M3 feasibility

[Gibbo]

Wait till the new E92 M3 comes out. The E46 M3/CSL usually will significantly drops in price as its old hat.

As for feasibility, depends what your salary is. Under £30k and I woudn't bother, you might look a bit of a tit to some if you haven't got the Profession to match

You could always wet your appetite with an E36 M3 Evo first, some say its a better car

Hi there

The CSL won't drop in value until BMW officially announce a new CSL and as such at the moment CSL's are increasing in value because the CSL is better than the new M3.

Also good examples of the M3, especially low mileage ones are now holding their value, the only real bargains are high mileage examples.

CSL's over 6 months ago with 30,000 miles were selling for £28,000 - £30,000. Wheras now they are fetching £32,000 - £36,000 and really low mileage examples in excellent condition are fetching as much as £40,000. So when it comes to the CSL all the new M3 has done is actually help to increase the value of CSL's. The regular M3 is less un-affected but the better examples are holding value well.

 

[Yas786]

M3 = LEND TO NOBODY!!!

LOL sadly it wasnt like that, if anything my brother is a pretty competant driver...it wasnt his fault as far as the police were concerned and the insurance...it was the other driver who pulled out suddenly in front of my brother....who just didnt have enough time to swerve or brake.

If it was someone else ie non family member then i would be livid but the main thing was that he was ok himself.

Mind you when he decides to get his RS4 ill be driving that far more than he will...he just doesnt know it yet

 

[Steve]

Hi there

Yeah its Thorney I've been talking too. My main concerns is exhaust boom in the cabin, he ensures me the latest exhaust has hardly no boom at all now and also offers a wacking 24kg weight saving too over the CSL's standard exhaust which is impressive.

I am gonna have a go in a stage 2 CSL (remap+exhaust+cats) in a couple of weeks to see how it compares. If I like it then I shall go with the stage 2 setup and then leave it at that. If I still feel I'd like a little more I could always get the stage3 done at a later date, but the cams cost a small fortune for what is a relatively small increase. 380BHP in a CSL is gonna be very quick, the cams up this to the 390 area so again very quick. Nearly 300BHP per tonne.

Cool

The miltek is a bit droney at low revs and in a traffic jam it can get a bit annoying.

I know I will probablyget shot but I never got on with the raspy M3 exhaust note and the Miltek carries this over (good thing or bad depending on your view).

As for he best car and nowhere to go I think you find different ways, jap turbo route or like me the GT 840 sport path, now with the supercharger kit my 2 ton tessy will be pushing 5 sec 0-60s hahaha (oviously the stock Brembo brakes will be upgraded)

 

[Steve]

LOL sadly it wasnt like that, if anything my brother is a pretty competant driver...it wasnt his fault as far as the police were concerned and the insurance...it was the other driver who pulled out suddenly in front of my brother....who just didnt have enough time to swerve or brake.

If it was someone else ie non family member then i would be livid but the main thing was that he was ok himself.

Mind you when he decides to get his RS4 ill be driving that far more than he will...he just doesnt know it yet

M3>Misses>Family>Mates

My best mate bought my M3 then let his retard of an excuse for a girlfriend drive it and she kerbed his wheels in minutes I was more angry than him.

I'll lend you my pen but an expensive motor is never going to happen, as you found out its not going to be their fault but you suffer for it.

Maybe I'm just selfish?

 

[pallys]

Hi there

The CSL won't drop in value until BMW officially announce a new CSL and as such at the moment CSL's are increasing in value because the CSL is better than the new M3.

Also good examples of the M3, especially low mileage ones are now holding their value, the only real bargains are high mileage examples.

CSL's over 6 months ago with 30,000 miles were selling for £28,000 - £30,000. Wheras now they are fetching £32,000 - £36,000 and really low mileage examples in excellent condition are fetching as much as £40,000. So when it comes to the CSL all the new M3 has done is actually help to increase the value of CSL's. The regular M3 is less un-affected but the better examples are holding value well.

All E46 M3 will naturally drop in value when the new M3 is released, already the market has been flooded in anticipation. This may affect CSL pricing too because theres only a certain difference in price you can have between the two, and with the M3 price dropping, it may drag the CSL price with it.

The E92 M3 does seem to be a lot more powerful than the CSL, will you be upgrading? That V8 is so tempting, but I coudn't justify it atm.

