My m3 is in having it's boot floor fixed.

[pidsy]

Dropped the car back to nick who has the car booked in so it can have the crack in the boot floor repaired. It'll be away for around 2 weeks and I'm gutted.

Glad it was inspected at BMW before I picked it up as it's just out of its 10 year grace period - luckily I'm not paying for it.

My loan car is a 330 with an interior that looks like it was specc'd by a very old man. Cream (almost yellow) leather and dodgy dark wood trim.

Made me realise what a world of difference there is between a 330 and an m3 - they don't drive like they are vaguely related. I'm already missing my car but looking forward to getting it back along side lots of pics of the work being done.

Talking to a guy at BMW today - it's not if the cracks appear, it's when.

Get em checked guys. I could have had a very expensive lesson otherwise.

Edited by pidsy on Tuesday 16th September 18:55

[Clivey]

Good luck!

Interesting comments re. the 330. Which is it, an E90 LCI (facelift)?

[pidsy]

Clivey said:

Good luck!

Interesting comments re. the 330. Which is it, an E90 LCI (facelift)?

i wish it was an e90!

its an e46. very wallowy.

[NotNormal]

Count yourself lucky, I had a poverty spec 1.2 Polo as a courtesy car.

To be fair though, it was effectively brand new and drove quite well if all you wanted was something to get from A to B. Big car though for a Polo!!

Credit where it's due, had great service from Vines BMW, thoroughly impressed with the service I received from start to finish during the whole process.

[Clivey]

pidsy said:

i wish it was an e90!

its an e46. very wallowy.

An E46 loaner from a main dealer? Still? Interesting.

What spec is it (SE / Sport and on what size wheels?). My old 320i Sport (on 18"s) had quite a firm ride and on the road - hardly and roll or slop to speak of. I've never actually driven an SE to compare it to though! What I do know is that the Sport models are extremely sensitive to tyres.

[pidsy]

Clivey said:

pidsy said:

i wish it was an e90!

its an e46. very wallowy.

An E46 loaner from a main dealer? Still? Interesting.

What spec is it (SE / Sport and on what size wheels?). My old 320i Sport (on 18"s) had quite a firm ride and on the road - hardly and roll or slop to speak of. I've never actually driven an SE to compare it to though! What I do know is that the Sport models are extremely sensitive to tyres.

its not from a main dealer - the work is being done at a main dealer but paid for by the dealer i bought it off.

[Clivey]

pidsy said:

its not from a main dealer - the work is being done at a main dealer but paid for by the dealer i bought it off.

Ah, that makes sense now. I wish you luck all the same!

O/T but I'm interested to hear your opinions on the 330i - especially as an M3 owner. I would love either an E46 M3 Coupé or a Z4M but I already have one semi-justifiable "toy" (the Land Rover) and want a TVR Tuscan...I don't think I could get away with an S54-engined car as a daily / for the OH too! I was looking for a 330Ci (again, coupé) or Z4 3.0Si but couldn't find either in the spec I was looking for...hence we've just bought the Mini.

Sorry for the rambling; hope you can get your head around that!

[pidsy]

Clivey said:

Ah, that makes sense now. I wish you luck all the same!

O/T but I'm interested to hear your opinions on the 330i - especially as an M3 owner. I would love either an E46 M3 Coupé or a Z4M but I already have one semi-justifiable "toy" (the Land Rover) and want a TVR Tuscan...I don't think I could get away with an S54-engined car as a daily / for the OH too! I was looking for a 330Ci (again, coupé) or Z4 3.0Si but couldn't find either in the spec I was looking for...hence we've just bought the Mini.

Sorry for the rambling; hope you can get your head around that!

oddly enough, i was in a very similar boat as you.
i needed a new daily driver and wanted a toy. i already have a smartcar for daily trundling round here locally. i had run my impreza into the ground so i needed a car with 4 seats.

i was in two minds between a 330 and an M3 and after a whole lot of interweb research i decided to go for the M3 - i live at work, my mileage is next to nothing so i knew it wouldnt be a ruinous daily driver.

my mrs for some reason wanted a convertible (which i didnt but i thought id see what i could find).

went down to see Nick johnson to view a couple of convertibles he had and (long story short) after 4 or so hours with him, driving everything he had, i bought a coupe.

and its awesome. ive had it 9 weeks and im still learning the quirks it has. the 330 is a very different car. driving the M is an occaision everytime. the 330 just seems like a "normal" BMW. its not particularly quick, its interior is not very sporty, the responsiveness isnt particularly quick etc.

the running costs of the M3 are obviously a consideration if its going to be a daily driver but i know i would have regretted buying a 330.

any more info you need, drop me a PM.

edit to add, i couldnt put my dog in my shiny M3 so bought a monster truck for her too.

