2011 E92 M3 or LCI M135i

[rassi]

After having tired of my X3 30D, I am on the hunt for something interesting and after dismissing Audi RS5 and C63, I have narrowed it down to the following:

A 2011 E92 M3 DCT with EDC and with every single option ticked, including quite a few Individual ones (Ruby black metallic, extended rust brown leather and Individual High End Audio) as well as the Competition and M drivers package, with 40.000 km, sold from BMW with 2 years warranty and an extra set of 18" winter wheels, for 40.000 euro.

A brand new LCI M135i XDrive with a very good spec, retail price 55.000 euro, sold with a healthy discount for around 46000 euro.

The M135 of course appeals by being brand new, having very decent fuel economy and a great spec and new tech - and the xDrive for those winter months, etc.

The E92 M3 appeals for being a very special car, and this specific one for having the most complete spec I have seen, and of course for being the final NA M3 or indeed M car.

I will be doing about 15-20.000 km per year, mostly motorway/autobahn, and will keep it (at least in theory!) 5 years.

Thoughts, advice etc from anyone that lived with either or both most welcome!

[Wills2]

No question the CP M3 every time!

[SBN]

Having purchased an 335i when I really wanted an m3 I ended up selling the 335i after a few months and am now a very happy m3 owner!!!

M3 no question at all

[hajaba123]

I've got an M135i, had it for 2 years, bored of it and looking at M3s right now

M cars are amazing (had a Z4MC a few years ago)

[bigtime]

SBN said:

Having purchased an 335i when I really wanted an m3 I ended up selling the 335i after a few months and am now a very happy m3 owner!!!

M3 no question at all

I did exactly the same but had to wait over a year to get out the 335i and into my E92 M3. Best decision I ever made.

[Gruber]

Wills2 said:

No question the CP M3 every time!

Yup. That.

[bennyboysvuk]

The project lead said the M135i is 20% different to a normal 1 series and that an M car is around 80% different to its BMW relation.

Go for the M3. It's far more accomplished.

[TheHound]

Only one option - the M3.

[crazy about cars]

Didn't realise the M135 comes in AWD flavour... nice.

As an ex M3 CP owner I'd definitely say go for the M3 - you'll need to experience it at least once in your life.

[chrisb92]

I cannot talk from any experience whatsoever, but please, please go for the M3! It is literally the best all round car I've seen in my (albeit only 22 years), lifetime!

[rassi]

Thanks for the rather overwhelming endorsement of the M3! I had an E60 M5 for about 8 months, under AUC warranty, and managed to get a new clutch and flywheel during that time. Grew tired of the SMG and the motorway range of less than 400 km, which is why I am ever so slightly hesitating to get into an E92 M3. It is the lack of range (the rather small 63 litre fuel tank) that worries me more than the fuel consumption. 450 km on a tank at 150 kph motorway cruising would be ideal, and going by the official figures that should be possible, though I suppose 400 km is probably more likely.

Decisions, decisions...

[Smuler]

rassi said:

Thanks for the rather overwhelming endorsement of the M3! I had an E60 M5 for about 8 months, under AUC warranty, and managed to get a new clutch and flywheel during that time. Grew tired of the SMG and the motorway range of less than 400 km, which is why I am ever so slightly hesitating to get into an E92 M3. It is the lack of range (the rather small 63 litre fuel tank) that worries me more than the fuel consumption. 450 km on a tank at 150 kph motorway cruising would be ideal, and going by the official figures that should be possible, though I suppose 400 km is probably more likely.

Decisions, decisions...

If it's any help, this was my experience of driving them back to back. Why are you not considering a M235i instead of the 1 series?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[rassi]

Smuler said:

If it's any help, this was my experience of driving them back to back. Why are you not considering a M235i instead of the 1 series?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Thanks for the interesting review! Strangely, I don't like the shape of the M235i, think it looks truncated in side-profile.

I am determined to keep whatever replacement car I get for at least 4-5 years, have changed cars far too often in the last few years and with Belgian car registration tax it is 4-5000 euro each time. So, want to get it right this time.

[jon-]

hajaba123 said:

I've got an M135i, had it for 2 years, bored of it and looking at M3s right now

This is me.

If you like driving, the lack of NA and a proper diff in the M135i will troll you after a while

[0836whimper]

M3 and some winters ?

There's no debate here, if you care most about driving the 'newness' of the 135i is largely irrelevant.

[pjv997]

rassi said:

Thanks for the rather overwhelming endorsement of the M3! I had an E60 M5 for about 8 months, under AUC warranty, and managed to get a new clutch and flywheel during that time. Grew tired of the SMG and the motorway range of less than 400 km, which is why I am ever so slightly hesitating to get into an E92 M3. It is the lack of range (the rather small 63 litre fuel tank) that worries me more than the fuel consumption. 450 km on a tank at 150 kph motorway cruising would be ideal, and going by the official figures that should be possible, though I suppose 400 km is probably more likely.

Decisions, decisions...

In everyday driving, I used to fill my E90 at between 250 and 275 miles. For long trips such as driving to ski holiday, I'd cover the journey 760 mile journey with one fill up half way - so range was getting on for 400 miles on fast motorway cruise.

[bennyboysvuk]

jon- said:

hajaba123 said:

I've got an M135i, had it for 2 years, bored of it and looking at M3s right now

This is me.

If you like driving, the lack of NA and a proper diff in the M135i will troll you after a while

Definitely, however I've found that running the rear tyres at 42psi improves its road manners a little.

rassi said:

It is the lack of range (the rather small 63 litre fuel tank) that worries me more than the fuel consumption. 450 km on a tank at 150 kph motorway cruising would be ideal, and going by the official figures that should be possible, though I suppose 400 km is probably more likely.

Decisions, decisions...

Motorway miles might be different, but I've never got more than 240 miles from a tank of fuel in the M135i as it has a little 52l tank.

[jon-]

bennyboysvuk said:

Motorway miles might be different, but I've never got more than 240 miles from a tank of fuel in the M135i as it has a little 52l tank.

My longest tank was 363.3 miles, which meant I averaged 35.33mpg across the tank (46 litres in at fillup)

I think if you were really careful, and ran more into the red than I did you could easily see 400 from a tank on the M135i.

[Sir_Dave]

jon- said:

This is me.

If you like driving, the lack of NA and a proper diff in the M135i will troll you after a while

Yup, im bored stless of mine. Think its the complete lack of drama.

I want a car that when it starts up in the morning sounds like a mad, angry b4stard.

Would have bought another e46 M3 at the weekend if the SMG hadnt been so slow to change.

As such, M3. Or a M135i if you want something for the wife to drive the kids around in.

[irishsteve]

Last month I was making exactly the same decision as you - used M3 vs new M135i.

I went for a 2008 E90 M3 as it was more awesome and I figured it would lose far less money than the M135i over the next few years.

I'm finding the petrol tank size pretty annoying, but it's worth it.