from a BMW M3 E92 TO A GOLF R OR M235I?

[jay-12]

I currently have a BMW M3 E92 DCT which is quite simply fantastic. The engine has a lot of character, sounds fantastic with the exhaust system I have installed and is pretty quick too. However the biggest flaw of course with this type of vehicle is of course the fuel economy. 13.5 mpg is the best I have achieved. Apart from this, tax is £535 per year. The Golf R looks like a interesting proposition. It is four wheel drive, but that is good when you need the traction and in general this car is probably quicker on most twisty roads. It is also a car that is very easy to tune. Stage 2 will see you going a lot quicker than a standard m4! See Revo Statistics. 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds est. The BMW m235i again is pretty quick too and both of these cars are cheap to tax and fuel economy is excellent considering the performance they offer. What would you choose between the two? Unless you can recommend anything else ?

Edited by jay-12 on Friday 16th February 22:06

[steve-5snwi]

Go on a diet and get a lighter right foot, keep the M3.

[ZX10R NIN]

Maybe give your engine a decoke some V8's suffer with this my brother had something similar to a terraclean carried out on his & is very happy with the improvement in the car overall & has noticed he can now get into the high teens around town, but keep the M3 it's a better car the two options you mention.

[Toed64]

I had an N55 135i for over 5 years. Stock, it was slightly disappointing because it understeered and had a dreadful ride. A few simple mods transformed it - M3 control arms gave a bit of negative camber up front, proper tyres rather than run-craps, some rear subframe bush inserts to stop the rear end squirming and M3 anti roll bars for high speed stability. With these bits done, it was the car I wanted and the car it should ahve been before BMW sabotaged it.

After about 3 years, I decided that I needed to trade up to an E92 M3. After an extended test drive, I changed my mind. The 135i did everything I wanted of it, it returned mid 20s to the gallon around town and mid 30s on the motorway, sub £300 tax and I didn't have to scream it to make it fly. The V8 M3 is undoubtedly a marvellous car, but it just wasn't worth £20,000 more to me than my excellent 135i.

After a proper M car, I think you'd feel the standard 235i falls short, but with a few simple modsyou can sort the suspension geometry and you can dial in 400+bhp and a lot more mid range (turbo) punch than your V8.

The Golf R is lovely, but a tad sterile...and VAG! Yes, you can get anywhere very fast, but perhaps without the sweaty palms and grin that the BMWs deliver.

[Big GT]

As mentioned the Golf R and the 235 will give better real world performance and economy. But not neither the joy or magic of the M3. The M3 will probably not depreciate too much from now on.

I would keep the M3 and get 2nd cheaper car as daily .

If you had to swap the M3 because of running costs, look at an E92 Alpina B3 which to be honest is not just better than the Golf or 235 but also IMO the M3.

[Toed64]

Big GT said:

...look at an E92 Alpina B3 which to be honest is not just better than the Golf or 235 but also IMO the M3.

Interesting - I know nothing about Alpinas! For me, the V8 M3 has extraordinary brakes, suspension geo and settings that provide superb poise and body control and a really good LSD that (when in good nick) provides the best aspects of viscous smoothness and plate lock-up. TBH, I'm not sure that I've driven a BMW that's as good OE.

The reasons I didn't trade up from my mildly modified 135i were that the M3 engine needs to be worked hard to fly and it just felt so much bigger than the E82...& I didn't like the idea of using between 2 and 3 time the fuel for my daily drive.

Sell us on the Alpina please!

OP, I was thinking that maybe a turbo M3/4 or an M2 might be your ideal next car.

[ZX10R NIN]

You have to drive one to truly understand how good they are, but I will say that they're not better than the M3 when you're properly on it.

For the other 360 days of the year the B3 is a much better car the power delivery the ride is amazing then you remember your on rubberband tyres, then there's the feeling of specialness when you get in one, the latter is a bit spec dependent but all have that feel good factor also look out for the twin turbo B5, also they're very rare in petrol form that's because the D3/5 is a weapon but the petrols are another step on. IMO.

B3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

B5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Before anyone points out the depreciation on the last car I'll point you here:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[jay-12]

ZX10R NIN said:

Maybe give your engine a decoke some V8's suffer with this my brother had something similar to a terraclean carried out on his & is very happy with the improvement in the car overall & has noticed he can now get into the high teens around town, but keep the M3 it's a better car the two options you mention.

I may well give this a try. There is a local terraclean business in my area. If I can improve the mpg a little this may well help. 18 or 19 mpg is just about ok. 13.5 or less is not!

[jay-12]

steve-5snwi said:

Go on a diet and get a lighter right foot, keep the M3.

I don't have a heavy right foot all the time! But it is so easy to do so yes!

[jay-12]

ZX10R NIN said:

You have to drive one to truly understand how good they are, but I will say that they're not better than the M3 when you're properly on it.

For the other 360 days of the year the B3 is a much better car the power delivery the ride is amazing then you remember your on rubberband tyres, then there's the feeling of specialness when you get in one, the latter is a bit spec dependent but all have that feel good factor also look out for the twin turbo B5, also they're very rare in petrol form that's because the D3/5 is a weapon but the petrols are another step on. IMO.

B3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

B5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Before anyone points out the depreciation on the last car I'll point you here:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Never considered this, but might take a test drive and see for myself whether they are a good alternative to the m3!