Should I buy an E46 M3 after the 535d?
Discussion
Just thinking over my next car. It won't be until November this year so lots of time to make (change) my mind up. I've been looking at various things, including S4's, C5 RS6's, Scoobies, etc. to more sensible options like A4/A5 3.0 TDI's and the like. I've also looked at E92 335i and 335d's.
If I am honest, diesel makes more sense because as a contractor I never know exactly how far I'll be travelling every day in a few months' time.
But having had an E46 330d and now the E60 535d, I can't help wanting to make a case for a petrol again. But a 20mpg petrol? Surely not.....
My Mrs raised a valid point in that an E46 wouldn't lose much, if anything in value, I wouldn't be paying £146 a month finance if I sold the E60 (it's only a few £K of it that was financed, which I could pay off in 2 months if I wanted to move it on) and that would offset the increased monthly fuel bill somewhat. That's why I am marrying this woman
The car I really want is an E92 M3. No doubt about it. I love them. But it has become clear that with us getting married this year and wanting to get a house deposit together, that's no longer a possibility at this time.
That's when it occurred to me; why not buy the E46 for now? I could run it for 12 months and then upgrade. I am certainly concerned about increasing my fuel costs, but it's an M car, and I've had various BMW's but never actually owned one. I've always wanted an M3. Surely it's something I just need to do?
The one niggling doubt that is eating away at me, is that even after suspension upgrades, I didn't feel that the 330cd was that entertaining, and I'm worried that I will feel a real sense of deja vu if I do this.
Plus the E60 is a very nice place to be..... but it won't make me grin as much on our next Euro trip as an M3 would!
Just after views and pinions really. Would it be a good move? A bad move? I have a lot of experience with BMW's and could swap out all of the suspension and bushes for new items, which I would do as a priority to get it back to its best.
I would also be tempted by the SMG version purely because I'd have to use it in traffic a lot.
If I am honest, diesel makes more sense because as a contractor I never know exactly how far I'll be travelling every day in a few months' time.
But having had an E46 330d and now the E60 535d, I can't help wanting to make a case for a petrol again. But a 20mpg petrol? Surely not.....
My Mrs raised a valid point in that an E46 wouldn't lose much, if anything in value, I wouldn't be paying £146 a month finance if I sold the E60 (it's only a few £K of it that was financed, which I could pay off in 2 months if I wanted to move it on) and that would offset the increased monthly fuel bill somewhat. That's why I am marrying this woman
The car I really want is an E92 M3. No doubt about it. I love them. But it has become clear that with us getting married this year and wanting to get a house deposit together, that's no longer a possibility at this time.
That's when it occurred to me; why not buy the E46 for now? I could run it for 12 months and then upgrade. I am certainly concerned about increasing my fuel costs, but it's an M car, and I've had various BMW's but never actually owned one. I've always wanted an M3. Surely it's something I just need to do?
The one niggling doubt that is eating away at me, is that even after suspension upgrades, I didn't feel that the 330cd was that entertaining, and I'm worried that I will feel a real sense of deja vu if I do this.
Plus the E60 is a very nice place to be..... but it won't make me grin as much on our next Euro trip as an M3 would!
Just after views and pinions really. Would it be a good move? A bad move? I have a lot of experience with BMW's and could swap out all of the suspension and bushes for new items, which I would do as a priority to get it back to its best.
I would also be tempted by the SMG version purely because I'd have to use it in traffic a lot.
It sounds like most of your driving is slogging it out along motorways, and there is no quicker way to take the shine off a thirsty, agile and sporty car than grinding out long straight roads whilst looking for speed traps. Personally, I'd stick with the E60, but I guess that's not what you want to hear!
The fuel consumption is brutal......... But if you can afford it for a year then go for it. I have just scratched the long term E46 itch and for a12year old car it is fantastic . Use mine as a daily which involves traffic and do not find the SMG an issue. Buy a good one well and you may even make money as prices seem to be creeping up.
