Evo, E39 M5, E46 M3 or FD2?

Schizo · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:48

evo.

to many bmw's on the road now days.

NickXX · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:48

£18k buys a superb late (2005/2006) e46 M3 or even an M3 CS. I average 25mpg over a similar distance commute (26 miles) in my M3. Comfy over long distances and can be devastatingly quick on the twisties - I've had mine nearly a year and still cannot get over how much fun it is to drive.

Additionally (and quite importantly for me) you get the option of an SMG gearbox in the M3.

I've not found the 2 doors to be a problem at all (previous two cars were 4/5 doors). What you do get is nice big coupe frameless windows which are a nice touch.

It also looks like this

:

[TW]Fox · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:49

The way I see it, the 335i is the commensurate all rounder. Whatever you want to do, it'll do it damn well. It's fast, it handles well, its comfortable, its well equipped, its modern, its reliable, its tunable, it fits in yet stands out (If you know what I mean).

Whereas the M3 is an 'exotic' precision instrument if you like. It wont cruise like an E92, it's more dated inside, but on the right road, in the right mood, it's just a better car.

Which one suits you best depends on what type of driver you are and how you like your performance served up..

An M3 also stands out - it's an M3. A 335i is... oh is that another 320d?

NickXX · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:49

[TW]Fox;16357776 said:
To be fair both of these cars are from the same generation - so inside a 2003 M3 with 50k on it wont feel any more 'tight and modern' than a 2003 M5 with 50k on it. Infact the M5 is a more 'solid' place to be with better build quality.

Yes, but you can buy a 2006 M3 with the OP's budget...

ChrisD. · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:50

[TW]Fox;16357776 said:
To be fair both of these cars are from the same generation - so inside a 2003 M3 with 50k on it wont feel any more 'tight and modern' than a 2003 M5 with 50k on it. Infact the M5 is a more 'solid' place to be with better build quality.

I totally appreciate build quality is probably not on the OP's agenda really - and both are well built - but I don't think it's fair to say that the M3 feels modern whereas the M5 doesn't. They are both previous generation cars with more similarites than differences.

There was, remember, only a year between the launch date of the M5 and the M3.

You're right, build quality isn't really a major concern. I want something that is fast, exciting to drive, easy to live with and comfortable to drive to work and on long trips; but I want it to feel alive when I take a back road or take it to the 'ring once every year or so.

Disco Boy · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:50

Drive them then decide for yourself.

SoliD · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:50

Housey · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:50

[TW]Fox;16357776 said:
To be fair both of these cars are from the same generation - so inside a 2003 M3 with 50k on it wont feel any more 'tight and modern' than a 2003 M5 with 50k on it. Infact the M5 is a more 'solid' place to be with better build quality.

I totally appreciate build quality is probably not on the OP's agenda really - and both are well built - but I don't think it's fair to say that the M3 feels modern whereas the M5 doesn't. They are both previous generation cars with more similarites than differences.

There was, remember, only a year between the launch date of the M5 and the M3.

An M5 feels softer and is less tight than an M3, I drove em both when new, they felt that way then and they will feel that way now, pretty sure of it. Both epic cars of course, I'm being picky about greatness but I always felt the M5 was less 'tight' and by tight I don't mean pannel gaps and fit of interior. To drive the M3 is, by it's nature, the sharper tool and for me, better for it.

[TW]Fox · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:50

NickXX said:
Yes, but you can buy a 2006 M3 with the OP's budget...

It's still the same car though, isn't it. There are no appreciable differences between your 2003 model and a 2006 one (Ignoring the obvious CS specification differences).

ShiWarrior · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:51

For what u want it for, not the Evo, but i'd say EVO as its an EVO !!!!! lol

NickXX · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:52

[TW]Fox;16357809 said:
Whereas the M3 is an 'exotic' precision instrument if you like. It wont cruise like an E92, it's more dated inside, but on the right road, in the right mood, it's just a better car.

I disagree with your point on cruising - the M3 is a great car on the motorway. It is incredibly stable and planted at high speeds.

I can't see ride being dissimilar - probably better in an 18" wheel specced e46 M3.

Burned_Alive · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:53

[TW]Fox;16357754 said:
Yes you can, but it will be a 335i SE and not a 335i M Sport. This means it wont have the M Sport bodykit and unless you get one with the Aerokit (Which looks stunning but is very rare) it can look rather ordinary. The 335i SE does, however, have Sport suspension, Sport seats, Xenons, etc etc all standard so the driving experience is of course the same.

