ANYBODY HERE HAVE A BMW M3??

I posted here before asking you guys for your opinion on a couple Porsche listings I've been looking at. I've had my heart set on a 996 for about 3 years now, but I've been having trouble finding the perfect one for me in my budget. I've recently been looking at some M3s, & they are dirt cheap & seem to haul ***, lol. But can anyone tell me how the feel of it compares to a 996? I'm thinking of just going & buying an M3 cash, no financing, no nothing. It'd feel nice on my wallet every month when I have one LESS payment to make. But what I'm scared of is that once I buy it, I'll feel that I "settled" for a GOOD car, when I should've forked over a little more cash for an AMAZING car... Plus, you guys have to admit that besides the actual feel of driving the car, there's a certain feeling you get when people ask you what you drive & you say "a Porsche," it just gives you that added something, it has a certain prestige in the name, haha. Plus another thing that turns me off about the M3, is when I go to a small restaurant & there's about 4 M3's throughout the parking lot. It's almost like any other car... Well, what I would like to hear is a true comparison from people who either own or have driven both cars. Thanks.

Wrong forum! And I’m pretty sure most here prefer the 996 over the M3. I’m one. GL

The M3 looks and feels nicer but the 996 feels more like a true sports car that it is.

it depends. i wouldn't get a '99 911 over say an '04+ M3. i would get an '02 996 over any E46 m3. i find the 996 to be a more sporting gt coupe than the m3 which is flat out a gt coupe.

Let me be the first to warn you. The parts for the 996 are cheaper than the E46 M3. Go price the VANOS unit (which will destroy itself). Then go price and aftermarket parts. Owned one for 2 years. Fun car plenty of go, ridiculous prices for parts. C.

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Lol yes, of course everyone is biased. But then if I go to a BMW forum, which I did, then everyone hates Porsche, so I guess it's kind of hard to find a non-biased comparison. Thanks, that's more of what I wanted to know. I don't care much for cruising comfortably, rather than tearing **** up, lol. I want something that I can whip around the road. Okay, well to be more specific: My comparison was between an '02+ 996, the later model with more HP & nicer headlights (IMO); & an earlier model (like '01/'02) E46 M3. Wow, really? I would've thought Porsche parts would be more expensive. That's a plus for Porsche. But hey, since you've owned both cars, could you give me your perspective on both? I mean performance, handling, "whoa" factor (with ladies, lol), & most importantly, the fun factor of the driving experience.

M3 is better choice if you only have one car.

Ahhh Yes, the debate continues. Bottom line...different cars, different feel. Front engine vs rear engine. I've owned both, let's just say the e36 M3 was more fun to drive than my 1996 993 (IMHO of course)! Since I went to a 2000 996 (Headers, exhaust, CAI, Plenum)...well there was just no comparison. The E36 M3 had to go (I owned the M3 & the 993, then the M3 & the 996 simultaneously). The Porsche was headers & shoulders above the E36 M3. After driving the 996, I lost my desire to drive the M3. I have since driven several E46 M3s and they are very nice, significantly more power than the E36, with perhaps not quite as much (just slightly less) fun-factor. The E46 is significantly heavier than the E36... and you can definitely feel the weight!! That being said, I do have the itch to put one in my stable, but it will take second place as a backup to my 996. My suggestion would be to drive both, then follow you passion... I wouldn’t worry about the name plate or how many there are on the road. Both are well respected German engineered automobiles. I for one am bias towards lighter cars. My 996, at ~2990 lbs is more appealing and nimble than the 4415lb M3, and you can’t beat the looks of the MKI Aero kit.

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Careful...you inflated the weight of the M3 by about a thousand lbs.

Having owned both an E46 M3 and an '04 996, the latter is by far the more nimble/involving car, while the former is a super all-'rounder. My main issues with the M3 were the ridiculous body lean in corners, the overly intrusive stability control and the exhaust rasp; but it's reasonably quick with a nice interior and looks pretty cool with the 19" wheels. I am done with BMW, as the cars have grown exceedingly heavy; the E46 was 3,500 lbs. and I believe the new one is 3,700-3,800 lbs. - no longer "sports cars" IMO.

