Talk me out of an E92 M3…
Discussion
I currently have an E63 630i as my "sensible daily," which I bought just over a year ago but I have decided that it's really far too sensible for me and as I work from home, don't have any sort of commute and only use my car 2-3 days a week I could probably stomach the M3 running costs.
I was also looking at F8x M3/M4s but they're too much for me to comfortably spend on a car plus still have a lot of depreciating to do; F10 M5 is awesome but just too big for me; M235i/240i possibly a better all-rounder, but more expensive to buy and I've had a 118d and 120d so don't really fancy another F2x model; E92 335i, fantastic, another favourite of mine, more torque and lots of tuning potential, but not an M3.
I keep coming back to the E92 M3 and am struggling to think of reasons not to buy one - I've driven a number over the years, have always enjoyed them immensely and have always struggled to hand the keys back, plus I feel like the fact it would only get driven from time-to-time means it wouldn't ever start to feel dull or stale. People cite the lack of torque and need to use the revs as negatives, which I understand, but my 630i only makes a peaky 258hp and a lowly 232lb ft of torque and it feels fine to me, so a 160hp and 60lb ft increase would feel like a big jump in performance and muscle.
So, any reasons not to buy one…?!
I was also looking at F8x M3/M4s but they're too much for me to comfortably spend on a car plus still have a lot of depreciating to do; F10 M5 is awesome but just too big for me; M235i/240i possibly a better all-rounder, but more expensive to buy and I've had a 118d and 120d so don't really fancy another F2x model; E92 335i, fantastic, another favourite of mine, more torque and lots of tuning potential, but not an M3.
I keep coming back to the E92 M3 and am struggling to think of reasons not to buy one - I've driven a number over the years, have always enjoyed them immensely and have always struggled to hand the keys back, plus I feel like the fact it would only get driven from time-to-time means it wouldn't ever start to feel dull or stale. People cite the lack of torque and need to use the revs as negatives, which I understand, but my 630i only makes a peaky 258hp and a lowly 232lb ft of torque and it feels fine to me, so a 160hp and 60lb ft increase would feel like a big jump in performance and muscle.
So, any reasons not to buy one…?!
Buffy d said:
I currently have an E63 630i as my "sensible daily," which I bought just over a year ago but I have decided that it's really far too sensible for me and as I work from home, don't have any sort of commute and only use my car 2-3 days a week I could probably stomach the M3 running costs.
I was also looking at F8x M3/M4s but they're too much for me to comfortably spend on a car plus still have a lot of depreciating to do; F10 M5 is awesome but just too big for me; M235i/240i possibly a better all-rounder, but more expensive to buy and I've had a 118d and 120d so don't really fancy another F2x model; E92 335i, fantastic, another favourite of mine, more torque and lots of tuning potential, but not an M3.
I keep coming back to the E92 M3 and am struggling to think of reasons not to buy one - I've driven a number over the years, have always enjoyed them immensely and have always struggled to hand the keys back, plus I feel like the fact it would only get driven from time-to-time means it wouldn't ever start to feel dull or stale. People cite the lack of torque and need to use the revs as negatives, which I understand, but my 630i only makes a peaky 258hp and a lowly 232lb ft of torque and it feels fine to me, so a 160hp and 60lb ft increase would feel like a big jump in performance and muscle.
So, any reasons not to buy one…?!
Having swapped , 2 years ago, from a 335i (great car, indeed) to a E46 M3 , I really don't see how revving a car out is a negative! I was also looking at F8x M3/M4s but they're too much for me to comfortably spend on a car plus still have a lot of depreciating to do; F10 M5 is awesome but just too big for me; M235i/240i possibly a better all-rounder, but more expensive to buy and I've had a 118d and 120d so don't really fancy another F2x model; E92 335i, fantastic, another favourite of mine, more torque and lots of tuning potential, but not an M3.
I keep coming back to the E92 M3 and am struggling to think of reasons not to buy one - I've driven a number over the years, have always enjoyed them immensely and have always struggled to hand the keys back, plus I feel like the fact it would only get driven from time-to-time means it wouldn't ever start to feel dull or stale. People cite the lack of torque and need to use the revs as negatives, which I understand, but my 630i only makes a peaky 258hp and a lowly 232lb ft of torque and it feels fine to me, so a 160hp and 60lb ft increase would feel like a big jump in performance and muscle.
So, any reasons not to buy one…?!
Watch my favorite E92 M3 video , FF to 2 mins 47 if you lack time, listen, go buy one.
https://youtu.be/dFva5Z8hio8
Buffy d said:
So, any reasons not to buy one…?!
Poor brakes, apart from the seats the interior is exactly the same as a 318d. Not much happens performance wise until 6000rpm, thirst and range aren't great. Too quiet for a V8 as standard, rod bearing worries and actuators fail, plus a poor torque to weight ratio for a V8. 
The chassis and induction noise are brilliant though.
Buffy d said:
So, any reasons not to buy one…?!
None. JFDI.It is frankly a superb engine - perhaps the last of the proper high-revving M powertrains before the turbos took over. Loads of character, and fun getting to know how to extract the most from it.
I owned two - a manual pre-LCI and a DCT LCI. Personally, I'd take the latter: the DCT box really suits the engine, IMHO.
I'd own another in a heartbeat.
cerb4.5lee said:
Poor brakes, apart from the seats the interior is exactly the same as a 318d. Not much happens performance wise until 6000rpm, thirst and range aren't great. Too quiet for a V8 as standard, rod bearing worries and actuators fail, plus a poor torque to weight ratio for a V8.
The chassis and induction noise are brilliant though.
