Hello
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It depends on what you want. The V8 will be different than the E46 than the 135i. They're all different tools that do different things well. If you want the V8 then save up and buy a V8.
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Earl is right, other than the 135i seems pointless to drive because you have a 335 now so it's basically a lateral move other than interior space. I drove @bluE92 's M3 before I made the decision to buy one myself. And if you can find a decent stock example of an E46 M3 that'd be good to test drive.
The discussion we should be having is "do i want a true driver's car or do I want a run-of-the-mill pedestrian BMW that goes fast in a straight line?" Because that is the difference between an ///M and a 335/135. And it's not even worth talking about interior because the quality of E9x M3 vs. 335/135 is miles apart. It's so much better in the M3 that it isn't even worth discussing.
I have owned 2 135i cars and love them but there is no way anyone in their right mind can drive one and then drive an M3 and not realize the staggering difference in handling, control, and overall confidence of the chassis. On cruises with friends and our local BMW group I found myself having to manage throttle a lot on the 135i going around turns - there's just so much torque and the car wants to push into understeer a bit unless you upgrade the control arms to the ones from the M3. You have a 335 now so it would be utterly pointless to go to a 135i.
The M3 is a pure joy to drive in comparison - I can basically go flat out on throttle around turns and shit never gets weird. I also drove @bluE92 's M3 last night - we traded cars for a jaunt and he has an ESS 550 kit on his and I will say that even with the increased power in that kit, I do not think it really detracts from the drivability of the car because it isn't 'too much' power but actually feels more like how the m3 should have come from the factory. It's still very linear delivery due to the supercharger, whereas the 135i is an on/off switch with the turbo. So if you feel like the stock M3 is lacking power, you can always get a used ESS 550 kit for like $4500 or so and have a properly strong M3 without compromising much.
The E46 M3 is indeed a different beast and is the most "raw" driving experience of the 3 cars we are talking about here. I drove @dastuz's E46 when it was stock before he jallopied it. The engine is very raspy, and it doesn't rev as high as the V8. The E9x M3 is going to give you a much nicer interior and features, a V8, and on the street I guarantee you will not notice any difference in driving capability between an E46 M3 and an E9x M3. You need to go to the track to see that. But what you will feel on the street in the E46 is a more connected driving feel. The E9x M3 just has a bit more cushion in it. Think of the E46 M3 as a 40/60 luxury/performance split, and the E9x M3 as a 60/40 lux/perf split.
Bottom line is - my next track car will almost surely be an E46 M3, but in the year 2017, for something that qualifies as a "summer daily", the E9x M3 is a no-brainer by comparison.
2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
2007 Z4MR
2003 E39 M5
2002 E46 M3
2021 X5 40i -
I will be in Neenah next week on Thursday afternoon/evening and if the weather is good I can bring my M3 and let you test drive it.
2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
2007 Z4MR
2003 E39 M5
2002 E46 M3
2021 X5 40i -
My E90 is a 330 not the 335, so its just a slightly faster N52. The 135i would be loads faster from what I read, but I guess that isn't really the point.
What I want is something I can comfortable take to cruises, meets, and the occasional track day, that isn't my daily, and can keep up with some of the more impressive cars there. The E9x seems like the perfect blend of that, but I haven't driven any of these so I 100% agree with you that I should do that before I make a decision either way.
On that note, I really appreciate the offer and would love to check the car out, but there is a problem with me test driving it...
I never had a chance to learn manuals (stop laughing), and that car is not the right place to do it. I have a friend with a manual 328xi in Madison that is supposed to teach me, but he keeps ditching me when its time to do it. We could still meet up when you're in the area and go have lunch/dinner or something if you're ever in the area. Or I'm sure we'll see each other at one of the meets this year and I'll come ask you a million questions then.But yeah, one thing at a time. Good thing I'm not in a hurry.
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my bad I thought it was a 335 for some reason. Then yes, 135i is perfectly acceptable upgrade, just not as good as an M3 =P
Send me a PM with your phone number and I'll see if we can meet up regardless next week when I'm in town.
2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
2007 Z4MR
2003 E39 M5
2002 E46 M3
2021 X5 40i -
I'm in La Crosse by the way, not Neenah. But I'll pm it to you and if you do ever find yourself way over here then it's on
This is all a great help
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Yeah I get the principle of it, but I never had anyone that would lend me a car to practice on. And I was never in a position to buy a beater to practice with lol
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Yeah I get the principle of it, but I never had anyone that would lend me a car to practice on. And I was never in a position to buy a beater to practice with lol
Then buy a daily to practice with. The best way to learn is neccesity!
