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      08-21-2011, 12:02 AM   #1
Foodle
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E46 330i ZHP to E90 M3, will I be happy?

Short version:
Has anyone gone from an e46 ZHP to an e90/e92/e93 M3?
What are the pros and cons?

Long version:
The wife said, "Go get yourself a new car, you deserve it."
My reaction was followed by

I'm currently in a 2005 e46 330i ZHP, which I love. The car handles incredibly well and has enough power for city driving. Honestly, I'd be happy to stay in the ZHP, but I know that I only have a limited time to take advantage of this carte blanche new car offer.

I test drove an e90 335i, and it as ok, but didn't seem that much better than the ZHP (handling maybe a little worse, but more power). I drove an F10 535i and it handled like a boat. So the F10 535i and 550i are out.

So, it's either an e90 M3 or F10 M5. Can anyone with an e90/e92/e93 M3 comment on how this is going to compare to my current ZHP?

Last edited by Foodle; 08-21-2011 at 12:19 AM..
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      08-21-2011, 12:13 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Foodle View Post
Short version:
Has anyone gone from an e46 ZHP to an e90/e92/e93 M3?
What are the pros and cons?

Long version:
The wife said, "Go get yourself a new car, you deserve it."
My reaction was followed by

I'm currently in a 2005 e46 330i ZHP, which I love. The car handles incredibly well and has enough power for city driving. Honestly, I'd be happy to stay in the ZHP, but I know that I only have a limited time to take advantage of this carte blanche new car offer.

I test drove a e90 335i, and it as ok, but didn't seem that much better than the ZHP (handling maybe a little worse, but more power). I drove an F10 535i and it handled like a boat. So the F10 535i and 550i are out.

So, it's either an e90 M3 or F10 M5. Can anyone with an e90/e92/e93 M3 comment on how this is going to compare to my current ZHP?
I would definitely go with the F10 M5 over the E90 M3 if you can! I haven't driven the 330i ZHP but I'm pretty sure u'll be happy with the M. Goodluck.
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      08-21-2011, 12:28 AM   #3
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my last car was a 2004 330i zhp and i absolutely loved it. i traded it for an e90 m3 and love this just as much. i do regret getting rid of the ZHP but dont regret getting the M3. see where im going with this. if you can do it keep the 330 and get the M3 they are both amazing. its like all those e46 m3 guys say the old car felt more undiluted i guess. hard to explain. it wasnt better just different and a very good car. i have heard many say thay that the zhp was one of the best cars bmw has made and i agree.
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      08-21-2011, 12:36 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chriszeh View Post
i have heard many say thay that the zhp was one of the best cars bmw has made and i agree.


Thanks for the input. I'm hesitant about selling the ZHP, since I know I'll regret it. But I can't justify two cars. I'm hoping to test drive an e90 M3 next week (getting damn hard to find at dealerships), so hopefully that'll make my decision more clear.
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      08-21-2011, 12:38 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mahmood07 View Post
I would definitely go with the F10 M5 over the E90 M3 if you can! I haven't driven the 330i ZHP but I'm pretty sure u'll be happy with the M. Goodluck.
Don't know about the M5. It's an M car, so it'll surely handle well, but my experience in the regular F10 5-series does not fill me with confidence. It would be nice to get a test drive in, but that won't be possible until the e90 M3's are already discontinued. Argh. Also, the M5 price is starting to enter "You spent how much on that car?!?!" territory.

Last edited by Foodle; 08-21-2011 at 12:45 AM..
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      08-21-2011, 12:42 AM   #6
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if you can have only one the m3 is the superior car but not by a huge margin. just realize you will be leaving behind an amazing car that you might wish you still had.
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      08-21-2011, 12:50 AM   #7
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Honestly, I think the M5 will be closer to the regular F10 5-series than the E90 M3. They have that "Comfort, Sport, Sport+" stuff that I don't like in addition to the regular 5-series steering. It also weighs well over 4,000lbs. I would test drive an E90 M3 and then take your ZHP on that same road and see how the two compare for you. The M3 is heavier than your ZHP but I'm fairly certain the power and steering will make up for it.
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      08-21-2011, 02:06 AM   #8
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Are you getting the e90 M3 new? If so you better make up your mind quick since production is ending in October for the e90 M3. I heard that it is even late to order now. Make your decision quick.

I ordered my e90 the same week I found out that production was ending, this was 2 months ago.
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      08-21-2011, 02:51 AM   #9
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ull love the M3 way more
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      08-21-2011, 07:17 AM   #10
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The F10 M5 will be stupid fast, which I really like. It will have torque at any time, unlike the E90 M3. No need to make sure you are in the right gear in the right rpm as with a manual transmission E90 M3. No need to rev the piss out of the motor to make real power as with the E90 M3. It will also weigh 500 lbs more than the E90 M3. It will not have the agility of the E90 M3, which is really remarkable in its balance and poise even if it, in turn is 500 lbs heavier than your E46 330i.

The F10 M5 will cost a lot more than the E90 M3, especially during the early sales period when you will be buying.

