Siko's Alpin Weiss M3 V8
Discussion
After nearly two years of owning this lovely Mini Cooper S:
Covered in this thread along with a few others:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I started hankering after a proper performance car again....since my 996 blew up I've had a major itch to scratch and a hot hatch just didn't cut it anymore to me.I started looking at all the usual 4 -seater suspects before settling on a used E92 V8 M3 with the simply phenomenal Dual Clutch Transmission. What sold the E92 to me, on top of the incredible performance, test drive and reputation for reliability, was the ease and relative low cost of continuing with a BMW warranty. Having shelled out for a 996 engine I have shied away from anything sporty out of warranty, so it was a total no-brainer for me.
So the hunt started and it quickly became apparent that good examples from a dealer sell really, really quickly. I test drove one and looked at a few others, almost all of which sold within a few days of hitting the website. In the end I was offered a car which was awaiting prep and not publicly offered up for sale, with an extremely high spec, low mileage (24k) and in mint condition. The deal was done subject to test drive and on turning up for my drive was greeted by this in full on Drug Dealer/Hairdresser spec (delete as required
):
Wow......absolutely stunned and coming from a Mini it was like jumping into a spaceship lol
Needless to say the sales was very quickly concluded and I jumped in and took her home, anyway, here are some more pics of my new beastie:
So what is it like to drive? Absolutely out of this world
I can't believe how effortlessly it just does.....anything. I've driven it in stop/start motorway traffic, city centres, motorways, country roads etc and it just monsters whatever you ask of it. In town driving just leave the transmission in auto and it's as easy to drive as a diesel automatic, cruising along the motorway and see a gap....just floor it in Auto and you get the full 420()bhp. But....when you get to the country lanes and press that fabulous 'M' button.....the cars character changes again....suspension lowers and hardens, throttle response sharpens, gear shift speed increases and the flappy paddles go 'active'. It's actually quite a lazy cruiser in full 'Auto' mode but press the M button and it becomes a full on nutty head case! Coming from a hot hatch it is very different, obviously, but it is also very different to my old 996. If I'm honest it feels not as agile to drive as the 996, not as tactile, but I think it is far quicker cross country and has a style all of its own. It burbles like an American V8 muscle car and feels planted and heavy to me, but still responsive and fun, just effortlessly capable.....like I imagine a racing muscle car would feel like.....if that makes sense? Probably not but what the heck 
Anyway, I'm a fan of good design and I have a theory that if something is designed right then you shouldn't need to read the manual for normal usage...ie Iphone etc. The CIC system is excellent and everything from connecting Bluetooth to entering waypoints in the Satnav or changing the 'M' settings comes very easily and intuitively. It's surprisingly comfy and as its a 3 series bodyshell it fits 4 adults comfortably, as opposed to my 996, which didn't. Pretty much the only thing I don't like about the interior is the seat-beat hander things that are supposed to catch the belt and pass it to you.....they're rubbish and only seem to work half the time!
As you can tell, I absolutely love the E92 and I think this is the start of a long relationship with my first BMW (Mini aside!) and definitely my first M car......it just does everything perfectly, for me. The only problem I've found aside from the seat belt thing is that I am spending a simply stupid amount of time here:
I've owned the car for nearly two weeks now and it's telling me I'm getting 22mpg.....I think it's more like 15-18
but, it's worth it 
Thanks for reading....mods to come include the exhaust oem mod and possibly the black wheels....
Covered in this thread along with a few others:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I started hankering after a proper performance car again....since my 996 blew up I've had a major itch to scratch and a hot hatch just didn't cut it anymore to me.I started looking at all the usual 4 -seater suspects before settling on a used E92 V8 M3 with the simply phenomenal Dual Clutch Transmission. What sold the E92 to me, on top of the incredible performance, test drive and reputation for reliability, was the ease and relative low cost of continuing with a BMW warranty. Having shelled out for a 996 engine I have shied away from anything sporty out of warranty, so it was a total no-brainer for me.
