hi,
has anybody driven an m3 all year round, ie through harsh winters?
has it been any worse than a regular rear-wheel drive car?
according to me it should be tolerable in canadian winter, but it has led me to consider an awd option, but there is only the fx50s that i would consider...anyways, input on the m3 in winter would be helpful please, i know it isnt ideal...but want to know if it is worse than average, as my dealer keeps saying it will be fine with winter tires and the traction control system...

 

My E46 was god awful in the snow. I'll never forget the drive I decided to take home from work with 4 inches on the ground. Was the most nerve racking drive of my life...and I've done some stupid **it in a car.


Side note...niqui, haven't you run out of things to consider yet? Make a decision already bro, if you don't like what you get, go for something else. I speak from experience being on my 3rd car within the last 12 months. ...actually...check that...think it through

 

tell me about it...ive considered everything, and driven everything on top of it.
yup, its decision time...m3 with dct is where i am heading, family wants the fx50s with awd...but its all good.
my main point, was to see if the m3 would be any worse than a regular rear wheel drive car in the winter, like a jag or something? cause that i can handle.
anyways,
which three cars did you go thru? i hope you didnt buy all three...

 

The E46 is fine in the winter..

 

thanks, so then the e92 will be fine i assume for montreal winter...
im going to the dealer this week then

 

would you tint it? i am not the type to mod, but tints maybe mild ones, if they enhance the car?

 

November 2007 traded in my E46 M3 (car1) for an Audi S5 (car2), last month traded the S5 for a M5 (car3).

The M3 is the best car I've ever owned. The ride was a little harsh though, it was starting to get dated, and it was becoming less of an "exclusive" ride. I own/run my company so a more mature ride was needed. The Audi would of been perfect, but it just wasn't all that fun to drive. I considered a 4 door DCT M3, but the interior is a little too bland for my tastes and I'm not too impressed with the exterior. Warranty and DCT would of been the only real positives weighed against a used M5. My M5 with Silverstone (almost white) and suede headliner is 100% perfect...for me. GL with the decision, sounds like you are most of the way there. I'll keep offering my 2 cents when it'll help.

 

thanks again for all the help...i am very surprised about the s5 though...but i kinda got that feeling when it came out...guess its not for me.
personally i agree with you on the interior of the m3 being bland as well as the exterior.
but compared to the isf and c63, i find the coupe to be the best looking.
plus, i found the interior of the benz cheap, and felt as though the center stack in the isf destroyed the entire cars interior.
the m3 coupe i found has white exterior with fox red extended interior, which i think is the least bland approach to this cars interior, plus wiht dct and edc and all that it should be a good dd. i think.
the m5 has a great interior, personally though i am a benz man for the interiors alone.
thanks

 

White and fox red is a real nice combo I'm sure you'll love it. I drove a dct and loved it for pure fun. Just wasn't the right total package for me, sounds like it is for you and that's awesome.

 

thanks again,
i know ive over researched my car choices to death, but i realized i better start, as before i bought lux sedans which was easy for me, but when it comes to sports coupes, i know nothing,...
last question...everybody on this forum talks about the horrendous brakes on the m3...are they really that bad, because no review that i have read or person i know has said anything bad about the brakes...or do ppl mean from a track standpoint there bad....also, ppl are saying they have partnered with brembo for the new brakes, will this be on 09's?
regarding the fox red and the white i like it, a bit girly i admit....but i think it gives the car a good pop and its more like a woody burgundy then red...personally the dct pulled me away from the c63. i love when you feel the clutch engage, it really feels like a real stick car, without the hassle in traffic and hills and stuff..
thanks again.

ps...you said you were looking at the sedan....what about the coupe, its less practical i assume and since you are the owner its not the best choice, but from a drive and styling stand point i think it is far superior to the sedan...though i wouldnt take the carbon roof, id rather have a sunroof personally, by the way when you drove the dct did you find that it felt powerful and torquey? i ask as when i drove the car i didnt really have much space to have fun, only play in the twisties a bit.
thanks

 

I didn't get to push the brakes too hard on my test drive, I suspect that since you are coming from luxo sedans you'll be pretty happy with any BMW brakes. The impression I got from the online complaints is that the brakes are underpowered, but only relative to the power the car offers. The m3 feels very powerful, you won't be dissapointed when you finally get to let it out. When are you getting it?

 

Never had a problem with proper snow tires...I wouldn't suggest driving ANY (YES EVEN AWD) car with high performance summer tires in the snow...

 

hi,
thanks again...the brakes were the least of my concerns, as all i do is drive to work and back and do some dumb things on the highway, for which i like rapid response and speed, good steering obviously.
if i can convince myslef to just bite the damn bullet...it will be this week, so ready next week...
this forum makes it harder....so much knowledge....too much,
personally the c63 is faster and m3 has low torwue, even i know that...but i think it will still feel crazy quick to me considering what i am used too.

as per the snow tires...in montreal , its illegal to not have them on...even my s500 with pirellis in the winter skates, its ridiculous, but i enjoy it....most of the time.

as for the color, did anybody see any toher combos that they liked>
thanks

 

I rode to BMFeast with a Space gray, awesome color really shows off the cars lines.

 

hopefully end this week or early next week.
White with extended fox red interior dct m3.
thanks again for all the help/