M3 Touring - Do I change??

[knowlesi]

Evening all,

I've currently got a G80 M3 Comp RWD which I changed into in January 23 from a F80 M3 Comp and the change has been night and day! Dilemma I have is that I was fortunate to also get a build slot for the Touring which is due for delivery in October 23.

I'm loving my current car and I'm now at the point where I'm thinking is it worth changing up to the Touring - I took the opportunity for the build slot because of it being the 1st estate M3. Is the 4wd of the M3 that good over the RWD and other than being different is the Touring really worth the extra spend I'm going to have to make?

Also, what is opinion on demand for slots? Is there a premium for them now as I've only seen 2 Tourings on the road to date and if I wasn't to take the car is there a premium on my build slot and if so how does that work? BMW have told me that I just get my current deposit back??

Thanks in advance.

[Stephen-733s2]

Can you not get a test drive in one to see for yourself? Or worse case a X Drive M3 or M4?

How much is the cost to change?

How have you found RWD during the winter months? If you’ve enjoyed it and it performs better than the F80s then what will you gain? I’ve got a F82 and it’s genuinely dangerous over winter imo. But I work from home and it’s just a car I always wanted so don’t need to drive it if I don’t want to. Not sure I’d want to be commuting through winter in it to be honest. No idea how the G rwd compares though.

Either way - very jealous of either choice you make!

[knowlesi]

Thanks Stephen.

Sorry this isn't a boast post, I'm genuinely after owners advice. My gut is saying stick with what I have as I'm not sure if the Touring is really that well received even considering how unique it is to the range.

Only advantage (taking the touring out of the equation) is the 4wd has the option to change to 2wd so the winter/ autumn months my wife can't make excuses not to drive but other than that I'm not sure.

Like you say Stephen, I need to drive an Xdrive M3. Email sent to dealer. And no, no idea on numbers yet. I've asked about discount/ contributions and this could make my decision easier but they are very tight lipped on what they can offer. Be interested to understand what others have achieved.....

The above aside, if I chose to let my slot go, is it frowned upon to sell slots with BMW?

Edited by knowlesi on Thursday 4th May 23:04

Edited by knowlesi on Thursday 4th May 23:05

[Elysium]

The xdrive is incredibly good, but so is the RWD.

My personal view is that the touring is over hyped and you are forced to get the daft new drive screen.

Very much a personal choice, but I am not sure you would be getting all that much more for your money.

[E90_M3Ross]

It's potentially worth bearing in mind that, quite possibly, the touring will also hold its value better. I haven't driven a RWD G8x series, only an M4 Xdrive, and it was pretty stonking in the way you just plant your foot down and it just goes, it was very impressive.

If you don't need an estate and the cost to change is significant then I wouldn't bother. Estate can be handy though!

[WY86]

I own a X3M so i am biased but why would you want to buy an M3 touring when you can get a £21k discount on pretty much the same car just in a higher body?

regarding Xdrive, in my personal opinion Audi's quattro system is still the best for real world driving. Xdrive is good and launches the car well in dry conditions, however on wet damp roads it does feel very rear biased and have had the rear kick out on me before even with everything turned on.

[E90_M3Ross]

WY86 said:

I own a X3M so i am biased but why would you want to buy an M3 touring when you can get a £21k discount on pretty much the same car just in a higher body?

regarding Xdrive, in my personal opinion Audi's quattro system is still the best for real world driving. Xdrive is good and launches the car well in dry conditions, however on wet damp roads it does feel very rear biased and have had the rear kick out on me before even with everything turned on.

The chassis on the M3 is not the same as the X3M and all reviews seem to suggest the M3 drives a lot better

[WY86]

E90_M3Ross said:

The chassis on the M3 is not the same as the X3M and all reviews seem to suggest the M3 drives a lot better

Maybe for the driving demi gods that are motoring journalists but for normal people it would drive very similar. Ok chassis isn't the same but engine, gearbox, xdrive system (bar the rwd bit) and exhaust, all the same.

[Gesberg]

WY86 said:

E90_M3Ross said:

The chassis on the M3 is not the same as the X3M and all reviews seem to suggest the M3 drives a lot better

Maybe for the driving demi gods that are motoring journalists but for normal people it would drive very similar. Ok chassis isn't the same but engine, gearbox, xdrive system (bar the rwd bit) and exhaust, all the same.

I've changed from an X3M to a G80 X drive, I did really like my X3M. However, the G80 is a much more compliant and composed drive. When chilling it is so much more comfortable that the X3M, when driving more spiritedly it is noticeably better again.

Unfortunately I haven't driven the 2 wheel drive G80 to compare.

I am not a driving god.

