Are you aware of the sub-frame and engine issues in M3's? Pick up a copy of Roundel. Even the tech editor says to ovoid M3's like grim death. The drive-shaft is simply way too short. BMWCCA forces you to prove you have had all the latest engine tsb's performed before hitting the track. I, too, was a BMW owner. The company is no longer known for their performance, but rather as another luxury car company. Comparing it to a 911 is just ridiculous.

 

Well I owned one and I am not particularly gentle on my cars. It was flawless. My 7, barring a few hijinks with the HK and a transmission reflash has 52K and drives like new.

I am on my 5th BMW and they have been pretty good to me. Better than my exp with Mercedes. I did have two Porsches, granted they were both old an 84 928S and an 89 951, both had around 50K and were both rolling piles of ****.

I receive Roundel but I do not recall any complaining about sub frames. Spun bearings in the earlier S54's was an issue but I had an 05.

 

The sub-frame issues are well-documented and catastrophic when they occur. Roundel tech article have a slew of previous M3 owners with this issue.

BTW, I am not a snob, I bought my 911 used, in case you were wondering.

 

I bought my M3 used as well. The subframe issue seems to be limited to high mileage and or heavily tracked cars and seems the E36 was a more likely candidate for the problem.

 

Revised. Seems I was using the EU weight which includes fuel, driver and cargo.

 

We buy whatever cars we want and we own them with joy... i personally wouldn't take anything (Flashy Lambo, or over priced Ferrari) over the GT3 for its subtile looks, AMAZING performance and feel, its reliability, its practicality, its exhaust sound, its comfort/performance factor, its heritage and over all ITS JUST PERFECT in everyway possible! ENJOY what we have and enjoy them to the fullest with perfect health!

Alan

 

+1, someone down the street just got one, and OMG the thing is RIDICULOUS! prob one of the few cars out of the box that are in fact perfect.

 

A friend has one (997GT3), there is a part of me that would really like to stretch and get try to get one, it is that cool. But there are lots of good choices that are easier for me to obtain. I try to be content but it does motivate me to work hard to try and put myself in a position to afford a "better" car.

 

so why not go back out and get an 04-06 e46 m3, throw on a VF engineering supercharger, full supersprint exhaust, chip, and maybe some Vorsteiner CSL parts and call it a day. that would make for a very fast and nicely lightened up m3 for the street as well as for the track. i actually think you should go pick up a used 996 GT3 and then you can really call it a day as that car just liek the 997 GT3 is as perfect as they come from the factory.

 

I would not go back and mod an E46. I did the intake exhaust and wheel/tire on my ZCP but that is about as far I go on my drivers. I liked the car a lot but been there done that. Nothing negative to say about my old M, but having the opportunity to try something new is a lot more appealing. Definetly will be looking very hard at 996GT3, 997S, ZO6 and the new M3.

While I have literally aggravated myself over buying a new Porsche or a ZO6, seeing the new M just gave me a sense of relief. I know its going to be awesome and its a no brainer. Its fast enough, cool enough, practical enough, warranty, maintenance taken care of and coming off a good experience with the 7 its not something I need to think about. Not saying its a done deal cause I change my mind every other day, but there won't be anymore worries about whats next. If it winds up being a 911 or Vette great, but if its the new M I don't feel like that is a compromise.

 

I had 2 E46 Ms a 03 and a 05 ZCP. And my buddy is picking up a 06 M3 Conv 2morrow. I love the E46 M3 best looking BMW I think. I think their new look is going in the wrong direction too. I believe though the New M3 will give the Carrera S a run for its 0-60 times and qtr mile times, but like stated staight line stats. I love the E46 M and im sure the new M will be a beast but I would take a Porsche any day a Carrera S would be a PLUS

 

actually if you look at the percentage drops of the m5 prices it is right in line with where it should be. the prediction is that a m5 will hold 58% of its value in 3 years. before we get any further, a fully loaded m5 is about $90k not $93k since there is a $3k gas guzzler tax. no one ever includes taxes in residuals. so if you take a $90k car and calculate the current sales price at $72.5k (arguably the average price for a 2006 m5) that leaves you with only 20% depreciation on a 1.5-2 year old car. which means that these m5's can lose another 22% in the next 1-1.5 years and still retain their value better than most cars on the road.

come on people, do some simple math, the m5's are really not losing that much value, they are just losing a lot of $$ but that is what happens when you take a % on large numbers...

 

you bring up a good point on maintenance. as i am in the market for a convertible i have been doing some price comparisons. it looks like i can get a 2006 m z4 or boxster s similarly equipped for about the same price (figure less than $50k before taxes). but when you go and do some simple math, on the maintenance, the porsche suddenly costs another $5-7k (depending on how much you like breaks) over a simple 3.25 year ownership on top of the bmw. bmw's are still great for what they are, but you guys are right... prices are definitely climbing.

also, everyone is talking about 997's prices. a well equipped base 997 is about $83k. a well equipped 997s is about $90k. that is still going to be $20k more than an m3 and we are not even counting the maintenance costs here...

 

Before you get any further, a fully-loaded M5 is 98-102K not 90k.
I know, I own one.

 

ok, i was a little off on the price. i should have said, an m5 that i would buy is about $90k. however, i just did a "build my m5" thing on bmwusa.com and checked every box and the car came out to be $93,475. this does not include the $3k gas guzzler tax and does not include regular sales taxes but it includes destination charge.

what do you have on your car that is worth an extra $10k? or is bmw plain off on their website? again, sorry to disappoint everyone, but taxes are not part of the residual as some states (washington) have less than $100 worth of taxes on all cars.

and why da hell cant i upload pics half the time on this ste???