e9x m3 vs f8x m4
Discussion
Finally i am able to buy my first proper M car and have roughly 30k to spend, my head says get the f80 but my heart says the e90. From what i see you can get decent examples of both cars for that price point however i can imagine the e90 will be much more to run. Will be daily driven to and through london during the week and driven slightly ‘enthusiastically’ in the evenings and weekends. How much more would an e90 cost to run on a daily basis and is it worth that price over the f80? The coupe versions definitely look better but i’m tempted to go for a vert
Edited by david1212 on Thursday 28th September 22:37
I recently bought an M4 (F82 is the coupe). I did look at the E92 M3 which is again the coupe albeit I didn't drive one. I think the E92 is a lovely car and the V8 engine is unique and I'm.sure will never be repeated in an M3 but I couldn't personally see the value in the E92 when compared to the F82 M4 which I absolutely love.
As an aside I wish I bought an E92 M3 three years ago when prices were lower and 20k would buy a nice one but I bought an M240i instead which again I loved.
As an aside I wish I bought an E92 M3 three years ago when prices were lower and 20k would buy a nice one but I bought an M240i instead which again I loved.
Economy decent and E9x M3 are not often words I hear together!
I ran an E92 M3 as a daily for around a year, into and out of NW London each day - my economy can't be described as decent - if I got 300 miles out of a tank I was very pleased. Most weeks the petrol warning light was on at around 200ish miles. That was just commuting type driving with some spiritied driving on the odd occasion it was actually possible.
I ran an E92 M3 as a daily for around a year, into and out of NW London each day - my economy can't be described as decent - if I got 300 miles out of a tank I was very pleased. Most weeks the petrol warning light was on at around 200ish miles. That was just commuting type driving with some spiritied driving on the odd occasion it was actually possible.
James_Lafayette said:
The economy on either is decent when taking it easy.
Hmmmm...... As someone who did 8k miles in a manual E90 M3 back in 2008, i'm not quite sure what engine/gearbox your E93 had? Best I saw over 8k miles was 27mpg, and that was on a 60 mile journey on congested motorways where I don't think I got over 70mph once. More realistically expect 22-24mpg when babying it, and then around 12-14mpg when enjoying that sonorous engine (all in my experience). I'd have another E9x, that engine might be a 'bit peaky' for some, but realistically it has enough accessible torque for daily driving, enough power/grunt to have some fun and it sounds superb - not something I can say of any F8x M car i've heard.I was in a similar position about a year ago and went for the F82. I mostly WFH but it is my only car and it is just a better fit.
Plus while I like the engine I'm not that keen on the rest of the e9x I think they are a bit of a strange mix of BMW trying to move away from their classic looks which date back to the 70s (inside and out) but without the bold confidence of the rest of the Bangle era. I came to the conclusion that the V8 beemer I really wanted was an e39 M5 but couldn't face running a nice one on salty winter roads or a cheaper one with consent issues. Which, probably isn't much help to you and looking back is a very strange way of deciding on a F8x but it made sense to me!
Plus while I like the engine I'm not that keen on the rest of the e9x I think they are a bit of a strange mix of BMW trying to move away from their classic looks which date back to the 70s (inside and out) but without the bold confidence of the rest of the Bangle era. I came to the conclusion that the V8 beemer I really wanted was an e39 M5 but couldn't face running a nice one on salty winter roads or a cheaper one with consent issues. Which, probably isn't much help to you and looking back is a very strange way of deciding on a F8x but it made sense to me!
I did 10k miles in an E92 M3(manual), and I've currently just covered 20k miles in an F82 M4(DCT). For me personally the M4 wins hands down all day everyday between the two.
I guess it just depends how you're going to use it though I reckon. As a daily driver the E92 M3 was diabolical for me, whereas the M4 is absolutely ace as a daily driver for me though. However it could be argued that as an occasional car the M3 could reward more though I reckon.
I guess it just depends how you're going to use it though I reckon. As a daily driver the E92 M3 was diabolical for me, whereas the M4 is absolutely ace as a daily driver for me though. However it could be argued that as an occasional car the M3 could reward more though I reckon.
Leon R said:
Problem with the F8x is the M2C does everything better so why would you want the M3?
Simple- More space, I previously had the M240i of the same shape and it was too small for my use, I find myself far more comfortable in my F82 M4 and I can get my wife and kids into it if needed, albeit it isn't the main family car. No way I could do that in a 2 series, an M2C doesn't do everything better.I had a an E92 M3 for 4 years, then an F80 M3 for 4 years, and now back to an E92 M3 for the last 2.
The E90/92 is much much more of an exciting driving experience. Not sure how they hold up for a daily (being up to 15 years old), but such an amazing looking car, even after all this time.
The F80, whilst it looks amazing there is no getting around they sound so sh*t- you can do whatever you want to the exhaust (i had the M performance exhaust) but they just sound awful. And then if you buy one, you just pray it hasnt had some silly pop and bang map put on it that they seem to attract!
The E90/92 is much much more of an exciting driving experience. Not sure how they hold up for a daily (being up to 15 years old), but such an amazing looking car, even after all this time.
The F80, whilst it looks amazing there is no getting around they sound so sh*t- you can do whatever you want to the exhaust (i had the M performance exhaust) but they just sound awful. And then if you buy one, you just pray it hasnt had some silly pop and bang map put on it that they seem to attract!
Wills2 said:
Leon R said:
Problem with the F8x is the M2C does everything better so why would you want the M3?
An aversion to dakota leather would be enough for me, not why you think the M2 does anything better than the F80 though. 
Dakota leather does wear very well in comparison to the softer leather to be fair I reckon though.
Wills2 said:
Leon R said:
Problem with the F8x is the M2C does everything better so why would you want the M3?
