My ex drives one. I love how the engine noise sounds like it's eating itself at cold idle. She really likes the 20mpg highway and 12mpg city. We were both pretty stoked when it developed a TPS issue at 60k right after she got it and how the dealer then broke the stereo fixing it.
It's big, heavy, fast-ish, ugly and a whole list of other complaints. It's just an expensive designer appliance.
I'm surprised with all the hate this is getting. I'd think GRM would love the e9x m3.
What do you guys suggest as an alternative for the OP in the 20-30k range? Nothing else comes close IMO with the combination of comfort, wonderful v8, manual option, and 4 seats. Only thing I can think of is a pony car - I've sat in a modern Camaro 2SS and the seats are far away from "comfortable".
Perhaps the Lexus ISF (2011+) is something to look into OP? Not sure if you are OK with 4 doors, though.
996 C4S
docwyte said:996 C4S
Proper Germanic cars are RWD, sir.
The E46 is the latest BMW I will own, personally. They still have their share of issues, but they're DIY-able. If they made an E46 M3 sedan, it would be in my driveway right now instead of the 330i ZHP. Neither are in the same league of modern power these days, but are fun to drive. 400hp is the new 200hp.
I autocrossed the 2008 M3 when it was new at the BMW Performance Center. It was fun as I recall.
I have tracked one for five seasons now, probably 50 days or more on it with nothing but camber plates, tires, and pads. I also regularly track a V8 E36 purpose-built track chassis, and a 1979 323i with an E30 motor & driveline.
If you want a rundown of my views of the car, PM me and I'll be happy to share, since you're genuinely interested.
JBasham said:I have tracked one for five seasons now, probably 50 days or more on it with nothing but camber plates, tires, and pads. I also regularly track a V8 E36 purpose-built track chassis, and a 1979 323i with an E30 motor & driveline.
If you want a rundown of my views of the car, PM me and I'll be happy to share, since you're genuinely interested.
Yes, please! Message incoming.
If it gets caught in SPAM, my email is my screenname here at gmail dot com.
I can't imagine it's that problematic... Sometimes in life it's worth rolling the dice, especially if you're not planning on a lot of miles. Alternatively, I wonder if this might be a case where purchasing a 3rd party warranty might make sense. I wonder if because it's a rare car would they would price a warranty like a regular 3-series? I'm not normally a warranty kind of person.
In reply to Snrub :
I got 5 years from Assurant Solutions (same company BMW sells through the dealers) for the same price I paid for 5 years on an X3 and 5 years on an E90 6-cylinder. $3,000.
In reply to z31maniac :
PM'd you my phone number.
The response I got from a BMW mechanic on another forum:
"
I work on these late model BMW's for a living these days, and the E9x M3 are a regular meat and potatoes car.
The major issues I see are rod bearings, throttle actuators, idle control valves, fuel injectors, valve/timing cover gasket leaks, and thermostats.
We do a Blackstone with EVERY S65 oil service that comes through the door, and contact the owner when it comes back if anything loose E36 M3ty.
Rod bearing service on a E9x S65 with upgraded coated bearings, and ARP rod bolts runs about $3500 at the shop I work at. As others have said this is a maintenance item for most S65's.
Allow the engine to fully warm up before you give it the beans and they will last a long time, premature shtick giving is what rapes them. BMW did not give adequate bearing side clearance from the factory, and ultimately IMO that is what causes the issue as the oil can't evacuate (flow) from the crank through the bearing quickly enough.
Throttle actuators fail most times due to worn out composite gears inside the house. Metal gear set replacement kits are available and easy enough to change yourself. Getting the actuators out is the big job. Same is true of the idle control valves although there is no rebuild option on those.
I see quite a few failed open fuel injectors on these which douches the cylinder with fuel and usually causes an dead hole because its too wet.
Gasket leaks need no explanation, its a BMW.
The only other item thats a bitch I see from time to time is that they will break valve springs without warning. I've had 2 or 3 other the last few years.
Oh, and engine mounts! They last about 60k, less if you track the car. They will sag to the point the engine oil pan starts rubbing the subframe tension pan. Changing them while you're doing the rod bearing job is about 30min extra work, just put them on the list."
