Discussion
Hi all, just wanted to share my journey of E90/2 ownership to finally seat myself in what I believe to be the best car BMW makes and surely unbeatable value for money right now - an AUC M3. So, to all those who may be pondering similar moves here is my tale...
Nearly 3 years ago today I made a move into my dream car, an ex demo M3 DCT in my favourite colour silverstone II. I chose the DCT since my commute at the time was up the M3/M25 and the stop start nature of it in rush hour is a real chore. 3 months into ownership I was still blown away but its performance and it really took me 6 months to start to feel confident in it. I also shed its Cup tyres which in Winter hardly inspired much confidence. There really wasn't many of these around at the time either, which only added to a really special feeling when driving it. Here she is:
Sadly after a year of weekly polishing and a set of tyres I started to get itchy fit. Why? Well to this day I am not 100% sure, but it wasn't boredom I don't think, more probably the bang for my buck. The constant refuelling was becoming an irritant not to mention expensive and this was on top of all the other ownership costs you can easily overlook like tax & tyres, and in my case the monthly payments I was making on HP. In addition, with the flappy paddles being so easy to use my speed was at times becoming irresponsible, and on one day driving back from Heathrow airport I decided it had to go.
At this point it makes sense to interject and debate something recently discussed on this forum - which is DCT. For me it wasn't a choice, I needed an auto box, and whilst its great to use when really pressing on I felt it is so accomplished that you never actually feel you are ever changing gear. You never feel like you are getting stuck in. (The shift lights were good though). The other downsides I noticed:
- Hesitation at junctions
- Interesting auto gear choices approaching roundabouts - it could be in 2,3,or 4
- In 7th, dropping a few cogs was interesting to the say least, in order to make sure you put it into 3rd or 4th as you mean to (perhaps I can't count
)
So with decision made and with a new job agreed, I went off to the dealers to see what the crack was with trade in, and to my surprise I wasn't to lose as much money as I expected. So I swapped into a pre-reg (new) 330d saloon. A 2nd child meant the 4 doors were a sensible choice. The thing went like stink(!) and in everyday driving it really doesn't feel short of M3 power to be honest. I am happy to be challenged on that but up to 80 its a really really fast car. Shame about the soundtrack.
In the end the job never delivered the miles it promised
wohoo!! so as per usual I started to surf my favourite dealer sites again. With the new 3series out I knew I was going to take a beating on trade in on this car, so any move out of the 330d had to be very well considered.
Friday afternoon boredom found me in my nearest dealership, Barons, and 15 minutes later I was out in a new M5
My most striking memory was the interior, so sumptuous in silver, and buttons and toys everywhere! Including HUD! Incidentally the car was in my favourite colour (SII). It was sold the following day. I personally think its hard to judge a car by a short test drive, but if pushed to my resounding memories were; it didn't sound as good as the M3's V8, and it was heavy in the bends. Probably a predictable testomony for 15 minutes in a car, on what were quite busy roads.
In monitoring some of their used stock across the month of March, and into April I noticed nothing much was selling. I think it must be a time of year thing? Are a lot of people heavy into their jobs closing out the financial year maybe? Either way entering April they reduced a M3 saloon down to 28k and I knew I had to take a look. The car was nothing short of immaculate, and after engaging a rough, burbly, clonk from 1st to 2nd I knew the next 10 minutes were going to be fun The following day the car was bought. I think I was offered deal of the century which always helps matters but having spent 10 minutes actually DRIVING an M3, with a gear stick at that, it was going to be bought no matter what.
So here she is.......spot the difference!
Likes....
Exhaust note - sounds a lot more worn in having covered 30K miles, or maybe I just forgot how good they sound
Seats - even better support than msport seats
Wing mirror angling down when you hit reverse gear so you can protect those rims
Glorious rims, real knucker bashers when you clean them but a work of art that justify the pain
Idrive - I must be the only man in the world that finds the first idrive simple to use but I had no issue going backwards a generation from the 330's
Bonnet bulge - its a great view from the cockpit
Did I mention the exhaust note
The view of the rear arch from front perspective - seems bulgier in saloon variant ?
