The I bought an E92 M3 thread..

[Havana_UK]

So glad I went for the E92 M3 over the E46, while I really really want an E46, my budget says otherwise. Plans next are to use it when I can. Then I want to goto the Nurburgring, ill have to check when its open etc but Feb time would be ideal. Being as im also a sado, im going on my own (awww )

The ring doesn't normally open for Touristenfahrten until March owing to the typical weather conditions.

 

[MrKnifey]

The ring doesn't normally open for Touristenfahrten until March owing to the typical weather conditions.

Thanks for that info, the plan was to start sorting something out after I bought a car, looks like I have to wait a little longer. All good

 

[roadie]

Nice buy

 

[mattpj]

Well done on the purchase. Were you looking for a manual as well?

I think you've done well and hope you enjoy it for a long, long time

 

[sideways14a]

I still don't want to be getting out dragged by 320d's in my miniature hairdressers car with squinty headlights.



The only thing that is "snooorrr" is the noise of a 4 cylinder being thrashed to within an inch of it's life

Well a 320d (stock at any rate) will not out drag the 2019 mk4, ok its prob a little faster over 110mph or so but i could care less about that.
While on hols last year round the scottish lochs i came across an x5 with the 3ltr diesel, he tried to pull away but there was little in it with my remapped 2016 mk4 ... at least around the speeds in those roads which was usually between 30 and 90.
The mx5 devastated the monster truck around the bends though, he was shedding lots more speed than me to just get round them.
A few days before that, and a 100 miles more north i had a 5 series also try to prove his fat exec wagon was superior on these bends.. this was also a diesel. Again no contest on the twisties and there was little in it with the performance up until silly speeds.

So no the mk4 at least is no slouch and wont be left standing in a cloud of disgusting black fog from a 320d. It is what?? half a ton lighter and has short gearing which does make a lot of difference.

I got the 5 after years of having very fast cars, my 200sx would obliterate an e46 in a straight line (was decent on the bends as well but i recon the e46 would have been a better bet for that) and even today i wouldnt fancy a new M3 or M4s chances against it in a drag race. Then i actually got a 330cd which i had some basic fuelling mods.. it was decently quick in a straight line but fk me it was appalling on the bends and no where near the so called "sports car" many try and make them out to be.

I went back to the 5 because i wanted fun and the BM didnt even attempt that. You will struggle to find a new car for the money that puts as much a smile on your face, Fiesta ST is about all that comes close. The gt86 is also up there although slower than the 5.

Maybe its an age thing but i did find i "matured" out of driving like a fanny on the roads round here, ok i still drive pretty fast but nothing like the daft speeds modern high performance heavyweight cars can do.

Will i go back to big power again? maybe in the future but for now i am all about lightness and delicacy. But for what? to prove the pleb in front of me that i have a bigger wang? Testosterone driving .. its not cool.



I would take an Alpina a110 or caymen/boxer over an m3/4 any day the now because thats what i want from a car.
Dont dis the mx5, it just shows noobness. Its not a hairdressers car and while its not got the greatest exhaust note as standard... er not much does and BMs and audis can hardly wave a victory flag over that either.

Its one of the worlds best sports cars, its not for everyone but thats fine. Maybe one day when you get older you might see it for what it is... Brilliant.

 

[MrKnifey]

Well done on the purchase. Were you looking for a manual as well?

I think you've done well and hope you enjoy it for a long, long time

Yes mate I wanted a manual. I do appreciate the DCT is very good, but I just love me a stick

 

[mr tommo]

Looks perfect. Been keeping my eye on these for a few weeks now, came across that ad and it looked like a good one congrats! Similar situation to you, want an M3 but the e46 doesn't make much sense when the e92 is that price.

 

[MrKnifey]

I would absolutely love an E46 M3, but I think id honestly be a little disappointed and on constant edge.

First "mod" planned, installing an Autowatch Ghost 2 Immobiliser on Wednesday (im an installer luckily)

 

[Swinbag]

Very nice M3, probably the right choice too given the current E46 pricing - happy V8 motoring

 

[Gibbo]

Right choice of car as a daily for sure, get to enjoy that V8 rumble and rasp daily, they can cruise in comfort and then attack a b road like an M car should and sound amazing whilst doing so.

