E46 M3 to 645i
Discussion
I am considering moving from the E46 M3 to a 645i/635d or maybe an Audi A5 diesel.
I am looking for something good for daily driving with some grunt and a modern/luxurious feel.
I won't get into why I am selling the M3 as that could take up pages lol and it is still a great car, but suffice to say, never meet your heroes.
I think having my Integra there skews my view, but the integra is more capable on the limit than the E46....but that's a whole new discussion.
Why is it important - well, it shows that out and out performance in my next car is not top of the list. Straight line grunt and cruisability are important to me.
I am looking for something good for daily driving with some grunt and a modern/luxurious feel.
I won't get into why I am selling the M3 as that could take up pages lol and it is still a great car, but suffice to say, never meet your heroes.
I think having my Integra there skews my view, but the integra is more capable on the limit than the E46....but that's a whole new discussion.
Why is it important - well, it shows that out and out performance in my next car is not top of the list. Straight line grunt and cruisability are important to me.
Nearly none for sale here in Ireland. I would be open to travelling over the UK for one mind.
Is there a big difference between the 645/650...in terms of daily drive and torque etc.
The reason I ask is getting the boat over and then vehicle reg tax back here would be a chunk of change.
Is there a big difference between the 645/650...in terms of daily drive and torque etc.
The reason I ask is getting the boat over and then vehicle reg tax back here would be a chunk of change.
I'd personally be going for a 650i facelift; it's newer, similar power (well more obviously) etc
I test drove a few 645i and 650i E63s and much preferred the 650i
See if you can get as late a model as possible for what your budget allows, but make sure that it's been serviced/maintained to within an inch of its life and ideally; had the valve stem oil seal replacement work done and there are no electrical issues. Take a code reader to every car you look at!
If you're coming over from Ireland; there are a few decent cars here in the North West; on eBay and Autotrader IIRC. Worth having a look and seeing where they are in relation to each other so you can view a good few in a day etc
I test drove a few 645i and 650i E63s and much preferred the 650i
See if you can get as late a model as possible for what your budget allows, but make sure that it's been serviced/maintained to within an inch of its life and ideally; had the valve stem oil seal replacement work done and there are no electrical issues. Take a code reader to every car you look at!
If you're coming over from Ireland; there are a few decent cars here in the North West; on eBay and Autotrader IIRC. Worth having a look and seeing where they are in relation to each other so you can view a good few in a day etc
Thanks for that. I'm guessing the 630i would be dog slow in a car this size too. I'm not chasing mad power as I have a DC2 for fun and a 636cc ZX6R bike, so naturally these sit in the fun bracket.
So for daily driving would the 630i be adequate, or will it feel like the old 316i/318i in terms of pulling power.
So for daily driving would the 630i be adequate, or will it feel like the old 316i/318i in terms of pulling power.
GONKO85 said:
Thanks for that. I'm guessing the 630i would be dog slow in a car this size too. I'm not chasing mad power as I have a DC2 for fun and a 636cc ZX6R bike, so naturally these sit in the fun bracket.
So for daily driving would the 630i be adequate, or will it feel like the old 316i/318i in terms of pulling power.
Not at all.So for daily driving would the 630i be adequate, or will it feel like the old 316i/318i in terms of pulling power.
IMO the 630i handled the best; a lighter engine and overall better steering... The straight six is a belter of an engine...
Unless you really just want the V8 for the V8 soundtrack; go for a 630i
I've got a 3.0 in a lardy f10 and agree with the above comments. Provided you actually drive the engine and don't expect it to chunk out torque at low rpm they are nice engines to make progress with. Lighter up front too. Wouldn't call them slow either. More like a breath of fresh air in a sea of boring blown lumps.
I do like wafting along with effortless grunt. I LOVED my 530d E60, has it remapped and the E46 M3 replaced this. I almost instantly missed the low-end grunt and enough torque all over the RPM range to rotate the globe lol.
I'm leaning towards a 635d at the moment as I think it will give me the 6er with lots of daily drive type power in the low/mid range.
I've two kids and 33 yo and prefer the quiter motorway munching trips at the weekend. The M3 is an occasion, but not ideal for these trips. I suspect the 645i (for example) will be ok for this....but the diesel, arguably better?
Luxury, 2door coupe, lots of lazy power and grunt are the order of the day....
My preference for the 635d is because I've had 2 530d's with the same running gear and they had been perfect, no issues etc.
I hear of issues on the 645i such as oil leaks and coolant pipe in the head that can seep.
I'm leaning towards a 635d at the moment as I think it will give me the 6er with lots of daily drive type power in the low/mid range.
I've two kids and 33 yo and prefer the quiter motorway munching trips at the weekend. The M3 is an occasion, but not ideal for these trips. I suspect the 645i (for example) will be ok for this....but the diesel, arguably better?
Luxury, 2door coupe, lots of lazy power and grunt are the order of the day....
My preference for the 635d is because I've had 2 530d's with the same running gear and they had been perfect, no issues etc.
I hear of issues on the 645i such as oil leaks and coolant pipe in the head that can seep.
The diesel M57 engine is literally indestructible and definitely much less troublesome than the fragile V8 - and safely chippable to 360bhp I believe. Make sure you change oil at half the BMW ludicrous interval and do check injectors for leakage if you feel it is not running smoothly. If left unattended it may do irreparable engine damage. When a colleague of mine was at a dealer he was shown a 530d with a hole in one of the pistons.
OK, so I've flights booked and deposit down on a 635d outside of London. Going to pick her up tomorrow and a waved farewell to my E46 M3 last night. I don't miss it at all stragely.
Lovely car, but a bit overrated by the M3 owners/fanboys.
Again, great car, but not all its cracked up to be. Truth be told I missed the huge shove my 530d had (remapped). Never meet your heros ay/....
And I know it will have legs on it above 6k rpm etc, but owning an M3 for daily driving and only justifying it by spirited runs high into the RPM range just didnt sit with me.
For daily duties, a big remapped diesel with instant, stomach-turning torque just off idle, the feeling of a car being effortlessly overpowered in the low/mid rpms (and up to redline) is appealing. Just lots 'o shove everywhere.
Lovely car, but a bit overrated by the M3 owners/fanboys.
Again, great car, but not all its cracked up to be. Truth be told I missed the huge shove my 530d had (remapped). Never meet your heros ay/....
And I know it will have legs on it above 6k rpm etc, but owning an M3 for daily driving and only justifying it by spirited runs high into the RPM range just didnt sit with me.
For daily duties, a big remapped diesel with instant, stomach-turning torque just off idle, the feeling of a car being effortlessly overpowered in the low/mid rpms (and up to redline) is appealing. Just lots 'o shove everywhere.
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