Is a e30 m3 worth 40k more than 325is?
Discussion
One obvious difference is M3 is LHD only as I found out when I did a driving day at Thruxton. Hated the E30 M3 experience I had as an early 20-something as Thruxton was too high speed for a learning or experience drive and the gear stick on the wrong side made for some painful crunching noises and an irate instructor. 325is for me all the way, nicer engine sound and strip out if you want 70/80% of an M3?
mekondelta said:
One obvious difference is M3 is LHD only as I found out when I did a driving day at Thruxton. Hated the E30 M3 experience I had as an early 20-something as Thruxton was too high speed for a learning or experience drive and the gear stick on the wrong side made for some painful crunching noises and an irate instructor. 325is for me all the way, nicer engine sound and strip out if you want 70/80% of an M3?
LHD is fine and with the E30 being the small car it is makes it easier to get used to.The added benefit of the E30 M3 (and any LHD E30 for that matter) is the brake feel. The RHD cars have a long brake linkage which leads to an initial dead feel to the brake pedal on application where as the LHD brake pedal is direct into the back of the servo so has a much better feel to it.
LHD and the dog leg gear box were always a criticism of the E30 M3 for the UK market but really once you’ve spent a day or so behind the wheel most people are fine with it.
The only real draw back in the UK is overtaking in single carriageways.
BSSBMW said:
LHD and the dog leg gear box were always a criticism of the E30 M3 for the UK market but really once you’ve spent a day or so behind the wheel most people are fine with it.
The only real draw back in the UK is overtaking in single carriageways.
^This.The only real draw back in the UK is overtaking in single carriageways.
Driving a manual LHD car is actually nicer than RHD as the gearbox throw across the gate works the correct way, especially coming down the box, even more so on a dog-leg box.
As you say, only issue in UK is overtaking on narrow roads (and yes I have spent time at the wheel of a LHD E30 M3 on UK roads)
aeropilot said:
BSSBMW said:
LHD and the dog leg gear box were always a criticism of the E30 M3 for the UK market but really once you’ve spent a day or so behind the wheel most people are fine with it.
The only real draw back in the UK is overtaking in single carriageways.
^This.The only real draw back in the UK is overtaking in single carriageways.
Driving a manual LHD car is actually nicer than RHD as the gearbox throw across the gate works the correct way, especially coming down the box, even more so on a dog-leg box.
As you say, only issue in UK is overtaking on narrow roads (and yes I have spent time at the wheel of a LHD E30 M3 on UK roads)
As for the M3 vs 325 thing, I have owned, run as a daily and competed in both. I really like both too. I love the M3 though. It's just the most special E30 (to me) and a car that really gets under your skin. That said, it's a car you have to learn and (I mean no offence / insult here) it's a car many of its detractors just haven't driven to its full potential. Especially when it comes to getting to the heart of the s14 engine. It's a race engine and needs to be driven like one. Regularly pulling past 7.5k revs just isn't something a lot of people will readily do.
I'm biased though...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCY66GT2o70&t=...
Sadly I had to sell my M3 late last year. Sods law that I landed my current job a couple of months later, which would most likely have allowed me to keep it. It's the best car I have ever owned and I still miss it terribly. I have been lucky enough to own 4 or 5 E30 M3, including Chris Harris' rally car, but short of a lottery win, I will never own another and that's disappointing. I'm building an M3 inspired 02 instead though. Lightweight, twin cam power on ITB's and iconic looks.
Oh and LHD.
Gratuitous M3 pic. ;(
Edited by 1602Mark on Saturday 24th August 18:43
Edited by 1602Mark on Saturday 24th August 19:25
Touring442 said:
The 325i was nice, but the M3 was completely different. I had a Sport Evo 20 years ago, and plenty of 325i's.
They're so different that you can't compare them. If I couldn't stretch to an M3, I'd be looking something like a low mileage 1/2 owner R26 Megane - a pretty serious weapon in its day and far more of an E30 M3 type car.
Why did you have multiple cars ofcthe same Male model and spec? They're so different that you can't compare them. If I couldn't stretch to an M3, I'd be looking something like a low mileage 1/2 owner R26 Megane - a pretty serious weapon in its day and far more of an E30 M3 type car.
Did you buy them and run into the ground for the next chap or a pre OCP era PCP fanboy?
Loads of 325is and sport evos
I drove a mint low mileage e30 m3 back in the mid 90s then a 944 turbo an hour later. The m3 had so much more steering feedback than the Porsche but the latter would blow it into the cobwebs performance wise.
Which would I have now?
The bm.
It's the reason why I can't part with my 205 gti. My 911 would eat it for breakfast but the 205 is so much more fun.co
I'd suggest the m3 over a sport but would the value spoil the fun. Probably.
Which would I have now?
The bm.
It's the reason why I can't part with my 205 gti. My 911 would eat it for breakfast but the 205 is so much more fun.co
I'd suggest the m3 over a sport but would the value spoil the fun. Probably.
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