Changing gear and getting stuck in to that glorious V8
So having just covered 1200 miles in her, taking her to northern France and back, I can honestly say this is the car I should have bought 3 years ago. I just wish I had tried the manual and I would have saved myself a small fortune. (although I do need the 4 doors now!) Quite simply, nothing beats the pleasure of a perfect gear change from 3rd to 4th in the high rev band. What a car, and what value for money. And with that I am off for a drive - never did that in the DCT!
Nearly 3 years ago today I made a move into my dream car, an ex demo M3 DCT in my favourite colour silverstone II. I chose the DCT since my commute at the time was up the M3/M25 and the stop start nature of it in rush hour is a real chore. 3 months into ownership I was still blown away but its performance and it really took me 6 months to start to feel confident in it. I also shed its Cup tyres which in Winter hardly inspired much confidence. There really wasn't many of these around at the time either, which only added to a really special feeling when driving it. Here she is:
Sadly after a year of weekly polishing and a set of tyres I started to get itchy fit. Why? Well to this day I am not 100% sure, but it wasn't boredom I don't think, more probably the bang for my buck. The constant refuelling was becoming an irritant not to mention expensive and this was on top of all the other ownership costs you can easily overlook like tax & tyres, and in my case the monthly payments I was making on HP. In addition, with the flappy paddles being so easy to use my speed was at times becoming irresponsible, and on one day driving back from Heathrow airport I decided it had to go.
At this point it makes sense to interject and debate something recently discussed on this forum - which is DCT. For me it wasn't a choice, I needed an auto box, and whilst its great to use when really pressing on I felt it is so accomplished that you never actually feel you are ever changing gear. You never feel like you are getting stuck in. (The shift lights were good though). The other downsides I noticed:
- Hesitation at junctions
- Interesting auto gear choices approaching roundabouts - it could be in 2,3,or 4
- In 7th, dropping a few cogs was interesting to the say least, in order to make sure you put it into 3rd or 4th as you mean to (perhaps I can't count
)So with decision made and with a new job agreed, I went off to the dealers to see what the crack was with trade in, and to my surprise I wasn't to lose as much money as I expected. So I swapped into a pre-reg (new) 330d saloon. A 2nd child meant the 4 doors were a sensible choice. The thing went like stink(!) and in everyday driving it really doesn't feel short of M3 power to be honest. I am happy to be challenged on that but up to 80 its a really really fast car. Shame about the soundtrack.
In the end the job never delivered the miles it promised
wohoo!! so as per usual I started to surf my favourite dealer sites again. With the new 3series out I knew I was going to take a beating on trade in on this car, so any move out of the 330d had to be very well considered.Friday afternoon boredom found me in my nearest dealership, Barons, and 15 minutes later I was out in a new M5
My most striking memory was the interior, so sumptuous in silver, and buttons and toys everywhere! Including HUD! Incidentally the car was in my favourite colour (SII). It was sold the following day. I personally think its hard to judge a car by a short test drive, but if pushed to my resounding memories were; it didn't sound as good as the M3's V8, and it was heavy in the bends. Probably a predictable testomony for 15 minutes in a car, on what were quite busy roads.In monitoring some of their used stock across the month of March, and into April I noticed nothing much was selling. I think it must be a time of year thing? Are a lot of people heavy into their jobs closing out the financial year maybe? Either way entering April they reduced a M3 saloon down to 28k and I knew I had to take a look. The car was nothing short of immaculate, and after engaging a rough, burbly, clonk from 1st to 2nd I knew the next 10 minutes were going to be fun
The following day the car was bought. I think I was offered deal of the century which always helps matters but having spent 10 minutes actually DRIVING an M3, with a gear stick at that, it was going to be bought no matter what.So here she is.......spot the difference!
Likes....
Exhaust note - sounds a lot more worn in having covered 30K miles, or maybe I just forgot how good they sound
Seats - even better support than msport seats
Wing mirror angling down when you hit reverse gear so you can protect those rims
Glorious rims, real knucker bashers when you clean them but a work of art that justify the pain
Idrive - I must be the only man in the world that finds the first idrive simple to use but I had no issue going backwards a generation from the 330's
Bonnet bulge - its a great view from the cockpit
Did I mention the exhaust note
The view of the rear arch from front perspective - seems bulgier in saloon variant ?
