e92 m3...best car ever?

e92 m3...best car ever?

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Discussion

skeeterm5

3,323 posts

187 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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I am in the naysayers crowd. I owned one for less than 3 months before selling it back to the BMW garage.

Undoubtedly fast and capable, good looking and well equipped but, for me, ultimately no sense of occasion or theatre and thus left me cold and pretty bored.

Against all of the cars I have owned it is pretty low down the list.

S

rassi

2,446 posts

250 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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I owned a 2011 DCT/Competition package M3 for 6 months, which may give a clue to whether it was the best car ever.

First, the exhaust mod is obligatory, and a very cheap fix for the standard muted exhaust (google Paul the Welder) that now sounds amazing with zero drone.

Second, the DCT is great and can actually be used as an automatic, which the SMG III in the E60 M5 certainly could not. However, after the novelty wears off it is almost a bit too smooth, and lacks a bit of the drama of the SMG III in fiercest mode, IMHO.

Third, the engine is great, but is very linear, and again lacks the bonkers rush to the redline of the E60 M5, which was truly fast.

Fourth, the Competition package made it extremely stiff, and I found it had a poor low speed ride, even in softest setting on the EDC.

Fifth, the range was a joke, with 400 km on fast motorway realistic. Slightly better than the E60 M5.

Sixth, reading too many forums, the rod bearing issue starting to play with my mind (same as the E60 M5), and made me question long term ownership.

Overall, I therefore found it a more balanced and user friendly package than the E60 M5, but it too often felt like a fast 3 series if not driving it as intended.

I therefore nominate a different car for the best ever prize: The E39 M5 angel


ratty6464

627 posts

209 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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I ran one for a couple of years and loved it by the end. Nearly chopped it in though after a few months but glad I didnt. A really rewarding drive once you get under its skin
It was a manual competition pack and I'd have one again if the commute was more viable due to the range and consumption

Wills2

22,612 posts

174 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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turboman786 said:
I've been very fortunate to have owned a large number of top end performance cars over the years

Currently have an R8 v10 and have owee pretty much the usual range of petrol head cars such as 997, gtr, m5, m3, c63, etc etc

Having owned these cars there is one vat which I conclude is the the best overall car.....the e92 m3 dct.....

Please discuss as I just can't help but want another one despite having had far more expensive and faster machinery....
I agree I love them, I had 2 x e92 m3 1 x e46 m3 1 x m5 (current car) 1 x 997 C2S, and I still think the e92 was the best, I saw a lovely white on today and was jealous...

daz05

2,900 posts

194 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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I'm thinking gen ii 997 c2s as an option also Wills, talk me out of it.

rb5er

11,657 posts

171 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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A definite no to the OP from me.

Wills2

22,612 posts

174 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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daz05 said:
I'm thinking gen ii 997 c2s as an option also Wills, talk me out of it.
That was a lovely car, but I nearly chopped it in after a few months to go back to an M3 but I kept it and really enjoyed it in the end.

The biggest difference for me was the engine the S65 is a hard act to follow as a powertrain, but you'll enjoy the 997.2



bigtime

513 posts

138 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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Bungle007 said:
I had an e92 M3 as a daily driver and found it quite irritating.
The DCT box was always trying to get into 7th gear, even at 40 mph, then if you put your foot down, it would have to drop 4 gears. This was in spite of being in gearbox mode 5, Ie the most aggressive normal mode. You would normally choose 4th or 5th max at 40.
When you were having fun, it was happy to play, but to get to the power, you needed 7000 rpm +, and then, Even in 2nd gear you'd be doing 90 mph. Response at 3000 rpm was nothing special. If it was just a fun car, I can see the appeal, but as a daily driver for 15,000 miles/annum, 250 miles / tank, and the irritations above made me chop it in after 9 months.
I love my E92 M3 and haven't a clue what to replace it with. I am sure mine doesn't do 90mpg in second though.

e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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Although there were some bits I liked, such as the front end styling, rev happy V8 and blistering pace, there were too many things I didn't like quite so much. Apart from the awful MPG, the tiny range, the size, the weight and overall just too ordinary to look at. It just never felt special enough to me and driving was just never the event I wanted it to be.

Slippydiff

14,712 posts

222 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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turboman786 said:
So a genuine question, what are the attributes that you like about your V10 R8, and more specifically, what are the attributes that you feel make it a simply brilliant drivers car?

Ok here goes.
.kwik summary as typing on my phone

- blisteringly quick....and I say that having come from a stage 4.5 gtr A 5.2 litre 500 + hp NA should never feel slow ! !

- amazing sounds (albeit I've got a milltek supercup on it) I've already conceded that point, but they do need an aftermarket exhaust to free up the decibels.

- visceral driving experience...analogue not digital Manual or R/S Tronic ? Either way, I've yet to drive a modern Audi that feels in any way analogue, so going to have to agree to disagree on that one.

- superbly balanced chassis, grippy yet playful Well maybe, but my time behind the wheel didn't leave me with the overriding thought this a flyweight, tactile engaging car I'd want to really hustle. Just too big IMO

- still looks stunning despite its age Granted

- amazing grip and poise at speed I think that's a given with any modern junior supercar ?

