E92 vs E90 M3

[JLed79]

I'm in the market for an M3. Being mostly for me for a summer/ on call/ track once in a while car. My wife wants me to get the sedan. Go figure. I obviously want a coupe.
My question is, how do they compare handling wise? Is there a noticeable difference with the added ass end weight of the sedan?
This will be a 6MT also with carbon fiber roof.

[mdosu]

Ass weight huh? Well e90s don't have the m3 logo under the hood, so in a sense e90 m3 is not a real m3

[JD3]

You cannot get a cf roof on the sedan, only on the coupe...the roof is really cool, so if thats one of the tbings you like you may just be ''FORCED'' to get your way.

[CBS]

OP: In 2008 I was once in your position and with 4 kids my Wife won the discussion of E92 vs E90 and I purchased an E90. Frankly, I couldn't be happier and in 2011 bought another E90 M3.

The E90 M3 is the ultimate utility vehicle with the fold down rear seat option. I took the kids to school, Wife and I went to Movies with Friends, was able to get supplies from Home Depot and did Track HPDE's on the weekends. Honest, it did everything we asked and became our go-to vehicle in a house of several cars (that is before I went crazy with mods).

As for handling, the E90 weighs approx. 27 pounds more than the E92. If you can detect that on the track then you have a career in Racing waiting.

Good luck with your decision.

[Majin Buu]

Originally Posted by CBS

OP: In 2008 I was once in your position and with 4 kids my Wife won the discussion of E92 vs E90 and I purchased an E90. Frankly, I couldn't be happier and in 2011 bought another E90 M3.

The E90 M3 is the ultimate utility vehicle with the fold down rear seat option. I took the kids to school, Wife and I went to Movies with Friends, was able to get supplies from Home Depot and did Track HPDE's on the weekends. Honest, it did everything we asked and became our go-to vehicle in a house of several cars.

As for handling, the E90 weighs approx. 27 pounds more than the E92. If you can detect that on the track then you have a career in Racing waiting.

Good luck with your decision.

What he said. The sedan is much better than the coupe. As mentioned, the weight difference is marginal at best, and the performance on the track is essentially identical between the 2 cars. The sedan is also a little stiffer and has a slightly better weight distribution (less front heavy). You will hardly notice any difference between them when driving them. And if you are at the point of using slicks on the track, the sedan has more space for your wheels, jacks, jackstands, wrenches, and all the other equipment you will need to take with you to trackdays.

And the sedan offers much more practicality as a road car than the coupe obviously. And did I mention the sedan is also slightly cheaper, not to mention less common than the coupe?

[Rk-d]

For what it's worth, evo magazine preferred the handling dynamics of the sedan to the coupe. Personally, I think it's probably a wash between the two.

[FVM3]

[FogCityM3]

Got the same ultimatum from the wife two BMWs ago "you can buy anything so long as it has 4 doors". Now post kids, having 4 doors is essential. The E90 is the most sports-car like 4 door on the road today (and not even sure if the F80 M3 will retain the feeling given size and the poor performance of F30 335 driving dynamics wise in comparos vs the competition).

If I actually had the ability to drive a coupe, I wouldn't buy one based on a sedan platform (which the E92 is..it's a sedan). A true dedicated 2 door sports car platform, where size, weight, center of gravity, chassis (not built to carry higher weight) and other attributes that would operate better within the "laws of physics" vs fighting them. But the downside is that some people love 2 doors and do need some real rear seat room, but if this isn't the case for you, would look elsewhere for good sports car performance (porsche, 'vette, GTR, etc)

Also went to the 2 day M-school last year and no one could tell the difference between the coupes and sedans driving/performance wise.

[jphughan]

I got the coupe purely because I thought it looked better, even though I ordered a moonroof because I actually didn't like the CF look with Le Mans Blue. Since it's just the wife and me (and M3 drivers have no friends ), I knew I wouldn't use the back seats very often, so I let aesthetics trump undeniable practicality. I just think that when viewed from behind the sedan looks a bit more like a normal family car, whereas the coupe looks sportier. Plus there's just something about the overall E92 design that just makes it pure rolling art in my eye. I've also noticed that not having a B pillar next to you like you would in a sedan means far less wind buffeting with the windows down, which is important in this car since that engine will have you rolling the windows down a lot.