Changing gear and getting stuck in to that glorious V8
So having just covered 1200 miles in her, taking her to northern France and back, I can honestly say this is the car I should have bought 3 years ago. I just wish I had tried the manual and I would have saved myself a small fortune. (although I do need the 4 doors now!) Quite simply, nothing beats the pleasure of a perfect gear change from 3rd to 4th in the high rev band. What a car, and what value for money. And with that I am off for a drive - never did that in the DCT!
Edited by NIIKME on Wednesday 9th May 16:55
Edited by NIIKME on Wednesday 9th May 16:59
Edited by NIIKME on Wednesday 9th May 17:02
A brilliant post mate.....made me laugh.....you're just another nutter like so many on here.
These M-cars are addictive things.....nothing else comes close.
Silverstone II looks great, especially on those duller days when you really see the blue.
I prefer DCT to manuals, but they're all great.
The new M5 is fab.....but methinks you might rather have liked an E60 at full chat in S6, banging through the gears like a crazed madman....that does it for me every time.....the V10 is the best engine BMW have ever made.
Love your M3 though.....stunning.
These M-cars are addictive things.....nothing else comes close.
Silverstone II looks great, especially on those duller days when you really see the blue.
I prefer DCT to manuals, but they're all great.
The new M5 is fab.....but methinks you might rather have liked an E60 at full chat in S6, banging through the gears like a crazed madman....that does it for me every time.....the V10 is the best engine BMW have ever made.
Love your M3 though.....stunning.
Well, on the costs front, it turns out I have "spent" the sum total of the depreciation I would have suffered on the first car anyway! Eye watering but the initial car cost 48k, and the last one 28k. The original equity in the HP agreement has allowed me to chop and change. The result is a car with 2 more doors and a manual box which I much prefer (the point of the post really).
Interesting comments on the E60 M5. Never driven one but have sat in a few SMG M3 cars. A chap down the road from me spent a whopping 81k on the new M5 whilst retaining his E60 - 4 months later there is only one M5 on the driveway and its the E60 - quite a statement I think. No doubt the V10 sounds glorious but for me the thirst was a step too far. In some ways I feel like I have a baby M5 because the M3 saloon feels somewhat more grown up than the coupe - not sure why!
I digress but would be interesting to see if the owner of my old car is on here - I often see one with the plate M3 K**, and the timing would suggest its my old car, sold the day it went on Barons forecourt which is testament to its condition!
Interesting comments on the E60 M5. Never driven one but have sat in a few SMG M3 cars. A chap down the road from me spent a whopping 81k on the new M5 whilst retaining his E60 - 4 months later there is only one M5 on the driveway and its the E60 - quite a statement I think. No doubt the V10 sounds glorious but for me the thirst was a step too far. In some ways I feel like I have a baby M5 because the M3 saloon feels somewhat more grown up than the coupe - not sure why!
I digress but would be interesting to see if the owner of my old car is on here - I often see one with the plate M3 K**, and the timing would suggest its my old car, sold the day it went on Barons forecourt which is testament to its condition!
The F10/E60 comments are interesting......that's the second geezer I've heard of who's gone back to the E60, being privileged enough to have both.
The E60 is a very special car, a true one-off.
One thing I never realised before was just how fast and scary they are from the passenger seat.....that's where I was the other day with her indoors hanging on to third in M-mode......nearly s
t myself!!
The E60 is a very special car, a true one-off.
One thing I never realised before was just how fast and scary they are from the passenger seat.....that's where I was the other day with her indoors hanging on to third in M-mode......nearly s
t myself!!Good write up mate! - pretty much agree with everything you have written about the car
i have had an e90 manual for a couple of months now - and i know what you mean about the grown up vibe opposed to the coupe - the car <swiss tony mode> is like a really respectable lady who is most of the time understated and unflappable - but when your in the mood can be encouraged to behave in a very naughty way... </swiss tony mode> - which when you are in quite a reserved looking saloon is quite amusing
i am still not bored of that v8 howl - it just makes me feel good listening to that glorious motor - and even in the most humdrum journeys a pleasure. i have realised as i get older that engine noise is a really significant component of driving enjoyment for me - turbos just don't really do it for me - although if i had the dough i'll concede that f40 does sound fabulous.
