The lure of the S65
Discussion
Hi all,
The ubiquitous question:
I am in two minds about keeping my car, or (predictably) selling up and putting down some cash to get into an E90 M3 with DCT. I have owned my M Sport E90 335i for five years now, and while I still enjoy driving it, the manual transmission is starting to grate on me a bit. I rarely drive it on the open road where I enjoy it the most, and its use in traffic is starting to get to me. I have spent a reasonable sum of money on the car over the years to get it where I wanted it to be - B12 kit, M3 front arms, new tie rods, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, and lightweight Apex wheels. It drives well, uses no oil, and its performance keeps me happy with the MHD tune.
However, my eyes are now turning to the M3 - specifically with the DCT box. I prefer the E90 to the E92 shape, even without the carbon roof - and the lure of the V8 is hard to ignore. The price difference is not insignificant, however - I would perhaps be able to sell mine for NZD18,000 - 20,000 at most, as it is getting on a bit now, and would therefore need to drop another $15K+ down to get into the M3.
I'm interested in opinions as to making the move. I have never experienced the S65 - other than via countless YouTube videos. Who here has made the move, and did the additional cash outlay leave you with remorse or nothing but joy!? I have read about the perceived lack of torque, but often these things are overblown, especially on American forums. Fuel consumption doesn't worry me as the car isn't used much anyway - i.e. one or twice each weekend.
Lastly, does anyone have thoughts on whether this era of M3 will appreciate in time? This isn't a major concern, but there are mixed views out there.
The ubiquitous question:
I am in two minds about keeping my car, or (predictably) selling up and putting down some cash to get into an E90 M3 with DCT. I have owned my M Sport E90 335i for five years now, and while I still enjoy driving it, the manual transmission is starting to grate on me a bit. I rarely drive it on the open road where I enjoy it the most, and its use in traffic is starting to get to me. I have spent a reasonable sum of money on the car over the years to get it where I wanted it to be - B12 kit, M3 front arms, new tie rods, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, and lightweight Apex wheels. It drives well, uses no oil, and its performance keeps me happy with the MHD tune.
However, my eyes are now turning to the M3 - specifically with the DCT box. I prefer the E90 to the E92 shape, even without the carbon roof - and the lure of the V8 is hard to ignore. The price difference is not insignificant, however - I would perhaps be able to sell mine for NZD18,000 - 20,000 at most, as it is getting on a bit now, and would therefore need to drop another $15K+ down to get into the M3.
I'm interested in opinions as to making the move. I have never experienced the S65 - other than via countless YouTube videos. Who here has made the move, and did the additional cash outlay leave you with remorse or nothing but joy!? I have read about the perceived lack of torque, but often these things are overblown, especially on American forums. Fuel consumption doesn't worry me as the car isn't used much anyway - i.e. one or twice each weekend.
Lastly, does anyone have thoughts on whether this era of M3 will appreciate in time? This isn't a major concern, but there are mixed views out there.
Rdawson said:
Hi all,
The ubiquitous question:
I am in two minds about keeping my car, or (predictably) selling up and putting down some cash to get into an E90 M3 with DCT. I have owned my M Sport E90 335i for five years now, and while I still enjoy driving it, the manual transmission is starting to grate on me a bit. I rarely drive it on the open road where I enjoy it the most, and its use in traffic is starting to get to me. I have spent a reasonable sum of money on the car over the years to get it where I wanted it to be - B12 kit, M3 front arms, new tie rods, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, and lightweight Apex wheels. It drives well, uses no oil, and its performance keeps me happy with the MHD tune.
However, my eyes are now turning to the M3 - specifically with the DCT box. I prefer the E90 to the E92 shape, even without the carbon roof - and the lure of the V8 is hard to ignore. The price difference is not insignificant, however - I would perhaps be able to sell mine for NZD18,000 - 20,000 at most, as it is getting on a bit now, and would therefore need to drop another $15K+ down to get into the M3.
