Do i want an m3?

i've recently been considering selling my 328i for an m3. i really really love my sedan and the amount of power it has is sufficient to me. it has upgraded suspension and wheels. it handles very very well and i don't really desire more but would welcome it.
bottom line is, i want an m3 but do i really? i've never driven one and i'm not sure if it's really worth the trouble and money it would take to upgrade.
also the VANOS failures i keep reading about scare me. it seems like it's just a ticking time bomb and you can't really prevent it happening. i don't feel like buying a $25k car and then having the engine explode.

also the cost of parts for the m3 pisses me off. suspension is like $2500 alone. that's annoying. it's not that i can't afford it. it's just that it's very expensive to mod and this is definitely a factor because i like to tastefully mod my cars.

what do you think? is the m3 worth it when i already love my 328i?

If you're already complaining about maintenance and upgrades then no... you don't want an M3. Stick to your sedan.

If you can afford it, it shouldn't be a problem. This has been covered, but, most M3's run just fine over 100,000 miles with no problems. Forums fill everyone with paranoia about their M3, because that's where people turn to when they have their problems. Look at ANY car forum; it's filled with people having problems with their cars. People don't create a thread saying "my car is running great today"... do they? No. If you want the car, do some research, find a clean one, get a PPI, stay off the forum for a while, and enjoy it. Just have the money to back it up in case anything does go wrong.

Originally Posted by Rockyminator

If you're already complaining about maintenance and upgrades then no... you don't want an M3. Stick to your sedan.

it's not that i can't afford it. it's just something to consider and i'm wondering if it's worth the extra cost. i'm trying to gauge how much better the m3 actually is. i haven' had the chance to drive one.

the vanos exploding is a fairly known problem with the m3s

Yes, in my opinion the M3 is worth every penny. That being said, and as Rocky stated - if you are already having doubts about wanting to keep up on the maintenance of the M3 and disappointed in the cost of said maintenance or upgrading parts - I would second his statement and say keep your sedan and avoid the M3.

The M3 is phenomenal, rewarding and an 'experience' to own - wrapped up in part of that experience is $, joy, nerves, exhilaration and some other emotions.
Sounds like you need to take one for a test drive and then have a real heart-to-heart with yourself about the entire M3 ownership 'experience.'

With zero disrespect to your current 328 - there is NO comparison between the two other than the fact of the BMW emblem being on both cars.

Originally Posted by peytonracer4

it's not that i can't afford it. it's just something to consider and i'm wondering if it's worth the extra cost. i'm trying to gauge how much better the m3 actually is. i haven' had the chance to drive one.

the vanos exploding is a fairly known problem with the m3s

It's an incredible machine. Test drive one and I guarantee you'll want it. Vanos is not a big deal, just replace the cam bolts with the newer revised ones and replace the seals. It's really just part of regular maintenance. There are not that many exploding vanos units out there. I had mine upgraded for peace of mind but if I were to do it over again, I would just replace the bolts and seals and save myself a ton of money. If you can afford the maintenance and upgrades then go for it, it's a totally different car and worth the upgrade.

Originally Posted by scca_ziptie

Yes, in my opinion the M3 is worth every penny. That being said, and as Rocky stated - if you are already having doubts about wanting to keep up on the maintenance of the M3 and disappointed in the cost of said maintenance or upgrading parts - I would second his statement and say keep your sedan and avoid the M3.

The M3 is phenomenal, rewarding and an 'experience' to own - wrapped up in part of that experience is $, joy, nerves, exhilaration and some other emotions.
Sounds like you need to take one for a test drive and then have a real heart-to-heart with yourself about the entire M3 ownership 'experience.'

With zero disrespect to your current 328 - there is NO comparison between the two other than the fact of the BMW emblem being on both cars.

gonna go take pics of my car for a feeler thread haha
i will test drive one when i become more serious. looking to get into one within the next few months hopefully. we'll see how things play out.
if my 328i wasn't so special to me there would be a lot less doubt in upgrading.

suspension 2500? if youre going to be a crazy tracker ok 2500, but i mean if your the average joe driver, you really dont need top of the line coil over kits, i bought the middle of the KW line and they do fine on the track. if you can do brakes, oil changes and fluid flushes yourself, there really isnt any maintenance to pay for. the vanos, mine didnt explode or anything but i had mine replaced about 10K miles ago, then it was around 91K miles. the only real big thing you might need to pay for is gas.

so in other words to answer your question, YES YOU WANT AN M3!!!

