Discussion
I know this thread has recently been debated but I'd appreciate a little further help in deciding.
I've finally decided to get a 'modern car' as a daily driver and so 2 of our 4 BMWs have to go. After much debate it will be my (much loved) E30 M3 and E30 325i Touring which will have to make way.
The field of runners in the race for the replacement car has now dwindled. I initially thought about an E39 M5 but after reading some of the stuff here I've decided that it's probably not the car for me. Until a couple of weeks ago I was therefore only considering the E46 M3...but then I suddenly saw the previous 330i v M3 thread and it got me thinking...
Anyway, it seems to me that age/year for age/year the 330i Coupe is MUCH cheaper...right? I'm having a little difficulty pinning the exact price difference down as I've never really been that in tune with 'newish' car prices...never had the money before!
Looking on the Autotrader it seems to me that a 2002 M3 is somewhere in the £high-twenties to £low-thirties (that's from a BMW maindealer)? What would you think the 330i would be...I know I want a coupe but I'm a little lost on all the other options on these...y'know 'Sport', 'SSG' etc...How much of a premium do you have to add for these things?
What about running cost differences like insurance, servicing etc between the two? You see I've always had my E30 M3 on a classic policy...at under £300 a year it's never been an issue worth worrying about.
Also, can someone maybe tell me a little about how 'BMW Warranties' work...how long are they valid for etc Inkow you can buy extra years...but how many and how much does it cost?
My final big consideration is really depreciation...my gut instinct is that it seems if I have the funds to actually by the car the E46 M3 may make the better economic sense over the medium to longterm term in resoect of holding it's value? There seem to be some very cheap 330i's around...I mean at a level I can't see an M3 approaching for many years (that's judging by the price that very late E36 M3's are still commanding)? Or is my logic completely misguided and I'm just trying to talk myself into the M3!
Having said the above I have to say that having recently started considering 330i coupes they are a VERY nice looking aren't they?! But what about performance? Will I be disappointed?!....ARGHHH...decisions decisions! LOL
Any help much appreciated. Regards
(BTW my M3 should appear in the classifieds here soon)
I've finally decided to get a 'modern car' as a daily driver and so 2 of our 4 BMWs have to go. After much debate it will be my (much loved) E30 M3 and E30 325i Touring which will have to make way.
The field of runners in the race for the replacement car has now dwindled. I initially thought about an E39 M5 but after reading some of the stuff here I've decided that it's probably not the car for me. Until a couple of weeks ago I was therefore only considering the E46 M3...but then I suddenly saw the previous 330i v M3 thread and it got me thinking...
Anyway, it seems to me that age/year for age/year the 330i Coupe is MUCH cheaper...right? I'm having a little difficulty pinning the exact price difference down as I've never really been that in tune with 'newish' car prices...never had the money before!
Looking on the Autotrader it seems to me that a 2002 M3 is somewhere in the £high-twenties to £low-thirties (that's from a BMW maindealer)? What would you think the 330i would be...I know I want a coupe but I'm a little lost on all the other options on these...y'know 'Sport', 'SSG' etc...How much of a premium do you have to add for these things?
What about running cost differences like insurance, servicing etc between the two? You see I've always had my E30 M3 on a classic policy...at under £300 a year it's never been an issue worth worrying about.
Also, can someone maybe tell me a little about how 'BMW Warranties' work...how long are they valid for etc Inkow you can buy extra years...but how many and how much does it cost?
My final big consideration is really depreciation...my gut instinct is that it seems if I have the funds to actually by the car the E46 M3 may make the better economic sense over the medium to longterm term in resoect of holding it's value? There seem to be some very cheap 330i's around...I mean at a level I can't see an M3 approaching for many years (that's judging by the price that very late E36 M3's are still commanding)? Or is my logic completely misguided and I'm just trying to talk myself into the M3!
Having said the above I have to say that having recently started considering 330i coupes they are a VERY nice looking aren't they?! But what about performance? Will I be disappointed?!....ARGHHH...decisions decisions! LOL
Any help much appreciated. Regards
(BTW my M3 should appear in the classifieds here soon)
The pucka BMW warranties are really good. They are transferable and extendable as long as you continue to have the car serviced and dont let the warranty lapse. Once its lapsed, it's toast - they wont renew it.