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I think you mean "WOW" factor. If you, indeed, mean "WHOA" factor, a Prius is the car for you! Great with the ladies, LOL.

Listen to Gregg... If you can have only one car then the M3 may be for you. Can seat 1 more person, large trunk. I seriously considered an 02+ M3 SMG before I came across my 03 996 Tip. 'To me', the 996 is more sportscar raw, light and tossable vs the heavier more insulated M3. I really hated that SMG clunk when shifting gears but loved that smooth insulated M3 ride. My other car is an Infiniti FX. So I wasn't looking for more passenger/storage capacity nor a smooth ride.

Raphael, If you initialy wanted a porsche, you should get a porsche. If you get an M3 you will regret it everytime you see a porsche on the road.

996 kills the beemer in handling, bm is overpriced too (imo)

So what's the concensus...can a 996 C2 outrun an E46?

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Oops! Ya, I guess that would make a tad bit of a difference.

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Well... the truthful answer is NO, nobody can tell you how the FEEL of an M3 compares to a 996. You'll have to get behind the wheel of each of them and decide for yourself. They are completely different animals. You may as well have asked "Which is better, a blonde, or a brunette?" Here is my personal OPINION, which is worth exactly $0.0001 to you or anyone else except me, but since you asked.... An E46 M3 has plenty of horsepower, but it understeers like hell, and is too heavy. Just plain forget it. An E36 M3 from 1997 or later is a PHENOMENAL car, and yes, they are cheap, and if you can find one with low miles that has been taken care of, you will never regret it. It handles like a dream, is extremely practical (especially with the fold-down rear seats - you can throw 2 ten-speed bikes in the back with the back wheels still on, or even a few dozen 8-foot long two-by-fours. Try that in a P-car! It will do 141 MPH comfortably and as solid as a rock, unless you spend an extra $300 on a chip, in which case it will do 157 MPH. (Kids, don't try this at home.) It doesn't look like a race car, so you don't stick out to Mr. Policeman, especially if you debadge it, or even better yet, put a 318is badge on it. Parts are easy to come by. Oil changes are affordable. If you really a burning desire for speed, you can put a Dinan supercharger kit into it, or a twin turbo, and then you'll have E46 horsepower with E36 handling, which is a winning combination. Of course, then if you ever decide to sell the car (unlikely), you'll take a financial hit. A 996 is a race-bred sports car that goes like gangbusters when you're going fast, but isn't quite as nimble or easy to manage when driving around town. It takes the bumps a little more firmly as well. (YMMV based on choice of rubber.) The total cost of ownership is WAY higher than an E36 M3, and according to many, the life expectancy of the engine doesn't seem to be anywhere near the 200K+ miles you're likely to get out of an E36 M3. The 996 may LOOK more at home on the track, but when I started autocrossing at the PCA events with my 4-door '98 E36 M3, there was only one P-Car owner who could beat me regularly, and he was in a C4, and was the driving instructor. And I was a rookie driver, and really not all that good - honest! The 911 and Boxster guys got so upset that they started saying, half jokingly, but perhaps half not, that they were going to ban 4-door cars from their autocrosses. Of course, they were also referring not just to me, but also to a Subaru WRX that was in the G-stock class, who was spanking EVERYBODY quite badly, even WITHOUT his handicap! (Then again, that guy ended up becoming a winning pro rally-cross driver, so I don't feel too bad getting creamed by him.) Depending on where you live, the P-car may be somewhat more rare, and thus may come with a little more prestige factor. But anybody who buys a car for just the prestige factor is, IMHO, just plain silly. The thing is just a driving machine, so buy the one that does what you need/want it to do the best - DRIVE!* (*the way YOU want it to drive) I joined this forum because I was going to buy a 996 GT3 and wanted to read up on them. Then I learned more about the 997 GT3, and have decided to hold my horses for a while, and get one of those instead, when I can afford to pay cash for one and not have to worry about the ongoing costs of owning it. I just sold my dearly beloved M3 (my 3rd E36 M3) as a first step in that direction, and I'm now getting around on a Serotta Ottrott, which gets significantly better gas mileage than either car, and costs next to nothing to maintain, relatively speaking. Of course, now I can't throw those 2x4's in the back.... By the way, I have seen a ton of postings like "Which car is better, A or B" over the years, and I have never once seen anybody say: "My cargo capacity requirements are X, my passenger capacity requirements are X, my budget for the upfront cost is X, my budget for ongoing ownership costs is X, my fuel economy requirements are X, my maximum length/width that will fit in my garage is X, my special feature requirements are X, and I will sometimes/often/never take the car to the track." Once somebody knows these parameters, they could probably give a more meaningful opinion. Maybe even one worth $0.02 instead of just $0.0001 like this one!