Rubbish. There is plenty of performance below 6k rpm.. you just need to use the right hand pedal more, especially with it being such long travel. Interior is nothing like a 318D and and the rod bearing issues affect such a small % of car's it is nothing to worry about. The actuators, yes.. but with the likes of rebuild.org these can be done for £450. The chassis and induction noise are brilliant though.
The car is all about the engine and the way it makes you feel special every time you drive it and it's performance when driven at 10/10's is sublime, handling and balance are amazing.. plus the noise! 3 months of ownership and revving out to 8.4k rpm still sends a shiver down my spine.
MPG.. less said about this and the size of the tank the better!! :-/
It depends on what you are used to and what you want from a car. It never felt "special" to me. Too heavy, too refined, too smooth, too quiet, too heavy. Too normal. Engine was lovely but weight really blunted the performance.
If you want a practical 4 seater car that can get a shift on then it's maybe a good call. I was looking for something exciting, something that felt an event to drive and it was never that.
I daresay when they get cheaper you could make a brilliant project car out of one.
If you want a practical 4 seater car that can get a shift on then it's maybe a good call. I was looking for something exciting, something that felt an event to drive and it was never that.
I daresay when they get cheaper you could make a brilliant project car out of one.
Jez m said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Poor brakes, apart from the seats the interior is exactly the same as a 318d. Not much happens performance wise until 6000rpm, thirst and range aren't great. Too quiet for a V8 as standard, rod bearing worries and actuators fail, plus a poor torque to weight ratio for a V8.
The chassis and induction noise are brilliant though.
Rubbish. There is plenty of performance below 6k rpm.. The chassis and induction noise are brilliant though.
As time goes by the E92 M3 is becoming more and more sought after with it being the last high rev N/A engined M/// car. Enjoy yours.
Baron von Teuchter said:
It depends on what you are used to and what you want from a car. It never felt "special" to me. Too heavy, too refined, too smooth, too quiet, too heavy. Too normal. Engine was lovely but weight really blunted the performance.
Exactly this for me. I think if I'd not had other V8's and not had a quicker car previously it may have wormed its way into my affections more. Day to day the E92 M3 didn't feel any more special than the E90 330d I'd had before it for me. PJS917 said:
The tank is too small and the manual 6th should be an overdrive. Otherwise, [b]for what they are designed to
do[/b], there is no better.
Yeah that's the crux of it. OP, work out if that's what you need in a car. Drive one, you might love it, you might find it a bit...dull.do[/b], there is no better.
Cerb is right, I must admit I did think he was the odd one out when i was looking for mine and had threads going, but he is correct (Cerb, youre a 'he' right??). I thought f
k him he had a bad experience but you know what everything he said in my threads was spot on really. And its not all negative.
Let me say its not a car I'd want as a weekend car at all. I'd take a lotus for that. But then if you needed 1 car and 4 seats where do you go at this price point?
Weight is its biggest flaw, its a bit too heavy for the engine's power and torque output, too heavy for the brakes to be worked hard. Little too heavy for the handling. And it can leave me wanting sometimes and wondering if I made a mistake buying it. Its also diabolical on fuel, but then I am used to sub-20 mpg, If I had a 60mpg 320d going to an E92 M3 I think I'd be physically sick.
Not to say its not brilliant, they say its a jack of all trades master of none and it is really. The engine is special too but if you're used to a turbo then the S65 will then take some getting used to. Its still a genuinely fast car 10+ years on as well, but youll find a 235i/240i/125d will keep up until about 6000rpm, but at that point on the M3 has the legs. It does need some space to stretch its legs, where as a Megane RS would pull hard from low down and be usable in smaller spaces (think a congested commute to work) the M3 might leave you really frustrated.
Exhaust is too quiet, too.
I think if I was to buy one again I'd look to reduce the weight by removing the interior, putting it on coilovers with a decent road setup and having a decent exhaust system put in it. New seats, maybe pole positions or something.
Consider resale too, the E92 M3 is at a funny time of life at the moment, especially considering the dire running costs required to fuel it, service it, put tyres on it and tax it. Some cars are getting toward the £10k mark now although they will be dogs, theres a thread on M3Cutters atm on it being a buyers market - have a read.
k him he had a bad experience but you know what everything he said in my threads was spot on really. And its not all negative.Let me say its not a car I'd want as a weekend car at all. I'd take a lotus for that. But then if you needed 1 car and 4 seats where do you go at this price point?
Weight is its biggest flaw, its a bit too heavy for the engine's power and torque output, too heavy for the brakes to be worked hard. Little too heavy for the handling. And it can leave me wanting sometimes and wondering if I made a mistake buying it. Its also diabolical on fuel, but then I am used to sub-20 mpg, If I had a 60mpg 320d going to an E92 M3 I think I'd be physically sick.
Not to say its not brilliant, they say its a jack of all trades master of none and it is really. The engine is special too but if you're used to a turbo then the S65 will then take some getting used to. Its still a genuinely fast car 10+ years on as well, but youll find a 235i/240i/125d will keep up until about 6000rpm, but at that point on the M3 has the legs. It does need some space to stretch its legs, where as a Megane RS would pull hard from low down and be usable in smaller spaces (think a congested commute to work) the M3 might leave you really frustrated.
Exhaust is too quiet, too.
I think if I was to buy one again I'd look to reduce the weight by removing the interior, putting it on coilovers with a decent road setup and having a decent exhaust system put in it. New seats, maybe pole positions or something.
Consider resale too, the E92 M3 is at a funny time of life at the moment, especially considering the dire running costs required to fuel it, service it, put tyres on it and tax it. Some cars are getting toward the £10k mark now although they will be dogs, theres a thread on M3Cutters atm on it being a buyers market - have a read.
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