Blasphemy

Prior to buying my C4. I had my name down for a BMW M3 CSL. The dealer called me to say that it is available. Gulp. What do I do? a. cancel b. scalp it c. keep it, sell the C4 and run for, say, 6 months for the experience and then buy another P-car. d. keep them both and sell the house. Answers please! Spizz Oil 2002 C4 Arctic Silver/Graphite Sun roof Tech Art 30mm lowered suspension PCM PSE Red Callipers Privacy Glass 18" Sport Design

hmmm, tough decision, but how about this. 1. sell the house, 2. buy the M3 3. keep them both for 6 month. 4. sell the one you don't like. 5. buy a smaller house. <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> Peter

Well I was debating between an M3 and a C2 both new, and at the end of the day an M3 to the casual observer looks just like a 3 series coupe. Any Carrera has much more of a presence than the best 3 series (CSL or 323). Having been a BMW owner for many years what really put me off about the M3 is BMW service. All day the service people change oil in 5 series estates, and as soon as an M3 comes in they start screwing around with it. Like take the car home for the night or do some donuts in the parking lot. At least when you go to a Porsche Service Center all the cars there are Porsches and your car isn't singled out. Also M3's are quite different cars from the rest of the BMW's (Esp. SMGII cars) and only the really good dealerships know how to resolve problems with them and service them. Most of them don't know the first thing about SMG. If you get a CSL it's gonna be even more of a pain if something goes wrong. Despite BMW's assurances that the engines blowing up has been resolved it's just not the case. People with 2002 and 2003 cars are still having their engines replaced. You can check it out for yourself ( <a href="http://www.bm3w.co.uk" target="_blank">www.bm3w.co.uk</a> ) It's like the Rennlist for M3's. That said a CSL will give a standard Carrera a serious run for it's money around a track unless you go GT3. I spent many month debating over this as you can tell.

I was in a similar situation until a few days ago. I had become so obsessed about keeping my 911 in perfect shape that I convinced myself that buying an M3 would make sense so that I could keep the miles off the 911. I actually ordered an M3 and paid a deposit. Then I started losing sleep over the M3 order because paying for these two cars would be a stretch for me financially. Still, I was determined to keep the miles of the 911. I decided that maybe test driving the M3 again would ease my worrying by renewing my excitement. In fact, it did just the opposite. My second test drive made me realize that the M3 is just not that fun to drive. Sure - it's fast - but it drives exactly like what it is - a fast sedan; it's not a sports car, and as such it doesn't even approach the 911 for fun and excitement. I called the dealer the next day and cancelled my order. Thankfully the dealer was pleasant about it, and it looks like I will be getting my deposit back. A huge weight was lifted off my shoulder. Now I enjoy my 911 twice as much because I'm not worried about running up the miles -- I figure I just saved myself $55k that I can use toward a new 911 in a few years. That's a very long way of saying that if I were you I would not get the M3 -- once you get over the initial excitement, I doubt if you'll ever want to drive it instead of your 911. (Of course if you really need a car that seats four semi-confortably, maybe you want to keep it. One thing I learned on way too many hours on the bmw message boards is that M3 owners generally purchased an M3 over a 911 for only one of two reasons: (i) to save money, or (ii) they need a car that can seat four people. Most dream of getting a 911 some day -- the 911 is acknowledged even by most M3 owners as a step up).

Why do we need the house again?

as with many here was in same boat before ending up with the pcar - the choice was 3 year old 996 cab or a new m3 cab (not quite a csl) - 2 factors made the pcar win - driving them both the m3 was good to drive but similar to many performance saloons out there - driving the p-car is different to nearly all other cars on the road it just feels special, the second factor was that bmw attitude/service sucks, much like keyvan said they dont treat thier customers with any form of respect - its along the lines of bmw mentality 'because so many people want to buy our cars it really doesnt matter how we treat u there will always be another joe down the road who will swallow it'.

Thanks guys - very helpful. Have had three 3 Series in the past - never an M3 - and hated them all except 330Diesel Sport - which was amazingly good. Have had a 944, 911 3.2,928 and 996 - and loved all except 928 (which was probably down to me rather than the car.) Never had a problem with customer care with either brand. The appeal of the CSL is that perhaps it is a GT3 or 360 Stradale competitor for C2 money. On the other hand, I fear that it may be like a Subaru Impreza P1 that I had - a one trick pony - it just does fast. With the P Car - there is tactile pleasure at all speeds and in most conditions. Please keep these thoughts rolling! Philip

I Can never Give up my C4 for an M3 no matter how much more power it have. just compare any old 911 with an old M3, the porsche is a porsche and the M3 is just a regular 3 series old bmw.

CSL or standard C4? CSL if you're nuts about driving. But what about the GT3?

A GT3 with a seat for my sons aged 6 and 3 would be ace.

There is also the Audi RS6 to consider. But drive down the street and you see Audi's, BMW's everywhere. It's rare to see a Carerra. And if you do, you get draw dropping looks. My last car an Audi A6 2.5 quattro was a real looker. It was a great drive too. But this car is a calss of its own. It feels good and you know you are driving a real race-bred sports car. There is nothing like climbing into a Carrera, starting up the engine and hearing that beautiful Grrrooowl...... Drop the M3. Its just another Beemer.

"just compare any old 911 with an old M3" i think i enjoyed my E36 M3 coupe more than i would have my 993 if it hadn't been a cab. the E46 M3 in stock form is inferior IMO to the E36 from a driving pleasure point of view. the E36 sounded better, was lighter, and really didn't have a whole lot less power when you compare relative torque (vs. HP) and include the porking up on weight the E46 underwent. i had a similar experience in the first 996 i drove. i thought it much less fun to drive than my 993. however, now that i've put a proper suspension on it, cut holes in the airbox (how high school - hehe), put gt3 lightweight laterally supportive seats in it, it's every bit as fun as my 993 was - only faster. the CSL may be the best of both worlds in that you'll get the E46 power and technological improvements in an E36 weight and viceral experience package - if you can just get past the very poor bmw dealer service network! ps. BMW's DSC system is intrusive and poorly designed in that when it engages it abruptly shuts the car down whereas Porsche PSM will let you keep driving and actually learns the driver.

Ben Very helpful. What a dilemna. Your seats look terrific. Are they fixed? How do you get into the back? Where did you get them? How much? Philip

Philip. Thanks. While the backs don't bend, the entire seats slides front to back for rear access. They are about $3k for the pair and I got mine from FDC in the US, but you can get them here (for $2800 Euro/for the pair) since you are in the UK: <a href="http://www.carnewal-europe.com/main.htm" target="_blank">http://www.carnewal-europe.com/main.htm</a> go to "seats". i've bought a ton of stuff from Gert at Carnewal and can tell you my expectations of quality and service have always been met or surpassed.

Thanks - and I take it that works ok with standard seatbelts.....

Get the CSL, sell the C4.

"Thanks - and I take it that works ok with standard seatbelts....." yup. btw, when you install them, make sure you do not have the key in the ignition and that the battery is unplugged until you are finished to insure you don't set off the air bag light (it is in the seat belt recepticle and is temporarily disconnected during install). otherwise, it'll take a trip to the dealer to reset the light (most charge for that).