335i M Sports are the wrong side of £20k at the moment - so I'm waiting.

Seems like it's near impossible to find an E92 in a decent spec (Seemingly 9/10 are auto as well). I've been looking for a 330i and cant find the spec I want for love nor money. Currently thinking about going back to the search for an M3. Funnily enough I was originally considering a 335i but was put off as it seems to be a little unreliable and that'd be no good for something at the top of a budget.

PeterNem · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:53

Or a 2002 M5, chavzorst, AP Racing brakes and Bilstein PSS9s.

I need more money

ChrisD. · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:54

iaind said:
Those are 4 very different cars...

Have you driven any of them?

Driven a 330bhp Evo 8, 300bhp Evo V and an FD2. Not driven either BMW. It's somewhat difficult for me to get a test drive in either Beemer as I'm 27 and look 20.

NickXX said:
£18k buys a superb late (2005/2006) e46 M3 or even an M3 CS. I average 25mpg over a similar distance commute (26 miles) in my M3. Comfy over long distances and can be devastatingly quick on the twisties - I've had mine nearly a year and still cannot get over how much fun it is to drive.

Additionally (and quite importantly for me) you get the option of an SMG gearbox in the M3.

I've not found the 2 doors to be a problem at all (previous two cars were 4/5 doors). What you do get is nice big coupe frameless windows which are a nice touch.

It also looks like this :

Thanks. Looks stunning, always loved them.

NickXX · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:54

MilanoChris said:
You're right, build quality isn't really a major concern. I want something that is fast, exciting to drive, easy to live with and comfortable to drive to work and on long trips; but I want it to feel alive when I take a back road or take it to the 'ring once every year or so.

Those are pretty much bang on the reasons I chose my M3 over the competition. You really need to get a test drive/ride in one as I think it will suit your needs down to the ground. You also have the budget to take your pick of the crop.

Another bonus is that there are so many e46 M3s sitting on the market that you can draw up a spec list and wait for your one to come along (took 2 weeks for mine to pop up).

[TW]Fox · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:56

Burned_Alive said:
Seems like it's near impossible to find an E92 in a decent spec. I've been looking for a 330i and cant find the spec I want for love nor money.

Your problem is that you are looking at 330i's. The people who, when the car was new, went bonkers on spec wouldnt have ordered a 330i. Infact when it comes to high spec E92's the 335i is only a few hundred pounds more than the 330i because it has, as standard, equipment you have to pay extra for on a 330i.

I speced up a perfect specification 330i - and found it cost only £250 more to go for the 335i. So most people did.

Exactly the same reason why loaded E46 325i's are rare, etc.

[TW]Fox · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:57

NickXX said:
Those are pretty much bang on the reasons I chose my M3 over the competition. You really need to get a test drive/ride in one as I think it will suit your needs down to the ground. You also have the budget to take your pick of the crop.

Another bonus is that there are so many e46 M3s sitting on the market that you can draw up a spec list and wait for your one to come along (took 2 weeks for mine to pop up).

It really sounds like the M3 is the right car here, especially with this budget. Even I wont spend £18k on an M5 and I'm the most boring E39 fetishist in the entire world.

They do have some pretty bonkers costs to budget for - Inspection services are £600-£900 depending on type required, which although only needed every 30,000 miles or so could be a shock if you buy one that soon needs an Inspection II.

Burned_Alive · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:58

Possibly, but the 335i Sport itself seems to be rare, let alone having a pick of the spec/combo you want. On the other hand, buyers market if you really want a 320d!

cdcopyman · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:59

M5

[TW]Fox · 13 Apr 2010 at 21:59

Burned_Alive said:
Possibly, but the 335i Sport itself seems to be rare, let alone having a pick of the spec/combo you want. On the other hand, buyers market if you really want a 320d!

There is no 335i Sport - it is only available as a 335i SE or 335i M Sport. Only the 1 Series still has a Sport trim level, IIRC.

Also, the M Sport trim level was not released until mid way through 2007 and virtually none of them have yet depreciated below £20,000. This is why every car you see for £20k and less is a 335i SE not an M Sport.

What you tend to notice is that there are plenty of pretty awsome spec 2006/56, 2007/56 and 2007/07 plate 335i SE's. Then the M Sport came out, and most people switched to selecting those instead, so properly nice SE's newer than 57 plate are rarer.