But yes, if you get the sedan, definitely get one with fold-down rear seats; they're standard on the coupe. I never thought I'd need them and actually didn't even realize I HAD them for a while, but they're a godsend -- and either car will fit a set of 18" track wheels that way.

[Prince_of_Persia]

If you are a family guy with kids, go for e90, but if you are a young and single guy, it is a no brainer to choose e92.

Plus search, there is a million threads about this.

[lsmkr01]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

If you are a family guy with kids, go for e90, but if you are a young and single guy, it is a no brainer to choose e92.

Plus search, there is a million threads about this.

Listen to this guy and call it a day. Its a win win situation. Only real difference no one can deny id that a coupe always ages better than a sedan but no a days it seems no one keeps cars to long except me and a few others.

[Denk]

Since you prefer the coupe, if it's just you and the wife I'd go for that. If kids are in the mix, I'd go the 4 door route.

[spr]

Coupe + sunroof = fail.

[OneRib]

If this is going to be a third car, then get the coupe. You obviously prefer it and you will mostly be using it for pleasure driving.

It's going to be hard for anyone to tell you what to do because everyone's family situation is different. Your wife may have good reason for you to pick the sedan.

As far as handling and weight, I think the previous posts are accurate. One other factor is you will be able to find newer pre-owned coupes because they ended sedan production with 2011 model year.

[F1Venom]

I think that the E90 looks better than the E92 because it looks smaller and more muscular. Apparently the center of gravity is smaller too so handling could be better. No one on here is a pro racer so the weight difference is negligible.
I would also choose the sedan because of the smaller doors and extra seat. You'd be happier with the E90 because your wife would approve and happy wife = happy life.

[jeff4598]

Exactly. In general coupes may look better than sedans but IMO the e90 is an awesome looking sedan and the e92 is just a "nice" looking coupe.

[Endless619]

Originally Posted by JLed79

I'm in the market for an M3. Being mostly for me for a summer/ on call/ track once in a while car. My wife wants me to get the sedan. Go figure. I obviously want a coupe.
My question is, how do they compare handling wise? Is there a noticeable difference with the added ass end weight of the sedan?
This will be a 6MT also with carbon fiber roof.

Since you are like some of us with multiple BMW's and a newer X5 that seats plenty, I would go for the E92 M3. I have the X5 for family/guests and the E92 for me and the girl.

However, if the wife says E90 M3, then E90 M3 it is!!!

[track_warrior]

Originally Posted by spr

Coupe + sunroof = fail.

x1000000000000000000

I had a sedan a while back and i truly miss the space and ease of use. The coupe looks great but the sedan is a much better all rounder.

[Ezio]

In the past i have thought about getting a Sedan. I am pretty young also, no where close to having a family. not even done with school. So i didn't need the back seats unless it was for taking friends out. Although so far the 2 seats in the back prove to be more useful than one for think.

The only thing i hate about the e90 m3 is the old tail lights. the 2010+ are much better. other than that I think its a pretty cool car. Although i am happy i went with the coupe, its just sporty. I also like the interior feel better of the coupe. I do not think one looks better than the other. If my wife wanted 4 doors and a M3 was a option i would without hesitation get the sedan.

[davesaddiction]

Another consideration - they made many fewer E90 M3s, so they might be more in demand down the line.

[quackman]

I'm a young, single guy, but I've had my sedan for almost five years now and couldn't be happier with it. I think the M3 looks awesome as a sedan, especially since it's got the same front-end as the coupe. A nice Frankenstein combo. It's great having a normal-looking, gray, four door car that to most people looks like a boring car.... that can go crazy at the push of the M-button and some fun driving.

At first I missed the carbon fiber roof but it's mostly a cosmetic thing. It's nice not having to fuss with only a two-door when I'm carting around friends, not to mention the 5th seat.

My favorite thing about the sedan with a sunroof, though, is that I can open ALL the windows and the roof. The coupe with no sunroof would feel a bit concealing and boring to me, only being able to open the front two windows. The E46 M3 let you tilt out the rear passenger windows, but even that's not as fun as the sedan's ability to have everything wide open--wind, sun, and sounds all flowing freely.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by spr

Coupe + sunroof = fail.

Fail crew