Replaced my stock front suspension for $40. Idk what suspension you be looking at there. I am going to get bilstein coilovers for 2000 but oem is fair priced if you don't get it at the stealership

Its best car. It make you feel like best person on road.

The //m3 is the "ultimate driving machine". Seriously. I bought mine 2months ago. Its beautiful. Had to replace the release bearing. $22 part but did the whole clutch too. Wad told that a clutch replace job is the most labor intensive thing on tge car. 107000 miles on original clutch and it still had life to it best car i've ever owned. Hey Albanian....hows that turbo?? Lmao!!!! Those guys r f'in with u. U CANNOT put a diesel turbo on a gasoline motor. Oh ...and STOP using duct tape to cover tears in your seats. Just go buy new f'in seats. God....some ppl. Even Allah would tell u that lol oh and religion is a scam

All the high school kids will drool over it and chicks too . I've had mine for 6 months with not much done to it. one oil change, one a/c belt replaced, spark plugs (didnt need to thought i'd get better gas mileage, no), new battery all done myself. Its due for an inspection II tho which will run you anywhere from 800-1k. gas gas gas lots of it. I think i have leaks/sweating around the vanos lines too which will need attention soon. Get ready to pay about double of what you would pay for a reg. e46. And i have the famous m3 trans. clunk. I dd it so i kinda miss my 330i auto!
Try to find one 2003.5 and up.

Way to stay on topic dude..



and op- yes you want and M3. I have test drove a few manuals and smg's and love them, but I could really tell some of the lower priced ones were beat by how they drove. Find one that you like at the price you can afford: rock and roll.

Originally Posted by Cayne23

The //m3 is the "ultimate driving machine". Seriously. I bought mine 2months ago. Its beautiful. Had to replace the release bearing. $22 part but did the whole clutch too. Wad told that a clutch replace job is the most labor intensive thing on tge car. 107000 miles on original clutch and it still had life to it best car i've ever owned. Hey Albanian....hows that turbo?? Lmao!!!! Those guys r f'in with u. U CANNOT put a diesel turbo on a gasoline motor. Oh ...and STOP using duct tape to cover tears in your seats. Just go buy new f'in seats. God....some ppl. Even Allah would tell u that lol oh and religion is a scam

I was in a 325 for four years, 2 in the E36 and 2 in the E46.
I kept telling everyone that the power was 'good enough' for me... Now that I am in my ///M, I know they must have been laughing when I left our meets and drives.
I, also, had never driven one... Then I did, just like everyone says...no comparison. But to each their own...

Go drive one, really drive one, then if you're not sure... DRIVE ANOTHER ONE.

If you're still not convinced...enjoy the 328 like you have been.

I am not sure what year your 328, but when I brought my M3 to the dealer for some basic stuffs, I was given a 2010 328 loaner and the driving experience was so bland, I couldn't wait to get back to the M (again not being disrespectful to your 328). With the M, you're able to communicate with every aspects of the car, whereas the 328 pretty much filters out everything and dare I say it has no "soul"?

Originally Posted by Westrace

I am not sure what year your 328, but when I brought my M3 to the dealer for some basic stuffs, I was given a 2010 328 loaner and the driving experience was so bland, I couldn't wait to get back to the M (again not being disrespectful to your 328). With the M, you're able to communicate with every aspects of the car, whereas the 328 pretty much filters out everything and dare I say it has no "soul"?

I know what you mean. We had a loaner 328 and it was the same story. Felt like a woman's car. My 328 is not like that. Almost the opposite. I promise.

I've been wanting an M3 for years but I've had my 2002 325i. I was thinking about all the same things you were but now that I got my M3 its soooooo hard to even drive the 325i anymore haha

if you treat her good ( no driving erratic, no burn outs , not racing to a red light , braking hard , easy on potholes , proper maintenance , no revving past 4 rpm etc. ) she will be good to you . i cruise with my baby n only drive her when its nice outside n she gave me no problems (almost 80k on a ZCP 06 stick shift with peanut butter color seats) KNOCK ON WOOD

I was in my 325ci for 6 years, picked up an M3 before selling the 325 and I wouldn't go back. The only thing that I don't like about the M3 is the seats...my ass is numbs after an hour+ of driving, I drove 16 hours in one day in the 325 and not a single complaint.

I had a 328ci with racing coils, k&n cold air, and supersprint exhaust. I loved that car!! Some lady hit me and totaled it. Decided to test drive an m3. Never looked back.

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