I renewed my e39 warranty the other day, expensive - £600 , then the battery decided to pack up - I looked in the the book and it said it was easier to list what's not covered than what is. Luckily the battery is covered - so i phoned the emergency assist no. on a bank holiday within an hour a chap was round to fix it. The air-bag module had to be replaced also, this is probably as a result of the duff battery - again all under warranty.
e.
I renewed my e39 warranty the other day, expensive - £600 , then the battery decided to pack up - I looked in the the book and it said it was easier to list what's not covered than what is. Luckily the battery is covered - so i phoned the emergency assist no. on a bank holiday within an hour a chap was round to fix it. The air-bag module had to be replaced also, this is probably as a result of the duff battery - again all under warranty.
e.
derin100 said:
Thanks Eliot
What's the duration of the warranty on a new BMW. Also what do you get as standard on a secondhand one from a BMW maindealer?
New: 3 years. Used: 1 year if older than 3 years. Dont know about less than 3 years(whether a 2 year old car will be the balance of one year or the balance + 1 exra year).
I can vouch for the BMW warranty being excellent.
Chopped my E46 330Ci manual for an E46 M3 SMGII about a month ago. 330Ci - nice car, lots of grunt, M3 - fantastic car, great "raspy" sound from the exhaust and you can instantly tell the difference the 100+ extra horses makes. I was initially looking for a manual as I hate autos and had mentally put SMG in the same bracket, however having test driven one (on a CSL which was v. nice but was outside my budget), I was sold on the SMG box - quick upchanges with not too much shunt through the transmission and superb heel & toe downchanges. A bit of looking around on bmw.co.uk used cars and I found a low mileage 51 plate with all the toys (HK, special order leather, sat nav, TV, phone etc etc) for £33K. Am I chuffed I decided to go for an M3? You bet! I can't see me changing until the new M5 or next generation M3 make an appearance. 
douglasr said:
Thanks Eliot
What's the duration of the warranty on a new BMW. Also what do you get as standard on a secondhand one from a BMW maindealer?
New: 3 years. Used: 1 year if older than 3 years. Dont know about less than 3 years(whether a 2 year old car will be the balance of one year or the balance + 1 exra year).
I can vouch for the BMW warranty being excellent.
If less than 3 years old then the 12 month BMW Approved Used Car Warranty runs concurrent with the original manufacturers warranty. I can also vouch for the excellence of the warranty and the BMW emergency assistance service - top notch.
As the lucky owner of a CSL I'd say M3 definitely. If you go for a 330 and have a hankering for an M3, you may not keep it long and it costs to change !
Manual v SMG. I had no choice with the CSL (they are all SMG) but given a choice, would at the time have definitely gone for manual.
Well, I won't bore you with all the details but I am now after 7000 miles very pleased Mr BMW told me he knew best.
At first I even insisted on using the gear change, now I almost aways use the paddle change on the steering wheel.
Yes it does sometimes clunk around town --- but I know how to make it not --- so that's part of the new challenge. And even though I am a fluent heel and toer, on the open road it is --- wunderbar !! (Better than me and it leaves me to concentrate on sticking to the road).
A bit like Porsche's tiptronic but with no loss of performance.
In fact, an SMG CSL is faster than a Tiptronic Porsche 996 Turbo.
Also, I am told that SMG is a desireable accessory come resale time.
Chris W.
Manual v SMG. I had no choice with the CSL (they are all SMG) but given a choice, would at the time have definitely gone for manual.
Well, I won't bore you with all the details but I am now after 7000 miles very pleased Mr BMW told me he knew best.
At first I even insisted on using the gear change, now I almost aways use the paddle change on the steering wheel.
Yes it does sometimes clunk around town --- but I know how to make it not --- so that's part of the new challenge. And even though I am a fluent heel and toer, on the open road it is --- wunderbar !! (Better than me and it leaves me to concentrate on sticking to the road).
A bit like Porsche's tiptronic but with no loss of performance.
