Thinking of selling my E46 M3 for a 911 997 Carrera s
Discussion
I don't know whether you'll be disappointed but that's a beaut! I love an M3 and the E46 is my favourite. If you haven't driven a 911, then you might love or hate the handling. Personally I found that the 997 Carrera S didn't hit the spot. I don't know why. I preferred the mid-engined Porsches and have had two Boxsters since. But nothing looks or handles like a 911, and if you like it then you won't be disappointed!
I've owned both a e46 m3 manual and a 997 c2s manual. Be warned the 997 won't turn in as well as your m3 because they are naturally understeery. I was not a fan of 997 handling and sold it for a Cayman which I love so you might want to consider that instead depending on your preference.
On performance alone the 997 will be a bit faster than your E46.
Any specific questions let me know and I'll help if I can.
Cheers,
Dunc.
On performance alone the 997 will be a bit faster than your E46.
Any specific questions let me know and I'll help if I can.
Cheers,
Dunc.
As others have said already, a mid-engine Porsche maybe a better option. I tried a Carerra 4S, a 2S briefly and then a 997.2 Turbo. They were all okay but I’ve always ended up with a Boxster as I find it’s a better driver’s car. The problem is that if you go Boxster/Cayman first you’ll always have to scratch the 911 itch. If possible I’d try to have a good drive of a 911 and Boxster/Cayman back to back to see which you prefer.
Not quite an M3 but I had a Z4M and now a Hartech’d C2S. I found the Z4M handling a bit strange and the ride was poor but the engine was an absolute scream.
By comparison the 911 feels incredibly natural. I note others comment on understeer but it’s not an issue I’ve come up against often.
The 911 engine feels fast mainly in the midrange where the S54 wanted to be ragged to the redline. I’m faster in the Porsche but I’m no racing driver so the wider operating band probably flatters my skill level!
Trips to the redline in the BMW were more exciting when the occurred but stringing together a few gears would quickly lead me to uncomfortable speeds, whereas the Porsche sits in the midrange and feels more at home in the ebb and flow of the road.
PASM takes the ride towards the Z4M levels of firmness. I like it for proper driving days but honestly “normal” flows better on our backroads.
Reliability wise both seem similar - 997 has a few common smaller gremlins and a few bigger ones too. M3 has a similar profile - rod bearings and boot floor vs bore score and IMS bearings, take your pick
In reality both will cost a bit to keep on top top condition. Overall my Z4M was working out a bit more costly but largely due to the higher fixed servicing prices (inspections 1 and mostly 2) but the 911 has thrown a few more niggles.
I quite fancy an E46 M3 at some point - I feel like I’ve got unfinished business with the S54! Yours looks nicely spec’d - if you list it for sale drop me a DM Laguna Seca is an awesome colour!
By comparison the 911 feels incredibly natural. I note others comment on understeer but it’s not an issue I’ve come up against often.
The 911 engine feels fast mainly in the midrange where the S54 wanted to be ragged to the redline. I’m faster in the Porsche but I’m no racing driver so the wider operating band probably flatters my skill level!
Trips to the redline in the BMW were more exciting when the occurred but stringing together a few gears would quickly lead me to uncomfortable speeds, whereas the Porsche sits in the midrange and feels more at home in the ebb and flow of the road.
PASM takes the ride towards the Z4M levels of firmness. I like it for proper driving days but honestly “normal” flows better on our backroads.
Reliability wise both seem similar - 997 has a few common smaller gremlins and a few bigger ones too. M3 has a similar profile - rod bearings and boot floor vs bore score and IMS bearings, take your pick
In reality both will cost a bit to keep on top top condition. Overall my Z4M was working out a bit more costly but largely due to the higher fixed servicing prices (inspections 1 and mostly 2) but the 911 has thrown a few more niggles.I quite fancy an E46 M3 at some point - I feel like I’ve got unfinished business with the S54! Yours looks nicely spec’d - if you list it for sale drop me a DM
Laguna Seca is an awesome colour!Edited by CrouchingWayne on Sunday 13th November 00:26
Edited by CrouchingWayne on Sunday 13th November 00:29
I had an E46 M3 SMG and then a 997.1 C2S manual, loved them both and whilst you'll miss the M3, the Porsche has a lovely howl to it and drives very well too. It's not as planted as the M3 when you're pushing on (echoing the understeer comment above), but it also feels a lot more responsive, particularly at initial turn-in. Probably just the sharper rack on the 911 but still.
I would say that a PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust) is a must for the 997.1 Carreras, the older 3.8 engine makes some lovely noises with the PSE. Easy to tell by looking for the exhaust button on the dashboard, or looking at the exhausts. Standard 3.8s got identical quad pipes, PSEs have a larger outboard exhaust and a smaller inboard exhaust. Basically, oo___oo vs Oo___oO. Hah, looks like a GTR's rear lights.
