Considering a new M3 convertible

[Dave2]

I currently have an '04 Nissan 350Z convertible. My wife tells me I need to get a car with more than two seats. One of the logical choices would be the M3 convertible.

I would like to hear from those of you that have one. What do you like about the car? What do you dislike? Is there anything that came as a surprise, either good or bad? Anything you would gave done differently when ordering the car? Any advice would be appreciated.

I would especially like to hear from those that have chosen Melbourne Red. What are your thoughts on the color after living with it for a while?

Thanks in advance.

[midlifecrisis]

I don't have a 'vert, but speaking as a M3 owner, there's nothing quite like this car. From the sound of the engine to the incredible handling, this car is great. Apparently, it's also BMW's most reliable model! Whod've thunk it?

The only downside is the fuel economy. Other than that, the closest thing to the perfect car for someone who needs a measure of practicality.

As for Melbourne Red - I'm not much of a red fan but I recently saw a sedan in this color and was blown away. It's stunning.

[G.R]

It really is a good all round car which ticks all the boxes. Whether you are driving through city traffic, taking it out for a performance drive, taking the missus for a cruise along the beach with the roof off, putting a baby in the back seat. It can do it all.

[Nition]

I've had mine for a year. One word. Perfect. It's the best (not fastest though) car I could've bought with that money.

Things I like:

1. It's very quick and very fun to drive. Driving isn't a chore for me anymore.
2. Gives you the benefit of having the option to drive top-down without the inconvenience of a rag-top, which can be noisy at times.
3. Listening to the roaring V8 with the top down is dope.
4. You can fit 3 chicks in your car rather than 1.
5. Looks great with the top down.

Things I'm not in love with:

1. It doesn't look as good as the coupe with the top up.
2. I've had 2 minor issues with my car which were fixed within 3 days. The first was the shifter problem and the other was the speakers.

Looking for a fast convertible with 4 seats that's under 100k? There is nothing better.

[brucewil]

I have had my M3 vert since March. Most fun I have had with a car! Previous car was E60 M5. That was fun in a different way.

The only negative I have with the E93 is the 400 lb anchor that drags the car down. I fixed that with some Dinan mods. Intake, pulley, software, diff and suspension. Now the car drives like it should from BMW.

No other car that can seat four adults (I am almost 6 feet and can sit behind my own driver seat) can have this much fun top down motoring.

I think it's perfect with some minor mods. It's great without the mods, but way more fun with them!

[W3LCOM3]

Hard Top Convertible + M3 = Bliss

Melbourne Red on Fox Red is an awesome color combo.

[mexicanmike]

Agree with everyone else. Amazing car, not to hate, but the 350z doesn't even compare.

Negatives:
Top Down Trunk Room
Noticeable Rear Slide when driving hard with top down(Added Weight)
If you are tall, backseat is un-useable (Other than maybe a very small midget or baby seat, even then, not really.)
Gas mileage will be worse than your current car
Expensive repair of Top out of warranty(More than compensated by because hard tops dont leak sound as much as soft tops, and don't rip)

[M3KW]

I got mine in July and it has been such a blast! Melbourne Red was a choice for me but I thought it diluted the chrome stripping and mags that the car came with and went Jerez Black and Bamboo Beige interior. This car is 'unique' because it is faster than most vehicles on the road, it is a hardtop convertible, handles well and of course, is a real looker with the top down. Top up, perhaps from some angles the car looks a little weird but I love it!

Positives
Hardtop which gives excellent noise insulation
Top down lets you hear the exhaust more
Excellent cruising vehicle
Seating for 4 adults (3 passenger)
Outhandles other cars on the road (to a point, you will get something faster etc...)

Negatives
Extra weight tends to show when you need to overtake quickly
Rattles sometimes evident in the car
No boot space
Can only seat 4 (again 3 passenger)

Hmmm that's about it, it truly is an awesome car and since you already have owned a convertible, these are things that one should expect. But it is massive bang for the buck Fuel economy is subjective, if you ride it hard it will drink, if you drive moderately you can expect figures of 12.3L/100KM. A darker colour on the convertible will show off the chrome bits better especially the silver trim where the hardtop fits. If you go for red, see how the silver trim looks to you.

[kaykay]

I'm not sure how going from a Nissan 350Z to an M3 vert is "logical choice" but to each his own. Both cars are in completely different leagues. You cannot compare an M3 with a 350Z or any other Nissan - those are toys, sorry

Melbourne Red E93 with Black Extended would look gorgeous.

Someone mentioned MR with FR interior? I mean, you might as well pour a bucket of red paint inside - that's overkill. There are things in this world that are aesthetically pleasing - red on red is not one of them, unless you're f-ing Suge Knight.