Prices in summer usually are higher, perhaps the OP should consider buying in Winter, could make quite a saving I would deffo wait for the new M car first though, you could instantly save a few £K, which might put your mind at ease knowing you've got a few K spare should anything go wrong to put towards repairs.

 

[Gibbo]

All E46 M3 will naturally drop in value when the new M3 is released, already the market has been flooded in anticipation. This may affect CSL pricing too because theres only a certain difference in price you can have between the two, and with the M3 price dropping, it may drag the CSL price with it.

The E92 M3 does seem to be a lot more powerful than the CSL, will you be upgrading? That V8 is so tempting, but I coudn't justify it atm.

Prices in summer usually are higher, perhaps the OP should consider buying in Winter, could make quite a saving I would deffo wait for the new M car first though, you could instantly save a few £K, which might put your mind at ease knowing you've got a few K spare should anything go wrong to put towards repairs.

Hi there

I am quoting factual evidence though, wheras your basing your fact on hearsay. Fact is CSL values have increased and still are doing so. Fact is I could have purchased a car in same condition as mine, similar mileage and age a year ago for 29k, wheras a year later I paid 32k and its considered I got a very good deal due to the extras my car had. Since I got my car values have increased slightly more, it seems the lowest price a car similar to mine goes for is now 33k and some sellers are even advertising at 36k. Only a couple of weeks ago an 04 CSL with 9000 miles sold for close to 40k, now a year ago that same car would have only fetched 35k area. So based on factual evidence and not hearsay or what usually happens CSL values are actually increasing, one thing for sure is they aint getting any cheaper. The reason they are increasing is due to the new M3.

The E92 M3 is more powerful yes, but quicker it is not. The new M3 is not an upgrade in my oppinion, it lacks feel, does not handle anywhere near as good and is no faster in a straight line, infact it may even be slower. The CSL has more power per tonne as it only weighs 1385kg wheras I believe the new M3 weighs over 1600kg. Obviously as I've not driven the new M3 this oppinion comes from reading reviews and other peoples experiences of the new M3 and upto now most consider it not the great car people had hoped for.

Car prices do drop in winter, but CSL's last Summer were selling cheaper than they are now, again fact. The regular E46 M3 values indeed might be hit a little more once the new E92 M3 is in circulation but I still reckon good examples will fetch good money. A lot of purist believe the new M3 is a stepdown from the E46 model as the E92 is designed to cator more for the US market and as such its no longer as hardcore or as precise as the E46 was.

 

[divine`]

A lot of purist believe the new M3 is a stepdown from the E46 model as the E92 is designed to cator more for the US market and as such its no longer as hardcore or as precise as the E46 was.

Do purists not say this about most new versions of their favourite cars though?

I'm sure people probably complained the E46 was probably not as raw feeling as an E36 or something and before that the E36 was a more family friendly replacement over the E30...

 

[jamoor]

Also consider where you will go from here if you get an M3. The quicker you upgrade cars the quicker you'll hit that wall where you can't really get anything better.

Rank up slowly and you can have many years of driving cars you think are amazing.

You could easily own something now like a 330Ci and find it great fun. Own it after an M3 and it'll be rubbish....

If you are not careful you could reach 25 with no way of upgrading other than to something like a Ferrari you cant afford. Doh. Every car you own after that will be a dissapointment..

Same reason why everyone thinks their first car is amazing.

You make a good point, I like the 530d a lot, brilliant for motorway cruising and does good mpg, although I fail to see where you would use m3 performance.
I have until late Nov/Early Dec to decide as that's when he gets the new M3.
Hopefully it will be worth less too, although I think a big hit to e46 values will be about a year after the new one is out, as supply of these will be limited.

 

[Housey]

Love that

You have had a CSL havnt you?

Nope, I never owned a CSL, drove a couple, but never owned one.

 

[Scania]

Also consider where you will go from here if you get an M3. The quicker you upgrade cars the quicker you'll hit that wall where you can't really get anything better.

Rank up slowly and you can have many years of driving cars you think are amazing.

You could easily own something now like a 330Ci and find it great fun. Own it after an M3 and it'll be rubbish....

If you are not careful you could reach 25 with no way of upgrading other than to something like a Ferrari you cant afford. Doh. Every car you own after that will be a dissapointment..

Same reason why everyone thinks their first car is amazing.

Not quite rubbish mate, an M3 isn't all to everybody but I do get your good point.

