Logic or Heart - E9X M3 vs M140/M240
Discussion
Hi everyone, hope you’re all keeping well over the Easter holidays.
So I’ve been struggling to make a decision over purchasing an M140/M240 or an E9X M3 - I know this has probably been asked before but I’d like some new takes on it.
I’m 24, have owned an M235i in the past as well as an E92 335i (N54) - both wicked cars, very capable daily’s - had them with the various bolt-on bits and pieces, so they were 400hp+ with coil-overs, suspension bits etc.
I’m wondering whether I should get back into an M-lite or have a go with the V8 M3. The car will be used as a daily driver, I live in London, so don’t drive a great distance in town, but occasionally do a long motorway stint (monthly).
What would you chose in my situation and why? Thanks in advance!
So I’ve been struggling to make a decision over purchasing an M140/M240 or an E9X M3 - I know this has probably been asked before but I’d like some new takes on it.
I’m 24, have owned an M235i in the past as well as an E92 335i (N54) - both wicked cars, very capable daily’s - had them with the various bolt-on bits and pieces, so they were 400hp+ with coil-overs, suspension bits etc.
I’m wondering whether I should get back into an M-lite or have a go with the V8 M3. The car will be used as a daily driver, I live in London, so don’t drive a great distance in town, but occasionally do a long motorway stint (monthly).
What would you chose in my situation and why? Thanks in advance!
The M140/240 will feel instantly feel faster & more of an event BUT the V8 M3 is a more special car overall.
They need stoking when you want to get a real move on, whereas the midrange is right there with the twin turbo offerings. The M3 also has a much better chassis from the get go so the money you'll spend on bolt ons could be spent on a nice exhaust & intake which will add the aural that's a bit lacking on the standard car.
They need stoking when you want to get a real move on, whereas the midrange is right there with the twin turbo offerings. The M3 also has a much better chassis from the get go so the money you'll spend on bolt ons could be spent on a nice exhaust & intake which will add the aural that's a bit lacking on the standard car.
I’d save a few more grand and stretch to an M4 if you can?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304025...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304025...
Thanks for all the replies everyone! Going to line up a test drive for both (although I can probably guess what the M140i is about).
I’d 100% have gone for an M4 if it wasn’t near triple the price on insurance. Surprisingly the E9X M3 is the cheapest.
I will be moving out of London in about a year or so though!
I’d 100% have gone for an M4 if it wasn’t near triple the price on insurance. Surprisingly the E9X M3 is the cheapest.
I will be moving out of London in about a year or so though!
E9X M3 - make sure the throttle actuators have been done and also the rod bearings
Ive had a couple and unless you're fully on it, the M3 is a frustrating car t own for a daily on public roads
Thirsty, expensive to run and its fruits are very high up the branch
Having had tuned turbo cars before, you'll be bored in a few weeks.
Have a good test drive before committing
Ive had a couple and unless you're fully on it, the M3 is a frustrating car t own for a daily on public roads
Thirsty, expensive to run and its fruits are very high up the branch
Having had tuned turbo cars before, you'll be bored in a few weeks.
Have a good test drive before committing
lord trumpton said:
E9X M3 - make sure the throttle actuators have been done and also the rod bearings
Ive had a couple and unless you're fully on it, the M3 is a frustrating car t own for a daily on public roads
Thirsty, expensive to run and its fruits are very high up the branch
Having had tuned turbo cars before, you'll be bored in a few weeks.
Have a good test drive before committing
I agree with all of this as well. Ive had a couple and unless you're fully on it, the M3 is a frustrating car t own for a daily on public roads
Thirsty, expensive to run and its fruits are very high up the branch
Having had tuned turbo cars before, you'll be bored in a few weeks.
Have a good test drive before committing
I had a 2013 manual E92 for three years selling last year.
I’m afraid my answer is going to be a bit contradictory!
It was a second car, a semi daily to my at the time MK7 Fiesta ST.
I wanted something to replace both, in essence a halfway house so test drove a M140 auto and never thought about it after the test drive. Getting back in the E92, the theatre of starting it up, it felt so much more analogue & special – all relative of course in a modern. Plus the quality in the M140 felt really cheap.
But as ZX10 said you had to really push it for it to come alive, and at that point it became antisocial. At normal speeds yes you could feel the V8 & hear it, but it felt fairly normal – part of that was of course getting use to it. But boy was it special at 8,400rpm!
On a clear motorway run at the speed limit 27/28 was possible, but don’t forget you’ll be running it on E5 so additional cost (I got 21mpg overall)
Don’t underestimate the running costs on an E92, as well as the actual costs psychologically with such a small tank/high fuel consumption it seems like you’re at the petrol station all the time, thus reminding you of its thirst!
I wouldn’t want one as a daily, but I suspect for many it’s not ‘exotic’ enough as a weekend car.