I drove a buddy's a while ago, and it struck me as geared too tall for being fun on the street. The best part of the engine is the upper rpms, and I think you'll pretty much only get to wind it out in first and second without being way above legal highway speeds. Really cool car, but not sure how accessible day to day.
sevenracer said:I drove a buddy's a while ago, and it struck me as geared too tall for being fun on the street. The best part of the engine is the upper rpms, and I think you'll pretty much only get to wind it out in first and second without being way above legal highway speeds. Really cool car, but not sure how accessible day to day.
That's the problem with so many modern cars; my 128i, with far less power than the M3, is the same. Sure, I can wind out 2nd, but if I do the same in 3rd I'm exceeding every speed limit in the country.
I don't think that's a valid concern, even the BRZ with a tune does 60 in 2nd.
The SS 1LE I drove last weekend, those do 80+ in 2nd.
It's about having I car you enjoy looking at as a DD, but also capable and reliable for the occasional HPDE.
Also, big thanks to J, we had a nice long conversation earlier, super awesome guy with great input.
He only leaned me even further in the direction of the E92 M3.
You seem to go through a lot of different cars so make sure whatever situation you end up buying the car under that doesn't come back to bite you in a year when you decide you are ready for something else.
Jaynen said:You seem to go through a lot of different cars so make sure whatever situation you end up buying the car under that doesn't come back to bite you in a year when you decide you are ready for something else.
Hence the trepidation. I've had the BRZ for 3 years, which is an eternity for me. That's why I'm researching so hard and looking for ALL THE OPINIONS, because I'd like my next car to be a long term choice I actually enjoy for years.
The only reason I still have the BRZ is 6 months after I bought started the "give up dog/house/divorce + two layoffs" now that I'm recovering from that, I want to get a car that really gets me excited when I walk into the garage.
I know for some a BRZ would be exciting, for me, it's now the equivalent of a Honda Accord.
Haha I hear you, I think most of us wish we got to change cars so often. I might edge toward something more emotional that I don't want to drive everyday. Get an aircooled 911 or something visceral that will also gain value over time. That might not scratch the HPDE itch however
z31maniac, I really enjoyed our conversation. I wish I was in your shoes, picking myself something fast and different to add to the fleet. Enjoy!
Thanks for taking the time to chat and filling me in on your experience!
Man, I don't know what you guys are driving, but the E92 I drove felt very fast to me. The DCT did need to be in the right mode though. It felt like my old E36 M3 but with way more power and heavier. I liked it a lot in the short period I drove it.
If I were in the market, I would also consider the Lexus ISF. That car was a lot of fun too, and probably needs less maintenance. I imagine the M3 is better on the track, but on the street, I would say they are pretty close to even.
I'll have to take a look at the ISF, only thing I remember is years ago on the guys in the local group had one and it sounded visicous.
This car has long been on my short list for replacing my EV when the lease is up next spring. Personally, I've found that they are great to drive both on the street (test drives) and on the track (BMW M School). Disappointing to hear that they're so fragile.
In reply to z31maniac :
It sounds great, and it rips.I drove both within a few weeks of each other at a job I had writing about cars. Both were just short jaunts, but both had immense power and handling. I was coming from my NA Miata, though.
I'm not saying it's better than the M3, but I like the idea of Toyota reliability with that kind of performance. Both had a similar engine characteristic--fast enough at low RPM, then really fast at higher revs. I found I had to play with the DCT in the M3 more initially to get it to wake up. Not an issue if you get the MT of course, but the M3 felt like it started in second gear unless you selected the right setting.
In reply to z31maniac :
I've seen one show up at auto x a handful of times and that is the one thing I recall, they sound MEAN.
In reply to CyberEric :
I have a coworker with two relatively new Lexus cars. Judging by how often both of them are in the shop, my faith in Toyota reliability is severely tarnished. These days, I consider the reliability of any car brand to be a total crap-shoot. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. While it seemed like the dice were weighted in favor of Toyota products in the past, it certainly doesn't seem that way today. in other words: they all kinda suck.
^Just out of curiosity, do you know what issues were?
My BRZ has been to the dealership one time for the crunch in the gearbox (outside of oil changes) and fresh Motul in the transmission took care of it. And that's with 3 years of DD use and approaching 40k miles.
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