Reliability-wise, I had more issues with my 911 than my M3, but they were more irritating than critical (the sunroof inner liner would detach and show German metal rather than the nice black interior, and if I used the headlight washers one would stay open and piss all my screenwash onto the floor). Then again, and as mentioned, M3s aren't faultless and mine used to enjoy firing off the roll hoops if I parked on anything more than a 10 degree angle, i.e. anything more than a standard kerb.
You'll definitely enjoy the creature comforts in a 911 over an E46, the LCD screen in the BMW really dates it to the early 2000s, whereas the earliest 997s were 2004(ish) and the screen in the centre console is much easier to use and makes the car generation gap very profound.
Personally I'd say go and drive a 911 and then drive your M3 on the same roads afterwards. See which car suits your interests best.
I shouldn't say this, but having had both, I miss my M3. I don't miss my 911 as much.
I would say that a PSE (Porsche Sports Exhaust) is a must for the 997.1 Carreras, the older 3.8 engine makes some lovely noises with the PSE. Easy to tell by looking for the exhaust button on the dashboard, or looking at the exhausts. Standard 3.8s got identical quad pipes, PSEs have a larger outboard exhaust and a smaller inboard exhaust. Basically, oo___oo vs Oo___oO. Hah, looks like a GTR's rear lights.
Reliability-wise, I had more issues with my 911 than my M3, but they were more irritating than critical (the sunroof inner liner would detach and show German metal rather than the nice black interior, and if I used the headlight washers one would stay open and piss all my screenwash onto the floor). Then again, and as mentioned, M3s aren't faultless and mine used to enjoy firing off the roll hoops if I parked on anything more than a 10 degree angle, i.e. anything more than a standard kerb.
You'll definitely enjoy the creature comforts in a 911 over an E46, the LCD screen in the BMW really dates it to the early 2000s, whereas the earliest 997s were 2004(ish) and the screen in the centre console is much easier to use and makes the car generation gap very profound.
Personally I'd say go and drive a 911 and then drive your M3 on the same roads afterwards. See which car suits your interests best.
I shouldn't say this, but having had both, I miss my M3. I don't miss my 911 as much.
jonamv8 said:
Nice M3 - what are you wanting for it and whats the specs/mileage/SH etc?
I’ve had both, if you want to scratch the 911 itch then you need a 911! There is something special about a 911 but I do love an E46 M3 !!
It is very well spec'd with 114k all the major E46 problems sorted, but i have sold the car 3 times over if i decide to sell with one very good offer, and that is part of the reason I'm thinking of moving on I’ve had both, if you want to scratch the 911 itch then you need a 911! There is something special about a 911 but I do love an E46 M3 !!
I’m going back quite a few years but I swapped a E46 M3 for a 996 C4S and later had a 997 Turbo. I’m really glad I’ve owned the 911s and loved driving them. They were more special than the M3 and every drive felt like an occasion. I used them as my daily cars and I did find the 911 smaller and less comfortable than the M3. I also found the interior tech a step back (albeit I got into a 996 originally). Both my 911s were significantly less reliable than my M3 was.
djohnson said:
I’m going back quite a few years but I swapped a E46 M3 for a 996 C4S and later had a 997 Turbo. I’m really glad I’ve owned the 911s and loved driving them. They were more special than the M3 and every drive felt like an occasion. I used them as my daily cars and I did find the 911 smaller and less comfortable than the M3. I also found the interior tech a step back (albeit I got into a 996 originally). Both my 911s were significantly less reliable than my M3 was.
Reliability seem to be a common theme lolYour M3 is stunning. I have not owned either but driven both and I preferred the 911. The comment “variety is the spice of life” has hit home with me! I was going to keep my car for a long time but now I’m thinking of changing. But I think i would lose to much money to make it feasible.
One other thing to bear in mind is future value. I'd wager that there are far more 997s in good condition in 2022 than there are M3s, and that the value of a nice M3 is likely to rise faster than a nice 997s value is. I don't know about the country as a whole, but in my part of Surrey I see many more BMW 3-series than Porsches, but way more 911s than M3s.
LunarOne said:
One other thing to bear in mind is future value. I'd wager that there are far more 997s in good condition in 2022 than there are M3s, and that the value of a nice M3 is likely to rise faster than a nice 997s value is. I don't know about the country as a whole, but in my part of Surrey I see many more BMW 3-series than Porsches, but way more 911s than M3s.
Good point on future values?Edited by lambo555 on Sunday 13th November 16:38
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