If you can spend the extra $10k, do it. If you want value, the Z can't be beat.

 

I think I'll start with t xO2 exhaust/ hks replica. How cheap?

 

The M3 is MUCH easier to work on. Don't believe me I know, headlights come out with 4 bolts (all accessible without pulling the bumper or fender liners off. Water pump, alternator, all belt drive stuff easy to get to. The Z is a different story. The M3 has individual throttle bodies, and they are consistent. The BMW has a clutch LSD instead of viscous, the transmission is bullet proof, along with the clutch. Interior is leaps and bounds better. The engine is (believe it or not) making more power in the after market for about the same money.

The advantage of the Z is in warranty.

The BMW does have some pricey parts, your subframe has little chance of tearing on the M, the 323/328 has a VERY high chance in an E46 (manual). Poor design for torque transfer. The Vanos units will fail, but my E36 had 153k on the original, and I had cams in the car.

Finding a good indy mechanic is the key. Check E46 fanatics though, those M3 owners are typically less pretentious than the M3forum crowd, and they know about the same amount.

Show me parts that cost more on the BMW though, 7k for a vanos replacement is an utter rip ($500 or so in parts, about $400 in labor at most - at least in FL).

 

I heard the electronics keeps going on peeps.

 

Im keen on interior details. Like I cannot stand american car interriors because I've always had Hondas.

to this day I still do not know what is so wrong with the interior of the Z that everyone talks about. Materials feel good, great seats, and the climate switches feel great both to the touch and when you operate them.

 

Me either. I actually haven't been in a BMW interior I liked. A straight boring dash? C'mon.

 

corruptor
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*Join Date: Jun 2004
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Hey this is you first post in 3 years.

 

Wow... he might spent whole time at M3forum?
BTW I came from E46 M3 to spanking new Z.

here is a short story.
I bought a used M3 for $26k 01 model with 45000 miles on it. specailly Laguna Seca blue color attracted me. the reason why I sold it and got new Z was that it cost too much to keep up the car(i'm a full time student). but the main reason was the engine had problem which will cost 3k to fix it and inspection fees.

you have to do inspection every 20k miles. or 25k. which will cost you around $700 at indy shop or $1500 at the dealer.

If you have plenty money around 35k~40 go a head for nicley used M3 but if your budget is around 30k just get new Z. Specially M3 even low mileage you will end up with high cost maintnance unless you can do it by yourself.

For aftermarket-wise, i assume that there are at least double of after market for Z than M3.

However if you have plenty of cash and income, I would be all over the M3.

 

if i had the money i would take the M. and if i had even more money i would buy my friends that he is trying to sell

 

I don't know about you guys but a M3 still reminds me of those guys in high school that pumped up their BMW 2002's. It's still a sedan no matter how you look at it. To me it's not really a sporty looking car at all. jmo



This is the same reason I'm not crazy about the WRX. Looks like a kid that got of hold of his parents car and modded it.

 

Electronics? like what?

The biggest issue is that people don't bother properly diagnosing the issues with their cars. My mechanic has one of almost every sensor etc. that he has scavenged from a junk yard. So when someone loses a crank position sensor ($100 part, 10 minutes to install) he can double check that the ECU is throwing the right code.

My BMW never once lost a senser, I lost a resistor pack for my HVAC system, had my ABS pump wiring fail ($200 labor and some DIY rewiring on my own, $20 in ATE super blue and that was fixed), a couple wheel bearings, my clutch, entirely new shocks springs, control arms, bushings, etc., drive shaft support bearing, oil changes, cooling system, stereo (parts were corroded but it was an excuse to upgrade, it didn't actually fail ). Nothing that strands you will fail earlier than on any other car. My buddies Z lost a cam position sensor right away, ran like crap, you lose a sensor (other than the crank position sensor) and the car runs great.

I would argue that the M3 is really no harder than a Z to maintain. The "inspections" are typically just - change tranny/diff/radiator/brake fluids, inspect the belts, bearings, bushings, shifter play, brakes, adjust parking brake. Etc. Most of it is easily done on your own, a few things (like an automatic tranny fluid flush) I'd take in to have done.

The BMW is a solid car, I won't say nothing is going to go wrong, I had a lot of little things bugging me on my E36, but I've also already had a new transmission put in my car now, have a major clutch issue which is (from reading up a bit) likely the slave cylinder leaking fluid onto my clutch, and the fit interior is already a rattle trap.

I love my car, but an M3 doesn't have to be more to maintain. People just don't know how to take care of their own cars or shop around. Further no-one bothers to learn how to properly diagnose issues on the BMWs and preference is given to throwing parts with high markup into the cars. www.BMAparts.com and www.realoem.com are great (real oem for part numbers), www.pelicanparts.com is another good source. www.turnermotorsports.com is a good benchmark for aftermarket pricing, etc.

As far as aftermarket support, there are coilover kits for 1k-2.5k, there are wheels galore (mostly DPE, HRE, Iforged, BBS, etc). VF engineering, ESS, AA, Dinan, and HP freaks all make FI kits for the M3. Technic engineering is nearing release as well. UUC motorwerkes has a great lineup of clutches and flywheels.

I've actually been disappointed in the aftermarket for the Z's because the BMW market "seems" bad but is really just more saturated with hgih quality products. All the kits for FI for example come with tuning, all but the HP freaks use in factory ECU tuning and achieve great numbers, drivability, and retention of all the factory stability control systems, etc..

 

I wish I had bought an M3 instead of a Z everytime I see one. Waiting to buy the 2nd year of the new model.

 

I love the E45 M3 but it is starting to look out dated while the 07 Z is still looks sexy.

 

I think the M3 looks Goddy. Where as the Z looks like a God. Lol !!!
What do you expect this is a Z Forum.

 

Man are you serious? Go ahead and pop the cherry on the 2007 Z already!

 

here is some advice. go with the car you can afford and the one you like

 

NICE!

 

my friends is prettyer

 

If I could afford it, I'd get an M over a Z. There's no comparison, the M is a whole other beast.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. Personally, I'm leaning towards the Z, but I'm in no rush to pick one at the moment since neither car would be driven daily and would be more of a weekend toy. I'm also curious as to exactly how much the GT-R will be come spring, but I'm fairly certain it will be out of my price range. Rumors of the next gen Z are also making me put my plans on hold, as is a test drive of the new G37. I like to plan things out in advance to be able to set goals, which is why I asked for your opinions. In other words, I can't decide on what I want other than a 911 GT3!!

davidv: yes, I only have 1 post! I previously trolled the S2000 forums when I still had my AP1 s2k. I miss my s2k sorely, but don't want another convertible and can't justify spending the extra $2-5K on an aftermarket hardtop.

As for comments on interior, I guess I'm just tired of rattling pieces of ****. I'm old enough where I can finally purchase something of decent quality, so I don't think it's too much to ask to have a decent, well-built interior. Besides, whatever I decide on will likely be the first car in my (future) collection so it's gotta hold up through the years.