Re smg/dct boxes - i recently drove it back to back with my cousin's m3 csl with a flappy paddle box - its a lovely 20k miles car in black (think it might be being serviced at barons at moment) - doubtless the DCT thing in the new m3 is better - but i prefer a manual stick and the simple tactile pleasures of a well executed gearshift - i also found the choice of gears the SMG box made not very intuitive. Don't get me wrong the csl is a fabulous car - the induction noise is legendary - and i really considered one before the e90 - but i needed a suitable car for work which worked on rubbish rural roads - and in "soft" the e90 is surprisingly compliant. I will have csl one day - but it will probably be predominantly as a depreciation proof toy.
i think the manual e90 is a real fin de siecle car - an end of an era for the naughty irresponsible naturally aspirated screamers - and at the minute if you buy one which is 3 years old a really good value proposition after the major depreciation hit has taken place. You also don't see many saloons around either - which i quite like - that and the Q car potential when you see from a distance it looks very similar to other 3 series models in the range - but when you get up close you see those curvy arches and bonnet bulge which suggests a bit of playtime is a possibility
i have had an e90 manual for a couple of months now - and i know what you mean about the grown up vibe opposed to the coupe - the car <swiss tony mode> is like a really respectable lady who is most of the time understated and unflappable - but when your in the mood can be encouraged to behave in a very naughty way... </swiss tony mode> - which when you are in quite a reserved looking saloon is quite amusing
i am still not bored of that v8 howl - it just makes me feel good listening to that glorious motor - and even in the most humdrum journeys a pleasure. i have realised as i get older that engine noise is a really significant component of driving enjoyment for me - turbos just don't really do it for me - although if i had the dough i'll concede that f40 does sound fabulous.
Re smg/dct boxes - i recently drove it back to back with my cousin's m3 csl with a flappy paddle box - its a lovely 20k miles car in black (think it might be being serviced at barons at moment) - doubtless the DCT thing in the new m3 is better - but i prefer a manual stick and the simple tactile pleasures of a well executed gearshift - i also found the choice of gears the SMG box made not very intuitive. Don't get me wrong the csl is a fabulous car - the induction noise is legendary - and i really considered one before the e90 - but i needed a suitable car for work which worked on rubbish rural roads - and in "soft" the e90 is surprisingly compliant. I will have csl one day - but it will probably be predominantly as a depreciation proof toy.
i think the manual e90 is a real fin de siecle car - an end of an era for the naughty irresponsible naturally aspirated screamers - and at the minute if you buy one which is 3 years old a really good value proposition after the major depreciation hit has taken place. You also don't see many saloons around either - which i quite like - that and the Q car potential when you see from a distance it looks very similar to other 3 series models in the range - but when you get up close you see those curvy arches and bonnet bulge which suggests a bit of playtime is a possibility
Great write up!
Up until recently I had a 335i touring and a real hankering for a proper M car. So it was decided on a weekend away with the missus that we should go M5 hunting... Then, when I really thought about it, I decided that I wanted to go back to a manual box (335i was a trad auto), so that ruled the M5 out again.
After looking at a few M3's, managed a to pick up a 3-year old AUC with just 15,000 miles on the clock. It also had the options I wanted which were EDC and the USB port (as I missed not having this on the 335i). I have had it about 6 weeks now.
What a fantastic car. The sound of the V8 is superb - like the other Ross above the sound of a car has become a more important part of the driving enjoyment!
Enjoy!
Up until recently I had a 335i touring and a real hankering for a proper M car. So it was decided on a weekend away with the missus that we should go M5 hunting... Then, when I really thought about it, I decided that I wanted to go back to a manual box (335i was a trad auto), so that ruled the M5 out again.
After looking at a few M3's, managed a to pick up a 3-year old AUC with just 15,000 miles on the clock. It also had the options I wanted which were EDC and the USB port (as I missed not having this on the 335i). I have had it about 6 weeks now.
What a fantastic car. The sound of the V8 is superb - like the other Ross above the sound of a car has become a more important part of the driving enjoyment!
Enjoy!
Thanks for your replies. That's three of us at least with impeccable taste!!
The point you both make about noise is quite possibly the core to my love for the manual. In DCT form you had to rag the nuts off it to hear the howl where in manual its much more mechanical from the get go, and I think as someone previously stated a run in 3 yr old engine sounds better anyway. Surely these are a bargain at the minute and it would be nice too see it as a better investment than my first car. If the new model goes turbo charged as we all expect perhaps the e90/92 will become sought after.
