FALC M3

[martins]

If I was to sell the Lotus and Buy a BMW M3, what model should I go for?

Coupe or convertible?

What are the + and - points? what to look out for? what not to buy?

PS. I know they are thirsty...

Budget about £30K.

Any comments welcome...

M

[tut]

Comments withheld........

tut

[C7Steve]

Clarkyboy is your man and I would definitely say coupe over convertible.

This has nothing to do with your slush fund being found is it?


Steve.

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Coupe.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Renny

[douglasgdmw]

If you are going to put little miles on the car and want to retain as much on residuals, then it has to be an M3 CSL or E30 M3 Coupe (although it may not be prestine for even £30k). However suspect as they are classics they will need some decent attention and specialist knowledge to keep them in top shape.

The E90 V8 M3 is a nice car but as always make sure the 1000 mile service has been done or just walk away. BMW will not accept any warranty claims if it has not been followed religiously. Saw a nice white M3 in Eastern Motor Group when I was in last week which may be worth an enquiry but don't know the sticker price.

George

[ClarkyBoy]

I have had a few M cars,

Give me a call and I can tell you most things you need to know.



0 7811 22 74_83

[ClarkyBoy]

Oh and I will write a post at lunch based on your budget and questions.

[j2 lot]

If I was to sell the Lotus and Buy a BMW M3, what model should I go for?

I dont understand the question, are you drunk

[mxvx]

CSL.

[Scotty C]

M1?

[mxvx]

I also misunderstood. The options are only between convertible or not.

[ClarkyBoy]

So I guess all of this deoends on what exactly you are looking for from a car,

If you want a new age car with lowish miles and lots of gadgets the E92 is the car for you, great all rounder, very fast road car, great for trips to the nurburgring and back plus they sound quite nice. manula or DCT is downt o personal preference, both good boxes, for me it has to be a manual. and i wouldnt both with a covertable

However i never really gelled with my one until i took it to the 'ring... then and only then did it make sense and put a real smile on my face.

It never really filled the void that my z4m left, yes it was faster, yes it was more comfortable and of course alot more refined, it was better in so many ways, but just didnt give me the warm fuzzy feeling i expected, but that said - i think i may have expected too much from it, and dont get me wrong the E92 is a great car and IMO better than anything else in its class by a long way.

As has been said make sure the 1st service has been carried out within the allowable timescale, M cars dictate a 1200 mile running in service, in which all of the oils (engine, diff, gearbox) are changed from a running in oil to the full fat/long term use oils. Extended warranties are void without them, however, if they have been serviced outwith this and you buy from a dealer they are obliged to honor any claims as it must pass inspection up to BMW UK's standard to be sold as an approved used BMW - so i short if you buy from a main dealer with a warranty package just make sure these things are discussed prior to sale and confirmed in writing if the car has passed the +/- 10% allowable service schedule. (i had this with my M3 and managed to get in several warranty claims therafter)

E92 Issues,

Throttle body actuators are a known fault and can be difficult to diagnose at the main dealer because they are stupid and like replacing o2 sensors. however 1 phonecall to BMW UK about how sh*t the dealer is and they send their own man, he sorts your problem and orders up the parts to John clark aberdeen which they have to sheepishly relace.

That was the only real issue i had with the car, all coevered under warranty - in total i had a fuel pump relay replaced, 3 x o2 sensors and the throttle body actuators (which was the problem all along - so only 1 actaul problem)

Other than that it really did not like sh*t fuel so always use the good stuff, my car ran like a back of crap after filling it up near sky with pikey petrol. it also took a funny turn on the really high octane stuff in germany so 99 ron is probably your best bet.


The OTHER M cars...

the E46 M3 although getting on in age is still a fantastic car and for a little under your budget as said you can get a leggy CSL, however, they are pricey fro what they are due to the huge following they have, there is little compares to the raw induction noise of that massive carbon airbox!!

For me the fact they all have flappy paddle SMGII gearboxes im not sure if i would have one. dont get me wrong, i love them, but the SMG box was never fantastic, the SMG pums are prone to failure and are very very costly to replace.

Keep in mind that anything in parts for a CSL carries quite a few extra £££'s and although lighter than a 'normal' e46 M3 they are still quite heavy, brakes are only marginally better due to larger discs, but the calipers are still single pot sliders and you WILL cook them on track even with decent pads such as Ferodo DS3000 with competition brake fluid - this for me is the cars biggest let down,

My Z4M shared many of the components including suspension and braking of the CSL so i think i can give a safe assesment of them having given that car alot of abuse in its time with me!

The suspension is good, i mean really good, but keep in mind that it is a road car so car feel a little soft on track, but really really good on the road, so balanced and really rewarding when you get up to driving it on the limit - good fun for the trackday use that you will likely give it!

If an E46 is where you are looking the money is best palced (in my opinion of course) in a late M3 CS with a manual gearbox, these are rare, meaning they hold their value and with the constant increase of CSL prices they are becoming more and more sought after.

the CS is a bridge between the CSL and the normal m3, with the best bits of both and the option of a really solid good manual gearbox. but.. it does lack the carbon bits if thats what you want (including the stuning airbox) but for the money it is fantastic and should leave you change to upgrade the brakes to some nice 6 pot AP's and a Supersprint race system to bring out the lovely S54 engine noise. the S54 engine is great, it has low down torque that does the job and will scream all the way to the redline and keep asking you for more - also a very relaibel engine with little known issues (thats what we use in the racecar)

E30 M3.

if you are looking for the ultimate M3 its an e30, but its an 80's car so will require car and attention, but that doesnt mean it wont take a good thrashing and many many track miles if you look after it properly.

the E30 sport evo is the top of the pops here, but can command upwards of 60k!

for your budget a ceccoto or ravaglia euoromiester is probably the best bet.


Other option that is often over looked is the 1M.. around your budget and probably the best car BMW has made in recent years - Peter Bennet will maybe be kind enough to take you for a spin in his, he would probably sell you it too.

amazing car.

Hope this makes sense and helps you,

As i said tho you can give me a call - dont mind coming to look at a couple fo cars with you too if you want.

[Peter]

My comment didn't register??

1M is a great car, a little lighter than the e92 M3, same wheels, diff, brakes (and other parts) wedged into a widened 1 coupe body.

Loads of power and torque - (400+bhp and 450lb/ft with DMS alledgedly), can do 40+mpg £200 per year to insure, service every 2 years or 18000 miles (free with the service pack), mid rate tax (£240?), low - zero depreciation so far..

Cost is normally nearer £40k though for a good one..



ps, avoid the M3 Convertible unless you are wise to the weight difference....(230kg iirc) - Eastern have a nice 4 door M3 at the moment..

[C7Steve]

Good write up Clarky.


Steve.

[Stevoraith]

If it's an E9X you're after then the answer to the coupe/convertable question is simple..... neither.

An E90 M3 saloon is soooo much cooler.