An aversion to dakota leather would be enough for me, not why you think the M2 does anything better than the F80 though. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad car.
Depends on what engine character you prefer really - high revving that you need to work, or instant torque. I've always had high-revving N/A cars, and have owned an E92 M3 for 6 years. Ultimately you don't get much chance to open it right up on the road these days, which is frustrating, but the top end rush is pretty savage! The F80 will be faster at any point in the rev range I imagine, but it depends if you like turbo power delivery or not.
The only way to know for sure is to test drive a couple.
The only way to know for sure is to test drive a couple.
Leon R said:
Wills2 said:
Leon R said:
Problem with the F8x is the M2C does everything better so why would you want the M3?
An aversion to dakota leather would be enough for me, not why you think the M2 does anything better than the F80 though. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad car.
I absolutely love my F82 M4, whereas I lost love for my E92 M3 quite quickly in comparison though. Granted the noise that the F8x makes isn't anything to right home about, plus I find the ride a bit too harsh as well. However for everything else I genuinely don't know what I'd swap it for though, and it is a fantastic performance daily driver in my opinion.
cava said:
Depends on what engine character you prefer really - high revving that you need to work, or instant torque. I've always had high-revving N/A cars, and have owned an E92 M3 for 6 years. Ultimately you don't get much chance to open it right up on the road these days, which is frustrating, but the top end rush is pretty savage! The F80 will be faster at any point in the rev range I imagine, but it depends if you like turbo power delivery or not.
The only way to know for sure is to test drive a couple.
I definitely agree with all you've said here for sure. My preference is definitely turbos(but I'm certainly in the minority on that though and NA is king on PH). I personally absolutely loved my slightly tuned turbo 200SX, so the M4 hits the same spot in that regard too for me. The only way to know for sure is to test drive a couple.
I'm an old fart now, so for a daily driver I don't want to have to be thrashing the backside off a car like you have to with the E9x M3. However if you're only using the E9x M3 as an occasional car though, then that is much less of a problem I think, because then you can just search out the quiet roads and enjoy what the E9x is best at for sure. I'd also consider an E9x M3 as an occasional car to be honest as well.
I think the E92 can give you greater 'highs' but they are less frequent because of that idiosyncratic V8. There are elements of the package you can't get anywhere else in the contemporary BMW range, so they do feel a bit more unique.
The M4's i've driven are much easier to extract performance out of, but I found them a bit 'everyday BMW' as an overall package. A turbo'd I6 just with a bit more zing, the usual interior etc.
In reality, we often do our driving at normal speeds in traffic, so I would suggest which one of them would give you more reward in those circumstances - the sound and character of the V8, or the easy torque and modern tech of the M4?
Horses for courses etc. I live out in the sticks, and would pick the E92 every time because I have the space and roads to exploit that engine.
I briefly strayed into AMGs and found them a much better combo of character and performance, but not always sportiness. Perhaps a C63 might be a decent alternative?
The M4's i've driven are much easier to extract performance out of, but I found them a bit 'everyday BMW' as an overall package. A turbo'd I6 just with a bit more zing, the usual interior etc.
In reality, we often do our driving at normal speeds in traffic, so I would suggest which one of them would give you more reward in those circumstances - the sound and character of the V8, or the easy torque and modern tech of the M4?
Horses for courses etc. I live out in the sticks, and would pick the E92 every time because I have the space and roads to exploit that engine.
I briefly strayed into AMGs and found them a much better combo of character and performance, but not always sportiness. Perhaps a C63 might be a decent alternative?
I went from E92 M3 to F82 M4 and am now back in another E92 M3
All depends on what you want from the car. The M4 is faster, and the tech is better, but then a Tesla is faster and has better tech if you want a car with no soul.
If your commuting day to day into London then hands down the M4 is the choice.
The reason for going back to the E92 was the V8 sound coupled with the engine characteristics. I don't need it for commuting, its purely for enjoyment, and on that side the M4 simply can't compete. The V8 is an absolute belter of an engine which has to be wound up to get anything from it, but driven properly its more than fast enough and the sound is incredible. For me that's how a fun car should be, whereas I never once had the urge to take the M4 out for enjoyment, despite its capabilities.
I also felt the E92 would hold its value a lot better, being a competition pack car with low miles and probably doing no more than 2k a year moving forward.
Both of them are brilliant cars, and both have issues of similar magnitude. Both can be negated with some preventative maintenance, and I would never recommend getting into either without having that work carried out first.
It really does depend on what you want from a car. The M4 served its purpose for me when I needed a car that was 90% good for everything, but it didn't live up to the fun factor of the M3 and that's what I want from a car now.
All depends on what you want from the car. The M4 is faster, and the tech is better, but then a Tesla is faster and has better tech if you want a car with no soul.
If your commuting day to day into London then hands down the M4 is the choice.
The reason for going back to the E92 was the V8 sound coupled with the engine characteristics. I don't need it for commuting, its purely for enjoyment, and on that side the M4 simply can't compete. The V8 is an absolute belter of an engine which has to be wound up to get anything from it, but driven properly its more than fast enough and the sound is incredible. For me that's how a fun car should be, whereas I never once had the urge to take the M4 out for enjoyment, despite its capabilities.
I also felt the E92 would hold its value a lot better, being a competition pack car with low miles and probably doing no more than 2k a year moving forward.
Both of them are brilliant cars, and both have issues of similar magnitude. Both can be negated with some preventative maintenance, and I would never recommend getting into either without having that work carried out first.
It really does depend on what you want from a car. The M4 served its purpose for me when I needed a car that was 90% good for everything, but it didn't live up to the fun factor of the M3 and that's what I want from a car now.
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff