First off it's rod bearings, second oil changes cost $70-80 if you do it yourself, and if you dont wanna do it yourself buy the stuff for $70-80 and pay a trusted mechanic to do it for $20 or so. thirdly, the inspection I is at 15,000 (Not 5,000) costs roughly $900. However, if you bought the car new, maintenance is free for the first 4 years/50,000 miles.

My 02 M3 is at 42k, and thats why Im looking to sell it now. Not because it's not worth it, but because the car doesn't deserve to get beat on and driven into the ground like it was a honda. The only thing the nissan rivals the M3 on, is looks... and the Z looks fckin amazing! :P But trust me, stock for stock, its no where close to the same car. Anyone with a stock Z wanna meet up and see / compare each others ride local to so cal, I'd be glad to show you what the M3 is all about

All of that being said (sorry just hate ignorance or misinformed people), I hope to be in a Z very soon! It makes much more sense financially and the things the M does better than the Z aren't enough to warrant the extra money I have to spend... especially outside warranty.

Kevin

 

holy crap...i was about to buy an M3...roda bearings??!...yikes..

 

most, if not all M3s have had the recall performed and those that haven't and even those that have... if -anything- fails that oil touches, BMW will fix it for free. It would suck to have anything happen of course, but in the unfortunate event it did it's covered, so not a big deal. Plus if you're buying one thats already had the recall done, you're pretty much good to go.

Kevin

 

Are you sure you want to step down to a Z? I came from a 328I and still cant get over the cheap plastics and roughness of the motor. While the Z might be cheaper to maintain, the Vq35DE is known to have lots of issues, mainly oil consumption and transmission.. M car to Z is big downgrade . the s54 motor is just sick bone stock 100+hp per liter. Also, a Nissan is not in the same league as a Honda or Toyota in reliability.. just keep that in mind..

62K miles into my 04 touring and I have had a new long block replaced, new radiator, window motor, fuel tank sensor, nav door break (3 times!), misc rattles, power seat motor, engine misfire codes that wont go away.. etc... Overalll.. its a decent little torquey ride,, but no where as refined as the Mcar when I drove it.. If I had do it all over again, id save up for a used M car.. Actually I'm saving up for the next e92M3. Anyone can slap on a few snails to make power, but it takes true engineering to make over the majical 100hp/liter mark NA.. namely, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW M's..... ooh and that little pesky s2000..

 

How are the nismo cams? Lumpy during idle? Big difference in power? Also.. Hows the jWT clutch/flywheel compared to stock? I'm looking at more power, but the clutch/flywheel and cams are expensive mods.. I'd like to know your HONEST opinion.. Thanks bro

 

I really don't see the greatness of M3's. Don't get me wrong, they're nice cars, but I really don't think that a Z is THAT much of a downgrade. I think its more of a status thing than anything.

I am around a lot of high end cars, so I do have something to base my opinion on. Just an opinion though.

 

You need to drive an M to know the difference.. The build quality is just superb.. Even the way the door shuts screams quality

 

Ive driven several. Drove a viper too. I think the M3 is more of an old mans sports car than anything.

Edit: but like I said, its just an opinion

 

I have an 03 Z, and I picked up an 05 M3 Competition PKG. last summer. I have a company vehicle that I drive daily, so these are my weekend cars. Since I got my M, I have only driven my Z 3 times, and thats only because the M was in the shop getting mods done. I dont know how you could go from an M3 to a Z, there is no comparision. The M is better in every way IMHO.

 

M cars are awesome, but don't trust it's reliablity, and costly maintanence and repair. i have a buddy w/ 3 series, he swears by it(that it never gave him a problem and that he'd buy another), and another who's brand new 3 series quit on her on the fwy.

i've had my preorder '03 z for 4 years plus, and only regular oil changes with exception of the infamous window motor

you'll enjoy the z for yrs w/ less problems and cost.

but if i could afford the M3 and it's related cost, i'd jump on it anyday.

 

For me half the car are its looks. Since I'm not a fan of the M3 styling, I would NEVER buy it ever. However, it is a VERY nice car in a higher class (slightly though). I am also not a fan of Inline engines so that's another plus on the Z.

However I love the M5 Sedan, it's my dream sedan lol. I would get that in a heartbeat.

 

The dark side is calling you.... Come to the dark side.

 

There is nothing that captures me quite like the 350z. Seeing the headlights shines past you on the road is an experience in itself. The Z is its own unique style and looks like no other. The M3 has the 3 series styling body lines with cosmetic enhancements that I don't know can justify the price difference. The engine is great but when it breaks down whose gonna be faster now?

You're really trading up some power for reliability if anything. Yeah Z cars aren't expensive like the M3 but people view the Z as a raw sports car - not a luxury refined one. Looks wise - add a subtle kit like the Nismo v1/v1 kit and some nice wheels and you're already ahead.

 

why did you chage whats wrong with the Z!!

 

If you were to drive an M3 you would see how much better it is. I know the M is a luxury car, but the Z just feels so cheap to me when I drive it now.

 

The JWT clutch and flywheel is a great mod, Id wait until your stock clutch wears out to save on labor. Makes your car rev a little faster, throttle response is improved, no worry about flywheel chatter.. i dont hear anything.. Overall impression...9/10.

In all honesty, the r tune cams are a decent mod, but due to the the 8 to 10 hours or labor involved, its expensive mod over $100/hp.. which is more than I like to pay.. depending on how you drive, there's a little bump in power in the middle rpms but you can start to feel it pull towards to the top end, 5500+ to redline. Idle needs to be raised to 900 so your car dosent stall out. Are you going to be wowed? Probably not, althought I dont have a utec to get it tuned..yet.. overall I give it a 7/10.

 

I totally agree, its the quality and the feel, no shoddy plastics everywhere, fake brushed aluminum and the engine is silky smooth. The leather on the seats is nicer, the seats are firmer, and the transmission shifts effortlessly.

The nissan was built to compete with the s2000, 330I, Rx8, etc.. To get the price down to competitive levels, Ghosn needed to cut down on costs, namely that crappy interior and materials, and the FM chasis they share from their SUV's. When Z32 prices rose to low 40's back in the 90's it all but killed sales. When you buy a Z you buy.. its "value".. when you buy an M car, you pay for both for the M badge.. but also its quality, engineering etc..

 

Those statements always bub the %^&* out of me. Its the "Ultimate Driving Machine" but heaven forbid you drive it and drive it hard. Your statement is just soo wrong I can't begin to describe how wrong it is. Best thing you can do for a car is drive it the way it was meant to be driven and actually do with it what it was designed to do. Go buy a Camry if you don't understand the above rant. Beat it, drive it into the ground. It's designed to be driven. My friend has a M3 with nearly 200K and a lot of autocross miles. Just the way it should be. The sad thing is to keep it in a garage and NOT drive it IMO.

 

Nicely said!

 

I drive the **** out of both the Z and M3. I cant help it, its justs the way I drive, I like power and speed!