Potential E92 M3 purchase need advice...

[Lazarini]

Gents,

Ill cut to the brass tax i have been lurking at the M3 s and now found one that is priced very resonably and pretty much has what i need from the optional equipment...

Ill have a test ride with thebcurrent owner tomorow and as i know me im afraid ill will be blown away by it and jump the gun...

Atm as u can see im driving a 330d E90, what i would like to know is how is the M3 as a day to day car. What can i expect out of the afterpurchase expences... How do service cost compare?

I do not really want to buy it to figure out i cant maintain it... I know the cosuption is uncomparale but that i would swallow for that awesome V8 sound


Maybe i should look at. 135i or 335i?

All replyes much appreciated.

Regards L.

[Michaeljh2000]

Depends.... What year M3? How much left on factory warranty? As you already know, maintenance with BMW's are covered, as well as warranty for 50K miles or 4 years. If your worried about it though, you can buy an after market warranty.
My M3 is a daily driver.

[Lazarini]

So it was produced 06/2008 puechased 01/2009. Has 37 000 km on the clock comes with standard BMW warranty that in EU is 5 years or 100 000km.

Some specs:

1st owner e92 M3
Space Grey metalic
6MT
Park sensors front and back
Navi
Curve adaptive xenons
Full leather
Cruise control
Heated seats
Light sensor
Rain sensor
Winter tire and rims set


This is from what i can remember from top of my head...

L

[Prince_of_Persia]

Price?

[Michaeljh2000]

There's always some risk.... just buy it. you'll be you did.

Check service records, if possible. Good luck.

[M3Now!]

My M3 is my DD, and so far it's been a) insanely fun to drive, b) quiet and comfortable in non-hoon mode (and with the top up), and c) delivering terrible gas mileage (~15, but I mostly drive with the top down). Since I didn't buy it for the gas mileage (!), I don't complain about that one.

Cheers

[Lazarini]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

Price?

Cca 35k euro.

L

[Chowster]

330d to M3? Good luck with the new fuel bills!

[Lazarini]

Originally Posted by M3Now!

My M3 is my DD, and so far it's been a) insanely fun to drive, b) quiet and comfortable in non-hoon mode (and with the top up), and c) delivering terrible gas mileage (~15, but I mostly drive with the top down). Since I didn't buy it for the gas mileage (!), I don't complain about that one.

Cheers

Thx for ure reply so what i understand its not going to be a big difference dialy compared to my 330d M Sport aside course the consumption

How about maintenance and service cost?

L.

[Lazarini]

Originally Posted by Chowster

330d to M3? Good luck with the new fuel bills!

Hi yes i know this factor i expect the gas bill to go up multiplied by 3...

This as I mentioned I would live with.

L

[jphughan]

The M3 is an entirely reasonable daily driver and a LOT of fun, but if you're coming from a diesel I would recommend test driving first. The d will be able to deliver far more acceleration without a downshift, whereas getting the same thrust out of an M3 requires you to be higher up in the rev band, which generally isn't done in the city because it makes bad gas mileage even worse and sounds obnoxious (but awesome!).

If you plan to track or at least drive on some fun back country roads, the M3 will be one amazing machine for you. If you plan to use it ONLY as a DD though, I would think very carefully about this decision. As other have said, your gas, insurance, and service/repair bills will all be higher and if your driving scenarios are only those where the M3 can't stretch its legs (and is arguably at a torque disadvantage), it may not be worthwhile for you.

If you're also considering a 135 or 335i, those would be better suited for DD, although I'm surprised you didn't add the 335d to the list. Are you unhappy with your diesel?

[Lazarini]

Originally Posted by jphughan

The M3 is an entirely reasonable daily driver and a LOT of fun, but if you're coming from a diesel I would recommend test driving first. The d will be able to deliver far more acceleration without a downshift, whereas getting the same thrust out of an M3 requires you to be higher up in the rev band, which generally isn't done in the city because it makes bad gas mileage even worse and sounds obnoxious (but awesome!).

If you plan to track or at least drive on some fun back country roads, the M3 will be one amazing machine for you. If you plan to use it ONLY as a DD though, I would think very carefully about this decision. As other have said, your gas, insurance, and service/repair bills will all be higher and if your driving scenarios are only those where the M3 can't stretch its legs (and is arguably at a torque disadvantage), it may not be worthwhile for you.

If you're also considering a 135 or 335i, those would be better suited for DD, although I'm surprised you didn't add the 335d to the list. Are you unhappy with your diesel?

Great reply thank you

to elaborate on some of the things above... the drive and usage:

ATM i drive daily to office 15 to 20min drive one way... on the weekend ill go for an hour or 2 drive mix of highway and fast backside roads and city.

Every 2 to 3 weeks i go to visit my parents in another country that's a 4 hour drive cca 800kilometers there and back...

To the question why not 335d well if i wanted that i can have my 330d mapped to have same power as 335d so why bother... and im still considering to do that before i make any decision anyway.

I driven a 335i and found it more fun to drive compared to the diesel maybe the combo of high revs and engine sound is what did it for me...

As said awesome reply thx keep them coming guys appreciated.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Lazarini

ATM i drive daily to office 15 to 20min drive one way... on the weekend ill go for an hour or 2 drive mix of highway and fast backside roads and city.

Every 2 to 3 weeks i go to visit my parents in another country that's a 4 hour drive cca 800kilometers there and back...

I driven a 335i and found it more fun to drive compared to the diesel maybe the combo of high revs and engine sound is what did it for me...

Yeah, my commute is 2 miles each way and I only drive when the weather is too hot or cold to walk, so my M3 is almost exclusively a weekend toy for all the great Hill Country roads out here, and it'll be seeing track duty soon.

The M3 will be fine for visiting your parents. Gas mileage will be noticeably worse, but you already knew that.

If the engine sound at high revs is what's got you thinking about a 335i, just wait until you hear an engine with 2 more cylinders and no turbochargers choking the exhaust sound.

[Lazarini]

Thx for the reply... called the owner after reading it and setup a look see / test drive for Wednesday as that's is his first available time

Cant wait...

S

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Lazarini

Thx for the reply... called the owner after reading it and setup a look see / test drive for Wednesday as that's is his first available time

Cant wait...

S

Yeah, you're gonna end up buying if you test drive it. Just fyi if you'll be DDing it especially coming from a diesel, see what you think of acceleration in 3rd or 4th particularly if this car will be 6MT. I find the acceleration to be just ok for around the city, definitely nothing special, but then again I don't need pulverizing acceleration going around town and if I do I just downshift.

Sounds like the type of driving you do will be well-suited to what I'm sure will be your new purchase.

[kiwistu]

I had a 335d m-sport and loved it. Bought an m3 specifcally because I am a nut, and I have had an m-car before and for me they are better for me particularly the steering.

I daily drive mine and love every minute of it.

Note the serious drinking problem with the gas, so bad I have to stick one tank a month on my own account....to even things up with my business partners...who have an audi S5 and S4 respectively...however m3 v8 AW...priceless...life is too short, just strap it on.

In fact if BMW (like VW with it's golf GTD) did an M3 with a 335d engine I'd be the first on the list.

Cheers
stu