3
>Sedan, BUT I saw one today.<<
>
>Scott replies
>>>>According to the BMW AG M Honcho and a couple of senior M
>engineers speaking at M Day, the final decision on bringing the 4 dour E46
M3 to the
>U.S. market has not been made. Anything is still possible and they noted
>the support amongst the M Day participants for the M3 sedan. I also got the
>impression that BMW NA wants the M3 sedan, too. What it may take is another
>letter writing campaign like the one that got us the U.S. E36 M3. So, if
>you want an E46 M3 sedan, dig out BMW NA's address and write 'em a letter.
Ken Lam writes:
>The word that I got was that yes there are E46  sedans with uprated
engines and
>suspensions. The M engineers wanted to get a head start on the M3 project and
>needed a chassis to test. Since the coupe has not been finalized,  they took
>the sedan and started to play around with it. AG has decided not to make a
E46
>M3 sedan for fear it might take sales away from the E39 M5. Then again things
>can happen and they might change their minds 8-)

BMW NA *definitely* wants a 4 door M3.  (After all, it was over 50% of
their M3 sales in the last year, so why wouldn't they?)  I spoke with the
head of M, as well as their engine guy about this on Friday.  The response
was that due to limitations on the number of engineers available, and the
need to implement rolling changes as well as to design the car, a 4 door M3
was not going to happen.

BUT, by the end of the day on Saturday, after hundreds of M owners beat on
them about this issue, their position was quite different.  I watched it
shift visibly over the day.  By Sunday morning, things looked even brighter
for all of you waiting for a four door M3.  (That's all I can say about it,
but stay tuned...)  In any case, a letter to BMW NA can only help your cause.

Personally, I want the new M5 which they had at M day in the worst way!!
Maybe CCA will raffle that off next year??  I am about due to win the
raffle, I can feel it.  Of course, if I get elected to the board as Pacific
VP, I will not be eligible :-((

Keith



Keith Wollenberg
__________________________________________________________________
BMWCCA, V.P. Golden Gate  ( # 73293)  *As should be obvious,*
BMWACA Seattle  (Since 1972)      *all opinions expressed*
                                                   *are solely my own.*
'88 ///M5 (MFREUDE)       '72 tii Touring (TOURING)    
'95 M3 (M-Tschuss) [Kelly's car, which I get to drive sometimes.<g>]         
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