I currently own both. 2004 M3 & 2001 996TT The M3 is a better DD, but the 996TT is a better performance car. You need to spend some seat time in both.

They are both fine autos, no real looser. You can compare all day back and forth depending on you needs. I was looking into an M3 prior to my purchase as well. Did not look or take long to rule out the M3 due to just one simple factor Styling. -M3 has more of a done up sedan look, still beautiful, but in a sedan kind of way -911 has the curves, exotic pure sport look. On this it stands alone. I had no need to look further in the comparisons Just look at MGS996 Avatar, both VERY nice (fortunate man) only one exotic One is a hot blonde W/ a perfect bubble ***. The the other a good looking brunette, little chunky, flat *** Both are fun. I'll take that ***, thank you

well i have driven both and would not want either..but if i had to have one of them,i would get the 911..

I just bought a new E90 M3 sedan. Awesome car. I used to own a 2003 M3 but it was stolen before I bought my C4S so I can't really compare them. I would choose my 996 C4S over the E46 M3 (2001-2006) but the M3 is really a great used car for the money.

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Yes, the light weight is a definite plus, & I agree, you can't beat the looks of a Porsche with a nice aero kit. Well that's exactly what I need. A fun, nimble, driver involved car that I can toss around all over the place. As far as seating multiple people, that doesn't matter much for me, because it's usually just me & whichever lady happens to be riding me. Next is the trunk, well, considering the line of work I'm in, the biggest thing I've ever needed to carry with me is a small briefcase, & even that is rare. Plus if ever I do need to load something, I have an SUV I use for hauling ATV's when I go off-roading which I could use... I honestly could care less about the seating, interior space, etc. I care about the performance, handling, looks, etc. But the way you describe the 996 sounds exactly like what I'm looking for, something I can toss around & have real fun in. Seems like everyone's choice for that is the Porsche. This is exactly what I fear, is SETTLING for the M3, then regretting it knowing a little more cash would've got me the car I REALLY WANTED. My dilemma is that I need the BETTER PERFORMANCE CAR, & it will just happen to be my daily driver as well, lol. Hmm, why do you say this? What do you drive, if you don't mind me asking? 997? What about a C2 (02+) compared to the E46?

IMHO, the ONLY reason i will get M3 instead of 996 is if i need a bigger back seat. everything else 996 wins.

Like I've stated before, I'd pick an '00-'01 aerokit 911 over the newest E46 M3. I would not pick a '99-'01 bone stock 911 over the newest E46 M3.

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i will test drive a MY2003 E46 M3 cab, and 335i cab this afternoon. will let u know my takes on those. oh, it's SMG .

pl, i don't like smg because... it dates the car... and an essential component of the car. the new dual clutch system is the real answer and where everyone is heading including porsche, nissan, audi, vw, bmw etc. smg is dead. the f1 tranny is soon to be killed.