The E93 doesn't look that good with the top up, it's by design, but it's still a gorgeous car. It looks stunning with the top down, that's for sure.

A lot of purists will argue that the M3 really belongs in the E92 or E90 platform and I agree, but that's neither here nor there.

Also, you're looking at an additional ~400lbs for the hardtop (decreased performance but it's still a horridly fast car).

You can't really fit 4 adults in any E90/E92/E93, I can fit two ladies in the back and two 6 foot guys in the front and it's tight even then (talking about my E93 non-M 2011 I just bought, even less in my E92).

If you want a convertible, the E93 M3 is as good as it gets for under $100k, no question about it.

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by kaykay

You cannot compare an M3 with a 350Z or any other Nissan - those are toys, sorry

The GT-R would disagree.

[mkoesel]

The car is brilliant. However, I would recommend you go test drive one to see what you think before getting too much further in the decision process.

The reason I say this is that the convertible is a heavy car (4000 lbs). Four seat convertibles tend to pay a big weight penalty vs. their fixed roof counterparts. It's part of the compromise of an open-top car with practicality. I don't know 350Z weights, but I'd venture to guess that the roadster is only a couple hundred pounds heavier than the coupe. The M3 is still going to be faster than the 350Z since it has 100+ more horsepower and thus a higher power to weight ratio. It just might not be as tossable.

Originally Posted by Dave IV

I currently have an '04 Nissan 350Z convertible. My wife tells me I need to get a car with more than two seats. One of the logical choices would be the M3 convertible.

I would like to hear from those of you that have one. What do you like about the car? What do you dislike? Is there anything that came as a surprise, either good or bad? Anything you would gave done differently when ordering the car? Any advice would be appreciated.

[quality_sound]

^^^Agreed on the weight. My first two test drives were in an E93 and you can definitely feel the weight. It just feels...weighty. It's hard to explain unless you drive an E93 and an E90 or E92 back-to-back but it is noticeable.

[BigHat]

Good luck. I think you'll enjoy it.

No surprises, but roof down trunk room is very scant. For my, the rear seat stays down and parcels and golf clubs ride on the carpeted back of the seat.

[ring007]

Great car and right now BMWFS has incredible lease terms on them....Fully loaded about $850/month.

[335 S]

Just traded my 2008 E93 for a 2011.5 E93. Both times I seriously compared performance of the E92 and the E93, and I still paid up for the convertible. With HFC pipes and Macht Schnell intake, the extra weight issue is negated. Torsional integrity issues are minimal, unless they invite me to enter Le Mans next year.

[patrikr]

Originally Posted by ring007

Great car and right now BMWFS has incredible lease terms on them....Fully loaded about $850/month.

Curious, with how much up-front payment?

[Dave2]

Thanks for all the responses.

My priorities for the new car are:
1) Convertible: I have always had one and love them.

2) 4 seats: This is really my wife's new requirement, but I will admit it will be more practical.

3) Performance: Given the restrictions of priorities 1 and 2.

[kidvalor]

When you said "more seats" I automatically thought Mini-Van... Lmao... A M3 vert in my opinion is going to come with more space but not much.. Why exactly do you need more seats?

[Doctor J]

I love mine. No complaints whatsoever.

I think the car is perfect

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by kidvalor

Why exactly do you need more seats?

I am not the OP but my guess (and it is just a guess, mind you) is that he needs more seats because he needs to seat more people.

Again, just a wild guess!

[mkoesel]

The E93 M3 is your car then. Short of a Porsche 911 Carrera S/Turbo or an Aston Martin DB9 (or maybe a rolling house like a Bentley or Rolls), this is the best four seat convertible out there. And those two barely classify as four seaters anway. Jag XK/XKR also has tiny back seats. Volvo/Audi/VW/Mercedes/Infiniti/Lexus don't offer a model with comparable performance to the M3. There is the Mustang GT/GT500, but you don't get a folding hard top and luxury touches.

But, like I said earlier go test drive so you know what you are getting. It's not go-kart but it is still very fast, and still very fun.

Originally Posted by Dave IV

Thanks for all the responses.

My priorities for the new car are:
1) Convertible: I have always had one and love them.

2) 4 seats: This is really my wife's new requirement, but I will admit it will be more practical.

3) Performance: Given the restrictions of priorities 1 and 2.

[sor]

Originally Posted by patrikr

Curious, with how much up-front payment?

Just pay 1st month and fees, about $2500 and you're there, but it requires a decent dealer discount. 66% residual FTW