RE: BMW M3 (E90): Spotted
Discussion
I bought mine new in April 2009, ordered to my own spec in January 2009 and the car was built in March 2009. At the time you could buy a delivery miles 58/09 pre-LCI car for between £36k and £39k depending how hard you haggled. Most of these cars were black, red or silver. A lot of these cars didn't sell for ages but were real bargains for some.
I chose to spend a bit more, ordering a new LCI car to my own spec, thinking that I would regret not having exactly what I wanted despite the significant cash difference. Discounts were still available, I got just over 10% off which wasn't too bad in those days. Anyway, here it is - Le Mans Blue, Manual, EDC, heated seats, Harman Kardon stereo. I still have it nearly 8 years and 56k miles later. I'll probably keep it a long time!
And with its little brother:
I chose to spend a bit more, ordering a new LCI car to my own spec, thinking that I would regret not having exactly what I wanted despite the significant cash difference. Discounts were still available, I got just over 10% off which wasn't too bad in those days. Anyway, here it is - Le Mans Blue, Manual, EDC, heated seats, Harman Kardon stereo. I still have it nearly 8 years and 56k miles later. I'll probably keep it a long time!
And with its little brother:
Edited by Stunters on Friday 20th January 10:34
That engine would make a tremendous starting point for a mid-engined kit car. I remember being really hyped reading about this car in Evo. I had the original cover feature and it sounded as though the car was going to be really hardcore, with employment of an attention to detail which the E46 seemed to miss (carbon fibre roof to lower weight and CoG just being one little touch).
However, response ever since has been a bit lukewarm and it seems BMW crammed a brilliant engine into something otherwise a bit too inclinded to be a cruiser. This, coupled with the rise of the C63, which is IMO an even better cruiser, is what pushed BMW to make the current M3 and M4 so aggressive.
However, response ever since has been a bit lukewarm and it seems BMW crammed a brilliant engine into something otherwise a bit too inclinded to be a cruiser. This, coupled with the rise of the C63, which is IMO an even better cruiser, is what pushed BMW to make the current M3 and M4 so aggressive.
RWDan said:
Fair enough.
Just out of interest I ran mine through that, build date 2011-06-15, car is a 61 plate first registered in september 2011 so guess mine sold fairly quick.
Anything ordered by a customer is generally registered within 4-6 weeks of the build; anything else is pot luck - if the right customer walks in & likes the colour & spec - and if the discount is appealing enough!Just out of interest I ran mine through that, build date 2011-06-15, car is a 61 plate first registered in september 2011 so guess mine sold fairly quick.
I owned a late-ish manual E46 M3, which I spent a bit of money on (Bilstein coilovers, light wheels, Brembo 6 pots, Turner Motorsport chassis/geo stuff everywhere) and it was indeed a great car.
I now have a '61 plate E90 M3 (DCT box, EDC suspension, HK stereo, heated seats) and I absolutely adore it, more so than the E46. I've had the 2 pipe OEM exhaust mod done which releases some of the great noise of that sublime engine and the DCT box is just brilliant. The car can feel a bit "normal" around town, possibly even a bit heavy, but it completely changes character when you turn things up a bit. It gets up on it's toes, seems to shrug that heavy feeling off, and it really turns into a bit of an animal (to me at least, with my limited driving history and experience).
Yes, it needs wringing to make quick progress, but that engine/box/noise combo make doing so an absolute pleasure, and it's just so balanced and fluid down a good road that it often has me grinning like a berk.
Looks far cooler than the coupe too!
I now have a '61 plate E90 M3 (DCT box, EDC suspension, HK stereo, heated seats) and I absolutely adore it, more so than the E46. I've had the 2 pipe OEM exhaust mod done which releases some of the great noise of that sublime engine and the DCT box is just brilliant. The car can feel a bit "normal" around town, possibly even a bit heavy, but it completely changes character when you turn things up a bit. It gets up on it's toes, seems to shrug that heavy feeling off, and it really turns into a bit of an animal (to me at least, with my limited driving history and experience).