After having driven my E90 M3 for 5k miles, I think that the engine is better mated to the DCT than the 6MT. I have the 6MT. One is simply not in the right gear at the right rpm all the time in daily driving and one can be caught off guard fairly easily in unofficial competitions. The DCT up and downshifts so fast that it will put you in the right gear at the right rpm. On the other hand, if you only want the full performance potential of the car when you decide you want to full engage with it and concentrate on the performance, you can certainly row the gears and have your fun during those periods.

Techniques Tuning sells a turbo kit for the E46 330i ZHP that makes 325 rwhp and 300 lbs rwtq. Add a set of coilovers and you would have a pretty nice makeover of your ZHP. Call it 385 crank hp and 350 crank lbs tq -- it would make for a pretty good power to weight ratio in a 3300 lb car. I have a turbo E36M3 with a Techniques Tuning tune and it is so much fun that I prefer it over my E90 M3. I like the torque.
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      08-21-2011, 08:42 AM   #11
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I came from an '04 330ci ZHP to an e90 M3. It is difficult to compare the 2- they are different vehicles.
I really liked the 330- it was my first BMW- it handled great, had sufficient power and was great on fuel. After the birth of our child, being a 2- door, I rarely drove it and wanted to get something with 4- doors that was more practical.
The e90 M3 is amazing- so much power, handling, exhaust note- it is an intoxicating car to drive. I love it and don't regret it at all. The only downside is fuel economy- it is somewhat dismal depending how it is operated.
Good luck with your decision- all I can say is that I haven't looked back!
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      08-21-2011, 09:27 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Foodle View Post
Short version:
Has anyone gone from an e46 ZHP to an e90/e92/e93 M3?
What are the pros and cons?

Long version:
The wife said, "Go get yourself a new car, you deserve it."
My reaction was followed by

I'm currently in a 2005 e46 330i ZHP, which I love. The car handles incredibly well and has enough power for city driving. Honestly, I'd be happy to stay in the ZHP, but I know that I only have a limited time to take advantage of this carte blanche new car offer.

I test drove an e90 335i, and it as ok, but didn't seem that much better than the ZHP (handling maybe a little worse, but more power). I drove an F10 535i and it handled like a boat. So the F10 535i and 550i are out.

So, it's either an e90 M3 or F10 M5. Can anyone with an e90/e92/e93 M3 comment on how this is going to compare to my current ZHP?

Who cares what we think? Words cannot adequately describe the emotional and physical experience of driving and E9x M3.

Test drive one and tell us what you think afterwards
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      08-21-2011, 10:24 AM   #13
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I went from a 330 ZHP to Z4M to the E92 M3. Each was a step up in power, so going straight from the ZHP to M3 would have been a big step up in power if I had done it that way. I still miss my ZHP, but I've seen a few around lately, and even though it is a classic, it seems a little dated to my eyes now. I miss it, but don't regret it. Kind of like my first love... I will always have a spot in my heart for it, but life moves on. I'm sure if I got in one and drove it now, it would seem a little smaller, a little less comfortable and a lot slower than I remember. I don't miss the Z4M, btw.
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      08-21-2011, 11:06 AM   #14
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go for m3
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      08-21-2011, 03:18 PM   #15
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Why do you love your E46 330i? The answer will determine the right car for you.

1) Practicality... M5 is the grunty executive saloon with superior practicality of capacity.
2) Power... M3 is the high-revving V8 with the same practicality as your 330i.
3) Handling... 1M is the high torque, most nimble, driving experience not since E30 M3 (6MT only.)

Certainly, any one of these cars will bring you to a new level of religion. It won't be that hard to say goodbye to your beloved 330i.
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      08-21-2011, 06:40 PM   #16
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If money is no issue, M5 without a doubt.
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      08-21-2011, 07:09 PM   #17
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don't test drive the M3 before some test drivers are available for the M5... If you test drive the M3 now, you wont be able to wait for the M5 anymore to test drive it
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      08-21-2011, 07:09 PM   #18
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Wrong I wouldn't choose an m5 over an m3 unless I needed it to haul around 3 of my executive buddies. If its for me to drive and enjoy I would take the m3 every time.
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      08-21-2011, 07:17 PM   #19
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M3>M5

Honestly, If you love your ZHP I see no need to upgrade. Don't fix anything that doesn't need to be fixed.
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      08-21-2011, 07:19 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eamon View Post
If money is no issue, M5 without a doubt.
M5 is performance power on a full size sedan
M3 is performance power on a mid size sedan

Comparing the two is like apples to oranges

And comparing your 2005 330 zhp to a E90M is the same thing.



But best thing is to get what YOU want, Good luck!
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      08-21-2011, 07:43 PM   #21
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We havce a 2005 330 zhp and a 2008 M3 now and the difference is remarkable. However, that said, the zhp is actually a really more interesting car given that you have to plan more to use the power that is has. The limits on he zhp are much lower malking it more fun to drive hard in the real world. But for real world ease in navigating all the pylons in the greater Boston area, the M3 is the tool of choice.
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      08-21-2011, 07:48 PM   #22
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Well said. The zhp allows you to flog it fairly well in public. The m3 won't allow you to get close without jail time. Both extremely satisfying
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