For New Owners - What I wish I knew when I first bought my E9X M3:

yeahhh, these spark plugs do wear out a little quicker than ive seen in "normal" cars.

Great post ! I learned a lot from it.

GM

This is perfect for me. 7 months in with my zcp 6mt e90. Thank you so much!!!

If I knew I was going to go full balls out making a track car with roll cage, high end suspension, BBK, motorsport wheels etc I wouldn't of bought the highest spec and most expensive competition pack car that was for sale at the time. I could of bought a cheaper M3 seeing as most parts were going to be upgraded and saved a load of money.

Thanks a lot mate,
Looking at getting my first M3 next week. Great to know

This post helped me with my M3 purchase, thank you OP.

Theodore wrote

11. All E9X M3's are or were part of the Takata airbag recall.

Is this true? I can't find any information that 2012+ cars are included. I am buying a 2012 E92 and recall checks via VIN come up empty but if I plug in some '09 VINs they are airbag recalled.

I think the V8 should be faster than it is.

drqqiles wrote

I think the V8 should be faster than it is.

Best first post ever? And how would you have engineered it to be faster? And faster how? 0 to 60? 1/4 mile? Faster around a track? Faster than a ZO6 and every other sports car ever made? Faster than a "bot" ?

Transfer wrote

Theodore wrote

11. All E9X M3's are or were part of the Takata airbag recall.

Is this true? I can't find any information that 2012+ cars are included. I am buying a 2012 E92 and recall checks via VIN come up empty but if I plug in some '09 VINs they are airbag recalled.

I am having a similar issue searching recalls for my 2012 E93 VIN... I'm guessing 2012+ aren't affected or they aren't high enough on the triage yet for BMW to issue the recall.

Nice post

BOOF-M3 wrote

Best first post ever? And how would you have engineered it to be faster? And faster how? 0 to 60? 1/4 mile? Faster around a track? Faster than a ZO6 and every other sports car ever made? Faster than a "bot" ?

I think he wants TORQUE.

Finally took the time to look over and wanted to say that you are greatly appreciated for taking the time to create this thread. Well done.

spazzyfry123 wrote

BOOF-M3 wrote

Best first post ever? And how would you have engineered it to be faster? And faster how? 0 to 60? 1/4 mile? Faster around a track? Faster than a ZO6 and every other sports car ever made? Faster than a "bot" ?

I think he wants TORQUE.

Lol I think it's a spam bot.

boba-fett wrote

Good post, don't forget about rod bearings. I also think the V8 should be faster than it is, other than that its a good car.

I was hoping this would have been addressed. I'm ready to buy a car in this price range and the E92 M3 came back to mind... but I'm not sure on the situation about the rod bearings now? I think it's been a year since I've been around this forum.

TheMidnightNarwhal wrote

boba-fett wrote

Good post, don't forget about rod bearings. I also think the V8 should be faster than it is, other than that its a good car.

I was hoping this would have been addressed. I'm ready to buy a car in this price range and the E92 M3 came back to mind... but I'm not sure on the situation about the rod bearings now? I think it's been a year since I've been around this forum.

Pick up the E92 and meet us all at the Tail of the Dragon.

BOOF-M3 wrote

Pick up the E92 and meet us all at the Tail of the Dragon.

Haha where is that?

But I did find a recent post where even the main bearings get used and break buying the car at this point seems... like, not the wisest choice, especially for an all in one car.

TheMidnightNarwhal wrote

BOOF-M3 wrote

Pick up the E92 and meet us all at the Tail of the Dragon.

Haha where is that?

But I did find a recent post where even the main bearings get used and break buying the car at this point seems... like, not the wisest choice, especially for an all in one car.