I still smile to myself thinking back when my Dad returned his e39 M5 loan car which he'd had for a weekend yet used my mums e46 318i as he simply hated the M5!

I drove it more than he did!

Says a lot for the 530d that he preferred it over both the M5 and his own 528i (which he loves - he's ran it from new & retired & kept it!)

 

[Gibbo]

Do purists not say this about most new versions of their favourite cars though?

I'm sure people probably complained the E46 was probably not as raw feeling as an E36 or something and before that the E36 was a more family friendly replacement over the E30...

Hi there

I don't think too many complained about the E46, I think it was generally seen as an all round improvement over the E36 which it truly was. I've driven the E36 models and they are OK, but the E46 is better.

However yes the E30 M3 was the most raw and it is still regarded as the best M3 and M car of all time. Purist and press say the CSL is the most capable M car of all time and the new Z4M Coupe is the best recent M car for its rawness and feel.

 

[pallys]

Hi there

I am quoting factual evidence though, wheras your basing your fact on hearsay. Fact is CSL values have increased and still are doing so. Fact is I could have purchased a car in same condition as mine, similar mileage and age a year ago for 29k, wheras a year later I paid 32k and its considered I got a very good deal due to the extras my car had. Since I got my car values have increased slightly more, it seems the lowest price a car similar to mine goes for is now 33k and some sellers are even advertising at 36k. Only a couple of weeks ago an 04 CSL with 9000 miles sold for close to 40k, now a year ago that same car would have only fetched 35k area. So based on factual evidence and not hearsay or what usually happens CSL values are actually increasing, one thing for sure is they aint getting any cheaper. The reason they are increasing is due to the new M3.

The E92 M3 is more powerful yes, but quicker it is not. The new M3 is not an upgrade in my oppinion, it lacks feel, does not handle anywhere near as good and is no faster in a straight line, infact it may even be slower. The CSL has more power per tonne as it only weighs 1385kg wheras I believe the new M3 weighs over 1600kg. Obviously as I've not driven the new M3 this oppinion comes from reading reviews and other peoples experiences of the new M3 and upto now most consider it not the great car people had hoped for.

Car prices do drop in winter, but CSL's last Summer were selling cheaper than they are now, again fact. The regular E46 M3 values indeed might be hit a little more once the new E92 M3 is in circulation but I still reckon good examples will fetch good money. A lot of purist believe the new M3 is a stepdown from the E46 model as the E92 is designed to cator more for the US market and as such its no longer as hardcore or as precise as the E46 was.

Yeah your probably right regarding the CSL prices as I havent looked that closely at them as yourself.

Its just speaking from experience the last generation upgrade when the new model E46 came out and the E36 M3 took a hit. In my eyes the situation looked pretty similar:

E36 M3 := E46 M3
E36 M3 Evo := E46 M3 CSL

The difference being that this time BMW dropped the Evo name for CSL, but both cars evolved more for Track Day characteristics. And yes, considering the E92 reviews, it does seem to be screaming for another Evo/CSL edition.

It's actually very clever how BMW have managed to split into 2 markets for the M3.

It'll be interesting to see comparison runs of the CSL vs E92. I rekon around the track it'd be the CSL still, but on a straight run the brute force of the 4.0l V8 would be too much for the 3.2l in-line 6.

Also BMW have confirmed there will be a E92 M3 CSL

 

[NickXX]

Yeah your probably right regarding the CSL prices as I havent looked that closely at them as yourself.

Its just speaking from experience the last generation upgrade when the new model E46 came out and the E36 M3 took a hit. In my eyes the situation looked pretty similar:

E36 M3 := E46 M3
E36 M3 Evo := E46 M3 CSL

The difference being that this time BMW dropped the Evo name for CSL, but both cars evolved more for Track Day characteristics. And yes, considering the E92 reviews, it does seem to be screaming for another Evo/CSL edition.

It's actually very clever how BMW have managed to split into 2 markets for the M3.

It'll be interesting to see comparison runs of the CSL vs E92. I rekon around the track it'd be the CSL still, but on a straight run the brute force of the 4.0l V8 would be too much for the 3.2l in-line 6.

Also BMW have confirmed there will be a E92 M3 CSL

There was an e36 CSL, they were just produced in very small numbers.

 

[Gibbo]

Yeah your probably right regarding the CSL prices as I havent looked that closely at them as yourself.

