Potential e92 M3 owner

[talkinghamster]

Hello all, Im currently on the dark side (Audi) but am looking to get into an e92 M3. i love the AWD system of audi, but i really need that V8 wail in my life. does anyone on this board daily drive an e9x M3? mostly concerned about the high compression motor in the winter.(Where i live temperatures can reach -40C) the car will be parked in a heated garage. if anyone has any insight on this or daily drives their M3 please let me know

another big thing I wanted to know are what do you look for in these cars? are there any desirable options? budget is going to be around $40,000CDN or less

[BimmerRookie]

[stiles]

Hey there, welcome! The grass is pretty green over here.

I've DD'ed mine for 2 winters with no issues. I just avoid taking it out when the roads are icy and always do a proper warm up. Stay on top of your service and try not worry about rod bearing issues that plague this forum and you should enjoy owning it.

I love my M3. I'd never lock it up for the winter and miss out on enjoying it.

Desirable options? I love my winter package with heated seats, and you can't beat the ZCP wheels and drop that come with the Competition Package.

Good luck in your search!

[talkinghamster]

thank you!

sorry coming from Audi just figured i would ask about options. i know for Audi you want to look for cars with the "Sports Differential"

[BimmerRookie]

Originally Posted by talkinghamster

Hello all, Im currently on the dark side (Audi) but am looking to get into an e92 M3. i love the AWD system of audi, but i really need that V8 wail in my life. does anyone on this board daily drive an e9x M3? mostly concerned about the high compression motor in the winter.(Where i live temperatures can reach -40C) the car will be parked in a heated garage. if anyone has any insight on this or daily drives their M3 please let me know

another big thing I wanted to know are what do you look for in these cars? are there any desirable options? budget is going to be around $40,000CDN or less

I think maybe 75% or more DD their M3 here, so don't worry about that. I can't comment on winter weather since Houston only has hot or deathly hot temps.

The main things to look for as far as options goes, depends on what you like/want. Some key buzzwords you'll see or hear are:
- ZCP/ Competition pack: 10mm drop, M359 style wheels, different EDC settings (somebody correct me)
- CCC/CIC: different generations of navigation. CCC comes on 2008 models and CIC is 2009+. CIC is much improved over CCC
- LCI: Life cycle impulse, basically a refresh. occurred at 2011 for coupes/ conv. (tail lights is main change) & 2009 for sedans

Main things to look for when purchasing:
- maintenance history (oil changes are huge here, cause of rod bearings, definitely search that here, we talk about it 90% of the time here)
- warranty/extended warranty options

Also be aware, that this car is costly to maintain in all aspects. Just because prices are coming down into a more affordable range does not mean that their associated costs are cheaper too. A ton of people over look that and are shocked when oil changes are $100+ ordeals, rotors are $250+ a corner, and things that you thought that you'd never have to service in a normal car needs to be serviced. Prepare yourself for the M-tax.

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by BimmerRookie

I think maybe 75% or more DD their M3 here, so don't worry about that. I can't comment on winter weather since Houston only has hot or deathly hot temps.

The main things to look for as far as options goes, depends on what you like/want. Some key buzzwords you'll see or hear are:
- ZCP/ Competition pack: 2mm drop, M359 style wheels, different EDC settings (somebody correct me)
- CCC/CIC: different generations of navigation. CCC comes on 2008 models and CIC is 2009+. CIC is much improved over CCC
- LCI: Life cycle impulse, basically a refresh. occurred at 2011 for coupes/ conv. (tail lights is main change) & 2009 for sedans

Main things to look for when purchasing:
- maintenance history (oil changes are huge here, cause of rod bearings, definitely search that here, we talk about it 90% of the time here)
- warranty/extended warranty options

Also be aware, that this car is costly to maintain in all aspects. Just because prices are coming down into a more affordable range does not mean that their associated costs are cheaper too. A ton of people over look that and are shocked when oil changes are $100+ ordeals, rotors are $250+ a corner, and things that you thought that you'd never have to service in a normal car needs to be serviced. Prepare yourself for the M-tax.

ZCP drop is 10mm

[robbiebaguio]

You'll be getting a lot of snow where you live. Having a RWD as your DD can be a problem for you, but I feel you, that v8 is just irresistible lol

[cmo_93]

It doesn't get all that cold here but I have used my m3 as my daily with no issues other than a lot of time at the gas station lol

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by talkinghamster

thank you!

sorry coming from Audi just figured i would ask about options. i know for Audi you want to look for cars with the "Sports Differential"

Hey Hamster, FYI all M3's have "sport differential" i.e. Limited Slip Diff. Part of a proper package mate...

[bimmerfrk]

I used to DD my e90 but since my commute was so small to get to the local train station, i hated how the engine never warmed properly. The leak in my dct gasket was the last straw though may have not been related.

So i leased an x4...yea i know, but my wife liked it. Now she sits in the garage all winter waiting for me to tickle her fancy on summer weekends.

[jrs_66]

I've found out the hard way that this car is the worst snow vehicle ever created! I have Pirelli sotozero snow tires on it and it's undrivable with >1 inch of snow.

[pbonsalb]

Mine is OK up to about 6 inches, when it runs out of ground clearance (it is lowered). Dunlop Winter Sport 3. On my 6th NH winter with it. An AWD car with snows would be better. Hopefully one day I will have a Porsche 911 Turbo. The AWD would be fun and performance still good.

[yidgyi]

Very easy for me to DD. I drive maybe 50-60 miles a day in my M3. Coldest it gets here is 0-15 degrees F. on a bad day. I just let it warm up for a couple minutes and I'm on my way. I have to say the winter pkg. is a must for colder climate areas. I was originally thinking of getting a brand new 435i xdrive "Msport" for winter but I'm so happy I got the M3 instead. I do avoid driving it in salt and snow so I can't comment on personal experience but I've read on this forum that snow tires work very well with the M3. One big con is you're going to be best friends with your local gas station but you can't complain once you hear the s65 scream .

[loveskiing]

Take my advice...
Move somewhere where cold in the winter is 25 degrees F...
Keep hanging out on the "Dark Side" with Audi...BMW M3 owners are ruthless in their pursuit of happiness and they have been known to have full body orgasms when that V8 screams at 8400 rpm

[STooK]

Originally Posted by jrs_66

I've found out the hard way that this car is the worst snow vehicle ever created! I have Pirelli sotozero snow tires on it and it's undrivable with >1 inch of snow.

I'm running the same set up and would beg to differ. It drives much better than my 335xi did on all seasons in snow.

My 6mt did not like the cold for the first few minutes but after the car warms up it drives well. Snow tires and it drives very well in the winter. I'd say go for it!