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!

[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...

[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.

[rassi]

Have just agreed to buy the E92, possibly a crazy decision as I only had the X3 6 months and will lose a great deal of money on it but I simply couldn't miss out on this M3 with all the options (and more!) I wanted and IMHO a very nice colour combination of ruby black (Individual) and rust brown extended leather (Individual). The clincher was the set of new 18" winter wheels and that a full service, including GPS and DCT software update, would be carried out.

The driving experience, having never driven an E92 M3 before, was a strange mix of my old Z3 M Coupe in the rather intimate and driver focused way everything is in the right place, and looking out over the "power dome", and my E60 M5 with the SMG gear change (though the DCT is much smoother and actually works in D, which I tried out of curiosity) and the rate of acceleration, even if an E60 is ultimately faster. The V8 may need some liberation, will be reading up on the exhaust mod.

Steering and brakes were superb, suspension somewhat stiffer than I expected, even in Comfort mode. Guess it is the immediate comparison to the floaty X3 that makes me think that and no doubt will I soon be used to the stiffer suspension.

I still think the shape is amazing, the right balance of aggression and hint of power beneath, yet able to blend in to most people as any 3 series.

This one has to last me at least 4 years, and really looking forward to the experience. Next Friday cannot come soon enough!

Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated.

[rassi]

Some terrible Iphone pics here: http://s304.photobucket.com/user/RassiM3/library/