hmmm...thats weird because in the brochure for the m3, it states unladen weight is 3704. either way the 335 coupe is a good amount lighter (~130 lbs).

for the same price, id prob pick the upcoming rs5 over the m3.

 

So, why is it that the BMWUSA brochure has it at 3700 some odd pounds?

And why is it that the same BMWUSA brochure for my E46 M3 has it at 3415?

I would pick the Z06, or a 996 Turbo. Unless you get the M3 sedan, the back seat areas are laughable. And yes, I have sat in the back of a sunroofed E92, laughable for anyone who isn't a 5'3" 100 pound girl.

 

I thought it was kinda strange too, but it's sometimes difficult to tell if BMW is listing an unladen weight vs. they're usual weight with a driver, almost a full tank and all fluids.


As for the RS5, one of the car rags said it was getting the bi-turbo V8. How much is that going to cost? The RS4 already costs $12k over an E90 M3!!!

And why would someone volunterally sit in the back of an E92? I have a car seat and two boosters in the back of my E90, but the coupe is a little tight.

 

I only brought that up to point out the fallacy of people dismissing the Z06 and the 996 Turbo for being "2 seater." As if the E92 M3 isn't for all practical purposes.

 

I agree. I am 6'1" and 195 lbs and I had my father up front in my '01 E46M3 with my mother and wife (one is 5'6" and one is 5'8") in the back and they fit fine. I've had 4 people in my E92 and its the same story. Would they want to sit back there on a 3 hour trip? No.....but who looks to sit in the back seat of ANY 2DR car for an extended period of time?

Its more than the back seats that makes it a much better choice than the likes of a Z06....Trust me, I know firsthand. ****, I'll take the new GT-R over the Z06.

 

That's not really true. The tires that the RS4 and CSL as well as the 997GT3 adn a few others used were the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup and are considered by Sport Auto & Michelin to be Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires. The tires the new M3 used are called the Pilot Sport Cup + are NOT considered to be UHP by Sport Auto. Michelin claims they split the difference in performance between a PS2 and a PSC.

-Adam

 

After having had two 2DR M3's, one 4DR M3, one 996 Turbo, and now the E30 and the GT2, I have come to the conclusion that one needs more than one car. Cars are like tools, different tools for different jobs.

If I want or need to carry people on a regular basis, I would get an E39 M5 (which I am looking to get).

If I want or need to have a fun car on and off the track, and I don't worry about carrying people, I would get a car like the GT2, Z06, etc.

To try to smash all the requirements into one car is an exercise in futility, as seen in the E9x M3.

The sunroofless E36 M3 sedan with S50B32 that was never available in the U.S. was able to get close to that smashing of all requirements into one car, because the E36 M3 in .de was a direct competitor of the 993 C2 with that trick 321HP engine and being 80lbs or more lighter than the U.S. fake M3. And it actually had useable back seat area when spec'ed without a sunroof.

It is unfortunate that the M3 design took a wrong turn for the worse.

 

but we can agree that it was on better tires than PS2's. the rs4 ran 7:58 on cup tires. the e46 m3 csl without cup tires prob would have been around the 8 minute mark.

 

but with the rs4, fully loaded it msrps for 73,XXX.

now lets take the e90 m3 sedan (both sedans) and make IT fully loaded as well. its going to be around the same mark if not more.

 

I've had both e36 m3's and e46 m3...both modified and tracked cars. I've had and currently have 996tt's both mildly modified. I agree, no matter what you try to do with the bimmers, it is not in their nature to be hardcore sports cars. They are for people who only have the ability and intentions of pushing the cars to 70%...Sorry!

 

Not only is this a disappointment, it's kind of scary. I hope the rotors are huge (14+ inches). Even my 1950 lbs Elise has 2 piston A/P calipers in the front.

By the way I've owned a 97 E36 M3 sedan and the brakes on that were quite good, the car was only 3300 lbs or so though.

 

thats a pretty fair assessment. usually the guys who praise bmws for the near 50/50 weight distribution are the ones who cant drive and have no ***** to drive a mid/rear engines car because they have no skill.
why always take the easy way out...life is about challenge, not setting the bar low. its no wonder why some of the best drivers in the world, i.e. walter rohl will on drive Porsches!

 

The E36 M3 was quite a bit lighter than 3300 pounds. IIRC, the .de version with the real M engine was a hair over 3100.

My sunroofless, option less saved for xenon and SMG M3, came in at a little less than 3400 pounds.

 

I don't see how trying to make a car multipurpose is a wrong turn. Not everyone can afford or want to have a luxury sedan to carry people around and a sports car like a z06 to carry people around. I think the m3 is still a great car for 64k loaded. Sure the m3 might be 150 lbs heavier, most of the buyers won't even track the car and if they do, it is still an adequate car for the track. It beat the rs4 and c63 by 5 seconds around the track. People buy cars for different purposes. I think an m3 is a great daily driver for someone who wants a comfortable car that is sporty and quick. I'm sure most of us would like to have a 997tt as a daily driver, but just can't afford one. You should get off your high horse and try to understand other people's points of view. Most people don't want to spend 70k on a used car, so the 996 tt argument is pointless. I personally would never buy a gt2. If I were to spend that much on a car I would purchase a ferrari. If I just wanted performance I would get a z06 or gtr. I'm not going to say the gt2 is a bad car or a pointless car because it is not. It is a great car for some people.

 

Did you miss the part about how E36 M3 with S50B32 directly competed with the 993 C2's?

So, how many M3's have you had? Come one, how many?

Am I hearing this right? Someone who is richer than most Americans, and yes, being able to afford a BMW makes you richer than most Americans, is posting this self pity BS about not being able to afford two cars when he can't come up with any valid argument?

Says who? Have you tracked E36 or E46 M3's? What group? How many sets of rotors, pads, and tires have you gone through?

And the E36 M3 S50B32 used to be compared against the 993 C2 in .de. Now the bar has been lowered to these POS pretender cars?

There you go with your whining about not being rich enough. How about being thankful that you are richer than most Americans?

Why? Because a CPO 996 Turbo is less reliable than a BMW? Did you missed the part about how many days, er, make that weeks, my E46 M3 was in the shop given that both it and the Turbo were driven in the same manner?

Have you driven either the Z06 or the GT2? GTR is not in the same league as GT2 or Z06.

So, how many M3's have you had?