On the subject of the 335i, I tried one to qualify it out more than anything else and found it so enormously dull in just about every department compared to the M3. How do you think they compare?
ETA - lets have some pics!
The point you both make about noise is quite possibly the core to my love for the manual. In DCT form you had to rag the nuts off it to hear the howl where in manual its much more mechanical from the get go, and I think as someone previously stated a run in 3 yr old engine sounds better anyway. Surely these are a bargain at the minute and it would be nice too see it as a better investment than my first car. If the new model goes turbo charged as we all expect perhaps the e90/92 will become sought after.
On the subject of the 335i, I tried one to qualify it out more than anything else and found it so enormously dull in just about every department compared to the M3. How do you think they compare?
ETA - lets have some pics!
Edited by NIIKME on Monday 14th May 20:48
Superb write-up - I wish more people would do this!
I'm looking at saloons at the moment - but had ruled out manuals as had owned both in e46 guise and enjoyed the SMG so, so much more. I never really gelled with the long, slightly indirect throw - which was relativley 'crap' compared to the 997. How does the e90 box compare with the e46??
Also I really need a bloody estate for the dog - so am actually leaning towards an RS4 or C63. Anybody tries living with a big, muddy Labrador in a saloon, as I'd much prefer an m car?? !!
Cheers
RS
I'm looking at saloons at the moment - but had ruled out manuals as had owned both in e46 guise and enjoyed the SMG so, so much more. I never really gelled with the long, slightly indirect throw - which was relativley 'crap' compared to the 997. How does the e90 box compare with the e46??
Also I really need a bloody estate for the dog - so am actually leaning towards an RS4 or C63. Anybody tries living with a big, muddy Labrador in a saloon, as I'd much prefer an m car?? !!
Cheers
RS
Here's mine:
On the subject of the 335i, it was a very competent car and pretty darn quick. However it wasn't exciting! It was also SE spec and auto, so it was more a of a 'touring' car (as well as being a touring...) It was the want for a proper sporty car that swung me towards the M3. I also had an S2000 which got sold along with the 335i to help fund the M3 purchase.
On the subject of the 335i, it was a very competent car and pretty darn quick. However it wasn't exciting! It was also SE spec and auto, so it was more a of a 'touring' car (as well as being a touring...) It was the want for a proper sporty car that swung me towards the M3. I also had an S2000 which got sold along with the 335i to help fund the M3 purchase.
M3RMS said:
Also I really need a bloody estate for the dog - so am actually leaning towards an RS4 or C63. Anybody tries living with a big, muddy Labrador in a saloon, as I'd much prefer an m car?? !!
Cheers
RS
i live in a rural area and have 2 german shepherds - i would not dream of having the dogs in the saloon car - they will just trash the interior in no time - fox red leather would turn into mud/clay brown v.quickly. Unless you have space restrictions precluding another car - would it not make sense to have another cheapie specifically for this purpose? We have a jeep cherokee - which we need because of hilly location/annual snow - muddy paddocks etc and a clio diesel runaround which we have no qualms about taking the dogs in - total cost for both of them was £5k - which is less than the cost of the damage your doggy is going to do to your forthcoming work/nice car? Cheers
RS
also enclose a pic to join in the pic whoring:
rossb said:
i live in a rural area and have 2 german shepherds - i would not dream of having the dogs in the saloon car - they will just trash the interior in no time - fox red leather would turn into mud/clay brown v.quickly. Unless you have space restrictions precluding another car - would it not make sense to have another cheapie specifically for this purpose? We have a jeep cherokee - which we need because of hilly location/annual snow - muddy paddocks etc and a clio diesel runaround which we have no qualms about taking the dogs in - total cost for both of them was £5k - which is less than the cost of the damage your doggy is going to do to your forthcoming work/nice car?
also enclose a pic to join in the pic whoring:
It's a dilemma I'm currently weighing up! The thing is, the vast majority of my driving these days has the dog in the boot, including holidays and weekend breaks where id quite like to enjoy the driving too......also enclose a pic to join in the pic whoring:
Which pretty much leads me back to the RS4 or C63 options.....
I have tried the dog on the back seats of the touring as a mini test - and you're right, he made a hell of a mess!!
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