I've had an E46 and now have the 996. I'll take the feel of the 996. The E46 is probably faster though. 333 hp vs. whatever the 996 is...300, I think. I don't think either # is RWHP.

I will say the e36 is a lot of fun, until you drive a foreign market e36 m3evo, which is way too much fun. Great car, very very Q since for the most part it looks just like the then current 3s. If I was considering an E36 I would go out and buy a brand new 135i and piggyback ECU from Vishnu et al. Will be faster I guarantee it, new car warranty, no maintenance, no brake pads, and looks pretty much like it should. I like the way the e46 looks, but you have to really be into subtlety, it's not sufficiently different, and if you really are concerned with what the girls think, that thing is a 3 series to most people who aren't car nuts and will be equated with one by your stated target market. My fav M3 is still the E30, although I'm sure the E90 is an amazing car, it's still way too close to regular 3 for me in terms of looks. Sedans which also double as sports cars are a compromise. Yes there are a few effectively silhouette type M3s, the old lightweights and CSLs and all that which are real deal sports cars with sedan-like bodywork, but normal M3s are about 4 seats, a decent trunk, a little badge appeal, and oh by the way they are FAST. Please get out and drive one, it is fun and spins freely (any generation). There's a caveat based on your original question: Everyone in the state of California over the age of 16 has a 3 series BMW. I think they issue them with your driver's license now, so in a way an M3 might be the ultimate California Q car. I just don't think you're looking for quiet, which I think is one of the best reasons to own an M3. Owning one car or having children may be the others. If you're looking to turn heads, consider a Cayman as well, easy to drive fast and it has a more exotic profile (at least less easily recognized than the 911), nice exhaust note. I think it's dangerous to buy something based on what other people, especially the opposite sex, will think, but it's a fact of life. If curb appeal weren't a factor they would have sold a lot more hardcore Evo VIIs, VIIIs and IXs over at Mitsubishi. If you're looking for badge appeal, any 911 is instantly recognized as an archetypal Porsche by 90% of the population (except for everyone who works at the last rest top in Arizona on the 10 who for some reason thought it was the Batmobile). No questions, you're living the dream in the mind of the general public (and are probably also a jerk according to many). If you are shopping in this price range and have a daily driver already, try and find the right Porsche or hey, run out and buy a Lotus Elise, a helmet and some halon. That'll keep em looking.

good post HTLA totally agree about the jerk thing

yeah with me it just fits so well haha

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If they both cost about the same, I would take the 02+ C2, no contest. If there is a big difference in price the E46 is still a fun car.

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pls man you r a harmless, a nice cosmopolitan kinda dude who roams Sunset hitting up the best of the West. nothing jerk about that

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hahaha man I have to email that out to a few people, thanks for the compliment! That's what's nice about the internet, you're often the very opposite of how you are in real life!

what are you gay? (not that there's anything wrong with that)

well not that far opposite!

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please util craiglist.org for those communications. (not that there's anything wrong with that)

YMMV but my friend, a better driver, in his manual e46 m3 falls behind me when I reach into 3rd gear in an 03 C2.

Wish I had seen this post earlier...... I had a 400hp M3 and a 550HP BMW MZ Roadster. The Blown MRoadster would easily walk just about anything that gave chase in this town except a few twin turbo vipers. They both had all the mods you could think of but when I bought that blown Porsche.......the ole bmw crew wasn't driven for almost two months. When I finally drove it, I drove to the trailer/shipper who was hauling it to the new buyer. Don't settle & don't look back on your decision either.