In fact, an SMG CSL is faster than a Tiptronic Porsche 996 Turbo.
Also, I am told that SMG is a desireable accessory come resale time.
Chris W.
My last car was a 328 ci which was excellent very fast and comfortable. An excellent all rounder. I test drove an M3 recently and as other posts on here it really is in a different league.
A different league in terms of performance, but also costs, and you'll know it when you insure it.
I also have a nasty story of a friend who was car jacked in his at 8.30am in the morning doing the school run. A gorilla put his fist through the passenger window and held a knife to the little girls throat! She was extrememly traumertised although I am pleased ot say unharmed. The anti theft devices are so good that the only way you can pinch it is while it is running.
Despite all of that for me, well my next BMW 3 Coupe will be an M3, thats if I don't get the 911 I've always promised myself.
A different league in terms of performance, but also costs, and you'll know it when you insure it.
I also have a nasty story of a friend who was car jacked in his at 8.30am in the morning doing the school run. A gorilla put his fist through the passenger window and held a knife to the little girls throat! She was extrememly traumertised although I am pleased ot say unharmed. The anti theft devices are so good that the only way you can pinch it is while it is running.
Despite all of that for me, well my next BMW 3 Coupe will be an M3, thats if I don't get the 911 I've always promised myself.
I searched for AGES to make my mind up between the two...I know exactly what you are going through.
Just drive both - the 330 will feel like a really fast, nice car - the M3 will scare the hell out of you... really...(and I have driven TVR's etc prior to this)- I get my new one on Thusrday this week - if it was a 330 I would be able to sleep between now and then...
This should clarify the situation...
XR.
ps - are you the same Derin who was a TVR guy a few years back? - seem to remember the name..
Just drive both - the 330 will feel like a really fast, nice car - the M3 will scare the hell out of you... really...(and I have driven TVR's etc prior to this)- I get my new one on Thusrday this week - if it was a 330 I would be able to sleep between now and then...
This should clarify the situation...
XR.
ps - are you the same Derin who was a TVR guy a few years back? - seem to remember the name..
xenradio said:
I searched for AGES to make my mind up between the two...I know exactly what you are going through.
Just drive both - the 330 will feel like a really fast, nice car - the M3 will scare the hell out of you... really...(and I have driven TVR's etc prior to this)- I get my new one on Thusrday this week - if it was a 330 I would be able to sleep between now and then...
This should clarify the situation...
XR.
ps - are you the same Derin who was a TVR guy a few years back? - seem to remember the name..
Well I have a TVR Tuscan S and was quite surpised how quick the M3 was...mine arrives in 4 weeks time
Alan.
>> Edited by Alf Essex on Sunday 8th August 22:57
If you're looking for resale value, just look at the number of 330 for sale against the number of M3's at each garage. It only takes a few online looks at what's available to know that the there a hell of a lot more 330 on the market than M3's at the moment. I can only assume it's down to people being more able to afford the 330 than the M3.
This should keep M3 prices higher over the next few years as people think about a 2nd hand 1-2 year old M3 opposed to a new 330.
Of course, this is only my opinion.
This should keep M3 prices higher over the next few years as people think about a 2nd hand 1-2 year old M3 opposed to a new 330.
Of course, this is only my opinion.
Nope not me...Never owned a TVR!
Anyway an update...I've now owned my Alpina E36 B3 3.0 Coupe for a few weeks and really enjoying it as a daily car. Easy drive and plenty quick enough for me to drive to and from work. BUT...I hadn't driven my E30 M3 since getting the B3...until tonight!
These two cars are like chalk and cheese! Once the E30 M3 is warmed up it just seems to turn you into a complete hooligan!:lol:
I love it!
Anyway an update...I've now owned my Alpina E36 B3 3.0 Coupe for a few weeks and really enjoying it as a daily car. Easy drive and plenty quick enough for me to drive to and from work. BUT...I hadn't driven my E30 M3 since getting the B3...until tonight!
These two cars are like chalk and cheese! Once the E30 M3 is warmed up it just seems to turn you into a complete hooligan!:lol:
I love it!
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