E9X M3 Competition pack, worth it ?

[Slippydiff]

Evening all. Have done a search, lots of subjective "worth it for the wheel upgrade alone" style comments.But nothing really substantive.

So given the choice between say two 2011 cars with similar spec mileage, one a Competition pack car at (for the sake of argument) £28k and a non-Competition pack car at £25/25.5k, is the Competition pack worth the extra ? Or would you be better off buying the cheaper non-CP car and fitting KW V3's/Ohlins R&T's and a set of BBS CH/R wheels ?

I understand the MDM programing on the Competition pack is different, is it a benefit on a road only driven car ?

Was EDC standard on CP cars ? If so I imagine KW's or Ohlins R&T would give an improvement in handling compared with EDC in Sport mode ?

The car would be a daily driver, so the EDC would theoretically give the best of both worlds, (though I found a recently driven 235i with EDC was too stiff for bumpy B roads even in Comfort setting).

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[Captain Caveman]

To be honest a Comp Pack e92 is just a product of marketing. The only difference is a 10mm ride height change, different ECU programming for the DCT and diff, and different wheels. You can buy wheels and have the programming fitted to any e9X M3 car, so the only real benefit is desirability on resale. Cost wise, you’re better buying a std car, and spending the saving on a decent BBK, which the cars needs tbh. You'd be hard pressed to notice any real difference when driving both back-to-back.

[av185]

Probably worth the extra for rarity alone but depends how long you keep the car.

I wouldn't fk about with a standard car. Warranty implications and many wouldn't touch a non standard car anyway. Actually devalues it.

[nbetts]

It is worth considering that the price differential when you buy the E92 M3 is there when you sell it again.

So you may pay 2-3k more for a Competition Pack but you will get it back over the value of the 'normal' E92 M3 when you sell it.

As someone else posted - if you 'mess' around with it you will lose more money...

I would always seek out the CP car personally.

[Captain Caveman]

nbetts said:

It is worth considering that the price differential when you buy the E92 M3 is there when you sell it again.

So you may pay 2-3k more for a Competition Pack but you will get it back over the value of the 'normal' E92 M3 when you sell it.

So bit of a moot point then. A CP car is more expensive, but it won't retain any greater % of it's value than a std car, it will depreciate at the same rate. So the only real benefit is the short lived novelty of having a CP car, which 95% of people won't notice anyway.

BTW I have a CP car, but wouldn't buy again if I had the choice! All IMHO of course.

Edited by Captain Caveman on Monday 6th March 17:24

[api330]

When I was looking for mine I had no interest in a standard M3 it was a comp pack or nothing for me. I happily paid the extra and I know in a few years time a genuine low milage comp pack M3 will be the one to have regarding value's and its a fantastic car to own and drive, Mine is a garage queen though,

[griff7]

api330 said:

When I was looking for mine I had no interest in a standard M3 it was a comp pack or nothing for me. I happily paid the extra and I know in a few years time a genuine low milage comp pack M3 will be the one to have regarding value's and its a fantastic car to own and drive, Mine is a garage queen though,

+1
If i was buying for road then i would search for a comp pack car as they look so much better and if you do track it on the odd occasion the EDC does work very well for what it is.

[Tony B2]

Yes, it is worth the extra. Anyone who can't feel the difference when driving, between standard and CP probably shouldn't be putting their money into an M3 of either type as the car is wasted on you.

[dvshannow]

Def agree i would get a comp pack and something like the frozen silver edition which has a really nice interior as well

One critism some people have of the m3 is its a bit too like the regular car. Some people like that some want it to feel a bit more special. The frozen editions def have that special feeling with the bespoke leather and carbon interior and alcantara wheel.

[rassi]

The Competition wheels has a huge visual impact on the E9X M3, as well as coming with the re-calibrated DSC and (very slightly) lower ride height. For me the competition pack made the car, as well as the extended leather package, which makes it that less ordinary to sit in.

[Slippydiff]

av185 said:

Probably worth the extra for rarity alone but depends how long you keep the car.

I wouldn't fk about with a standard car. Warranty implications and many wouldn't touch a non standard car anyway. Actually devalues it.

If my 1M and CSL brakes were anything to go by, they'll be the first thing to be replaced with AP's or Stoptech's. I have a good relationship with my local BMW stealer, so mods won't be an issue.

