Some updated pics of the M3

[ui]ICEMAN · 23 Mar 2011 at 01:29

Its had a good detailing and I've replaced the front grills with the OEM black chrome ones, carbon fiber license plate frame to match the roof and some smoked reflectors to replace those god awful orange ones on the front.

Akrapovic exhaust should arrive tomorrow all being well and my ZCP rear spoiler as well.

Thus far I'm really happy with the change. I miss my 911 occasionally but not to the point that I feel I made a mistake. The M3 is a much more complete package for what I'm doing at the moment and since it made no sense at all to run both the M3 and the Porsche side by side this will certainly keep me very happy until I'm done with my career change

Managed to get $4000 back for my HRE monoblock wheels from the 911 which pretty much pays for my Akrapovic exhaust

HamZilla · 23 Mar 2011 at 01:43

Badass but marred by the tacky numberplate. Can you have it without the oranges?

[ui]ICEMAN · 23 Mar 2011 at 01:45

For a fee yes. I'm already paying for the custom letters so I may as well throw in a few extra $ for a darker plate design this year.

Stupot_ · 23 Mar 2011 at 02:21

That looks stunning

Congrats. Ever tempted to go full stealth and get black wheels?

Slumberbox · 23 Mar 2011 at 03:02

Maybe its just the proportions but the m3 badge looks smaller than on the previous gen m cars imo

BigT · 23 Mar 2011 at 06:25

HamZilla said:
Badass but marred by the tacky numberplate. Can you have it without the oranges?

Not so much the oranges for me, but the fact the plate says 911, when it is an M3. I appreciate that in the US that is also the emergency number, but to us Brits it comes across as a man who once had a 911 but has now downgraded to an M3. Just a bit odd really to me - I've always thought plates related to the car should stay with it as they don't sit well on a different model, but I don't know how the US plates work and if this is possible.

However awesome car. :cool:

Gaygle · 23 Mar 2011 at 07:30

Stupot_ said:
Ever tempted to go full stealth and get black wheels?

Omg please DON'T do this. This seems to be the latest craze on E46 forums and it just looks utter pap. An M3 deserves so much better.

Tax Evader · 23 Mar 2011 at 07:46

Gaygle said:
Omg please DON'T do this. This seems to be the latest craze on E46 forums and it just looks utter pap. An M3 deserves so much better.

Mine came with black wheels, mirrors, grill & exhausts as standard. I think the wheels look awesome

(Awful camera pic)

Rackerz · 23 Mar 2011 at 07:47

Awesome, just awesome. That paint is like a mirror!

Cosimo · 23 Mar 2011 at 07:56

Very, very nice.

Begbie · 23 Mar 2011 at 08:01

Awesome! Needs BBS

Gaygle · 23 Mar 2011 at 08:40

Tax Evader said:
Mine came with black wheels, mirrors, grill & exhausts as standard. I think the wheels look awesome

(Awful camera pic)

I was talking about black wheels on black cars. Black wheels on white cars = win.

Draeger · 23 Mar 2011 at 08:45

Awesome. Something about most high performance BMW's in black that make them look positively evil.

DM · 23 Mar 2011 at 08:51

Looks well with the black bits on the front.

Irish_Tom · 23 Mar 2011 at 09:14

Very nice, the smoked front reflectors are much better.

Any chance you could show us the kind of thing you're expecting for the new numberplate?

nasher32 · 23 Mar 2011 at 09:29

Nice!

Love the lack of number plate on US cars.

burns · 23 Mar 2011 at 09:39

My boss replaced his 911 with an M3 about 6 months ago. Already sold the M3 and test driving 911s again

In all seriousness how do you find the M3 in terms of feedback? I had a quick go in the M3 and it felt very quick but not exactly tactile, I think it's just what comes from it being a fairly big heavy car. I've not driven a 911 though, I would assume there was a fair bit more feel?

Morba · 23 Mar 2011 at 09:40

Agree on the lack of front plate improving the look of the car.
Looks epic tbh

[ui]ICEMAN · 23 Mar 2011 at 11:32

Begbie said:
Awesome! Needs BBS

HRE

BBS are so "low rent"

burns said:
My boss replaced his 911 with an M3 about 6 months ago. Already sold the M3 and test driving 911s again

In all seriousness how do you find the M3 in terms of feedback? I had a quick go in the M3 and it felt very quick but not exactly tactile, I think it's just what comes from it being a fairly big heavy car. I've not driven a 911 though, I would assume there was a fair bit more feel?

There is a little more feel in the 911 but keep in mind where I live. The M3 is better in every way for what I'm now doing than the 911 was.

BigT said:
Not so much the oranges for me, but the fact the plate says 911, when it is an M3. I appreciate that in the US that is also the emergency number, but to us Brits it comes across as a man who once had a 911 but has now downgraded to an M3. Just a bit odd really to me - I've always thought plates related to the car should stay with it as they don't sit well on a different model, but I don't know how the US plates work and if this is possible.

However awesome car.

I find it hard to believe that the first thing others will think when they see my plate is "oh he must have had a 911 and 'downgraded' to an M3".

Plates in the US (custom ones) are made by prisoners. It took me almost 9 months to get this plate thus I'd be without a custom plate for that long again if I buy another + my renewal isn't till August anyway so add another 6 for that!

If you think the M3 is a downgrade from what was now a 6 year old 911 then fine but I fail to see how a brand new M3 that cost MORE than my 911 did is in any way a step down. I've mentioned to my wife and my friends on numerous occassions while I owned the Porsche's that I feel they're wasted out here. You have to remember that I live in FL and drive 20k+ miles a year on a highway. There are almost no good roads here in Florida sadly, it's depressing and it made me question from the very beginning whether owning a 911/Cayman was a waste. Almost all the roads here are straight and full of traffic so the M3 is very much at home.

The M3 is faster than my Porsche (in a straight line), the v8, a nicer place to be in, the v8, more creature comforts, takes the miles better (my 911 was very unreliable I must say), 4 year warranty & maintenance, did I say the V8? Above all the most important thing is it's good to change it up once in a while. I could afford just about any car I want this side of a 458, I just failed to see the point in blowing money on a new 911 with the new model due end of this year.

I'd agree it was a 'sidegrade' but with all due respect you need a reality check if you think buying an almost $80k best in class BMW is a downgrade from what I had.

Also keep in mind I still have a new C4S and GT3-RS in the UK

I'm far from done with 911's.

Fr0dders · 23 Mar 2011 at 11:53

the comments about the license plate are pretty laughable. Everybody in FL has those plates so nobody out there thinks they look silly or gives them a second thought.

BigT said:
but to us Brits it comes across as a man who once had a 911 but has now downgraded to an M3.

no it doesnt :confused:

You're only saying that because you know he had a porsche. The first thing you would think if you saw an M3 with 911 on the plate is that the guy works for the emergency services of some sort, or that the guy lost a family member on 9/11 or something. THe last thing you'd think is "ah he's obviously downgraded from a porsche 911"