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I will be in Neenah next week on Thursday afternoon/evening and if the weather is good I can bring my M3 and let you test drive it.
With all the condescending comments about the 135i in comparison, I'd love to have a chance to drive an E9X M3. Never been behind the wheel of one.
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Then buy a daily to practice with. The best way to learn is neccesity!
Im not in a position to test drive one before buying it and I already have a daily.
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With all the condescending comments about the 135i in comparison, I'd love to have a chance to drive an E9X M3. Never been behind the wheel of one.
I'll still be in Neenah this coming week on Thursday =P
and really, there's a 35-40k difference in the cost of the E9x M3 and the 135i brand new, and you know as well as I do the shortcomings of the 135. It isn't really condescending because the 135i is an awesome car and for its price point I think it's a great car for go-fast-things. But the M3 is just a better car on the whole....but again, you gotta pay more for it so what do you expect? The 370z makes a great sports coupe, but if I say a GT-R is far superior, that isn't really condescending the 370z - it's just a statement of fact. None of it takes away from the fact that for the price point, 370 is a great performance. Same vein as the 135i, really.
2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
2007 Z4MR
2003 E39 M5
2002 E46 M3
2021 X5 40i -
I'll still be in Neenah this coming week on Thursday =P
and really, there's a 35-40k difference in the cost of the E9x M3 and the 135i brand new, and you know as well as I do the shortcomings of the 135. It isn't really condescending because the 135i is an awesome car and for its price point I think it's a great car for go-fast-things. But the M3 is just a better car on the whole....but again, you gotta pay more for it so what do you expect? The 370z makes a great sports coupe, but if I say a GT-R is far superior, that isn't really condescending the 370z - it's just a statement of fact. None of it takes away from the fact that for the price point, 370 is a great performance. Same vein as the 135i, really.
I just like ruffling feathers, but I do think the 135i is a great car for the price. While it might not handle as well as the M3, it still seems to perform great. I can attest to the understeering and lack of LSD but if non-M cars had an LSD, we all know they would sell less M cars.
Do you have my number? If not, PM me. I'd love to check out your M3 and maybe grab dinner/drinks if you're up for it this week.
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It had an awkward vibration around 70 the day I brought it home, which then moved to around 80 and eventually to 90. Not a wobble, just an odd shake sort of thing which had me a little worried because this is only my second car and the first with aftermarket wheels and tires, so I have no idea if that's normal or not. But that has since disappeared entirely so I completely love them.
I got to take them out to a couple cruises recently and they are SO MUCH stickier and firmer than the old run-flats. One bad thing happened though, I got a couple of chips on the inside of 2 spokes, like a rock or something got into the wheels and got bounced around while driving. I was pretty bummed about that because the wheels were practically brand new before that and I've been extremely paranoid about curbing them, but I guess shit happens and I'll just live with it.
I also finally threw on some new chrome trim on the nose. I had been considering blacking everything out, but the chrome looks nice with this color so I'm going to own it.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=17NTTeunG1mKALTWahw_DBIsYmMdwG7LHSw
On another note, a local cruising buddy that is into BMW's just traded in his E46 325xi for an E46 M3... Suddenly I feel a stronger urge to get one.
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So I've got an update; After this discussion I did some more research and decided you guys are probably right about E90 pricing. I was pretty bummed for a few days because I think that's just too much of a commitment with some things going on at work, but then something interesting happened.
The guy I mentioned above with the new E46 M3. Something kind of hit a spot in me and I did a complete switch into wanting to get one of those, and that's where I am now. The math just sort of works out, its a crazy fun car and way faster than what I have now, but for a lot less than the E90. This means I can probably get one by the end of this year if things go right (maybe even sooner), instead of end of next year.
Long story short, I am actively looking for a new place to move into (wife's only limitation on me getting the M3 is that she gets a dog, which requires a move) and am doing damn near constant research on what I need to know about E46's.
One important aspect would be the gearbox...I know how you guys feel about manuals, but what is the SMG actually like? For someone in my position it sounds pretty good if I'm honest, and they go for considerably less than manuals.
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@DrLeadFoot on here went through some SMG hydraulic unit debacles after an engine replacement but he eventually got it worked out on his own. He has put a lot of miles on his SMG and hopefully chimes in here
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