E93 M3 too flawed?
Discussion
I've just come back from doing the NC500 in my Z4M roadster, what an outstanding route! I absolutely love that car and for a blast with the roof down it's fantastic however driving quickly in the highlands the lack of suspension travel/adjustability was frustrating. It's running a carbon airbox and the noise is fantastic but it's no high revving V8.
I'm considering getting a manual V8 M3 and I'm open to an E90/92/93 but a convertible would be ideal as the car would be used mostly for longer trips and sunny trips such as European tours with potentially 1/2 trackays per year. I'm set on a manual as I also have a high power GTR and would prefer the involvement of a manual with the NA engine.
I won't be selling the Z4M as it has a lot of sentimental value due to the period of my life that I owned it through but this car will potentially overlap it's use.
As per the title, would the convertible give me too much of a watered down E9x experience and should I just go for the tin roof option considering I'm going to be keeping the Z4M roadster?
I'm considering getting a manual V8 M3 and I'm open to an E90/92/93 but a convertible would be ideal as the car would be used mostly for longer trips and sunny trips such as European tours with potentially 1/2 trackays per year. I'm set on a manual as I also have a high power GTR and would prefer the involvement of a manual with the NA engine.
I won't be selling the Z4M as it has a lot of sentimental value due to the period of my life that I owned it through but this car will potentially overlap it's use.
As per the title, would the convertible give me too much of a watered down E9x experience and should I just go for the tin roof option considering I'm going to be keeping the Z4M roadster?
I moved from a Z4M Roadster to an E93 M3 (I've also had a couple of M5's and various Porsches).
The E93 is pretty much like the coupé when the lid is up - yes, there's a bit of extra weight, but you're not likely to notice it in any normal sane road driving, and you gain huge amounts of flexibility from the form factor. It's significantly more refined than the E85 with the (hard rather than soft) roof up, and has much more space with the roof down - having done the Le Mans trip (plus a few days extra in France) in both cars, even with a boot bag on the Z4M it was very, very tight, whereas the E93 with the back seat down has tons of room.
I guess it will depend on whether the slight difference in handling on the 1/2 trackdyas that you do is worth the lack of a removable roof for the rest of the year. I know that if I had to make the choice again, I'd go for the E93 every time.
The E93 is pretty much like the coupé when the lid is up - yes, there's a bit of extra weight, but you're not likely to notice it in any normal sane road driving, and you gain huge amounts of flexibility from the form factor. It's significantly more refined than the E85 with the (hard rather than soft) roof up, and has much more space with the roof down - having done the Le Mans trip (plus a few days extra in France) in both cars, even with a boot bag on the Z4M it was very, very tight, whereas the E93 with the back seat down has tons of room.
I guess it will depend on whether the slight difference in handling on the 1/2 trackdyas that you do is worth the lack of a removable roof for the rest of the year. I know that if I had to make the choice again, I'd go for the E93 every time.
On paper the E93 looks like a brilliant motor - v8, manual option, incredible sound, good handling...
In reality is lacks a lot of the fizz that makes the coupe and saloon special.
I drove the coupe first and then the convertible. If you do that too, you'll understand what you're missing by picking the drop top.
In comparison, I jumped in my 987.2 Boxster S afterwards to go home, and if felt like a rocketship despite being over 100bhp less!
In reality is lacks a lot of the fizz that makes the coupe and saloon special.
I drove the coupe first and then the convertible. If you do that too, you'll understand what you're missing by picking the drop top.
In comparison, I jumped in my 987.2 Boxster S afterwards to go home, and if felt like a rocketship despite being over 100bhp less!
I went Z4MR to a E92 M3(manual) and I'd wished I'd gone for the E93 M3 instead of the Coupe. The E93 sounds lovely with the roof down and you get to hear the induction and exhaust noise. You can't hear the exhaust at all in the Coupe.
I genuinely couldn't feel any weight difference between the Coupe/Convertible(my BIL has one) on a back to back drive because the Coupe isn't a light car anyway. I'd be happy to sacrifice the extra weight of the Convertible because it is the more enjoyable car overall IMO.
I genuinely couldn't feel any weight difference between the Coupe/Convertible(my BIL has one) on a back to back drive because the Coupe isn't a light car anyway. I'd be happy to sacrifice the extra weight of the Convertible because it is the more enjoyable car overall IMO.
I can't give you an exact comparison but i have had a similar situation between a 335i or 335i vert. I think it depends how important it is for you removing the roof. In my personal choice it was paramount. The sense of feeling and occasion when the roof is off cannot be beaten doesnt matter how well the coupe version handles. You will always sit in the coupe and think ah if only I could have had the roof off.
Cearly you like convertibles and your tricky situation comes in because you have access to a convertible. You will need to decide that yourself.