I'm interested in opinions as to making the move. I have never experienced the S65 - other than via countless YouTube videos. Who here has made the move, and did the additional cash outlay leave you with remorse or nothing but joy!? I have read about the perceived lack of torque, but often these things are overblown, especially on American forums. Fuel consumption doesn't worry me as the car isn't used much anyway - i.e. one or twice each weekend.
Lastly, does anyone have thoughts on whether this era of M3 will appreciate in time? This isn't a major concern, but there are mixed views out there.
I didn’t make the move , but only cos I wanted to own a E46 M3 first The ubiquitous question:
I am in two minds about keeping my car, or (predictably) selling up and putting down some cash to get into an E90 M3 with DCT. I have owned my M Sport E90 335i for five years now, and while I still enjoy driving it, the manual transmission is starting to grate on me a bit. I rarely drive it on the open road where I enjoy it the most, and its use in traffic is starting to get to me. I have spent a reasonable sum of money on the car over the years to get it where I wanted it to be - B12 kit, M3 front arms, new tie rods, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, and lightweight Apex wheels. It drives well, uses no oil, and its performance keeps me happy with the MHD tune.
However, my eyes are now turning to the M3 - specifically with the DCT box. I prefer the E90 to the E92 shape, even without the carbon roof - and the lure of the V8 is hard to ignore. The price difference is not insignificant, however - I would perhaps be able to sell mine for NZD18,000 - 20,000 at most, as it is getting on a bit now, and would therefore need to drop another $15K+ down to get into the M3.
I'm interested in opinions as to making the move. I have never experienced the S65 - other than via countless YouTube videos. Who here has made the move, and did the additional cash outlay leave you with remorse or nothing but joy!? I have read about the perceived lack of torque, but often these things are overblown, especially on American forums. Fuel consumption doesn't worry me as the car isn't used much anyway - i.e. one or twice each weekend.
Lastly, does anyone have thoughts on whether this era of M3 will appreciate in time? This isn't a major concern, but there are mixed views out there.
The E9X series M3 (test) drives made me smile more though I admit , largely because of the V8.
The whole car feels different ,to even a 335i M cars (E46 and E9X generation are all I’ve driven but I assume newer ones too) are a different prospect in my opinion to the “ordinary cars” even with the interior similarities so you really need to drive them.
I find throttle response so sharp that it outweighs a drop in torque. And revving it out is part of the pleasure.
I wouldn’t be confident on any performance car holding value in the UK with all of the environmental legislation coming in. No idea with NZ
Can understand the itch.........the S65 is a fabulous engine, no question, and I'd say go for it if its not an everyday car, and make the most of a car like this now while you have the chance before the politicians legislate them off the road.
Yes, the torque is lacking compared with a N54/N55, and it's why I chose a DCT 135i over a M3 back in 2011, but that was because it was going to be my daily driver/commute car, and the torque and better mpg of the N55 meant it was a no brainer to buy the 135i at the time.
If my commute hadn't been a traffic laden 80 miles per day, I would have bought the E92 M3 without question.
Yes, the torque is lacking compared with a N54/N55, and it's why I chose a DCT 135i over a M3 back in 2011, but that was because it was going to be my daily driver/commute car, and the torque and better mpg of the N55 meant it was a no brainer to buy the 135i at the time.
If my commute hadn't been a traffic laden 80 miles per day, I would have bought the E92 M3 without question.
Thanks all for your responses. I went to see an LCI E90 on 219M wheels over the weekend and experienced a cold start. What a sound! Though, admittedly the car was backed up against a wall at the dealer, so it would have been amplified a tad. Still though, quite a step up from the N54 which in itself is no shrinking violet on a cold morning.
I am still struggling with the price difference though - I'd need to stump up the equivalent of an additional 10,000 quid to get into one, and that's a fair chunk of change.
I'll keep looking and go on a test drive or two....
I am still struggling with the price difference though - I'd need to stump up the equivalent of an additional 10,000 quid to get into one, and that's a fair chunk of change.
I'll keep looking and go on a test drive or two....
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