How come there is only very few threads about the new M3??

[dick_dastardly71]

The depreciation doom mongers need to take a different view. The M3 is actually a sound investment. In the current environment it's depreciating much less than my house, my pension fund, my shares, etc, etc! And at least it'll put a huge grin on my face when I get in it and press the M button for the drive home in a few minutes. Awesome car. End of.

[cammy71]

I think people are taking me out of context, accidentally. My view is that dpn I'll take, cos the offset of dpn incurred a year on pre-trade in current vehicle is a SAVING!

Regardless & fortunate of buying new - I've settled the car in, know how it has been driven in its 1st 10k miles - invaluable. Plus the joy of 12 mths ownership. My opinion.

[Phoenix]

It's good to read the balanced views from people who have owned both. I used to have an E46 M3 which was a fantastic car but as yet have not driven the latest model. I think they look great and that engine sounds fantastic.

My feelings on depreciation are that most owners have a bit of inteligence and common sense, most of them know that pretty much anything you buy will depreciate, and I am sure that most of them are realistic when thinking about future values of the car. Obviously the present economic climate has accelerated this by some degree but we can't complain that it was totally unexpected and we had no warning of what was coming.

Some people spend money on lots of holidays, all sorts of hobbies, drugs, fine dining, alcohol etc, do they make any money out of them? Can they sell them after they have used them? Everyone has a choice of how they spent thier money.

I would love to own one but working from home I do so few miles each year that, at this point in time, I could not justify buying any car of that sort of value. However, the call of the E46 m3 is getting strong again so I may not be able to resist much longer.

To the owners of these fantastic cars I say - good on you, enjoy.

[SAGPACK]

Has anyone bought the E92 convertible M3? What's it like? Write ups I've read in CAR and Top Gear mags have been pretty complimentary but I know a guy who has returned his to BMW cos the roof mechanism kept failing and they've given him a new 58 plate car. Just wondered if anyone had one?

[waremark]

SAGPACK said:

... but I know a guy who has returned his to BMW cos the roof mechanism kept failing and they've given him a new 58 plate car. Just wondered if anyone had one?

Should think the roof mechanism would be identical to lesser threes. I know several people with 3 cabs, and I have not heard of a problem with the roof mechanism.

[DjSki]

Doesn't look anywhere near as special as the old E46 M3 did. New shape is bland.

[John D.]

waremark said:

SAGPACK said:

... but I know a guy who has returned his to BMW cos the roof mechanism kept failing and they've given him a new 58 plate car. Just wondered if anyone had one?

Should think the roof mechanism would be identical to lesser threes. I know several people with 3 cabs, and I have not heard of a problem with the roof mechanism.

No its not. M3 Cab comes with fabric roof rather than folding metal like the other 3 Series Cabs'.

[squeezebm]

DjSki said:

Doesn't look anywhere near as special as the old E46 M3 did. New shape is bland.

IYO of course

[taffyracer]

DjSki said:

Doesn't look anywhere near as special as the old E46 M3 did. New shape is bland.

The E46 was a great shape but it looks very dated in comparison, both inside and out, E92 is a step up in every area IMO

[DjSki]

squeezebm said:

DjSki said:

Doesn't look anywhere near as special as the old E46 M3 did. New shape is bland.

IYO of course

Of course gents.

[Pugsey]

John D. said:

waremark said:

SAGPACK said:

... but I know a guy who has returned his to BMW cos the roof mechanism kept failing and they've given him a new 58 plate car. Just wondered if anyone had one?

Should think the roof mechanism would be identical to lesser threes. I know several people with 3 cabs, and I have not heard of a problem with the roof mechanism.

No its not. M3 Cab comes with fabric roof rather than folding metal like the other 3 Series Cabs'.

Yes it is! Metal that is. We're talking new M3 here not E46 - which was fabric.

[waremark]

Pugsey said:

Yes it is! Metal that is.

Quite. And an extra 220? kg to lug around, with less room in back and boot and less rigid platform for the chassis. Stick with the coupe says I. Although I drove a demo M3 cab and I must admit it felt very good.

If you want a ragtop go for the great looking 135i - Pugsey, I think you said your gf has one of those? (my wife has an SLK 350).

[Pugsey]

waremark said:

Pugsey said:

Yes it is! Metal that is.

Quite. And an extra 220? kg to lug around, with less room in back and boot and less rigid platform for the chassis. Stick with the coupe says I. Although I drove a demo M3 cab and I must admit it felt very good.

If you want a ragtop go for the great looking 135i - Pugsey, I think you said your gf has one of those? (my wife has an SLK 350).

Yep - and I borrowed it today for a blat to the shops and back in the sun! Fantastice little car. Lovely chassis which is really nimble and fun after the more seriously wheeled and tyred M3. The +300bhp twin turbo six in a smaller lighter car gives E46 M3 performance - which suprises a lot of people! - and sounds great. Better looking than the current 3 Series cab too I think. More compact and squat/aggressive - certainly in 135iMsport guise anyway. It's unique in BM's 'sporting' line up in having very good spec brakes too. Think I've said it before but I genuinely think the Coupe version would probably be more 'fun' on todays roads than my M3 - and not that much slower. HOWEVER we all like to feel we've got the ultimate don't we - hence the M3.

[waremark]

My son has just got a 123d Coupe - even without the 135 engine it is a lovely car to drive. I agree that for 95% of the time it would be as good to drive as the M3 - and you would arrive everywhere much quicker because of the time you would save from filling up!

[shamrock]

dick_dastardly71 said:

The depreciation doom mongers need to take a different view. The M3 is actually a sound investment. In the current environment it's depreciating much less than my house, my pension fund, my shares, etc, etc! And at least it'll put a huge grin on my face when I get in it and press the M button for the drive home in a few minutes. Awesome car. End of.

You invest in shares and a pension fund that is depreciating?

[dick_dastardly71]

It was written tongue in cheek last week when global financial markets were collapsing and it was pretty difficult NOT to have an investment portfolio in the stter.
On a happier note, ordered an E92 M3 DCT on saturday to replace my current manual. Will have i-drive 2 which looks much better.

[waremark]

dick_dastardly71 said:

On a happier note, ordered an E92 M3 DCT on saturday to replace my current manual. Will have i-drive 2 which looks much better.

Good move. I will be jealous of new i-drive, though I bet it still won't be anything like as good as a Tomtom!

[phatgixer]

belleair302 said:

Either they don't have the time to pop in here because they are working too hard or don'thave much to say because its a tad dull as a car. Dominated by the engine but otherwise is goes un-noticed by the masses. Not the best drivers car and certainly not good value for money new. Wait for a few more months and hear the cries when sellers can't shift their cars and a CS or CSL appears in dealerships.

A used M5 would be more fun, a used M6 even better fun and an Alpina B5....don't tease me!!!

What a load of tosh. Not dull, no CSL planned (I have a deposit on one which is due to be returned) and since when does a 5 series compete with a 3?

Great chassis - handling/ ride balance and a much better car than a E46 inspite of all the drivel spouted by the ill informed on the launch of the E92.

Live with one for a week and then call it dull....