[E90_M3Ross]

WY86 said:

E90_M3Ross said:

The chassis on the M3 is not the same as the X3M and all reviews seem to suggest the M3 drives a lot better

Maybe for the driving demi gods that are motoring journalists but for normal people it would drive very similar. Ok chassis isn't the same but engine, gearbox, xdrive system (bar the rwd bit) and exhaust, all the same.

Apparently the ride quality of the M3/4 is much better (I haven't driven an X3M so can't comment, but the M4 I drove was pretty good). I wouldn't want a ride much firmer than the M4 was.

[WY86]

E90_M3Ross said:

Apparently the ride quality of the M3/4 is much better (I haven't driven an X3M so can't comment, but the M4 I drove was pretty good). I wouldn't want a ride much firmer than the M4 was.

This often gets thrown out about the X3M but having done 10k miles in one the ride is no different to a F31 340i that i had previous. Again i am no driving demi god and i am not actively looking out for a harsh ride like a journo would, i just get in a car and drive it.

[E90_M3Ross]

WY86 said:

E90_M3Ross said:

Apparently the ride quality of the M3/4 is much better (I haven't driven an X3M so can't comment, but the M4 I drove was pretty good). I wouldn't want a ride much firmer than the M4 was.

This often gets thrown out about the X3M but having done 10k miles in one the ride is no different to a F31 340i that i had previous. Again i am no driving demi god and i am not actively looking out for a harsh ride like a journo would, i just get in a car and drive it.

Fair enough, but a previous poster has said that he isn't a driving god and found the G80 M3 to have a better ride than the X3M

[WY86]

E90_M3Ross said:

Fair enough, but a previous poster has said that he isn't a driving god and found the G80 M3 to have a better ride than the X3M

Again that depends if it is an LCI X3M Comp he had as that apparently rides closer to a G80.

[Wills2]

I've had an X3M comp and I wouldn't choose one over an M3 touring, it was was nice very fast car I had no issues with the ride but I couldn't get used to driving something so tall with any verve over my favourite moorland b roads just felt odd to me, I even attack those roads more with my current 7 series.

[Gesberg]

WY86 said:

Again that depends if it is an LCI X3M Comp he had as that apparently rides closer to a G80.

No, mine was a 2020 pre lci so may have had more lumpy suspension, but I have tried a lci and the difference was not huge when pushing hard.

Like I said, I did like my X3M, enjoyed driving in the UK and France on long and short trips. I accepted the suspension as very firm to cope with the physics of trying to make a higher vehicle handle so well.

It is just, in my opinion/experience, the G80 is so much better.

[Gesberg]

CheesecakeRunner said:

I’ve no opinion either way on an M3, but I did use that new screen/infotainment in an i4 and I was really, really impressed.

Had idrive 6 in previous cars, got very used to it. Have the new screen with idrive 8, still working through all the features but wouldn’t go back.

[WY86]

Gesberg said:

No, mine was a 2020 pre lci so may have had more lumpy suspension, but I have tried a lci and the difference was not huge when pushing hard.

Like I said, I did like my X3M, enjoyed driving in the UK and France on long and short trips. I accepted the suspension as very firm to cope with the physics of trying to make a higher vehicle handle so well.

It is just, in my opinion/experience, the G80 is so much better.

I get that, however from a financial point of view is the G80 touring really that much better to justify the price with no dealer contribution vs the 21k discounts on the X3M? I would argue no in my opinion. As its a huge amount of money for a G80 touring even on finance deals.

[E90_M3Ross]

WY86 said:

Gesberg said:

No, mine was a 2020 pre lci so may have had more lumpy suspension, but I have tried a lci and the difference was not huge when pushing hard.

Like I said, I did like my X3M, enjoyed driving in the UK and France on long and short trips. I accepted the suspension as very firm to cope with the physics of trying to make a higher vehicle handle so well.

It is just, in my opinion/experience, the G80 is so much better.

I get that, however from a financial point of view is the G80 touring really that much better to justify the price with no dealer contribution vs the 21k discounts on the X3M? I would argue no in my opinion. As its a huge amount of money for a G80 touring even on finance deals.

I guess that depends on how much you value the differences in how they drive. In your case, no. In others, yes (hence some people have M3 Tourings) horses for courses.

[worsy]

I've a G80 XDrive on order. Discounts can be had on the M3 Saloon and M4 but nothing off the Touring at this time. You also get a lower finance rate as the Touring is much higher.

IMO the M3 is a better looking car than the touring, and unless you really need the space then I'd stick with what you have.

[Elysium]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Elysium said:

you are forced to get the daft new drive screen.

I’ve no opinion either way on an M3, but I did use that new screen/infotainment in an i4 and I was really, really impressed.

I’m probably being a Luddite, but I just can’t get over the buttress part visible in this photo. It just looks like a mistake to me.