It's in Deals Gap. North Carolina/Tennessee boarder in the mountains. Ok, bearings can toast an engine, that is fact. It's something that can happen and if it does it's catastrophic. And no one wants to be the member to talk you into getting one and then you hit the German lottery as Philippe says and your engine blows. So therefore I will not try to convince you to get one. But if you decide to go a different route, what else is out there? Most, not all street/track race cars have flaws so no matter what you end up purchasing you will be dealing with the reality that at any moment your $30k street legal race car is one RPM away from blowing. Personally I am of the mindset that I am so in tune with my engine that it wouldn't dare blow a gasket, a bearing or even a tire. Of course I am usually right 70% out of 90% of the time. But seriously, what other cars are on your must have list?

BOOF-M3 wrote

It's in Deals Gap. North Carolina/Tennessee boarder in the mountains.

Oh okok, I'm not from the states haha.

BOOF-M3 wrote

But seriously, what other cars are on your must
have list?

If the E92 M3 was to risky my other choices were 2009+ E92 335i, 2013+ Audi S5 or even the newer BMW 435i, although later seem to be tight on the budget range.

In the end I would really like an M2 or M4 but can't afford those right now and paying for a 435i that costs more than a E92 M3 seems sucky.

So my top choice right if not for the E92 M3 is most liekly 2009+ 335i with the sport pack of that year, gotta have that black headliner!

TheMidnightNarwhal wrote

BOOF-M3 wrote

It's in Deals Gap. North Carolina/Tennessee boarder in the mountains.

Oh okok, I'm not from the states haha.

BOOF-M3 wrote

But seriously, what other cars are on your must
have list?

If the E92 M3 was to risky my other choices were 2009+ E92 335i, 2013+ Audi S5 or even the newer BMW 435i, although later seem to be tight on the budget range.

In the end I would really like an M2 or M4 but can't afford those right now and paying for a 435i that costs more than a E92 M3 seems sucky.

So my top choice right if not for the E92 M3 is most liekly 2009+ 335i with the sport pack of that year, gotta have that black headliner!

Weird, I had thought you were from the Carolinas. Go with the 335, the 435 is pretty to look at. Fun to drive. For about a minute. The wife wanted a 435. Luckily all it took was a quick test drive in the 435 to make her realize that she wanted an M3.

BOOF-M3 wrote

Weird, I had thought you were from the Carolinas. Go with the 335, the 435 is pretty to look at. Fun to drive. For about a minute. Luckily all it took was a quick test drive in the 435 to make her realize that she wanted an M3.

Nah I'm from Canada.

I did test drive a proper equipped 435i and gotta say it felt pretty nice. Haven't had a chance to find a E92 335i with the sport packs to test drive yet. Also it's most liekly going to be xdrive for both of them.. here in Canada it's not easy to find a RWD one.

But damn does the 435i look good yeah. The E92 335i isn't bad lookin either.

TheMidnightNarwhal wrote

BOOF-M3 wrote

Weird, I had thought you were from the Carolinas. Go with the 335, the 435 is pretty to look at. Fun to drive. For about a minute. Luckily all it took was a quick test drive in the 435 to make her realize that she wanted an M3.

Nah I'm from Canada.

I did test drive a proper equipped 435i and gotta say it felt pretty nice. Haven't had a chance to find a E92 335i with the sport packs to test drive yet. Also it's most liekly going to be xdrive for both of them.. here in Canada it's not easy to find a RWD one.

But damn does the 435i look good yeah. The E92 335i isn't bad lookin either.

Yep, you are definitely not in love with the E92. If you were you would not like the 435 at all. Sure it's a nice DD but it's not the experience the M3 is or the 335 with the sports pack.

BOOF-M3 wrote

Yep, you are definitely not in love with the E92. If you were you would not like the 435 at all. Sure it's a nice DD but it's not the experience the M3 is or the 335 with the sports pack.

Oh yeah? The E92 335i sport pack is better experience than the 435i? Like I said I haven't tried one yet but I'm not saying it's off the books. 435i being just out of budget and 335i with the manual transmission being more common it's at the top of the list right now.