Is It A Classic, Or Just An Old Car?

A few weeks ago, I was at my local dealership with about 300 other BMW enthusiasts to celebrate the arrival of the all-new M3 and M4. There were food trucks on hand providing great food, vendors displaying some great products, the local BMW CCA chapter had a booth signing up new members, and it was all in the dealership parking lot filled with BMW M cars from every model and generation.

In other words, a great party!

Inside the dealership, they had every generation of M3 on display, from the boxy flared-fenders E30 to the E90 V8-powered beast, all in near-perfect condition. There was even an E36 M3 Lightweight! And just around the corner were the new M3 and M4, covered in satin, waiting for their unveiling. Somebody at the dealership was smart, as they left the running lights on so that the halos shined menacingly through the scrim.

Since my M3 is in decent condition, it was on display in a lineup of E46s just outside the front door. There were about six E46 M3s in a row, right next to a row of E90 M3s. I enjoy watching people check out my car, because to the naked eye it looks stock—but since it’s Steel Grey Metallic on Cinnamon leather, it really catches your eye. And throughout the night I kept catching people stopping, looking, and taking photos.

Later that night, however, as most of the people were taking their cars home, I was standing there, eating some ice cream and looking at my car all by itself in front of the dealership. I wondered to myself, is my car getting old?

And has it become a classic? 

The E46 M3 was introduced in late 2000, thus making it a full-fledged teenager. I remember seeing all the press releases and magazine stories about it, and to this day it still gets articles and videos reviewing it—although now it’s mostly to compare it to its successors and ask whether BMW M has lost their way. Now, 2000 doesn’t seem that long ago, until I start to think about what was going on in the world at that time.

As I sat in my car to take her home, I didn’t get the feeling that she was old, as all of my pixels work in my radio and center console—plus I don’t have the navigation system. Electronics can easily date a car. I pulled out of the dealership, and it was a warm night, so I cruised home with the windows down. Thankfully, my roof liner is still intact, as a drooping liner always makes a car feel old. 

Even though electronics can date a car, they can also make one feel new, or even futuristic. On the drive home, I was thinking about the new M6 I drove a couple of months ago. It had a great heads-up display that more easily allowed me to keep my eyes on the road, as it liked to sneak past the speed limit very easily with its amazing turbocharged V8 engine. I would plug my phone in, and the BMW Connected Drive apps would sync up, giving me easy access to everything. And then there was the fact that I didn’t even need to unlock the car or turn the key to start it! I just walked up, hopped in, and drove off.

Will those features ever feel dated?

As I turned into my neighborhood, I tried to think about other cars that premiered in 2000. Later, I looked some up, and it kind of surprised me: There are definitely some cars that I would now consider old! Everyone’s favorite Pontiac Aztek and the Chrysler PT Cruiser were from 2000, as was the L-Series from the now-defunct Saturn. Yes, today a Saturn definitely seems like an old car.

I pulled into my garage, got out, pushed the button to close the garage door, and stood there admiring my car—just as I did that first night after buying it four years ago. I know that I will get one of the new M4s one day—I have been in love with it since Day One!—but I will never get rid of this car. 

Let’s face it: Properly maintained, a great design, like the E46 M3, will never look old. This car is a classic.—Nate Risch