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      02-25-2019, 10:10 AM   #1
330xi_dd_CT
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E90 M3 a bad DD choice for me?

Hey all.
I know the e9x M3 is a great car that can do DD duties very comfortably and also be a track monster.
I have even done a track day at Lime Rock in an e90 M3 6MT and loved the car.

I am looking at replacing my trusty 2006 330xi daily driver since my wife cannot drive manual and doesn't want to learn.

So I looked at the 2019 Honda Accord 2.0T, which is fun enough for what it is.
I also looked at the 2019 Infiniti Q50 RS and SS, which is more fun but does not have a good, responsive transmission. And then I thought about the e90 M3. This may be the last opportunity for me to buy one before they get a little too long in the tooth to find a good low mileage one.

Unfortunately, my daily commute to work is 7 minutes each way and I worry that I won't even get the engine warm before shutting it off. Its through a rural area, so a little stop and go at some lights, but generally not too much traffic. I could take the long way just to give it enough time to get warm, I suppose.

I have garage space for it and I have enough know how to DIY a lot of projects and I enjoy working on my cars, so I know the e90 would be the right choice for me as an enthusiast, but I don't want to do harm to the car by constant cold starts and cold running. I recognize it may not be the right choice for a DD for me.

Thoughts on this situation?

Thanks!
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      02-25-2019, 10:17 AM   #2
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I don't DD my M3 cause I only like driving it on nice days and woundn't even think about driving it in the winter.

The fact that you commute is only 7 minutes is a good reason not to DD it. Your engine will not reach a safe operating temp in order for you to rev it. If you can't rev it, its pointless to drive it!
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      02-25-2019, 10:25 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 330xi_dd_CT View Post
I know the e9x M3 is a great car that can do DD duties very comfortably and also be a track monster.
I have even done a track day at Lime Rock in an e90 M3 6MT and loved the car.
!
That is the beauty of the E9X M, and indeed all Ms before and after it. It's such a great platform for the single car people.

I don't see what the problem is with your use case. If your engine doesn't reach full operating temperature then some fuel and moisture will be in the oil but lets not act like that is a death warrant for your car. Just change the oil more often than you would otherwise and you'll be peeeerfectly fine.
Also, once you have the M3 you will for sure be doing some highway trips in it and that will happily burn off all the moisture that is in the oil.

If I were you I'd let it warm up 30s-1m before starting to drive it and then drive normally. Remember that even if you drove it 30 min it would still 'start cold' just as often. We've seen rod bearing failure with cars never driven in cold weather so unless you beat on the car while cold I don't see a big issue there.

Driving an M3 in winter is a wonderful experience. With winter tires (PA4s if you ask me) it works *perfectly*. I put 100k on my E46 as my DD and would drive it in winter, through blizzards to Canada, then double-duty it at the track and never had a problem. Driving the M3 in snow is very fun as well, it teaches you how to actually drive.

Someone's going to come here and tell you the M3 gets horrible gas mileage. Well it certainly is not great, however, consider than my X5 35i gets the same mileage than the M3 and is around a thousand times less fun to drive.

As you're in CT feel free to reach out for the GTS DCT tune and other things you may have in mind
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      02-25-2019, 10:43 AM   #4
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I DD my E90 M3 everyday unless it snows.

It really is comfortable and has every creature comfort available if you find a well optioned car. The gas mileage is really bad. What bothers me about that is more the frequency of fill-ups than the cost.

I've had two E9x cars and the platform is very robust.

If you're concerned about the car not getting warm enough I understand, but don't let that stop you. My car almost reaches full operating temp if its more than 35 degrees in 5.5 miles. Thats about a 11-14 min ride for me.
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      02-25-2019, 11:18 AM   #5
330xi_dd_CT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. BMW View Post
I don't DD my M3 cause I only like driving it on nice days and woundn't even think about driving it in the winter.

The fact that you commute is only 7 minutes is a good reason not to DD it. Your engine will not reach a safe operating temp in order for you to rev it. If you can't rev it, its pointless to drive it!
My work week is M-Th so on those days, I don't get to drive it too much, other than 7 mins to work and 7 mins home.

Friday and Saturday, I can and do put more miles on the car. When I changed jobs, I went from about 15-17k miles per year, down to about 7-8k.

Buying it as a non-DD wouldn't work unfortunately. My wife wants me to replace my manual 330xi with something with an auto (or DCT) trans, not replace it with 2 cars! I'm not that lucky.
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      02-25-2019, 11:21 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
That is the beauty of the E9X M, and indeed all Ms before and after it. It's such a great platform for the single car people.

I don't see what the problem is with your use case. If your engine doesn't reach full operating temperature then some fuel and moisture will be in the oil but lets not act like that is a death warrant for your car. Just change the oil more often than you would otherwise and you'll be peeeerfectly fine.
Also, once you have the M3 you will for sure be doing some highway trips in it and that will happily burn off all the moisture that is in the oil.

If I were you I'd let it warm up 30s-1m before starting to drive it and then drive normally. Remember that even if you drove it 30 min it would still 'start cold' just as often. We've seen rod bearing failure with cars never driven in cold weather so unless you beat on the car while cold I don't see a big issue there.

Driving an M3 in winter is a wonderful experience. With winter tires (PA4s if you ask me) it works *perfectly*. I put 100k on my E46 as my DD and would drive it in winter, through blizzards to Canada, then double-duty it at the track and never had a problem. Driving the M3 in snow is very fun as well, it teaches you how to actually drive.