Edited by pidsy on Wednesday 17th September 16:49

[Clivey]

pidsy said:

the 330 is a very different car. driving the M is an occaision everytime. the 330 just seems like a "normal" BMW. its not particularly quick, its interior is not very sporty, the responsiveness isnt particularly quick etc.

That's only compared to the M3 though. - Just as an F458 would feel a bit "Meh" after climbing out of a LeFerrari. If you can't quite stomach S54 running costs, I think the 330Ci Sport / M Sport (or an Alpina B3S) would make a good compromise.

pidsy said:

...any more info you need, drop me a PM.

Thanks. I'm in danger of distracting myself though...I need to be single-minded. Must repeat:

I want a Tuscan.

I want a Tuscan

I want a Tuscan...

pidsy said:

i couldnt put my dog in my shiny M3 so bought a monster truck for her too.

Oh? (you need to update your profile )

[pidsy]

There's a thread about the truck on here somewhere. Buying it wasn't that straight forward!

I'd have loved a Tuscan. But that didn't fit my needs for 4 seats. I know it's a 2+2 but they really aren't seats. I liked the idea of a Cerbera too.

[Clivey]

pidsy said:

There's a thread about the truck on here somewhere. Buying it wasn't that straight forward!

Ah, found it! I remember reading that at the time but didn't recognise your username. - Looks fun!

pidsy said:

I'd have loved a Tuscan. But that didn't fit my needs for 4 seats. I know it's a 2+2 but they really aren't seats. I liked the idea of a Cerbera too.

A Cerb has four seats, with the rears being just about usuable. The Tuscan just has a space behind the front seats for storage (I've seen someone get a dog basket in there though! ).

[pidsy]

stop it!

you'll make me think ive got it wrong. then i'll have to buy a TVR!

[Clivey]

pidsy said:

stop it!

you'll make me think ive got it wrong. then i'll have to buy a TVR!

The M3 would be my choice if I needed to use 4 seats on a regular basis. Apparently, when demonstrating the Cerbera (to Harry Metcalfe IIRC), Peter Wheeler jumped in the back to "prove" the seats were usable. Now he's quite a tall chap...he didn't get back out for a while, IIRC.

[James_G]

pidsy said:

My loan car is a 330 with an interior that looks like it was specc'd by a very old man. Cream (almost yellow) leather and dodgy dark wood trim.

Made me realise what a world of difference there is between a 330 and an m3 - they don't drive like they are vaguely related. I'm already missing my car but looking forward to getting it back along side lots of pics of the work being done.

OP - I'm glad your boot floor is being fixed but I take issue with this beige is for old men comment. I don't get it. Beige isn't for old men, it's for people who don't want to feel like they are driving around on the inside of a lump of coal. The classifieds are wall to wall with cars with black interiors and it's literally a delight to see something a little different, be it red, beige (or oyster as BMW call it) or dare I say it, grey.

My dad is 73, interior colour black. My father in law, 71, interior colour black. Wife, 40, interior colour beige. Mate with a Phaeton, 35, interior colour beige, mate with an E46 330d, 36, interior colour beige.

Like anything, colour is down to taste but the "beige is only chosen by old people" is very wide of the mark these days.

Even a chap on here http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... has ordered his F80 M3 with beige and quite right too - I bet it looks bloody lovely.

[pidsy]

Well James. I'm very sorry I hurt your feelings and caused you to write so much to let me know.

To me, beige (not nice modern light/tan beige) but beige (old, yellowed tired beige) coupled with dark wood trim everywhere suggests the resting place of an older gentleman.

Much the same as carbon fibre all over the place matched with a white leather might suggest it was specc'd by someone that wasn't an octogenarian.

I hasten to add, I have nothing against older people - I know a few - they're a good bunch.

[duff]

Isn't the interior the same on both apart from drivers seats, rear mirror and the dials? To me the seats aren't that different, in the way that Vaders were very distinctive from standard seats on the E36.

Cream/beige/tan seats and door inserts look great - so long as the dash and carpets are black. I'd rather drive around in a lump of coal than a Werthers original.