160k E90 vs 120k E46?
Discussion
Honestly, some decently spec'd BC coilovers (soft Spring rates with dampers valved to suit) are about £600, lovely day to day and will be more than enough on track. Replace some bushes along with that and have the geo setup and you'll be away.
Yes an M-Sport is nicer but it's no quicker around a track, wheel is marginally thicker and looks a bit nicer. Seats are better, obviously looks better, depends how much you care about that.
Yes an M-Sport is nicer but it's no quicker around a track, wheel is marginally thicker and looks a bit nicer. Seats are better, obviously looks better, depends how much you care about that.
Having owned four e46's and more recently an e90 330i SE they are great cars.
I took my 330 on track 3 times and was expecting it to be a bit tame. I was mightly impressed. Personally the ride is far better on the SE, the springs are higher and softer. On track it rolled a bit through corners and the brakes grumbled a bit but continued to perform with minimal fade as long as I did not completely abuse them, but I exspected that. Grip levels where very impressive and brakes lasted far longer than I thought and the engine is so much sweeter Erving then the e46 version.
In comparison to an e46 the car is better in almost every regard.
I would buy a good low mileage e90 330i SE. Buy some second hand msport seats and fit B&C coilovers and some more aggressive track spec pads like end yellow stuff.
Bushes were super tough unlike e46.
I think this will meet all your needs. As a car this would be very close in performance to an e36 m3
I took my 330 on track 3 times and was expecting it to be a bit tame. I was mightly impressed. Personally the ride is far better on the SE, the springs are higher and softer. On track it rolled a bit through corners and the brakes grumbled a bit but continued to perform with minimal fade as long as I did not completely abuse them, but I exspected that. Grip levels where very impressive and brakes lasted far longer than I thought and the engine is so much sweeter Erving then the e46 version.
In comparison to an e46 the car is better in almost every regard.
I would buy a good low mileage e90 330i SE. Buy some second hand msport seats and fit B&C coilovers and some more aggressive track spec pads like end yellow stuff.
Bushes were super tough unlike e46.
I think this will meet all your needs. As a car this would be very close in performance to an e36 m3
OK so nothing actually went as planned over the weekend. I haven't bought anything, but I didn't get over to look at the 330i SE.
I spotted an Estoril Blue E46 M3 near home and went for a little look. But it was absolute bottom of the market and had 200k on the clock
The trader was saying how good a car it was for the miles, but it wanted everything done. Propshaft donut, vanos rattle, there was evidence of the oil having been topped up, smoke coming from the engine bay when revved, door seals barely attached at any point, gearshift sloppy.....
And this was £2.5k more than the E90 I had in mind. For some reason, I was still tempted to buy it then came to my senses and walked
But yeah, because I was prepared to up the budget for that, I have been wondering if I should just spend more. But I am having real issues because of that. We're creeping into 335i money and even the SE coupes have M-Sport suspension, sports steering wheel and seats etc.
So no nearer a decision really. It's become a kind of buy an E46 or spend twice as much and buy an E90 situation. Or buy a bottom of the market M3 (but the thought of a money pit will likely keep me away) or buy something else.
So I have now gone a bit off topic and will have to start a new thread in GG asking about some alternatives. Indecision is a horrible thing as a process like this then becomes pretty stressful. I get scared I will make a decision I'll regret, either financially or because I bought the wrong car.
Here's where my head has gone:
Z4 3.0 - Love these but I believe even pre facelift have the electric steering? Not right for learning about handling on the limit if so
RX8 - Lovely cars, terrible economy and how long until a rebuild is required? But lovely balance, fairly quick, LSD etc. Could easily buy a nice one and have money aside for a future rebuild though
MK3 MX5 - This has crept in but would max the (extended) budget as I'd have to buy the BBR Super 200 conversion. Don't know much about them though.
So let's see where I end up eh? And let's hope I make the right bloody decision. Eventually.
I spotted an Estoril Blue E46 M3 near home and went for a little look. But it was absolute bottom of the market and had 200k on the clock
The trader was saying how good a car it was for the miles, but it wanted everything done. Propshaft donut, vanos rattle, there was evidence of the oil having been topped up, smoke coming from the engine bay when revved, door seals barely attached at any point, gearshift sloppy.....
And this was £2.5k more than the E90 I had in mind. For some reason, I was still tempted to buy it then came to my senses and walked
But yeah, because I was prepared to up the budget for that, I have been wondering if I should just spend more. But I am having real issues because of that. We're creeping into 335i money and even the SE coupes have M-Sport suspension, sports steering wheel and seats etc.
So no nearer a decision really. It's become a kind of buy an E46 or spend twice as much and buy an E90 situation. Or buy a bottom of the market M3 (but the thought of a money pit will likely keep me away) or buy something else.
So I have now gone a bit off topic and will have to start a new thread in GG asking about some alternatives. Indecision is a horrible thing as a process like this then becomes pretty stressful. I get scared I will make a decision I'll regret, either financially or because I bought the wrong car.
Here's where my head has gone:
- E46 - Cheap, reliable, does rust, has no LSD
- E46 M3 - Beautiful. Amazing sound. Going to be expensive to run at this level and will likely divert funds away from finishing my current project
- E90 - Lovely. But still no LSD and will I be gutted if I buy a 330i now I've had my head turned by the 335i?
- Alternatives
Z4 3.0 - Love these but I believe even pre facelift have the electric steering? Not right for learning about handling on the limit if so
RX8 - Lovely cars, terrible economy and how long until a rebuild is required? But lovely balance, fairly quick, LSD etc. Could easily buy a nice one and have money aside for a future rebuild though
MK3 MX5 - This has crept in but would max the (extended) budget as I'd have to buy the BBR Super 200 conversion. Don't know much about them though.
So let's see where I end up eh? And let's hope I make the right bloody decision. Eventually.
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