If it were me I'd probably buy a Golf Mk4 Tdi of some sort for the commute and keep the M3 as a weekend car sort of set up.
Could get a decent Mk4 Tdi for £1.2-£1.5k, insurance say £500 so £2k all in. I'm sure the fuel saving 50mpg vs 25mpg would go a long way to covering that over the year? Then again you'd spend most of your time in a Golf as opposed to an E46 M3, but adding miles on might damage the M3 value more than you'd hope? Plus the consumables are what 3-4 times the price of the golf?
Could get a decent Mk4 Tdi for £1.2-£1.5k, insurance say £500 so £2k all in. I'm sure the fuel saving 50mpg vs 25mpg would go a long way to covering that over the year? Then again you'd spend most of your time in a Golf as opposed to an E46 M3, but adding miles on might damage the M3 value more than you'd hope? Plus the consumables are what 3-4 times the price of the golf?
lewisf182 said:
If it were me I'd probably buy a Golf Mk4 Tdi of some sort for the commute and keep the M3 as a weekend car sort of set up.
Could get a decent Mk4 Tdi for £1.2-£1.5k, insurance say £500 so £2k all in. I'm sure the fuel saving 50mpg vs 25mpg would go a long way to covering that over the year? Then again you'd spend most of your time in a Golf as opposed to an E46 M3, but adding miles on might damage the M3 value more than you'd hope? Plus the consumables are what 3-4 times the price of the golf?
What he said! I ran my TVR Chimaera as a daily once. It was OK, but this makes much more sense.Could get a decent Mk4 Tdi for £1.2-£1.5k, insurance say £500 so £2k all in. I'm sure the fuel saving 50mpg vs 25mpg would go a long way to covering that over the year? Then again you'd spend most of your time in a Golf as opposed to an E46 M3, but adding miles on might damage the M3 value more than you'd hope? Plus the consumables are what 3-4 times the price of the golf?
I share the contractor thing... A friend of mine has done it the right way IMO. He has a nice car, an impractical fun car and a 'dont-give-a-s
t-about-car'. The 'dont-give-a-st-about-car' is a corsa van which Im pretty sure he puts through his business. Never know which car he'll turn up in (mix daily) and not all are taxed at the same time but he says when he gets back in the fast car he appreciates it but that the corsa van costs nothing to run appreciates the ability to save on fuel and leave it parked anywhere. I sort have the same thing with SWMBO's (*cough* 'dont-give-a-st-about-car') car which I use to turn up at clients where I need to pretend Im a financially struggling, poverty stricken contractor lol
t-about-car'. The 'dont-give-a-st-about-car' is a corsa van which Im pretty sure he puts through his business. Never know which car he'll turn up in (mix daily) and not all are taxed at the same time but he says when he gets back in the fast car he appreciates it but that the corsa van costs nothing to run appreciates the ability to save on fuel and leave it parked anywhere. I sort have the same thing with SWMBO's (*cough* 'dont-give-a-st-about-car') car which I use to turn up at clients where I need to pretend Im a financially struggling, poverty stricken contractor lol Edited by economicpygmy on Tuesday 28th January 10:00
lewisf182 said:
If it were me I'd probably buy a Golf Mk4 Tdi of some sort for the commute and keep the M3 as a weekend car sort of set up.
Could get a decent Mk4 Tdi for £1.2-£1.5k, insurance say £500 so £2k all in. I'm sure the fuel saving 50mpg vs 25mpg would go a long way to covering that over the year? Then again you'd spend most of your time in a Golf as opposed to an E46 M3, but adding miles on might damage the M3 value more than you'd hope? Plus the consumables are what 3-4 times the price of the golf?
