Stepping down from an M3 e92

[DUBS73P]

I finally finished off my list of attainable cars to own when I bought my M3, 3 months later, I’m pretty sick of the fuel light lol

I knew it would be bad but £50 a week to do just over 100 miles (short journeys) is getting tiresome alongside the insurance (I’m 24) and tax

I’m considering stepping back down a bit already but I don’t really know what to be looking at now

Previous cars have been 2x Clio 182, Clio 200 Cup, Megane R26, Megane 250 Cup, S2000, Z4 Coupe

What would you be looking at next? I still have my coupe at the moment and even considering going back to that as my daily

[matthias73]

I'd be looking at getting a daily run about and saving the m for the weekend...

[Shore]

Sell the coupe and run the M3 for a year. Enjoy it and then sell it on.

[ZX10R NIN]

+1 to the above

[Mr Tidy]

ZX10R NIN said:

+1 to the above

I'd do something else - if the fuel light coming on annoys you then your car just doesn't give you enough of a buzz!

The fuel light came on in my E86 last week - just means it needs a drink! I'm happy to fill it up because I love driving it!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 16th October 01:13

[ensignia]

Ford Fiesta EcoBoost.

[Plate spinner]

Take a year off and go shedding.

[SidewaysSi]

Using a big heavy car with a big engine on a commute is frustrating if you are worried about costs. Plenty of better cars out there for the job.

For instance, an older, smaller, lighter BMW would be far more fun.

[Jefferson Steelflex]

Sensible hat on - you need to have the right car for your commute and none of your current 2 fits that bill. I don’t know what a short commute every day is doing to your M3 but I doubt it’s beneficial.

Of the 2, use the coupe for the commute, but consider shipping that on and getting a small petrol hatchback for the commute. I sure there are plenty of decent hot hatches around that would suit.

Having been there, I know the hardest thing in that scenario is the feeling you need to explain to everyone “this is my other car”, but if you can get over the self-awareness you’ll benefit from enjoying your M3 again as the weekend car.

[MRobbins1987]

M135i with a few upgrades, easily achieve 30 to the gallon and will be better around town etc. You will lose a degree of theatre in the process but if you aren't enjoying the M it's probably best to move it on.

[anonymous-user]

MRobbins1987 said:

M135i with a few upgrades, easily achieve 30 to the gallon and will be better around town etc. You will lose a degree of theatre in the process but if you aren't enjoying the M it's probably best to move it on.

I don't know about the OPs commute, however the M135/40 isn't going to hit 30mpg on a typical urban commute. I've just moved from one to a current M3 and there's only about 2-3mpg difference between them (the 140 was doing 24mpg in a commute that averages 18mph.

The difference between the two only really becomes apparant if you're plodding out in the open, where the 140 could hit mid to late 30s and the M3 30 to 31.

Pushing on out of town, the 140 and M3 are back to being 2 or 3 mpg apart.

TL:DR, the mpg gains moving from the V8 M3 to a 135/140 are too marginal to make it worth swapping for fuel saving purposes on the commute.

[Big GT]

E90 / E92 Alpina D3 Bi Turbo will provide double the economy and similar performance upto 5K RPM. They also look great, ride better and are just cool. Downside, sounds like a 4 pot derve on tick over.

[Gruber]

Obviously I've no idea about your circumstances and daily car needs, but would one solution be to buy a scooter / motorbike and commute on that instead? That's the way I did it when we lived in London - M car for weekends and the occasional commute, but most of the time just pootled about on a 125cc Honda put-put (at about 90 mpg).

[culpz]

I see you like your Renaultsport products. What about a Clio 220 Trophy or a Megane 275 Cup-S?

[cerb4.5lee]

DUBS73P said:

I finally finished off my list of attainable cars to own when I bought my M3, 3 months later, I’m pretty sick of the fuel light lol

I suffered the same problem as you did with mine, I couldn't use the performance on my commute and while sat in traffic it was drinking like a fish, so it just didn't make sense and mine only lasted 10 months/10k miles.

I'd be looking at something smaller/lighter and more engaging at lower speeds, something that's fast enough yet doesn't cost a fortune on fuel when stuck in heavy traffic, or when you can't use it's performance.

[ZX10R NIN]

Get the best Megane RS you can find if you really want to get rid of the M3