 

[Simon]

I see a comment about a 330cd being called a sports car above and wondering how this is related to an M car

 

[theone8181]

I went to look at and bought this one : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-M3-E92-COUPE-MANUAL-/202864391970?hash=item2f3ba8f722:g:3DMAAOSwndFeE0Fu&nma=true&si=x5fR2haxpeqfuBpl78WVuWiEL0k%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I was keen on the other I linked too, but had 8 previous owners and the last 3 in very short succession didn't help, plus I prefer the black interior of this one.

It is a very clean car, good tyres all round, owner made all the right noises as well, letting the cold start finish before moving it, letting it get right up-to temp before giving it beans. It has FSH, Oil Lab done on the oil recently, which I will do again when we service it so I can compare results. It has had the exhaust rear box mod done, which when in the car is not really noticeable, it is very quite and refined.

The icing on the cake for me was I bought it from North Wales, so living in South Wales I got to drive some amazing roads on the way back so managed to have some fun, until it was raining. One thing I can say it is TIGHT, steering, while heavy gives you so much feed back, the brakes, very responsive and sharp when needed Suspension was spot on, even in the rain I never experienced under-steer once. Power delivery is smooth, it just pulls and pulls! I only really took it to 8000RPM a handful of times as as it had enough power way before that to enjoy the roads I was on. I pressed the M button once which sharpens up throttle response and the setting for the traction control is one setting down, it stepped out a bit too much for my liking in the damp and with a new car so turned it back off! (LOL). The one thing I have to thank BMW for is traction control, as it did save me a few times, it lets you have enough fun before it kicks in so very enjoyable. I used a touch over half a tank of Shell V-Power to 173 Miles. Not too bad considering there was no Motorway/Dual Carriageway cruising

So glad I went for the E92 M3 over the E46, while I really really want an E46, my budget says otherwise. Plans next are to use it when I can. Then I want to goto the Nurburgring, ill have to check when its open etc but Feb time would be ideal. Being as im also a sado, im going on my own (awww )

Pics to follow

If you're getting that from half a tank are you sure it's not a 320d. I get about 250 out the full tank.

 

[MrKnifey]

If you're getting that from half a tank are you sure it's not a 320d. I get about 250 out the full tank.

Yea not too sure how the fuel gauge works on these, but got that from half, then done the rest of the tank in 60 miles! LOL

 

[Gaygle]

Yea not too sure how the fuel gauge works on these, but got that from half, then done the rest of the tank in 60 miles! LOL

I went to look at and bought this one : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-M3-E92-COUPE-MANUAL-/202864391970?hash=item2f3ba8f722:g:3DMAAOSwndFeE0Fu&nma=true&si=x5fR2haxpeqfuBpl78WVuWiEL0k%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I was keen on the other I linked too, but had 8 previous owners and the last 3 in very short succession didn't help, plus I prefer the black interior of this one.

It is a very clean car, good tyres all round, owner made all the right noises as well, letting the cold start finish before moving it, letting it get right up-to temp before giving it beans. It has FSH, Oil Lab done on the oil recently, which I will do again when we service it so I can compare results. It has had the exhaust rear box mod done, which when in the car is not really noticeable, it is very quite and refined.

The icing on the cake for me was I bought it from North Wales, so living in South Wales I got to drive some amazing roads on the way back so managed to have some fun, until it was raining. One thing I can say it is TIGHT, steering, while heavy gives you so much feed back, the brakes, very responsive and sharp when needed Suspension was spot on, even in the rain I never experienced under-steer once. Power delivery is smooth, it just pulls and pulls! I only really took it to 8000RPM a handful of times as as it had enough power way before that to enjoy the roads I was on. I pressed the M button once which sharpens up throttle response and the setting for the traction control is one setting down, it stepped out a bit too much for my liking in the damp and with a new car so turned it back off! (LOL). The one thing I have to thank BMW for is traction control, as it did save me a few times, it lets you have enough fun before it kicks in so very enjoyable. I used a touch over half a tank of Shell V-Power to 173 Miles. Not too bad considering there was no Motorway/Dual Carriageway cruising

So glad I went for the E92 M3 over the E46, while I really really want an E46, my budget says otherwise. Plans next are to use it when I can. Then I want to goto the Nurburgring, ill have to check when its open etc but Feb time would be ideal. Being as im also a sado, im going on my own (awww )

Pics to follow

Congrats on the purchase - looks like a nice example. Seems to be very specced up with all sorts of decent options - except EDC!! Has it had the throttle actuators done?

