2003 350z or a 1996 BMW M3??
02-07-2008 | 07:50 AM
#61
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Okc,Ok
This is a 350z board if you go on a BMW board you will get like responce in favor of the E36.
The BMW M3 is a great drivinng machine but as mentioned the one you are looking at is 10 year old compared to a 5 year old 350Z. From what I hear 76k miles is not many miles on a bimmer especially a 10 year old bimmer. And you don't have to keep that maintenance contract of $200-$x00 oil/belts/fluids change or warranty is void.
Anyway most people are not saying that the E36 M3 is crap just that its 5-6 years older then Z you are looking at. If you are a bimmer fan why not just buy the bimmer its a fine vehicle with good miles for its age. Drive it if you like it buy it. The BMW didn't get its reputation of the ultimate driving machine for nothing. But I think to one up the Z you need a 2000-200x M3.
Just mo, E36 is a legend, no doubt.
Except for not having back seats the 350Z is an option believe it or not.
The BMW M3 is a great drivinng machine but as mentioned the one you are looking at is 10 year old compared to a 5 year old 350Z. From what I hear 76k miles is not many miles on a bimmer especially a 10 year old bimmer. And you don't have to keep that maintenance contract of $200-$x00 oil/belts/fluids change or warranty is void.
Anyway most people are not saying that the E36 M3 is crap just that its 5-6 years older then Z you are looking at. If you are a bimmer fan why not just buy the bimmer its a fine vehicle with good miles for its age. Drive it if you like it buy it. The BMW didn't get its reputation of the ultimate driving machine for nothing. But I think to one up the Z you need a 2000-200x M3.
Just mo, E36 is a legend, no doubt.
Except for not having back seats the 350Z is an option believe it or not.
02-07-2008 | 09:26 AM
#62
Originally Posted by Z_Driver
Let me say this from experience: I wished I focused on my education before cars. I think my addiction to cars, working on them, and paying for them slowed down my educational goals by a number of years.
I think getting as education is more important than the car too.
After you get a degree you can get a NEW M3 / 350Z as a reward. Unfortunately, I learned about rewarding myself about 20 years later. Not too late even for me. But, like they say ..... if I knew what I know now, then .....
It looks to me like you need to get a good sound car that you don't have to worry about modding through college. If you get a Z or M3 most likely you'll have expenses you didn't expect.
Good luck with your decision.
I think getting as education is more important than the car too.
After you get a degree you can get a NEW M3 / 350Z as a reward. Unfortunately, I learned about rewarding myself about 20 years later. Not too late even for me. But, like they say ..... if I knew what I know now, then .....
It looks to me like you need to get a good sound car that you don't have to worry about modding through college. If you get a Z or M3 most likely you'll have expenses you didn't expect.
Good luck with your decision.
but if you can not wait, i guess go for either one, people on this thread have given you positives and negatives on both cars. what is this car initially for? track? daily driving? weekend? old school M3s are nice, but again BMW isn't your everyday japanese market where things are cheap.
don't just look at the cars as they are, look at the costs around them, somethings don't come cheap...unless you are ballin' you can disregard everything i said, but if you were ballin' you would probably get a brand new Z or M.
gl on your choice, and make sure when you have decided, you are happy
02-07-2008 | 09:33 AM
#63
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, VA
Originally Posted by hiz-n-herz
Do you need 4 seats or two?
Do you want a sewing-machine smooth in-line six and a very smooth/strong tranny and clutch? (M3)
Do you want to a more raw-feeling (unrefined) sporty car and don't care so much about refinement? Plus a quirky tranny? Early clutches are very on/off (z)
You can search for some of my old posts - I had a 97 m3 and loved that car. Then I bought an 06 350z 6mt. The cars are equal in acceleration. I drove them back-to-back for a few months. Handling went to the M3, but I had H&R springs, Koni Shocks, and Michelin PS2 tires on it.
I was disappointed in the new 300hp z equalling acceleration of a 10-year-old, 200,000 mile 240hp M3. But I think the earlier z's were faster. Z might weigh 150lbs more than the e36 M3.
I put 227,000 miles on the M3 and just before I sold it, the compression was within 6% across all 6 cylinders. No rebuilds. all original. The OEM clutch lasted until 180k miles! It has been the most reliable car I have ever had - and I have owned hondas and nissans in the past.
If you can DIY stuff, the M3 would be very nice. Parts are cheap if you know where to buy them. (bimmerparts dot com). For stuff you can't DIY (rear trailing arm bushings, also unfortunately a wear item every 60k miles), go to a race shop and they can change them out in an hour for about $100.
The OEM M3 front rotors (made by brembo) are $65 apiece. While the front rotors for the z brembo package are about $400 - WTF???