Yes, it needs wringing to make quick progress, but that engine/box/noise combo make doing so an absolute pleasure, and it's just so balanced and fluid down a good road that it often has me grinning like a berk.
Looks far cooler than the coupe too!
Edited by Coker on Friday 20th January 14:09
Loyly said:
That engine would make a tremendous starting point for a mid-engined kit car. I remember being really hyped reading about this car in Evo. I had the original cover feature and it sounded as though the car was going to be really hardcore, with employment of an attention to detail which the E46 seemed to miss (carbon fibre roof to lower weight and CoG just being one little touch).
However, response ever since has been a bit lukewarm and it seems BMW crammed a brilliant engine into something otherwise a bit too inclinded to be a cruiser. This, coupled with the rise of the C63, which is IMO an even better cruiser, is what pushed BMW to make the current M3 and M4 so aggressive.
I always thought of the E46 as more of a cruiser.However, response ever since has been a bit lukewarm and it seems BMW crammed a brilliant engine into something otherwise a bit too inclinded to be a cruiser. This, coupled with the rise of the C63, which is IMO an even better cruiser, is what pushed BMW to make the current M3 and M4 so aggressive.
I never got why so many said the saloon looked better than the coupe. To me the saloon is quite dumpy compared to the 2-door.
I had the pleasure of driving a 'vert E93 M3 from Miami to St. Petersburg, and back.
The engine noise was phenomenal and the reaction from the locals was always a pleasure.
"Holy moly what is that?! that thing sounds like a race car!"
I had the pleasure of driving a 'vert E93 M3 from Miami to St. Petersburg, and back.
The engine noise was phenomenal and the reaction from the locals was always a pleasure.
"Holy moly what is that?! that thing sounds like a race car!"
daveco said:
I never got why so many said the saloon looked better than the coupe. To me the saloon is quite dumpy compared to the 2-door.
I agree and if anything the E90 from the rear is just plain and borderline ugly to my eyes, I much prefer the Coupe rearend. I've had two E90 3 series and I dislike the looks of both, yet I liked the way my E92 M3 looked.
I've always preferred Coupes though, and never been keen on four doors on any car to be fair.
ManOpener said:
In non-M form, I prefer the E92 (coupé) to E90 (saloon). It's a bit more elegant.
In M form, however, I think the saloon looks much sportier. For some reason the E92 M3 looks a bit too "long" to my eye.
It's the doors, they look too long and it makes the car look a bit out of proportion, the saloon looks much more purposeful IMO. In M form, however, I think the saloon looks much sportier. For some reason the E92 M3 looks a bit too "long" to my eye.
Patrick Bateman said:
Objectively brilliant but missing a hell of a lot of involvement for me. I can see the appeal, especially for a daily, but if I was personally ever to even consider one I'd need to have another car that was manual too.
4 door 2 door doesn't matter they are all brill, just buy one!!Edited by Patrick Bateman on Thursday 19th January 20:10
Ive had my E92 for 2 years, bought it mostly for its performance and build quality. They are very special, in fact I really don't think there's much under £50k that would be significantly better or tempt me away from it (maybe an Evora 400 when they drop in value). The combination of drivetrain, accessible performance and affordability make it a unique car. Its an utter bargain and the last NA M3... Plastic wings, aluminium bonnet, carbon roof, 415bhp V8 with Getrag 7 speed Double clutch (Remember Getrag do all of Ferrari's transmissions...) mine also has adjustable dampers and fantastic infotainment... Stunning cars, slick, fast, well built and strong residuals. From what I have read it's more fun and characterful than the M4 too, it's the real thing.
But Patrick, you're right.. you still crave and need a manual, but not a manual M3 as the DCT is miles better and suits the engine so you can really exploit the BHP. No, a real pertrolhead needs a silly car with three peddles and a stick.. preferably British and handbuilt for balance.
If you're considering an M3, go testdrive one.. you won't regret it
.
|http://thumbsnap.com/v6L5s0Z2[/url]Edited by BK911 on Saturday 21st January 00:48
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff