Goodbye G35. Hello M3!
#32
Hey Drew, I just got an '01 M3. My callsign over at e46fanatics is M_Thrizzle, LimeG35 is over there too. Have you popped in there yet?
Here are some of my thoughts so far on the M3 vs. G35.
- G35 exhaust is 100x better than the M3 (sexier and deeper; M3 has a rasp)
- G35 has more low-end torque, so you get that neck-snapping acceleration when you dig into the throttle, but at the high-end, it runs out of steam. M3 has more of a constant accleration build-up all the way to redline.
- I just took the M3 to the autocross on Sunday. It was extremely stable and well composed. The steering is much quicker and better, and you can just point the car where you want it to go.
- M3 seats are more comfortable, and the seat heaters heat up fast! BMW leather is much better than Infiniti. The M3 seats look better after 5 years than the G35 seats did after 1 year. There is also a handle on the upper top of the M3 seat to flip the seatback forward. Makes it much easier to get at stuff in the back seat.
- M3 steering wheel is nice and thick, but I prefer the G35 steering wheel buttons better
- Shifting: I'm still having some difficulty shifting 1-2 and sometimes 2-3. 1-2 in the G is also difficult, but easier IMO. The M3 shift pattern is lit up at night on the shift ****. Sweeeeeet. G35 has shorter throw though.
- M3 has more rear headroom and bigger trunk (and split folding seats)
- BMW Harman Kardon system is better than Infiniti Blose stereo
- Both cars look hot, in different ways. I still love them both.
- M3 is more expensive to maintain and insure. (Oil is $9/L)
- BMW Key has buttons built into it. Why have a separate keyfob? This is cool....the battery in the key gets charged while it's in the ignition!
Both cars have great resale (compared to other cars). I bought the M3 for less money than what the insurance paid me out (which was $1700 less than what I paid for it new).
Here are some of my thoughts so far on the M3 vs. G35.
- G35 exhaust is 100x better than the M3 (sexier and deeper; M3 has a rasp)
- G35 has more low-end torque, so you get that neck-snapping acceleration when you dig into the throttle, but at the high-end, it runs out of steam. M3 has more of a constant accleration build-up all the way to redline.
- I just took the M3 to the autocross on Sunday. It was extremely stable and well composed. The steering is much quicker and better, and you can just point the car where you want it to go.
- M3 seats are more comfortable, and the seat heaters heat up fast! BMW leather is much better than Infiniti. The M3 seats look better after 5 years than the G35 seats did after 1 year. There is also a handle on the upper top of the M3 seat to flip the seatback forward. Makes it much easier to get at stuff in the back seat.
- M3 steering wheel is nice and thick, but I prefer the G35 steering wheel buttons better
- Shifting: I'm still having some difficulty shifting 1-2 and sometimes 2-3. 1-2 in the G is also difficult, but easier IMO. The M3 shift pattern is lit up at night on the shift ****. Sweeeeeet. G35 has shorter throw though.
- M3 has more rear headroom and bigger trunk (and split folding seats)
- BMW Harman Kardon system is better than Infiniti Blose stereo
- Both cars look hot, in different ways. I still love them both.
- M3 is more expensive to maintain and insure. (Oil is $9/L)
- BMW Key has buttons built into it. Why have a separate keyfob? This is cool....the battery in the key gets charged while it's in the ignition!
Both cars have great resale (compared to other cars). I bought the M3 for less money than what the insurance paid me out (which was $1700 less than what I paid for it new).
#33
#34
Originally Posted by CarCrazed
Grats but why would you get an e46 m3 when new one is just around the corner. That's what I am waiting for. I would get the current gen M but that whole engine blow up fiasco will drive me nuts. I will be constantly thinking "**** did i revved too hard back there? will my engine blow?"
1) Right around the corner = 2 more years - the new M3 won't be out until 2008. As of right now no one even has a clue about what it's going to look like. Add a $20,000 markup on a $55,000+ base price (my guess), plus the problems innate to 1st year models (e46 and e60 for example). Would you still wait for a brand new e92 M3? Oh, and how do you think you're going to like a bigger, heavier, V8-powered M3? I personally think that the e46 is perfectly balanced for my needs.
2) The whole engine blow up fiasco? The engine should be your last concern with this car. That's why there was a recall for all pre-5/03 production M3s and they were given a 6yr/100k mile engine warranty. The rest of the production run up until present, including my M3, were never affected by any rod bearing issues. If you visit any M3 forum, you will find people who regularly race, track, and auto-x their M3s and they don't seem too worried about redlining their cars or pushing them to the limit.
Originally Posted by accordfreak
congrats on blending in with the crowd of 3 series
Originally Posted by drewbagel423
Yeah, well they're basically in the same category, just two different tiers. They're both sexy, classy, luxury sports coupes, the M is just faster and you pay a bit more for the BMW name than you do Infiniti, plus you buy into a bit more exclusivity)
Originally Posted by P_Diddy
- G35 has more low-end torque, so you get that neck-snapping acceleration when you dig into the throttle, but at the high-end, it runs out of steam. M3 has more of a constant accleration build-up all the way to redline.
Originally Posted by P_Diddy
- Shifting: I'm still having some difficulty shifting 1-2 and sometimes 2-3. 1-2 in the G is also difficult, but easier IMO. The M3 shift pattern is lit up at night on the shift ****. Sweeeeeet. G35 has shorter throw though.
Originally Posted by P_Diddy
- Both cars look hot, in different ways. I still love them both.
Originally Posted by P_Diddy
- M3 is more expensive to maintain and insure. (Oil is $9/L)
#35
I use to own an '02 M3 and it is a great car. Having said that I would never buy one used for two reasons:1. they retain too much of their original value; and 2. too many M3 drivers beat the hell out of their cars. Buying any used car is an adventure, but buying a high performance used car is truly an adventure. So bottom line is that I wouldn't buy a used M3 unless it was a CPO car.
The only other thing that I didn't like about the M3 is that it is too similar in appearance to the run of the mill 3 series, and the High School lots near me are full of 325s and 330s. Sure the M has the quad exhausts, side vents, and lower profile tires, but the overall body shape is narly identical to the 3 series. It use to be that a BMW was a rarity on the road, but now at least in my area they are more common than Toyotas.
The only other thing that I didn't like about the M3 is that it is too similar in appearance to the run of the mill 3 series, and the High School lots near me are full of 325s and 330s. Sure the M has the quad exhausts, side vents, and lower profile tires, but the overall body shape is narly identical to the 3 series. It use to be that a BMW was a rarity on the road, but now at least in my area they are more common than Toyotas.
Last edited by FAST1; 02-23-2006 at 06:29 AM.
#36
Originally Posted by P_Diddy
Hey Drew, I just got an '01 M3. My callsign over at e46fanatics is M_Thrizzle, LimeG35 is over there too. Have you popped in there yet?
Here are some of my thoughts so far on the M3 vs. G35.
- G35 exhaust is 100x better than the M3 (sexier and deeper; M3 has a rasp)
- G35 has more low-end torque, so you get that neck-snapping acceleration when you dig into the throttle, but at the high-end, it runs out of steam. M3 has more of a constant accleration build-up all the way to redline.
- I just took the M3 to the autocross on Sunday. It was extremely stable and well composed. The steering is much quicker and better, and you can just point the car where you want it to go.
- M3 seats are more comfortable, and the seat heaters heat up fast! BMW leather is much better than Infiniti. The M3 seats look better after 5 years than the G35 seats did after 1 year. There is also a handle on the upper top of the M3 seat to flip the seatback forward. Makes it much easier to get at stuff in the back seat.
- M3 steering wheel is nice and thick, but I prefer the G35 steering wheel buttons better
- Shifting: I'm still having some difficulty shifting 1-2 and sometimes 2-3. 1-2 in the G is also difficult, but easier IMO. The M3 shift pattern is lit up at night on the shift ****. Sweeeeeet. G35 has shorter throw though.
- M3 has more rear headroom and bigger trunk (and split folding seats)
- BMW Harman Kardon system is better than Infiniti Blose stereo
- Both cars look hot, in different ways. I still love them both.
- M3 is more expensive to maintain and insure. (Oil is $9/L)
- BMW Key has buttons built into it. Why have a separate keyfob? This is cool....the battery in the key gets charged while it's in the ignition!
