BMW M3 Vs 996

[Blackbeard1]

I have been keeping an eye on this forum for the past few months as it seems to be a great source for (relatively) impartial advice.

I believe this topic has been covered previously so dont bite my head off, but I am in the process of shelling out for a new car and am trying to decide between a 996 and an M3 and so decided to brave this forum with my first post.

I have really wanted a 911 for years and am now at the stage where I can afford/justify one (I have roughly £35k to spend). The only reason I am torn is that for this money I could get a newer, fully warranted, fully specced M3 and potentially not an OPC warranted 996 (I have a natural scepticism when it comes to cars and therefore appreciate a dealer warranty).

I guess my question is that for the money I am looking to spend would an 00/01 996 (let me know if I am way out with my expectation of model for the money) be more expensive to run on a day to day basis including whether it would regularly drain my bank account for the remedy of faults.

Believe me I am trying to elimante the M3 as an option as I would love a 911 but also it seems that 1/3 people in london have an M3.

[bermyandy]

Was always under the impression, rightly or wrongly, that BMW's were more expensive to service?

I thought about the M3 too, but sourced a 996 from an independent, then shelled out for the 111 check and the porsche extended warranty as I had little desire to pay the OPC prices.

For £35k you will find yourself a nice face lift 996

[Vesuvius 996]

Agreed.

You WILL get an AMAZING facelift 996 for that, with the OPC warranty.

Servicing costs are not crazy, about the same as M3.

[kayc]

Personally i would go for the m3,why not a csl for a bit more exclusivity and also a great fun car.IMO the build quality of early 996's is not great and 30-35k cars could be getting a bit tatty/tired in general.i would certainly take the csl over most cars in that price range.

[verysideways]

Drive both - the cost differences between the two will be minimal (apart from depreciation, where the M3 will suffer more).
The drive will convince you of whether you want the 996 or the M3.

[Blackbeard1]

Thanks guys

I drove an SMG M3 on Sunday and was relatively impressed, performance is good but seems to come in lumps. Test drive was in london so ironically I spent half the time stuck in traffic behind a 996 C4.

I have driven a 997 but now need to get round to finding a 996 to take out.

[abarber]

After the massive warranty price hike, forget the M Power beemers. Will be interesting to see just how much affect this has on their residuals, too.

[Adam B]

Have been in same situation as you as I want a 911 but with baby on the way know the M3 would be almost as much fun and more practical (and cheaper as the only 911s I like are facelift 4S, GT or TT)

The thing that puts me off the M car is this horrendous new extended warranty cost - something like £1800 per year plus £250 excess for any claim (meaning you have to save all the issues up and get them fixed together). Even if I buy a newish catr once the std warranty runs out depreciation will be awful.

Not sure this has filtered through to the 2nd prices yet as the general public haven't figured out yet.

[bermyandy]

£1,800!!!!

Christ on a bike. Or an M3

[Blackbeard1]

There seems to be a few names of porsche dealers in SE, would you have any recommendations of who to visit?

[Adam B]

bermyandy said:

£1,800!!!!

Christ on a bike. Or an M3

with falling church attendances Christ had to sell his M3 as he couldn't afford the maintenance

Edited by Adam B on Tuesday 6th June 12:09

[Broccers]

Slightly misleading yelling '1800 quid' as thats for post 60,000 milers, a mere £ 1050 for those below. Having seen this rise from 510 > 720 > 1050 I still payed as 95 quid an hour and 13k for a new engine still frighten me somewhat.

I'd go for a csl too by the way.

[abarber]

..the new £250 on any claim still applies <60k, plus they also added some additional restrictions I believe?

[magic torch]

I had a budget of mid 30s, ended up spending £27k for one with an OPC warranty.

As said before the BMW warranty is more expensive to renew than the Porsche one. I've claimed on the Porsche one, couldn't have faulted it.

I also feel that when the V8 M3 comes out, the current model is going to take a bit of a hit on price.

My dream car has always been a 911, owning one hasn't sullied that dream.

[fidgits]

Yeah, i originally was looking at a M3/S4...

When I realised the Beemer costs more to service than the 996, and (for me) the porsche was cheaper to insure, well, i'd much rather have the porsche.

The only downsides were, the M3 is more practical, and as you say, you can get a newer one for the money.. But what sealed it for me was the sudden increase in the extended warranty, 3 times the price i think..

Add to that a new M3 on the way i decided against it, and am now shopping for a 996...

[wrn]

M-series warranty changes are shocking (and OPC warranties are now far more attractive):

- £1050 up to 60k miles (£700 OPC)
- £1800 up to 100k miles (£700 OPC)
- no cover >100k miles (up to 125k OPC)
- warranty cannot be applied if allowed to expire (can with OPC, subject to inspection)
- £250 excess on claims over 60k miles (£0 excess OPC)
- significant restrictions over 60k miles (far more than OPC)

BMW has just fired a shot across its own used sales divisions' bows - a questionable decision in my eyes.

Credit where credit is due - and hats off to Porsche for their very comprehensive, good value warranty programme.

Will

[I HATE GATSO]

Driven both and IMHO the 996 felt a lot more special to drive than the m3. You're also right that M3s are ten a penny now. Good LUck

[Adam B]

And as a perverse catch 22, if this increase is an indication of the trust BMW have in their own products, it makes it more important to have that expensive warranty.

There was a body of argument that said BMW was delibarately trying to push punters to new stock, but surely they are not so stupid as to believe resisduals are not considered by buyers of new cars?

[magic torch]

Page 39 in this month's EVO discusses the BMW warranty.

We can debate practical issues all day, but emotions should come into it.

I didn't have M3 posters on my bedroom wall as a kid.

[jonny996]

I need 4 seats and went for 996, The M3 is good but lets face it, anyone can tart up a 3 series to look like a M3, a 911 is a 911. Kids dont drool over M3's & I am still a kid at heart