- lovely steering feel Errrr, no, just no. Are you saying the helm is more tactile/feelsome than that of the 997 you owned ? You've driven/owned some nice metal, but nothing in your list screams tactile/engaging steering. Try a nicely set up healthy 996/997 GT3 and let us know your thoughts

- quite comfy for a junior supercar One would hope so for what they cost, but as footnote, the bucket seats in the GT were some of the most uncomfortable seats I've ever had the misfortune to sit in, both from a shape and lack of padding perspective. As for the standard Audi "Sports seats", they're nothing of the sort

All in all I'd give it 8.5/10.
I wanted to like, really like, the R8 V10 GT (it's a quantum leap forward over a standard V10) but I just wasn't feeling the love frown Too anodyne, too big and lacking that something really special (for me).

bigtime

513 posts

138 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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e21Mark said:
Although there were some bits I liked, such as the front end styling, rev happy V8 and blistering pace, there were too many things I didn't like quite so much. Apart from the awful MPG, the tiny range, the size, the weight and overall just too ordinary to look at. It just never felt special enough to me and driving was just never the event I wanted it to be.
Any suggestions what to replace it with for similar money though? 911's are over budget, AMG's and RS5's are even heavier and thirstier.

cheddar

4,637 posts

173 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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bigtime said:
Bungle007 said:
Even in 2nd gear you'd be doing 90 mph.
I am sure mine doesn't do 90mph in second though.
90 in 2nd?

Really?

popeyewhite

19,521 posts

119 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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bigtime said:
Any suggestions what to replace it with for similar money though? 911's are over budget, AMG's and RS5's are even heavier and thirstier.
..And they have more torque and are faster.

bigtime

513 posts

138 months

Monday 18th January 2016
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The rs5 is not faster and the c63 amg 6.2 is only quicker in a straight line on a roll but has a crap gearbox. The E92 and even The F series m3's are real value for money for people like me that need to ferry a family around, have a bit of fun, with all the mod cons and can't turn up looking too flash or with our hair messed up when getting out of a caterham smile

Edited by bigtime on Monday 18th January 23:51

bigtime

513 posts

138 months

Monday 18th January 2016
quotequote all
cheddar said:
90 in 2nd?

Really?
It doesn't. I am sure mine only hits around 60 in second and 100 in 3rd.

Moycie

536 posts

196 months

Tuesday 19th January 2016
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bigtime said:
The rs5 is not faster and the c63 amg 6.2 is only quicker in a straight line on a roll but has a crap gearbox. The E92 and even The F series m3's are real value for money for people like me that need to ferry a family around, have a bit of fun, with all the mod cons and can't turn up looking too flash or with our hair messed up when getting out of a caterham smile

Edited by bigtime on Monday 18th January 23:51
+1 What he said.... It's a family car with a big engine and practicality. The DCT box can be lazy around town, or you can switch to paddles and m-drive for a bit of fun in the lanes. It's not a Supercar or Sportscar, but nice to see people throwing it in with some more expensive exotica, that's praise enough. Depends what you want it for. Personally it's a practical everyday runaround, a car for long journeys, with comfort, luggage space, and it is perfect for my needs. I have a TVR for the thrills.

Edited by Moycie on Tuesday 19th January 08:42

JMBMWM5

2,281 posts

197 months

Tuesday 19th January 2016
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bigtime said:
It doesn't. I am sure mine only hits around 60 in second and 100 in 3rd.
Yep that's about right, I sold mine after one year, No torque had to rev the bks out of it to get going, really boring car IMO.

cerb4.5lee

30,041 posts

179 months

Tuesday 19th January 2016
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JMBMWM5 said:
Yep that's about right, I sold mine after one year, No torque had to rev the bks out of it to get going, really boring car IMO.
Rare on two accounts that...one its a saloon and two you don't see many with the 18" rims, completely agree regards no torque and having to rev its arse off and I just literally ended up hating mine, and the only thing I missed when I sold it was the look of the quad pipes and the fact I could save CD`s to the hard drive.

The ironic thing was I really wanted one and I was massively excited about picking it up and hardly slept the night before, but then within a couple of weeks my dislike of it came very quickly and like someone else mentioned I just think I built the M3 up far too much in my head because of the hype and reputation of them.

The E9x M3 has so many flaws...poor brakes/poor economy/poor range/poor noise as standard/poor torque/only feels quick beyond 6k revs/feels just like any other 3 series inside/no specialness/relatively high kerb weight.

I did think it had a good chassis/LSD though. smile

toasty

7,431 posts

219 months

Tuesday 19th January 2016
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For those that had an M3 and didn't like it, I'm genuinely interested to know what they found that was better.

If it's 2 cars, one for every day and one for fun, I'd understand as I might do the same if I had the space.

If you bought the M3 new or nearly new, then you're looking in a different price bracket to me and I could see other options in the £30-60k bracket.

But for a fast all rounder available second hand for 25-30k, what are the alternatives?

C63? Lovely sound, less nimble, auto box.
RS4? Quick all weather. Uninvolving. Costly to maintain.
997.1? More sporty, less practical, bore scoring issues.
XKR/XFR? Very quick but floaty, no rear leg room in XKR.
Monaro? Bigger engine, thirstier. 'Only' a Vauxhall.
M5? Faster but heavier.

popeyewhite

19,521 posts

119 months

Tuesday 19th January 2016
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bigtime said:
The rs5 is not faster and the c63 amg 6.2 is only quicker in a straight line on a roll but has a crap gearbox.
Both the RS5 and C63 are half a second quicker to 60 and have more torque. You want a with a high revving engine that suits a track better than the road? That's an E92 M3. Best car ever? Not by a margin.