HRE's 18x8-in. front wheel weighed 20 3/4 lb and the 18x9-in. rear wheel weighed 21 1/4 lb. Few aftermarket companies have been successful competing with BMW's own wheel offerings, but the polished rim and simple, six-spoke design of the HRE 446 matched our M3's silver color and chrome accents perfectly. We didn't have them on our M3 long enough to evaluate durability, but the appearance of the finish when new was excellent. The only criticism I could offer, and it's a minor one, was that the assembly bolts appeared longer than they needed to be.
I didn't know what my reaction would be, but once the wheels were on the car, I felt it was more attractive and harmonious in its appearance with the HREs. Somehow, I was more comfortable embracing the aura of the car with the HRE wheels on it, and onlookers' observations concurred. Unfortunately, there were minor problems. We noticed some rubbing at full steering lock. We didn't find where the rubbing occurred, but it was impossible to ignore when parking. There was also a slight vibration in the steering at highway speeds. The tire problem warning light began coming on. I'd check the pressures and reset the light, and it would come on again. This problem occurred months earlier with the stock wheels and tires, then cured itself, so we're dismissing it as coincidence.
After a year, everybody loved the E46 M3. Getting behind the wheel remains a special experience, every time, for all of us. I can't imagine someone who likes driving not loving it, but no opinions as to whether the coupe or convertible is better are held casually. Be sure to buy the right one for you.