So the hunt started and it quickly became apparent that good examples from a dealer sell really, really quickly. I test drove one and looked at a few others, almost all of which sold within a few days of hitting the website. In the end I was offered a car which was awaiting prep and not publicly offered up for sale, with an extremely high spec, low mileage (24k) and in mint condition. The deal was done subject to test drive and on turning up for my drive was greeted by this in full on Drug Dealer/Hairdresser spec (delete as required
):Wow......absolutely stunned and coming from a Mini it was like jumping into a spaceship lol
Needless to say the sales was very quickly concluded and I jumped in and took her home, anyway, here are some more pics of my new beastie:So what is it like to drive? Absolutely out of this world
I can't believe how effortlessly it just does.....anything. I've driven it in stop/start motorway traffic, city centres, motorways, country roads etc and it just monsters whatever you ask of it. In town driving just leave the transmission in auto and it's as easy to drive as a diesel automatic, cruising along the motorway and see a gap....just floor it in Auto and you get the full 420()bhp. But....when you get to the country lanes and press that fabulous 'M' button.....the cars character changes again....suspension lowers and hardens, throttle response sharpens, gear shift speed increases and the flappy paddles go 'active'. It's actually quite a lazy cruiser in full 'Auto' mode but press the M button and it becomes a full on nutty head case! Coming from a hot hatch it is very different, obviously, but it is also very different to my old 996. If I'm honest it feels not as agile to drive as the 996, not as tactile, but I think it is far quicker cross country and has a style all of its own. It burbles like an American V8 muscle car and feels planted and heavy to me, but still responsive and fun, just effortlessly capable.....like I imagine a racing muscle car would feel like.....if that makes sense? Probably not but what the heck Anyway, I'm a fan of good design and I have a theory that if something is designed right then you shouldn't need to read the manual for normal usage...ie Iphone etc. The CIC system is excellent and everything from connecting Bluetooth to entering waypoints in the Satnav or changing the 'M' settings comes very easily and intuitively. It's surprisingly comfy and as its a 3 series bodyshell it fits 4 adults comfortably, as opposed to my 996, which didn't. Pretty much the only thing I don't like about the interior is the seat-beat hander things that are supposed to catch the belt and pass it to you.....they're rubbish and only seem to work half the time!
As you can tell, I absolutely love the E92 and I think this is the start of a long relationship with my first BMW (Mini aside!) and definitely my first M car......it just does everything perfectly, for me. The only problem I've found aside from the seat belt thing is that I am spending a simply stupid amount of time here:
I've owned the car for nearly two weeks now and it's telling me I'm getting 22mpg.....I think it's more like 15-18
but, it's worth it Thanks for reading....mods to come include the exhaust oem mod and possibly the black wheels....VERY nice motor. Someone round here has just bought a white e92 m3 and it looks fabulous. Hearing your enthusiasm is almost making me want to trade my e46 m3 for one....almost.
This is what m3s are supposed to be, a 3 series around town, comfortable motorway cruiser but then show them a back road and the monster appears.
Enjoy.
This is what m3s are supposed to be, a 3 series around town, comfortable motorway cruiser but then show them a back road and the monster appears.
Enjoy.
Sounds like you got lucky finding that while it was being prepared!
The BMW warranty is great. They will fix almost anything that breaks on the car without questions. Might be worst mentioning the seatbelt handover as I never had a problem in my previous E92.
If it's not too cheeky how much did you pay for it?
The BMW warranty is great. They will fix almost anything that breaks on the car without questions. Might be worst mentioning the seatbelt handover as I never had a problem in my previous E92.
If it's not too cheeky how much did you pay for it?
Thanks for the comments chaps I know Alpine White is not everyone's cup of tea and I had my heart set on Mineral White or Santorini, but when it's been detailed it looks absolutely outstanding (I think white shows the cars curves better than anything else) and given the spec and condition it was a total no brainer for me
I was quite lucky with the sale as it was nearing month end and we both wanted to complete, it was originally offered to me at £31500 when I viewed it in the yard awaiting prep. It had only just come in and unlike pretty much everything else there, it was very clean and obviously cherished. Supposedly it was owned by a chap who was getting divorced and he was in tears when he pxed it in.....maybe salesman bull but he definitely cared for it. It was nice of the garage to let me see it in the unprepped condition too
Anyway, I originally test drove another one and was also viewing yet another at same dealer, both of which sold along with an earlier car and they rang up and offered it to me after sending me the spec sheet. When I looked at the spec, I was absolutely gobsmacked as it had almost everything (barring competition pack) I wanted and it was also listed as a manual 11 plate at just under £30k. I queried this with the salesman as I had already seen the DCT and he confirmed it was a mistake but they would honour the lower price for a quick sale before month end. Obviously I snapped it up and put down a deposit subject to satisfactory test drive
I know you can get them cheaper.....but it was the best spec'd and cheapest (by about £2k) 11 plate through BMW AUC pretty much anywhere in the country. Given the condition, history, warranty and decent px I am well chuffed tbh. I put the VIN into bmw.arnchive.de and it came up with 4 pages of options! I wouldn't describe it as new, as its 4 years old, but it is pretty much mint both inside and outside.
