E92 M3 comp pack. Sell it or keep it?

[Jimbo Jim]

Been a while since I’ve been on the forums. Considering selling the E92 M3 comp pack, love it but maybe ready for a change. Just not sure what to replace it with? Any advice on the M6 coupe from any owners out there please ( newer shape) . Driven the M4 a few times, great car. Like the M2 but I think the competition package is the one to go for and they are still a bit out of reach. Or is the standard M2 still worth a look? I know there are lots of opinions due to the M4 engine in the M2 comp, better seats etc. The M6 is a bit rarer, which I like, but maybe a little to big and more of a motorway weapon rather than a weekend toy. Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers

[MOBB]

Try both flavours of M2, the original had its detractors but it’s the best car I’ve owned by some margin.

[Smuler]

M2 Competition much better than OG M2.
Better engine , better seats , better suspension. Feels more hunkered down.
Based on back to back drives.

I wouldn’t sell E92 for OG M2.

[MOBB]

It is the better car, but people think that means the OG is a bad car.

It really isn’t

[Smuler]

OG M2 is a cracking car.
But not one I’d sell an E92 M3 for ,in my case a E46 M3.

[Pupp]

Chap in my village is about 3 years in to a first gen M2, and has been playing with it solidly since acquisition (he's a fettler). It sounds immense; goes like stink, and every time I see him in it he has a smile a mile wide. I suspect the car is a solid keeper for him if that's any indication.

[Jimbo Jim]

Thanks for the feedback. I do like the M2, looks fat and I’ve heard it’s a riot to drive. It’s the ongoing debate of wether to leave NA V8 M3 for turbo inline 6.
Yes that’s the problem not sure if it’s worth selling. I still miss my Z4M coupe for the raw driving experience. The E92 does still make me smile, and has been solid over the 3 years I’ve had it. It’s in great condition but like anything you look at the next step. So no commentary on the M6, no good? Cheers

[acme]

Do I understand it’s not a daily?

I’m a year into a LCI non CP manual E92, & it’s the engine which is of course the stand out feature, & the one that would prove so hard to replace. The rest I’m to date less fully bowled over by. I don’t think a turbo’d replacement could replace it, albeit in a non daily.

Appreciate you’ve not mentioned a 911 but I do think if you’re a 911 fan it really is one to consider.

I’ll follow this with interest as I too am unsure what’s next.

[cerb4.5lee]

I personally love the M6 and I like the way it looks and the performance is awesome. It is a big/heavy car though and perhaps more of a GT heavyweight. It depends on what you are after I reckon.

[Jimbo Jim]

Cheers. It’s just for the weekend really. Got a little Peugeot 208 as a daily which is a great little car. I do like the 911s but for my budget it’s going to be a 07-08 plate 997. Great car but older than I want to get into. Do like the caymans too, but always been a M car fan. Still
Could be an option.

Yes I agree I like the lines of the M6 too. Like you say a great GT car, maybe not the right choice for weekend fun.

So I suppose it’s Cayman s ( 981 or 987 ) , M2 or stick with the M3 comp pack? I think for modern day M cars the M2 is an exciting possibility

[MOBB]

I would definitely try an original M2, they feel special to drive. I’ve also had an F10 M5 and a 987 Cayman S, both great cars in their own way but I’d always go back to an M2 given the choice

The perceived issues with the M2 tend to be;

- seats - straight out of an M235i, nothing much wrong with them but they do look very bland and not worthy of an M car. You can get M4 or M2c seats but they are not cheap
- engine - the N55 engine is lovely, muscular, sounds immense. But it doesn’t have that beserk top end mania that other M cars have. I can see why people say it’s not an M car engine, but it’s still a great engine.

I think if you try one you will know within a few minutes if it’s for you.

[Jimbo Jim]

Thanks for the info. Yes I need to drive one, I liked the M4 but not enough to sell my E92 for. How did you find the M5, as I was considering a M6 and I know they have their similarities due to same engine.

So you would have a M2 over a Cayman s? What was the running costs like on the cayman and anything else you can tell me. I do like the caymans.

[MOBB]

The M5 is fantastic but much more of a sledgehammer to drive, it handles well for its size but it is more of a GT car. Great though

The 987 Cayman S was more sharp than the M2, feels like a scalpel in comparison but I tired of it after a year or so, just didn’t have much of a character. But as a sports car it was sublime and that engine howl behind your head is fantastic

The 987 running costs were similar to the M2 really, both mid to high 20’s mpg for me. I got 22 mpg from the M5 which I think is more impressive! Servicing costs are high for all of these cars, the M5 parts can be depressingly expensive too

[Jimbo Jim]

Thanks for the message. Good to hear how they all compare. Yes the more I think about it , maybe the M6 isn’t the way to go. I’m going back to a manual car, the DCT in my M3 is awesome but I miss the connectivity I had in my Z4m. So it’s probably down to M2 or Cayman s. Think the upside of the M2 would be how much newer the car is too, based on my budget. It would be a stretch to get in a 981s so it would be the previous shape. My M3 is on a 11 plate so it would be nice to step forward in tech and get into something newer. I just have reservations on the M2 non CP, as it will always be the lesser car. It’s not just the engine , but I’m surprised it didn’t get the mirrors and M seats. Lots to think about ...

[fido]

Jimbo Jim said:

I’m going back to a manual car, the DCT in my M3 is awesome but I miss the connectivity I had in my Z4m.

I have the same issue. I think the weight is also part of the problem - it's half way between a heavy hot-hatch and a GT car - and the brakes are a bit weak as well. The manual M2 is better in all these points, so if you're happy to lose to V8 soundtrack ..

[FazerBoy]

BMW will never make another engine like the s65 V8 in the E92 M3. It is a masterpiece.

If I were you I would hold on to it and spend a little money upgrading brakes, suspension etc.

[Jimbo Jim]

Yes they are a little heavy but most things are now. Do love the V8

Think you have a good point on upgrades for the E92. Issue for me is that the car is 9 years old now and as good as the S65 it’s getting on a bit. That said I only do about 2000 miles a year

[The Ferret]

Keep the V8.

In years to come, good condition cars with the right history will be sought after. You’ll always be able to buy a forced induction BMW that sounds awful, but not everyone wants too.

[Jimbo Jim]

Thanks for this. Will sit on it for a while. Think you might be right

[AndrewO]

I've stuck mine up for sale...had it 4yrs and like you do very little mileage in it. I think mine as one of the last ones with all the bits will be collectable later on but I don't fancy that wait. Had a Porsche on a 57plate last year and that needed loads of age related work so next one ideally is 17 or 18plate.

What about a GT4 ? seen a few nice ones for sale in the £60k's. Similar running costs to a M car, they've dropped a bit lately like everything has but I can see them holding their value in the right spec.