A 2004 BMW M3 coupe with a six-speed manual gearbox, owned by a single family since new and showing about 22,000 miles on the odometer, is being offered for sale. The car was originally sold new by Cunningham BMW in El Cajon, California, and was bought by the seller's father-in-law before being passed to the seller as a gift in 2024. Roughly 2,000 of the miles were added under the current owner, which points to a car that has been driven sparingly rather than used as a daily commuter.
The car is finished in Carbon Black Metallic paint over black Nappa leather, a combination that suits the M3's understated, purposeful character. It is fitted with the Premium Package, which adds a glass sunroof and power sport seats with memory settings. Its 3.2-litre inline-six engine is factory rated at 333 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, sending power to the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential. The car rides on 19-inch M double-spoke wheels wrapped in Michelin tyres, and comfort features include Harman Kardon audio, climate control, cruise control and rain-sensing wipers.
The seller has listed a range of recent work, beginning with the bodywork and electronics. Maintenance includes a new taillight assembly, a replacement hood emblem, a stability control unit and a brake sensor. Under the bonnet, the valve cover gasket, spark plugs, battery and clutch safety switch have all been addressed. The interior has also been refreshed, with a new cup holder, shifter bezel, window switch and C-pillar trim, so that the cabin's wear points have been dealt with alongside the mechanical items.
Fluid care has been a focus as well. Transmission and differential flushes were carried out in 2024, and the most recent oil change is reported as September 2026. The listing contains internal date inconsistencies and some service dates are unclear, so prospective buyers would need to check the paperwork against the car itself before relying on the chronology. Those records are part of the package, which also includes the window sticker, the owner's manual and the full set of service records.
The vehicle history is reported as clean. A Carfax report shows no accidents or prior damage, and the California title is also described as clean. The original suggested retail price, as listed on the window sticker, was $54,895. Against that figure, the asking price of a single-owner, low-mileage example of this kind highlights how the E46-generation M3 has become a sought-after collector's car, prized for its naturally aspirated six-cylinder and its manual transmission, both of which are increasingly rare in modern performance cars.