Its just speaking from experience the last generation upgrade when the new model E46 came out and the E36 M3 took a hit. In my eyes the situation looked pretty similar:

E36 M3 := E46 M3
E36 M3 Evo := E46 M3 CSL

The difference being that this time BMW dropped the Evo name for CSL, but both cars evolved more for Track Day characteristics. And yes, considering the E92 reviews, it does seem to be screaming for another Evo/CSL edition.

It's actually very clever how BMW have managed to split into 2 markets for the M3.

It'll be interesting to see comparison runs of the CSL vs E92. I rekon around the track it'd be the CSL still, but on a straight run the brute force of the 4.0l V8 would be too much for the 3.2l in-line 6.

Also BMW have confirmed there will be a E92 M3 CSL

Hi there

EVO's were never CSL's, lets put things right there.

The EVO differed from the regular because it featured the new 3.2l vanos engine. There has always been CSL's they are just rare.

I think you will be surprised, the CSL in a straight line should be more than a match for the V8 M3. On a roll the CSL does well against much more powerful cars such as the B7 RS4, SL500 because the CSL's lightweight helps it greatly on its performance. The V8 M3 has what 50BHP on the CSL, but its also got what nearly an extra 250kg to lugg about too. The CSL has better power to weight ratio. On track yes the CSL will slaugter the V8 M3, probably any track too.

Its obvious that BMW will do a new CSL but I don't believe BMW have actually confirmed or made anything official yet. When I spoke to the local dealer they said I could put a deposit down to get my name on the list but as of yet nothing has actually been decided or officially stated that there will be a CSL. What will come first is an SMG version of the new M3 and then if it happens the CSL version will come about.

 

[Rotty]

The only thing that put me of the M3 is the fact that the new one is out now so prices will fall faster then ever, I just could not stomach losing 200+ pounds per month.

in the 18 months I have had mine deprecaition is running at about £350 a month

 

[Rotty]

Lets put down the real costs

I have had mine 18 months and have spent

2006

3rd party warranty £500
road tax £165
Ins £673 ( 10 months )
oil £48
AA £85
Brakes ( front disks/pads rear pads fluid change ) £603

2007

Ins £680
Mot £50
tax £195
oil service ( authorised dealer , own oil ) £83
Tyres ( full set ) £950
AA £120


fuel consumption averages 25-26mpg

as said depreciation about £350 per month


inspection 2 service is due in about 8k miles , cost £6-800

 

[[TW]Fox]

How come your Road Tax is less than mine @ £210?

 

[Gibbo]

Lets put down the real costs

I have had mine 18 months and have spent

2006

3rd party warranty £500
road tax £165
Ins £673 ( 10 months )
oil £48
AA £85
Brakes ( front disks/pads rear pads fluid change ) £603

2007

Ins £680
Mot £50
tax £195
oil service ( authorised dealer , own oil ) £83
Tyres ( full set ) £950
AA £120


fuel consumption averages 25-26mpg

as said depreciation about £350 per month


inspection 2 service is due in about 8k miles , cost £6-800

Hi m8

The warranty you mention at £500, who is supplying that and what period does it cover? Does it cover everything? Seems a bargain!

Also my insurance is less than yours, yet I am younger, less NCB so higher risk, plus mine is a 12 month policy. You need to get better quote m8, I am using A-Plan.

 

[Rotty]

Hi m8

The warranty you mention at £500, who is supplying that and what period does it cover? Does it cover everything? Seems a bargain!

Also my insurance is less than yours, yet I am younger, less NCB so higher risk, plus mine is a 12 month policy. You need to get better quote m8, I am using A-Plan.

was with warranty direct, their top cover , 13 months , £5000 limit though, main dealer labour


their 1st quote is just a starting point for negotiation, prices are not fixed

never had to make a claim so no idea how they are in this respect


will give A-plan a try, thanks for the tip

 

[Gibbo]

was with warranty direct, their top cover , 13 months , £5000 limit though, main dealer labour


thier 1st quote is just a starting point for negotiation, prices are not fixed

never had to make a claim so no idea how they are in this respect


will give A-plan a try, thanks for the tip

Hi m8

You got the contact details for warranty direct please?
What do I do just call them, tell them my car and that I want warranty to cover everything or just their top cover programme and then let the bartering begin?

If something fails do I still take it to BMW for repairs? If so who pays the bill warranty direct or me? Or is it a case I pay and then warranty direct eventually pay me?

Yes A-Plan are good, especially for more specialist cars, they are also mod friendly.