You do make a very valid point, actually. Putting lots of miles on would hurt. Plus the M3 would feel more special this way. Could get a decent Mk4 Tdi for £1.2-£1.5k, insurance say £500 so £2k all in. I'm sure the fuel saving 50mpg vs 25mpg would go a long way to covering that over the year? Then again you'd spend most of your time in a Golf as opposed to an E46 M3, but adding miles on might damage the M3 value more than you'd hope? Plus the consumables are what 3-4 times the price of the golf?
I'll have a think about this. Could I get a decent M3 for £8k nowadays?
TroubledSoul said:
Suppose it depends where I am after this contract ends in June, but I'm not worried by the commute.
Leeds to Huddersfield, and vice versa on the M62 never put me off my MR2 turbo
I need to do some reading on the SMG by the sounds of it.
Luxury man.....I used to do that commute in a 1990 Mini 30 - 998cc's of pure sex.Leeds to Huddersfield, and vice versa on the M62 never put me off my MR2 turbo
I need to do some reading on the SMG by the sounds of it.
economicpygmy said:
I share the contractor thing... A friend of mine has done it the right way IMO. He has a nice car, an impractical fun car and a 'dont-give-a-st-about-car'. The 'dont-give-a-st-about-car' is a corsa van which Im pretty sure he puts through his business. Never know which car he'll turn up in (mix daily) and not all are taxed at the same time but he says when he gets back in the fast car he appreciates it but that the corsa van costs nothing to run appreciates the ability to save on fuel and leave it parked anywhere. I sort have the same thing with SWMBO's (*cough* 'dont-give-a-st-about-car') car which I use to turn up at clients where I need to pretend Im a financially struggling, poverty stricken contractor lol
A van through the business..... Now there's an idea. Will look at that too. I'd quite like to sideline in IT Recycling if I can find it a viable evening/weekend operation, and a van would be great for that. t-about-car'. The 'dont-give-a-st-about-car' is a corsa van which Im pretty sure he puts through his business. Never know which car he'll turn up in (mix daily) and not all are taxed at the same time but he says when he gets back in the fast car he appreciates it but that the corsa van costs nothing to run appreciates the ability to save on fuel and leave it parked anywhere. I sort have the same thing with SWMBO's (*cough* 'dont-give-a-st-about-car') car which I use to turn up at clients where I need to pretend Im a financially struggling, poverty stricken contractor lol Edited by economicpygmy on Tuesday 28th January 10:00
They usually have s
t fuel economy though dave_s13 said:
Luxury man.....I used to do that commute in a 1990 Mini 30 - 998cc's of pure sex.
Ouch! e46 M3 is anything but dull. I bought one last year. It's savage, BMW got it spot on. And the sound has not been matched by a beemer since. On a long motorway run you can see 30mpg, everyday expect 24-25. Only slight thing I don't like about it is a slight lack of steering feel. Mine is a low mileagle example, and it feels and still smells brand new.
My daily is 330d which on a motorway, I would pick over the m3 anyday. More comfy, more low end torque. M3 needs revving to acheive the power, which makes it feel like a real straight six racer. If you can justify a motorway cruiser and an M3...
Do it! It didnt make sense for me at the time. Already ran two cars, expensive to insure, no where to park it. But you make allowances, and you make it work!
My daily is 330d which on a motorway, I would pick over the m3 anyday. More comfy, more low end torque. M3 needs revving to acheive the power, which makes it feel like a real straight six racer. If you can justify a motorway cruiser and an M3...
Do it! It didnt make sense for me at the time. Already ran two cars, expensive to insure, no where to park it. But you make allowances, and you make it work!
Edited by Trtj on Tuesday 28th January 11:30
Polarbert said:
I was under the impression that the SMG wasn't the best in stop start traffic situations. I'm sure there wouldn't be any major problems, but I would have thought that third pedal would make it a lot better for longevity. Might not matter for a year though.
Took me about a week to really get the hang of SMG and during that week I thought I had made a terrible mistake. Now however I love it. It's just a new style of driving to learn. See if you can be taken out in an SMG car by someone who knows how to use it.I've been out and about in my manual car today and really missed having my paddles.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff