Is the "M" really worth it?

The E46 LSD thread got me thinking. Is an M car really worth it.

Point 1. I bet you can get a good used LSD and swap it in to a non M car for a lot less than the premium that you pay for a equivalent M car.

Point 2. Most of the M cars and the Sport cars for that matter are commanding stupid money as compared to a "normal" BMW model with similar millage/ware/condition. That is if you can even find them.

Point 3. Many of the M cars and the sport optioned cars I see for sale seem to have really high millage compared to the equivalent "normal" BMW. With it being an enthusiasts car it makes me wonder if it has been flogged to death so even though you are getting a car with "M" goodness, that "goodness" is for the most part all used up.

I can see it if you are doing track days every couple weeks and hit the autocross course those weekends you are not on track that an M may be a better tool for you. But for the rest of us that will for the most part DD the car or even the enthusiast that hits the track every now and then Is the M optioned car really worth the extra $$$$?

Or is it like wendy's wanted to sell more double burgers. The answer was for them to offer the triple. Same for the M. Is it offered strictly to promote the sale of there "normal" models?

If the E46 is the same as the E36, swapping in a diff means subframes/axles/brakes/etc.

Performance for the $ probably not, resale probably yes.

In the case of the E46 M3 you are getting some pretty specialized equipment with that M badge. For an E36, I sort of follow your reasoning.

In short:

Daily-driver with occasional track: No

Track-only: Yes

Drive both and then decide. After spending as much time as I did with a '97 M3, a std E36 would be tough to take... and is one of the reasons I have with developing any sort of affection for my E30 325is. It's simply so much of a lesser car in every way.

I agree with Ian. Yes, you can add M-parts to a non-M car.. but that does not make it an M-Car

In the case of the E39 540i Sport vs the E39 M5 - very definitely. There are a lot of differences in the car. More importantly, there's a massive difference in feel. I had my choice of either, and it wasn't a hard choice.

Someone told me once whenever someone buys a non m they try to make it in to an m over time, so why not just save the $$ and get a real one?

I think even a modified e46 328/330i would be cheaper to maintain than a stock M. Just scheduled maintenance is a lot more time consuming and expensive. I just picked up a 99 328I the other day. As a daily I'm certainly not trying to emulate an M3, but worn out suspension components will be replaced with M parts where possible.

But with 194K on the clock, LSx sounds interesting.

Most M-cars have lots of little bits that make them more track-worthy than the non-M versions. Things like bigger wheel bearings, bigger brakes, different control arm bushings (for more caster), shorter steering racks, improved aero, roomier wheel wells, etc. It's not just bigger engines and LSD diffs.

Yes.

The E46 M3 is a very different car than the garden-variety E46. That generation of //M car has probably the biggest difference between the M and non-M variants.

nderwater wrote: The E46 M3 is a very different car than the garden-variety E46. That generation of //M car has probably the biggest difference between the M and non-M variants.

E30. Almost everything was substantially different, although I hear that you can approximate the special suspension by putting in the parts from an M Roadster/Coupe.

M cars are definately more maintenance than the standard cars but so worth it IMO.

M cars are made for enthusiasts. We are enthusiasts. Yes, it's worth it.

I agree as well, starting with the first ones, e30 and e28. The sum really is greater than the parts. Compared to contemporary exotics the e28s are still cheap. the E30s took off several years ago. I feel that the E34s are still pretty reasonable too. I havent looked in the last few months though.

I love my 330ci sport, and I am doing some mods but I am not trying to make it an M3. The M's are much more focused and intense to drive, from my experience. "Frantic" is the word I would use. The 330 is a great hybrid DD/track car but the M's are more of a track car that you can drive on the street if you have to. Between an E36 M3 and the E46 330ci I looked at the M was the faster car but it was obvious the 330 was going to be much less punishing to live with.

Some people just can't deal with the "eMvy" but I've never had a problem with it.

Just upgrading the diff on an e46 is several k. That does not even include better brakes, wheels, suspension, trans, mounts, steering rack, engine, and seats.

An M is ready for the track or autox out of the box while still keeping good street manners.

I saw M car and thought we'd be talking about Miatas.

Putting a slip into a E36 non-M is no big deal. The diffs are easily sourced, cheap, and bolt in with little to no drama. There are a number of different ratios out there too.

That all changes when you get to the E46.

just walking up to my M6 and seeing the badge gets my heart pounding. if you can swing the price of the M model go for it . i enjoy the old M cars i think you feel a bigger difference in the cars. i am looking real hard for 5m on the e34 platform now if anyone sees one out there for sale let me know

Yes, the M is worth it. I'd argue that it's even worth it with the US market E36 M3.

the E36M was just as special as it's predecessor and it's replacement.. it's biggest problem (other than getting saddled with a warmed over engine instead of a full blown Euro 320hp M engine) was that it didn't look that different from the standard E36.

The E36 M didn;t have the wider fenders of the other Ms, nor did the body have better aero.. it was simply bumpers, skirts, a spoiler, and side moldings different looking from a standard E36.

BMW did not help by making "M-technic" cars that came with the M cars Aero, but without the brake, suspension, interior, drivetrain, and even body changes

I don't have any input about the E 46 or newer offerings. Regarding the E30 and the E36 versions, the M cars are a lot more focused driving machines than their vanilla counterparts. Adding a slippy diff to a 328 will really increase the dynamics of the car,but if you then hop into a 96-99 M3 you'll quickly realize how much more responsive and decisive the M3 is. I think BMW got it right in those days, when the motorsport inclined engineers had more say in the product.

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