Someone's going to come here and tell you the M3 gets horrible gas mileage. Well it certainly is not great, however, consider than my X5 35i gets the same mileage than the M3 and is around a thousand times less fun to drive.

As you're in CT feel free to reach out for the GTS DCT tune and other things you may have in mind
Great input! Thank you!

For winter driving, I think I'd probably really enjoy it. My 330xi handles really well and I find it frustrating that I can't kick the back out very much under some low speed turns. I would almost certainly buy a second set of rims with winter tires to just swap back and forth.

As for gas mileage, I don't worry too much about that. I have a very convenient gas station on the way home thats never crowded and I'll still only be filling up 1.5 to 2x per month. Not bad at all really considering the enjoyment of the vehicle.
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      02-25-2019, 11:23 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lat77 View Post
I DD my E90 M3 everyday unless it snows.

It really is comfortable and has every creature comfort available if you find a well optioned car. The gas mileage is really bad. What bothers me about that is more the frequency of fill-ups than the cost.

I've had two E9x cars and the platform is very robust.

If you're concerned about the car not getting warm enough I understand, but don't let that stop you. My car almost reaches full operating temp if its more than 35 degrees in 5.5 miles. Thats about a 11-14 min ride for me.
Yeah, I have liked the e9x platform in my 330xi. I just don't like the CCC system. I did put an Avin in my 330 so I can at least use Waze and carplay (when it wants to work). I'd probably have to do a similar upgrade in an M car.

There is a path I can take to bump up the mileage a bit to get the engine up to temp.
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      02-25-2019, 11:40 AM   #8
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Look into changing the thermostat to the slightly hotter one recommended by Troy Jeup. I drive my 08 M3 year round in NH, with snow wheels in winter. It won’t be as good in the snow as an AWD car on snows but might be as good as some AWD cars on all season tires.
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      02-25-2019, 11:52 AM   #9
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I DD my E90, and I have a pretty similar use case as you. I think it's a fantastic DD. Great for the family stuff as well as the fun weekend stuff.
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      02-25-2019, 12:07 PM   #10
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Seems like it's affordable to you, which is the biggest hurdle.
Your only apprehension is the short commute (which would affect any car you get, anyways).

I say life is too short to deprive yourself of this awesome daily driver if you're in a position to buy it. Do it and don't look back!

PS. My old man's commute is very similar to yours. He still DD'd his E93 and 981 over the last 12 years. #YOLO.
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      02-25-2019, 12:11 PM   #11
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Daily since 5 years (well couple of latter Winters I do leave her in the garage on the worse snow/salt periods). 15min or so commute in traffic so just about getting warm/no revving. Still love the car!
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      02-25-2019, 12:58 PM   #12
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Bunch of enablers you all are. I'll have to give this a serious look now.
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      02-25-2019, 01:05 PM   #13
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I always daily drove my M3, and In the winter, but no more.
I find that with the low car, Snow and ice is horrific to the underbody.
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      02-25-2019, 01:09 PM   #14
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I dd mine and have fairly short commute ~5miles one way. Some days I take detours just to warm it up more. I even enjoy the slow warm up phase of the drive- noticing the changes in engine/transmission sounds and behaviors. I'm romanticizing this a bit too much but it really feels like a living thing. I'd say do it. They don't make cars like this anymore.
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      02-25-2019, 01:22 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TomHudson View Post
I find that with the low car, Snow and ice is horrific to the underbody.
how is it any different than any other car? Any car you drive in winter requires you to get its underbody washed after big snow storms when they salted the hell out of the roads to prevent it from rusting.

Snow and ice do zero to underbodies, it is the salt that hurts them
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      02-25-2019, 01:58 PM   #16
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I DD my e90m3, my commute is only 3 miles. On the weekends i get out there and stretch its legs.
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      02-25-2019, 02:51 PM   #17
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Simple -- just move further away from your office, then get the M3.
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      02-25-2019, 02:59 PM   #18
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I don't see why not! Do it if that is what you want.

or better yet keep the 330xi and only drive the M3 in nice weather, makes each drive that much more special.
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      02-25-2019, 03:04 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrGatsby View Post
Simple -- just move further away from your office, then get the M3.
Hah, if I could convince my wife to move, it would be out of Connecticut altogether!
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      02-25-2019, 03:37 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 330xi_dd_CT View Post
Hah, if I could convince my wife to move, it would be out of Connecticut altogether!
I made that move about 2 years ago. Lived in Fairfield my whole life, then got a job offer I couldn't pass up in Florida.

CT has it's drawbacks, but man it's a beautiful place. I miss driving through the back roads of Greenwich with my old Z3M. None of that here in FL.
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      02-25-2019, 03:42 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrGatsby View Post
I made that move about 2 years ago. Lived in Fairfield my whole life, then got a job offer I couldn't pass up in Florida.

CT has it's drawbacks, but man it's a beautiful place. I miss driving through the back roads of Greenwich with my old Z3M. None of that here in FL.
I live in Southbury, CT so we have Roxbury, Washington, and all of Litchfield county that is amazing to drive on. Back roads galore!

Its just too bad that Lamont got elected, because they are already talking about 50 gantries to collect tolls in the states, a new property tax, and changes to the car tax
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      02-26-2019, 07:22 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
how is it any different than any other car? Any car you drive in winter requires you to get its underbody washed after big snow storms when they salted the hell out of the roads to prevent it from rusting.

Snow and ice do zero to underbodies, it is the salt that hurts them
Because the car sits low. The snow on poorly cleared roads makes the underbody scrape on what has become an icy mess left over, with only grooves to drive in
Already lost the two front underbody pieces.

I’m aware of salt and dirt! Lol
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