General view point seems to be the e93 m3 is not as nimble as the coupe but its not a total disgrace, its at most 10% behind or so than a coupe, your never going to be going balls to the wall for 10 months out of the year or even 11. For me it would be a convertible; but I love the feeling of being outside inside my car, others don't!
Cearly you like convertibles and your tricky situation comes in because you have access to a convertible. You will need to decide that yourself.
General view point seems to be the e93 m3 is not as nimble as the coupe but its not a total disgrace, its at most 10% behind or so than a coupe, your never going to be going balls to the wall for 10 months out of the year or even 11. For me it would be a convertible; but I love the feeling of being outside inside my car, others don't!
Ramona said:
The E93 is pretty much like the coupé when the lid is up - yes, there's a bit of extra weight, but you're not likely to notice it in any normal sane road driving, and you gain huge amounts of flexibility from the form factor. It's significantly more refined than the E85 with the (hard rather than soft) roof up, and has much more space with the roof down - having done the Le Mans trip (plus a few days extra in France) in both cars, even with a boot bag on the Z4M it was very, very tight, whereas the E93 with the back seat down has tons of room.
Is this how the seats fold on the E93? Is that just a cubby hole or does it actually connect through to the boot?
I'm assuming the the folding seats are standard on the E93?
Yes, the back seats all fold down like that.
On my car, the bit behind the seats is just a "hidden" cubby hole, but I think that if you have the "ski hatch" option that it may then open through to the boot.
Also, BMW do a set of (rebadged Samsonite) luggage - two wheeled cases and 2 shoulder bags - which are designed to fit in the back, although they are pretty hard to find these days (I think I got one of the last sets). There's also a company (Roadsterbag??) who make a pair of cases which exactly fit in the boot with the roof down.
On my car, the bit behind the seats is just a "hidden" cubby hole, but I think that if you have the "ski hatch" option that it may then open through to the boot.
Also, BMW do a set of (rebadged Samsonite) luggage - two wheeled cases and 2 shoulder bags - which are designed to fit in the back, although they are pretty hard to find these days (I think I got one of the last sets). There's also a company (Roadsterbag??) who make a pair of cases which exactly fit in the boot with the roof down.
Edited by Ramona on Saturday 6th July 22:17
Ramona said:
I moved from a Z4M Roadster to an E93 M3 (I've also had a couple of M5's and various Porsches).
The E93 is pretty much like the coupé when the lid is up - yes, there's a bit of extra weight, but you're not likely to notice it in any normal sane road driving, and you gain huge amounts of flexibility from the form factor. It's significantly more refined than the E85 with the (hard rather than soft) roof up, and has much more space with the roof down - having done the Le Mans trip (plus a few days extra in France) in both cars, even with a boot bag on the Z4M it was very, very tight, whereas the E93 with the back seat down has tons of room.
I guess it will depend on whether the slight difference in handling on the 1/2 trackdyas that you do is worth the lack of a removable roof for the rest of the year. I know that if I had to make the choice again, I'd go for the E93 every time.
Tsk. Next you’ll be saying that the carbon roof doesn’t make a difference to the handling on the Cheshire Social League version... The E93 is pretty much like the coupé when the lid is up - yes, there's a bit of extra weight, but you're not likely to notice it in any normal sane road driving, and you gain huge amounts of flexibility from the form factor. It's significantly more refined than the E85 with the (hard rather than soft) roof up, and has much more space with the roof down - having done the Le Mans trip (plus a few days extra in France) in both cars, even with a boot bag on the Z4M it was very, very tight, whereas the E93 with the back seat down has tons of room.
I guess it will depend on whether the slight difference in handling on the 1/2 trackdyas that you do is worth the lack of a removable roof for the rest of the year. I know that if I had to make the choice again, I'd go for the E93 every time.
Ramona said:
Yes, the back seats all fold down like that.
On my car, the bit behind the seats is just a "hidden" cubby hole, but I think that if you have the "ski hatch" option that it may then open through to the boot.
Also, BMW do a set of (rebadged Samsonite) luggage - two wheeled cases and 2 shoulder bags - which are designed to fit in the back, although they are pretty hard to find these days (I think I got one of the last sets). There's also a company (Roadsterbag??) who make a pair of cases which exactly fit in the boot with the roof down.
Thanks for the info. On my car, the bit behind the seats is just a "hidden" cubby hole, but I think that if you have the "ski hatch" option that it may then open through to the boot.
Also, BMW do a set of (rebadged Samsonite) luggage - two wheeled cases and 2 shoulder bags - which are designed to fit in the back, although they are pretty hard to find these days (I think I got one of the last sets). There's also a company (Roadsterbag??) who make a pair of cases which exactly fit in the boot with the roof down.
Edited by Ramona on Saturday 6th July 22:17
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