It's funny you should mention things like the steering feel. I drive my E92 every day as my daily car, but when I drive other cars, the first things that hits me is how rubbish the steering feel is in them. My girlfriends Audi A3 has absolutely zero steering feel. The BMW X5, 530d's and 330d's I regularly drive have very little feedback (especially the X5). You press "sport" mode on the regular BMW's and all you get is a very odd, heavy sensation through the wheel but still no feedback. I can only imagine what something with proper steering feel like a Porsche feels like!

Getting back into my M3 after driving other cars all day reminds you of how much you *feel* a proper car, rather than just drive it.

Just be careful with it in this weather. A guy in my area bought an E92 M3 recently and within a month or two of owning it had managed to lose control of it under acceleration in MDM mode in the wet and went head on into two other cars. I don't go near the MDM mode unless i'm on track - I don't feel the urge to need to let the car hang out on a public road and I never feel as though the full DSC mode is restrictive. I think some people think it makes them less manly/of a driving God if they don't go round everywhere with the traction control turned off/dulled.

Oh, and my biggest piece of advice is to get the rod bearings done - it's not something that is overblown or whatever people come out with, and as these cars age, they get even more likely to go. Just get it done and forget about these oil analysis things. There's nothing that kills having a new car like getting an £8000 bill for a new (used) engine. Mine cost £1400 for BE Bearings and I just put it on a 0% credit card and paid it off over the space of a year or so - and it is one of the best financial decisions I have ever made as my bearings were bad and my engine wouldn't have lasted much longer. This was on 97k miles. You're pretty close to Redish Automotive in Bristol and they are probably the best independent BMW specialists in the UK.

 

[Gaygle]

Also, if you need a hand with finding parts, knowing where to get them from for the best price etc, just drop me a trust message. I've kinda got finding cheap BMW/OEM parts down to an art

 

[balls]

Could have an S2000 with a supercharger/turbo on it for ~£10k

 

[theone8181]

Congrats on the purchase - looks like a nice example. Seems to be very specced up with all sorts of decent options - except EDC!! Has it had the throttle actuators done?

It's funny you should mention things like the steering feel. I drive my E92 every day as my daily car, but when I drive other cars, the first things that hits me is how rubbish the steering feel is in them. My girlfriends Audi A3 has absolutely zero steering feel. The BMW X5, 530d's and 330d's I regularly drive have very little feedback (especially the X5). You press "sport" mode on the regular BMW's and all you get is a very odd, heavy sensation through the wheel but still no feedback. I can only imagine what something with proper steering feel like a Porsche feels like!

Getting back into my M3 after driving other cars all day reminds you of how much you *feel* a proper car, rather than just drive it.

Just be careful with it in this weather. A guy in my area bought an E92 M3 recently and within a month or two of owning it had managed to lose control of it under acceleration in MDM mode in the wet and went head on into two other cars. I don't go near the MDM mode unless i'm on track - I don't feel the urge to need to let the car hang out on a public road and I never feel as though the full DSC mode is restrictive. I think some people think it makes them less manly/of a driving God if they don't go round everywhere with the traction control turned off/dulled.

Oh, and my biggest piece of advice is to get the rod bearings done - it's not something that is overblown or whatever people come out with, and as these cars age, they get even more likely to go. Just get it done and forget about these oil analysis things. There's nothing that kills having a new car like getting an £8000 bill for a new (used) engine. Mine cost £1400 for BE Bearings and I just put it on a 0% credit card and paid it off over the space of a year or so - and it is one of the best financial decisions I have ever made as my bearings were bad and my engine wouldn't have lasted much longer. This was on 97k miles. You're pretty close to Redish Automotive in Bristol and they are probably the best independent BMW specialists in the UK.

Having had a 911 previously it was a step down. Theyre not bad cars, but tbh about mdm, you get a 'feel' for when its slipping so i tend to recover it before it kicks in. Apart from i've got winters on atm and they definitely dont have as much dry grip as my summers.

 

[Simon]

MDM is fine if you drive accordingly. Stops overly cautious traction control kicking in on acceleration.

D5 and MDM is always going to give you the best launch. D5 also is faster and smoother. Manual S4-5 are setup to give a kick to feel faster but also can upset the car

 

[Nasher]

Spend a bit more, buy an Elise. Never have depreciation... Is what I'm planning atm

 

[theone8181]

MDM is fine if you drive accordingly. Stops overly cautious traction control kicking in on acceleration.

D5 and MDM is always going to give you the best launch. D5 also is faster and smoother. Manual S4-5 are setup to give a kick to feel faster but also can upset the car

I like to have mine in manual all the time, otherwise it does crazy stuff like letting you go round a roundabout at idle. Need to be in 2nd or 3rd.