I know Alpine White is not everyone's cup of tea and I had my heart set on Mineral White or Santorini, but when it's been detailed it looks absolutely outstanding (I think white shows the cars curves better than anything else) and given the spec and condition it was a total no brainer for me I was quite lucky with the sale as it was nearing month end and we both wanted to complete, it was originally offered to me at £31500 when I viewed it in the yard awaiting prep. It had only just come in and unlike pretty much everything else there, it was very clean and obviously cherished. Supposedly it was owned by a chap who was getting divorced and he was in tears when he pxed it in.....maybe salesman bull but he definitely cared for it. It was nice of the garage to let me see it in the unprepped condition too
Anyway, I originally test drove another one and was also viewing yet another at same dealer, both of which sold along with an earlier car and they rang up and offered it to me after sending me the spec sheet. When I looked at the spec, I was absolutely gobsmacked as it had almost everything (barring competition pack) I wanted and it was also listed as a manual 11 plate at just under £30k. I queried this with the salesman as I had already seen the DCT and he confirmed it was a mistake but they would honour the lower price for a quick sale before month end. Obviously I snapped it up and put down a deposit subject to satisfactory test drive
I know you can get them cheaper.....but it was the best spec'd and cheapest (by about £2k) 11 plate through BMW AUC pretty much anywhere in the country. Given the condition, history, warranty and decent px I am well chuffed tbh. I put the VIN into bmw.arnchive.de and it came up with 4 pages of options! I wouldn't describe it as new, as its 4 years old, but it is pretty much mint both inside and outside.
These are superb bits of kit, a mate has one (in Azurite black I think the colour is). The DCT is a superb option though when they come into my price range - if they ever do, values seem to be very steady - a manual would probably be more sensible!
The biggest thing for me was that I couldn't get over how well it rode, especially compared to a Sport spec cooking 3 series.
Enjoy it!
The biggest thing for me was that I couldn't get over how well it rode, especially compared to a Sport spec cooking 3 series.
Enjoy it!
Thank chaps Yes the ride is amazing, especially compared to that in my old MCS, I sometimes used to wonder whether they'd forgotten to put any in at all
I think you're right about the values holding steady, I've been watching for a while now and they've barely changed. High mileage >60k (expensive warranty) manuals in an undesirable colour seem to be falling but decent DCTs with lowish mileage and decent colours and specs (especially competition pack cars) seem ok. I guess the continued desirability of the E46 below and the fact the E92 is the last naturally aspirated M3 will combine to slow depreciation. Possibly
I work in the oil industry so whilst I'm loving the low oil prices when it comes to filling up the M3....the continual threat of job losses takes it away on the other hand. Must be a median point somewhere....
Yes the ride is amazing, especially compared to that in my old MCS, I sometimes used to wonder whether they'd forgotten to put any in at all I think you're right about the values holding steady, I've been watching for a while now and they've barely changed. High mileage >60k (expensive warranty) manuals in an undesirable colour seem to be falling but decent DCTs with lowish mileage and decent colours and specs (especially competition pack cars) seem ok. I guess the continued desirability of the E46 below and the fact the E92 is the last naturally aspirated M3 will combine to slow depreciation. Possibly
I work in the oil industry so whilst I'm loving the low oil prices when it comes to filling up the M3....the continual threat of job losses takes it away on the other hand. Must be a median point somewhere....
yonex said:
Fantastic car, that engine is a peach. The thing I noticed was just how much vibration and noise it made, unless the one I drove was a bit odd. It's like a big ball of energy trying to escape
You're quite right: the engine is bloody amazing, a beautiful stunning peach of an engine in fact Must admit I haven't noticed the vibration too much, although when cold it's rumbly and rough until it's warm, when it goes silky smooth. It does roar a bit when you floor it (OEM exhaust, not modded....yet) and 'wuffles' in normal driving, which is lovely I know why Maclaren put a BMW engine in the F1.....they just do..engines!
Keep the warranty going is my advice after my mates would have cost him over £25k in bills in 3 years ownership, if he didn't. Great cars and sound fab. My MD has a Milltek back box on his , which he fitted himself, so not too difficult and sounds even more epic. My mates managed about 18 mpg , which he didn't mind, as his boss supplied the fuel card !
I was never a fan of the E92 when it first came out, the E46 just seemed so right. Yet now having seen the M4, heard one and read about them extensively I now look fondly back toward the E92 and realise what a great car it is. The only thing that puts me off is the range, how many miles can you realistically get out of a full tank?
Hi mate, must admit I've not run one to empty yet. There's a thread on M3cutters about this very issue and people seem to be getting 250-280miles/tank. One hardy soul even managed 30mpg on a 70mph cruise along the motorway!
I would agree with you about the E46.....what a car, I absolutely love them too. I'm hoping that the 'last of the breed' halo effect of the E92 will keep values up/slow depreciation, a bit like the 993/996. Knowing my luck the values will tank now I've bought one However, I've bought it for fun, not as an asset
I would agree with you about the E46.....what a car, I absolutely love them too. I'm hoping that the 'last of the breed' halo effect of the E92 will keep values up/slow depreciation, a bit like the 993/996. Knowing my luck the values will tank now I've bought one
However, I've bought it for fun, not as an asset Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff