M440i (G26) to M3 Comp X Drive (G80)

[dannyt331]

I've currently got a 2022 M440i Gran Coupe which is lovely, has loads of options and just ticked over 15k miles. I bought it as an approved used car last January.

My goal has always been to own an M3 and I'm now in a position where I could make the move. I've seen a 2023 M3 Comp X Drive with 25k miles which has the ultimate pack, so pretty much every option and in a colour I really like. The cost to change would be c.£25-30k.

I've never driven a G80 M3 but going by the various positive reviews, it appears to be a very competent car.

Is there anyone who has made the move to a G80 M3 that could give some insight on their experience?

Thanks

[Rob 131 Sport]

dannyt331 said:

I've currently got a 2022 M440i Gran Coupe which is lovely, has loads of options and just ticked over 15k miles. I bought it as an approved used car last January.

My goal has always been to own an M3 and I'm now in a position where I could make the move. I've seen a 2023 M3 Comp X Drive with 25k miles which has the ultimate pack, so pretty much every option and in a colour I really like. The cost to change would be c.£25-30k.

I've never driven a G80 M3 but going by the various positive reviews, it appears to be a very competent car.

Is there anyone who has made the move to a G80 M3 that could give some insight on their experience?

Thanks

Is it really worth £25-£30k for something that is marginally quicker, is 1 year newer and with more miles.

Why not wait for the new model which can’t be far off.

[MediumBuild]

dannyt331 said:

I've currently got a 2022 M440i Gran Coupe which is lovely, has loads of options and just ticked over 15k miles. I bought it as an approved used car last January.

My goal has always been to own an M3 and I'm now in a position where I could make the move. I've seen a 2023 M3 Comp X Drive with 25k miles which has the ultimate pack, so pretty much every option and in a colour I really like. The cost to change would be c.£25-30k.

I've never driven a G80 M3 but going by the various positive reviews, it appears to be a very competent car.

Is there anyone who has made the move to a G80 M3 that could give some insight on their experience?

Thanks

I'd say look at the typical driving and mileage you do.....

There's much more to an M car than straight line speed but a lot will depend on whether you can exploit that in your typical driving and whether that's worth a 25-30k spend.

That said, if you just want one because you want one then knock yourself out. I did exactly that with an M2 and ran it for 2 years. It wasn't remotely ideal for a lot of my driving but great fun.

[dannyt331]

Rob 131 Sport said:

Is it really worth £25-£30k for something that is marginally quicker, is 1 year newer and with more miles.

Why not wait for the new model which can t be far off.

That's what's in the back of my mind but the new model will likely be even more expensive and it will take time for them to filter through to the used market at a level that fits my budget.

I'd like to try a few track days and the M3 will be much more suited to that than the M440i.

[dannyt331]

MediumBuild said:

I'd say look at the typical driving and mileage you do.....

There's much more to an M car than straight line speed but a lot will depend on whether you can exploit that in your typical driving and whether that's worth a 25-30k spend.

That said, if you just want one because you want one then knock yourself out. I did exactly that with an M2 and ran it for 2 years. It wasn't remotely ideal for a lot of my driving but great fun.

Annual mileage is typically 6k a year across a mix of commuting and weekend trips out.

Ideally I'd get a commuting car and a weekend/trackday car but with 2 young kids I'm unlikely to find the time to use the weekend car, so thinking the M3 ticks both boxes in one.

[CMTMB]

dannyt331 said:

I've never driven a G80 M3

Definitely drive one. It depends what you want from a car and how you'll use it.

They are a fantastic piece of kit when you're on it, but I'd personally rather daily drive an M440i.

[MediumBuild]

CMTMB said:

Definitely drive one. It depends what you want from a car and how you'll use it.

They are a fantastic piece of kit when you're on it, but I'd personally rather daily drive an M440i.

Yep. This.

[Hammy98]

M440i is a better daily, but the M3 will have you looking for excuses to drive it.

If you've always wanted one then go for it IMO, been there myself and you'll see past the fact it's not as good a daily.

[MediumBuild]

dannyt331 said:

Annual mileage is typically 6k a year across a mix of commuting and weekend trips out.

Ideally I'd get a commuting car and a weekend/trackday car but with 2 young kids I'm unlikely to find the time to use the weekend car, so thinking the M3 ticks both boxes in one.

They do fit that role - I guess one question is how likely you are to track a car that you rely on for work (unless you have access to another family car if you did stack the M3 on track).

Sometimes you need to just scratch the itch. I enjoyed my M2 for the time I had it but it grew increasingly unsuitable for the driving I was doing so I moved it on.

[rotarygoth]

I use my 73 plate M3 as my daily, it always puts a smile on my face particularly as I have a weekly 185 mile drive to one of my offices! Is it practical? Yes, in that it's a 4 door with a decent boot, it's horrendous on Oxfordshire roads, but I think anything less than a Challenger tank would be crashing over the potholes around here. The M3 is not a relaxing car to waft to work in, it's a car that demands attention, but if you enjoy driving it makes up for the harsh suspension and unforgiving ride

[dannyt331]

rotarygoth said:

I use my 73 plate M3 as my daily, it always puts a smile on my face particularly as I have a weekly 185 mile drive to one of my offices! Is it practical? Yes, in that it's a 4 door with a decent boot, it's horrendous on Oxfordshire roads, but I think anything less than a Challenger tank would be crashing over the potholes around here. The M3 is not a relaxing car to waft to work in, it's a car that demands attention, but if you enjoy driving it makes up for the harsh suspension and unforgiving ride

Thanks that's helpful insight.

Definitely enjoy driving and conscious that these kind of cars aren't going to be around for much longer!