All mods (brakes, wheels, suspension, exhaust etc) would be easily reversible, and have the added bonus the parts will be easily saleable when/if the car ever gets sold

The CP is clearly a divisive subject, some current owners saying they wouldn't bother, others saying the polar opposite.
The frozen paintwork look isn't for me I'm afraid, shouts "trying too hard" IMO.

The acid test will be driving a decent, low mileage example of a CP and non-CP car.

[dvshannow]

Slippydiff said:

The CP is clearly a divisive subject, some current owners saying they wouldn't bother, others saying the polar opposite.
The frozen paintwork look isn't for me I'm afraid, shouts "trying too hard" IMO.

I would not get another frozen car but didnt fine it was showy actually thought with the e92s quite ordinary lines the matte paint highlighted some of the added curves over the standard e92 so it was one of those cars where it really worked. On merc amgs agree looks v ott
But the paint is a paint and would not get another for that reason and i dont think it will prove to be that durable over the years and is maddingly expensive to fix

[daz05]

If I was to buy another it would be a competition pack because the suspension set up is a little sharper and visually they look better with the wheels and a moderate drop. Another option is to get one of the edition cars which seems to share the majority of the hardware and then simply code in the competition EDC and DSC settings. These cars should hold their value a little better in the long run also.

[Inverted]

dvshannow said:

Slippydiff said:

The CP is clearly a divisive subject, some current owners saying they wouldn't bother, others saying the polar opposite.
The frozen paintwork look isn't for me I'm afraid, shouts "trying too hard" IMO.

I would not get another frozen car but didnt fine it was showy actually thought with the e92s quite ordinary lines the matte paint highlighted some of the added curves over the standard e92 so it was one of those cars where it really worked. On merc amgs agree looks v ott
But the paint is a paint and would not get another for that reason and i dont think it will prove to be that durable over the years and is maddingly expensive to fix

Completely agree about the paint. I had a frozen silver edition and the only reason I sold it was the paint. I thought it really suited the car and got nothing but positive attention. But it showed up every little hairline scratch. I just wanted out of it before any major maintenance was needed. Also you could see areas where the paint had lost its matte paritucalr where the door shuts are. min only had 16k miles on

[Max Maxasson]

I'd far rather spend the difference on a car with less miles...the CP always seemed like a marketing thing.
A 10mm drop and a slight retune to the EDC for what it costs is having a laugh.

[Captain Caveman]

Max Maxasson said:

I'd far rather spend the difference on a car with less miles...the CP always seemed like a marketing thing.
A 10mm drop and a slight retune to the EDC for what it costs is having a laugh.

That's my conclusion after owning one too. Wheels do look lovely though!

[Eviltad]

As a CP owner, if I was buying again I'd probably find the "BEST" and lowest mileage car for my budget. Then make my own mods to suspension and wheels.

For me, I've got the "prestige" and better handling of the CP but if I fancy a few mods, its a bigger decision than if it was a non-CP.

Just my own view though.

[Tony B2]

Max Maxasson said:

I'd far rather spend the difference on a car with less miles...the CP always seemed like a marketing thing.
A 10mm drop and a slight retune to the EDC for what it costs is having a laugh.

But you get/got much nicer 19 inch wheels and EDC for the money, which was just about the same as speccing the "normal" 19 inch upgrade and EDC separately. So extremely good value when new, IMO.

And those CP wheels are wider than the "normal" 19s, which stretches the sidewalls of the tyres, making them less flexible, and hence noticeably improving feel and response to steering inputs.

And they are the best looking wheels BMW has ever used.

A pain to clean, though....

[Max Maxasson]

Tony B2 said:

And they are the best looking wheels BMW has ever used.

Definitely, a lovely looking wheel.

[woogie]

I recently bought an M3 ( last November). My requirements were it has to be an LCI model with DCT and 19's , low miles and a BMW 2 year warranty. I like the look of the CP but after changing the splitter on my old 911 several times due to my very steep drive I never wanted a CP but I admit they look good. Only mod I have done so far is changing those yellow front halo bulbs to white , not sure why BMW never changed the front lights with the LCI upgrade. I will get the exhaust mod and also may do the spacer mod which a few people seem to do to allow the wheels to fill the arches as I have standard wheels

Oh I did have the GTS software on the DCT but the donuts at BMW wiped it out so need to go get that reinstalled.