BMW M3: PH Carpool
Worried the newer M3s weren't being used properly? Read on for this PHer's exploits on road and track!
Car: BMW M3 Competition Pack (E92)
Owned since: September 2015
Previously owned: BMW M3 (E46), Renaultsport Megane R26, Ford Focus ST
Nurburgring visit part of a great Euro trip weekend
"I've had a thing for M3s for as long as I've been obsessed with cars, which stretches back further than memory serves. Early last year I finally bought myself an E46 M3 in Steel Grey. It was everything I hoped it'd be and more, but as time went on I found myself becoming increasingly anxious at every little sound it made. So when a change of circumstances meant I was in a position to upgrade sooner than anticipated, it was time for something newer.
"I originally set out to purchase an F80 M3, an intention that was soon put to rest by a test drive. It's not that I dislike the car - I think they look and feel incredible inside and out - but the turbocharged engine just wasn't for me.
"A test drive of the V8 model was revolutionary, however. The noise was intoxicating, especially at over 8,000rpm, and the car just seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Living in London at the time, I needed one car to do it all - a car that could cruise up and down the motorway for regular family visits, but also one could also offer suitable levels of fun on track days as well."
Great pic!
"I wish I'd known just how much I'd catch the track bug. I've gone a long way in the pursuit of the perfect track/road car and I think I'm there with the help of Stoptech brakes and Intrax suspension amongst other things, but the car is just used for weekends and track days now. Sometimes, I can't help but think that there may have been cheaper and better cars to start with for such uses."
Things I love:
"The noise! With the addition of the Akrapovic exhaust, it just never gets old. I almost never drive the car with the windows up on the road - rain or shine! I also love being able to rock up to a track day, set my tyre pressures, enjoy my day and drive home again at the end of the way without any drama."
Things I hate:
"Keeping it clean. Maintaining a white car to exacting standards is hard work, especially with the amount of tar and rubber it seems to collect from track days. I will never complain about keeping a black car clean ever again."
Costs:
"So far, the car has been under AUC warranty and it's original service pack, so there's nothing to speak of there. I've done a couple of interim oil changes - nine litres of Castrol Edge 10/60w and a filter comes in at just over £100 a time.
"Other than that it's just been consumables. Michelin Cup 2 tyres aren't too much more than regular tyres for the car at £900 a set. The only thing that has surprised me is the unexpected need for new brake rotors for the big brake kit at £700 a pair."
Putting the new tyres and brakes to good use
"Earlier this year I made the pilgrimage across Europe to the Nordschleife before heading to a track day at Spa Francorchamps. They were quite simply the best three days I've ever spent in a car and a trip I'll definitely be repeating again soon."
What's next?
"With the addition of a daily driver, I often find myself looking at the likes of the Cayman S and Exige S, but a drive in mine always quashes any such idea. Ultimately, the only thing I can really see replacing this without leaving a massive void would be something like a 997.2 GT3, but that's a long way off yet!"
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
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It's spaced correctly, located correctly, standard font, etc., unlike the multiple pillocks I see each day with either 'chavved up' chopped down or even non-existent plates.
Great write up, by the way, OP.
I noticed you mentioned the possibility that you could have perhaps picked up something cheaper and more fitting for track use, and you mentioned the Cayman S, etc. Would you have gone down that road rather than something even more specifically track focussed, like one of the ready-caged hatches, perhaps?
Just curious.
MIKE H
It's spaced correctly, located correctly, standard font, etc., unlike the multiple pillocks I see each day with either 'chavved up' chopped down or even non-existent plates.
Great write up, by the way, OP.
I noticed you mentioned the possibility that you could have perhaps picked up something cheaper and more fitting for track use, and you mentioned the Cayman S, etc. Would you have gone down that road rather than something even more specifically track focussed, like one of the ready-caged hatches, perhaps?
Just curious.
The aim has always been to keep my track car usable on the road. I quite enjoy taking the car out for a Sunday drive etc. and that's not always just for a proper hoon.
I've spent some time looking at E36 and E46 race cars, but ultimately, I want to keep something road friendly. Perhaps in a year or two, I'd like to get into an amateur racing series, though.
The submission was written a few months ago, though, and the hankering for an Exige has only grown stronger - mostly because I reckon I could do almost twice as many trackdays in an Exige, compared to the M3, for the same money.
As lovely as the new M3/M4 is, i think it's just something i'd want to lease and give back after a bit and then move onto the next one.
This one in particular looks gorgeous. Not really a fan of white cars bit i'm loving the contrasting gloss black bits and pieces on it. It's got a perfect stance aswell and them wheels suit it to the ground. Bravo
I'll take an E46, E9X or an F8X
For me, each generation has embodied what a "do it all" car should be.
I guess the only blot on that is the lack of a 4 door on the E46 but then I've always been a coupe man myself.
I think if you keep any decent condition M3 long enough you'll make your money back and then some too.
I've yet to track mine but have done a few epic days out in it this year including the usual suspects of Evo triangle, Llanberis pass, black mountain road etc and with the M button set up for sport plus throttle and sport steering it's really impressed with how it's handled everything I've thrown at it. The only downside to it is the weight, which you can feel when you're pushing on but that's the trade off to having something that when you're not on a charge turns into a refined GT car. It's thirsty and not cheap to maintain if like me you don't have a service pack but there's nothing else I'd consider as a one car garage option. It's the perfect all rounder as far as I'm concerned.
Edited for spelling!
I've yet to track mine but have done a few epic days out in it this year including the usual suspects of Evo triangle, Llanberis pass, black mountain road etc and with the M button set up for sport plus throttle and sport steering it's really impressed with how it's handled everything I've thrown at it. The only downside to it is the weight, which you can feel when you're pushing on but that's the trade off yo having something when you're not on a charge turns into a refined GT car. It's thirsty and not cheap to maintain if like me you don't have a service pack but there's nothing else I'd consider as a one car garage option. It's the perfect all rounder as far as I'm concerned.
Edited for spelling!
Interesting to see you rate it above your E46 - I had read it was perhaps a touch touch too civilised, but it's still absolutely on my "want" list. Mods sound brilliant as well. Chap in my street has a standard white one - I admire it greatly. Brilliant colour on these.
Interesting to see you rate it above your E46 - I had read it was perhaps a touch touch too civilised, but it's still absolutely on my "want" list. Mods sound brilliant as well. Chap in my street has a standard white one - I admire it greatly. Brilliant colour on these.
If I had to live with either car, it'd be the E92 - it does the daily thing so well, and is almost as fun as the E46 on the road.
If I had to choose one for track, however, it'd be the E92. Even standard, I found mine just so much more capable than my E46 and in it's current state, the only E46s I've been troubled by so far, are the ones on slicks.
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