I want to thank all of you guys for all your great insight, you've all been very kind & helpful & have made my decision easier. I've decided to buy a PT Cruiser, lol jk... My decision is not to settle, but instead wait for the right 996 to come along within my budget. I don't want to buy an M3 just to regret it everytime I see a Porsche pass by, & I know I would. So 996 it is! Hopefully I'll come across my car soon, maybe this month. I will definetely post pics as soon as I acquire one & will become a regular poster/visitor to the site. Thanks again! I'm wondering how do I get an accurate estimate of what the car should cost? I want to get a good deal, like any other buyer out there would. Here's one listing I'm considering trying to deal with http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...r_id=243217289

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I really used to love those M roadsters. Many friends of mine had them back then, so light, so much engine bay to jam full of boost. 550 is a big number! US market car had ~240bhp stock, must have been a HANDFUL on anything but slicks. In retrospect I guess an M Roadster probably weighed about the same as a 996 Mk2, ~3100lbs, still that must have been a seriously fun vehicle.

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Actually, BMW later stuffed a 315 HP version of the S54 in the Z3 M Roadster. What a hoot!

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sorry I have to interject here..... I have a 99 c2 with ROW 030 suspension and race it all the time against my friends E46 ZCP M3.... at MOSPORT... a world class track.... he also has dinan mods on it... he has 360hp... on the the long strait away I pull him every time... even when I have a passenger... the pulling is evident in the top of 3rd gear and more so in 4th 5th and 6th.... he drove my car once and said it was a totally different animal... and then he went to say he's never tracking his M3 again. I've driven his M3 and it was a nice car... but you feel the heaviness and in terms of feel doesn't even come close to a porsche... feels like a modded 3 series... *a very capable modded 3 series* I might add... strait line the pcar edges it out and in terms of handling the ZCP package kicks butt... but so does the ROW 030 ... only thing is the M3 feels like a pig in the corners and destroys tires... and you need to put 19" tires on the M3 to take corners at track speeds or else its a no go... my 996 has 17" !!! braking on the M3 sucks as well... and so does the gearbox... not what I expected from an M car... at the end of the day the M3 is for those who only want to spend the $$ on one car that has some practicality built into it.... great car for what your getting but its no pcar that's for sure... the ZCP M3 has great seats compared to the stock garbage seats that come in a pcar... I currently have a GT3 seat driver's seat and its one of the best mods you can make if you wanna "feel" and push your car to the limit... the other thing I didn't like about the M3 is its raspy exhaust... sounded like its gonna break... but with an eisenmann exhaust you can really cure that problem... also... the rear subframe is welded to the trunk so over time in tracking it will break unless you get it re-enforced.... not like a porsche... you pick.

Here's one listing I'm considering trying to deal with http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...r_id=243217289 [/QUOTE] [/B] Wow, that looks real clean and blk/blk is a nice color combo. If a ppi checks out I'd ask $35 but would not mind paying $36k.

I have both-- u can pm me if u want 05 m3 and 04 911 -- different animals that are always compared. M3 is more utilitarian --like useable backseat 911 is pure bliss -- u could drive it everyday across country but when ure in it u can feel its one purpose and thts to carve up the road ahead of it If i cud pick 1 I wud choose 911 and have a "normal" dd Mike

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It's funny how many perspectives there are on this. I too have both ('02 M3 and '99 996) and completely agree with your statements. However if I had to have only one it would be the M3 as I don't think I could take a "normal" DD. Andy

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I currently have both. Though hopefully Ill sell the M3 soon for mod money. Anyone interested: http://cgi.ebay.com/BMW-M3-2001-BMW-...QQcmdZViewItem The M3 has been a lot of fun. However if I had to have only one it would be the 911 as I don't think I could take a "normal" DD.

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I think your perspective is the same... given you have a DD its the 996 you'd be keeping... limiting yourself to one car... that's a different condition and one less car your willing to keep....

They're both GREAT cars!!! If you're comparing year for year, the Porsche should be ANY wise persons choice, however I'd take an M3 over a C2, C4 or C4S if it's 2 or 3 years newer. However, I'd take a 2001 Turbo over an E46 M3 of ANY year. I'd take a brand new M3 OVER a 911 Turbo 2003 and down. Also keep in mind, the average M3 will have WAY more miles than the average 911.