I can understand Lee & Lord Trumpton’s comment about it being frustrating, I live rurally & the opportunities to exercise it were few and far between, in London it would feel like such a waste – I’d argue the DCT would help with this.
But I don’t regret owning it for one minute!
I’m afraid my answer is going to be a bit contradictory!
It was a second car, a semi daily to my at the time MK7 Fiesta ST.
I wanted something to replace both, in essence a halfway house so test drove a M140 auto and never thought about it after the test drive. Getting back in the E92, the theatre of starting it up, it felt so much more analogue & special – all relative of course in a modern. Plus the quality in the M140 felt really cheap.
But as ZX10 said you had to really push it for it to come alive, and at that point it became antisocial. At normal speeds yes you could feel the V8 & hear it, but it felt fairly normal – part of that was of course getting use to it. But boy was it special at 8,400rpm!
On a clear motorway run at the speed limit 27/28 was possible, but don’t forget you’ll be running it on E5 so additional cost (I got 21mpg overall)
Don’t underestimate the running costs on an E92, as well as the actual costs psychologically with such a small tank/high fuel consumption it seems like you’re at the petrol station all the time, thus reminding you of its thirst!
I wouldn’t want one as a daily, but I suspect for many it’s not ‘exotic’ enough as a weekend car.
I can understand Lee & Lord Trumpton’s comment about it being frustrating, I live rurally & the opportunities to exercise it were few and far between, in London it would feel like such a waste – I’d argue the DCT would help with this.
But I don’t regret owning it for one minute!
Interesting responses everyone! Really got me thinking now…
The aspect of getting bored after a few weeks in the M140i hadn’t occurred to me, but it may be true - my M235i really NEEDED suspension bits and pieces before it was properly fun, even then the E series cars like my E92 had a far better steering/handling feel with LSD, coil-overs and M3 arms on in my opinion.
The M3 will not get a chance to stretch its legs in town that’s true, but monthly I go to North Yorkshire where the roads are absolutely fantastic.
If not those two then what else I suppose? Insurance is a large factor currently in London, I’m not averse to switching up the car when I move out to the countryside permanently in a year or so though.
The aspect of getting bored after a few weeks in the M140i hadn’t occurred to me, but it may be true - my M235i really NEEDED suspension bits and pieces before it was properly fun, even then the E series cars like my E92 had a far better steering/handling feel with LSD, coil-overs and M3 arms on in my opinion.
The M3 will not get a chance to stretch its legs in town that’s true, but monthly I go to North Yorkshire where the roads are absolutely fantastic.
If not those two then what else I suppose? Insurance is a large factor currently in London, I’m not averse to switching up the car when I move out to the countryside permanently in a year or so though.
Edited by DayLate on Tuesday 11th April 11:37
acme said:
I wouldn’t want one as a daily, but I suspect for many it’s not ‘exotic’ enough as a weekend car.
He has replaced it with a 2016 Porsche 911 Convertible(flat six 3.0 twin turbo), so I'm looking forward to going out in that now. Convertibles obviously aren't the purists choice, but he does enjoy the roof off motoring though.
I'd definitely consider a E92/3 M3 as a weekend car, because you can then search out the empty/clear roads and enjoy what the car is best at. Whereas mine as a daily frustrated me because it cost a fortune to fuel whether you went fast or slow in it, plus that low mpg just grates when you're sat in traffic too I reckon.
E90 will feel slow, heavy and big compared to the m140.
M140 isn’t without its flaws, I run one currently as a daily and track car. Running 500bhp is way fast enough and feels savage with over 500ftlbs below 2500rpm. And still returns 40mpg on a run.
Practical being hatch and blends in looking like any other 1 series, that might be a positive or negative depending on you.
M140 isn’t without its flaws, I run one currently as a daily and track car. Running 500bhp is way fast enough and feels savage with over 500ftlbs below 2500rpm. And still returns 40mpg on a run.
Practical being hatch and blends in looking like any other 1 series, that might be a positive or negative depending on you.
Glenn63 said:
E90 will feel slow, heavy and big compared to the m140.
M140 isn’t without its flaws, I run one currently as a daily and track car. Running 500bhp is way fast enough and feels savage with over 500ftlbs below 2500rpm. And still returns 40mpg on a run.
Practical being hatch and blends in looking like any other 1 series, that might be a positive or negative depending on you.
What are the seats like?M140 isn’t without its flaws, I run one currently as a daily and track car. Running 500bhp is way fast enough and feels savage with over 500ftlbs below 2500rpm. And still returns 40mpg on a run.
Practical being hatch and blends in looking like any other 1 series, that might be a positive or negative depending on you.
I find cooking BMW seats can be a bit soft. Definitely wouldn’t want them in a 500bhp car?!
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