Both cars have great resale (compared to other cars). I bought the M3 for less money than what the insurance paid me out (which was $1700 less than what I paid for it new).
Here are some of my thoughts so far on the M3 vs. G35.
- G35 exhaust is 100x better than the M3 (sexier and deeper; M3 has a rasp)
- G35 has more low-end torque, so you get that neck-snapping acceleration when you dig into the throttle, but at the high-end, it runs out of steam. M3 has more of a constant accleration build-up all the way to redline.
- I just took the M3 to the autocross on Sunday. It was extremely stable and well composed. The steering is much quicker and better, and you can just point the car where you want it to go.
- M3 seats are more comfortable, and the seat heaters heat up fast! BMW leather is much better than Infiniti. The M3 seats look better after 5 years than the G35 seats did after 1 year. There is also a handle on the upper top of the M3 seat to flip the seatback forward. Makes it much easier to get at stuff in the back seat.
- M3 steering wheel is nice and thick, but I prefer the G35 steering wheel buttons better
- Shifting: I'm still having some difficulty shifting 1-2 and sometimes 2-3. 1-2 in the G is also difficult, but easier IMO. The M3 shift pattern is lit up at night on the shift ****. Sweeeeeet. G35 has shorter throw though.
- M3 has more rear headroom and bigger trunk (and split folding seats)
- BMW Harman Kardon system is better than Infiniti Blose stereo
- Both cars look hot, in different ways. I still love them both.
- M3 is more expensive to maintain and insure. (Oil is $9/L)
- BMW Key has buttons built into it. Why have a separate keyfob? This is cool....the battery in the key gets charged while it's in the ignition!
Both cars have great resale (compared to other cars). I bought the M3 for less money than what the insurance paid me out (which was $1700 less than what I paid for it new).
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=340380
are you on M3forum.com too? cuz i joined that one too! i'm drewbagel423 on all of them
i agree about the exhaust, tho i will be removing the rasp on the M,
thank god about those seat heaters, cuz my on the G take FOREVER to warm up! and it gets cold here in jersey at night and early morning!
uuughhhhhh... now i'm stuck here at work and all i can think about is that 8k redline and those 6 individual throttle bodies!!!
#42
#44
Originally Posted by FAST1
I use to own an '02 M3 and it is a great car. Having said that I would never buy one used for two reasons:1. they retain too much of their original value; and 2. too many M3 drivers beat the hell out of their cars. Buying any used car is an adventure, but buying a high performance used car is truly an adventure. So bottom line is that I wouldn't buy a used M3 unless it was a CPO car.
The only other thing that I didn't like about the M3 is that it is too similar in appearance to the run of the mill 3 series, and the High School lots near me are full of 325s and 330s. Sure the M has the quad exhausts, side vents, and lower profile tires, but the overall body shape is narly identical to the 3 series. It use to be that a BMW was a rarity on the road, but now at least in my area they are more common than Toyotas.
The only other thing that I didn't like about the M3 is that it is too similar in appearance to the run of the mill 3 series, and the High School lots near me are full of 325s and 330s. Sure the M has the quad exhausts, side vents, and lower profile tires, but the overall body shape is narly identical to the 3 series. It use to be that a BMW was a rarity on the road, but now at least in my area they are more common than Toyotas.
I had worries about buying a used M3. The owner of the car I bought owns a BMW/Porsche shop and I asked him questions to satisfy my worries. He said he never tracked it because he has racecars to drive at Laguna Seca, and would never want to drive a street car after tracking a racecar. He understands about car warm-up and didn't push it hard before warm. Rod bearing was replaced under warranty and has some engine warranty left.
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Drew, I'm M_Thrizzle on M3forum too.
#45
Hey congrats. Not too sure about the 96 month financing though. How much interest is that?!
BMW has really stepped up with their free service for 3 years. But if you purchased an 03, you will be right on the tail end of that and you will now have to pay for all servicing/repair related issues.
BMW has really stepped up with their free service for 3 years. But if you purchased an 03, you will be right on the tail end of that and you will now have to pay for all servicing/repair related issues.