RE: BMW M3 Competition (G80) | PH Used Buying Guide

[9k rpm]

Seriously contemplating an M3 Touring as my next vehicle (will be in a couple of years), good to see there don’t seem to be too many issues with them and compared to those for my 911 the servicing cost look very reasonable. I can live with the grille it’s definitely grown on me. Be interesting to see if they depreciate a fair bit as I think they are too strong money at the moment.

[Water Fairy]

Unforgivable weight aside I quite like these.

[boozyjay]

Angelo1985 said:

Surely a great machine. I’ll have the Alfa, thank you.

Or a B3 Touring.

[ZX10R NIN]

Good cars but I can't get past the looks, for me it's not grown on me at all.

[CG2020UK]

Absolutely brilliant cars!

Only drove the saloon but I’m a massive fan.

In the flesh they look really well with serious road presence.

[JAMSXR]

Came very close to getting one as my occasional daily. It’s a fantastic car but I could never get over the looks, it’s not even the grill, but to my eyes no panel really flows into the next across the whole car.

[pheonix478]

Nope. One of the very few cars that looks even worse in the flesh than on paper. The crease in the rear arch to accommodate the standard door is a particularly st highlight that I can never not see. Front overhang is really weird for a 3 series too. Yuk.

Edited by pheonix478 on Sunday 21st April 14:49

[stuart100]

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

[Mouse Rat]

I had a look at these before getting the Alfa.
Apart from the terrible gill it's very good and basically a brutally fast 3 series.
The Alfa is more like a 4 door sports car.

[hu8742]

I'm getting v. interested in the Touring. Strangely, the grill itself has grown on me, it's just slapping a UK number plate across it that looks stupid.

[pheonix478]

stuart100 said:

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

Even from the side the front is a mess and the rear looks like its having some kind of prolapse.

[Scott-R]

I spent a few days driving the M4 a year ago up in Arjeplog. It was a fantastic experience, but the carbon seats were an absolute pain to get in and out of, even as a relatively slim person, and in the M4, I felt like you were driving some sort of reverse oil tanker. I was very aware of how much length and weight was following me around as I bounced off snowbanks. As a previous M2C owner, it reenforced to me I have no interest in modern M cars, even as a huge BMW fan

[stuart100]

pheonix478 said:

stuart100 said:

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

Even from the side the front is a mess and the rear looks like its having some kind of prolapse.

Agree. E46 is beautiful. Love the E9xs too. E36 ok in its day. But I’ll never love this.

[stuart100]

pheonix478 said:

stuart100 said:

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

Even from the side the front is a mess and the rear looks like its having some kind of prolapse.

Agree. E46 is beautiful. Love the E9xs too. E36 ok in its day. But I’ll never love this.

[ChrisCh86]

It's still an ugly thing (and time has not dampened my view on the matter), however competent the overall package is.

I'd much rather have an Alfa QF instead, which although not as fast (or competent) is something I'd love to have on the driveway.

[Skaben]

pheonix478 said:

stuart100 said:

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

Even from the side the front is a mess and the rear looks like its having some kind of prolapse.

You forgot the side, the weird crease that runs through the front door and partway through the back door looks odd to me. The positives are the engine and I like that green colour. More cars should be green

[cerb4.5lee]

pheonix478 said:

stuart100 said:

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

Even from the side the front is a mess and the rear looks like its having some kind of prolapse.

That isn't a fair comparison though is it anyway? Most 4 door cars look crap in comparison to 2 door cars for me in fairness.

I like the green for sure, but personally I'd never buy a 4 door M3 over a 2 door M4(Taxi anyone?! ). 4 doors always shout boring family cars to me, whereas 2 door cars are a different kettle of fish for me in comparison.

So that might explain why I currently have three 2 door cars and only one 4 door car to be fair!

[rassi]

I started out hating the grille, bought a M3 Touring last October and in black it looks great, much more interesting than the anonymous and generic standard front.

The article didn’t address the difference that full leather makes to the upscale feeling, or the heated debate on Idrive 7 vs 8.

Brilliant car, the G81 Touring is the perfect one car all rounder

[stuart100]

Skaben said:

pheonix478 said:

stuart100 said:

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

Even from the side the front is a mess and the rear looks like its having some kind of prolapse.

You forgot the side, the weird crease that runs through the front door and partway through the back door looks odd to me. The positives are the engine and I like that green colour. More cars should be green

Yes I talked about the front and back only. That’s enough! But yes I don’t like the side either! It’s looks awkward altogether especially joining the back and front together.

[stuart100]

cerb4.5lee said:

pheonix478 said:

stuart100 said:

For me the front doesn’t look like it goes with the back of the car. Different ends I know. The back looks like a Lexus and the front looks like a I don’t know what.

Even from the side the front is a mess and the rear looks like its having some kind of prolapse.

That isn't a fair comparison though is it anyway? Most 4 door cars look crap in comparison to 2 door cars for me in fairness.

I like the green for sure, but personally I'd never buy a 4 door M3 over a 2 door M4(Taxi anyone?! ). 4 doors always shout boring family cars to me, whereas 2 door cars are a different kettle of fish for me in comparison.

So that might explain why I currently have three 2 door cars and only one 4 door car to be fair!

Totally agree on the 4 door cars.