Axle-carrier to chassis bushings were only an issue on the non-M e36 cars. I had mine checked regularly anyway and there was never an issue. I did not baby the car either - I drove it like I stole it (once it warmed up). Took the twisty back-roads into town all the time.
Plastic impeller water pump. There were some issues, but it is really easy to change out to a metal impeller. The whole car is super-easy to work on.
I can't speak to the long term reliability of the z, but I have heard the earlier z's had a lot of problems.
IMO, I think the z is much better looking than the M3, although I still like the look of the e36 M3.
Ergonomics are about the same between these cars - I'd go with a 97 M3 over a 96 since it has digital climate controls.
Recently traded my 06 z for an 07 z and absolutely love the 07. definitely a step up in performance from the e36 M3.
good luck...
Do you want a sewing-machine smooth in-line six and a very smooth/strong tranny and clutch? (M3)
Do you want to a more raw-feeling (unrefined) sporty car and don't care so much about refinement? Plus a quirky tranny? Early clutches are very on/off (z)
You can search for some of my old posts - I had a 97 m3 and loved that car. Then I bought an 06 350z 6mt. The cars are equal in acceleration. I drove them back-to-back for a few months. Handling went to the M3, but I had H&R springs, Koni Shocks, and Michelin PS2 tires on it.
I was disappointed in the new 300hp z equalling acceleration of a 10-year-old, 200,000 mile 240hp M3. But I think the earlier z's were faster. Z might weigh 150lbs more than the e36 M3.
I put 227,000 miles on the M3 and just before I sold it, the compression was within 6% across all 6 cylinders. No rebuilds. all original. The OEM clutch lasted until 180k miles! It has been the most reliable car I have ever had - and I have owned hondas and nissans in the past.
If you can DIY stuff, the M3 would be very nice. Parts are cheap if you know where to buy them. (bimmerparts dot com). For stuff you can't DIY (rear trailing arm bushings, also unfortunately a wear item every 60k miles), go to a race shop and they can change them out in an hour for about $100.
The OEM M3 front rotors (made by brembo) are $65 apiece. While the front rotors for the z brembo package are about $400 - WTF???
Axle-carrier to chassis bushings were only an issue on the non-M e36 cars. I had mine checked regularly anyway and there was never an issue. I did not baby the car either - I drove it like I stole it (once it warmed up). Took the twisty back-roads into town all the time.
Plastic impeller water pump. There were some issues, but it is really easy to change out to a metal impeller. The whole car is super-easy to work on.
I can't speak to the long term reliability of the z, but I have heard the earlier z's had a lot of problems.
IMO, I think the z is much better looking than the M3, although I still like the look of the e36 M3.
Ergonomics are about the same between these cars - I'd go with a 97 M3 over a 96 since it has digital climate controls.
Recently traded my 06 z for an 07 z and absolutely love the 07. definitely a step up in performance from the e36 M3.
good luck...
02-07-2008 | 03:32 PM
#69
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 1
From: NYC Area
Originally Posted by Donsred350Z
This is a 350z board if you go on a BMW board you will get like responce in favor of the E36.
The BMW M3 is a great drivinng machine but as mentioned the one you are looking at is 10 year old compared to a 5 year old 350Z. From what I hear 76k miles is not many miles on a bimmer especially a 10 year old bimmer. And you don't have to keep that maintenance contract of $200-$x00 oil/belts/fluids change or warranty is void.
Anyway most people are not saying that the E36 M3 is crap just that its 5-6 years older then Z you are looking at. If you are a bimmer fan why not just buy the bimmer its a fine vehicle with good miles for its age. Drive it if you like it buy it. The BMW didn't get its reputation of the ultimate driving machine for nothing. But I think to one up the Z you need a 2000-200x M3.
Just mo, E36 is a legend, no doubt.
Except for not having back seats the 350Z is an option believe it or not.
The BMW M3 is a great drivinng machine but as mentioned the one you are looking at is 10 year old compared to a 5 year old 350Z. From what I hear 76k miles is not many miles on a bimmer especially a 10 year old bimmer. And you don't have to keep that maintenance contract of $200-$x00 oil/belts/fluids change or warranty is void.
Anyway most people are not saying that the E36 M3 is crap just that its 5-6 years older then Z you are looking at. If you are a bimmer fan why not just buy the bimmer its a fine vehicle with good miles for its age. Drive it if you like it buy it. The BMW didn't get its reputation of the ultimate driving machine for nothing. But I think to one up the Z you need a 2000-200x M3.
Just mo, E36 is a legend, no doubt.
Except for not having back seats the 350Z is an option believe it or not.
02-07-2008 | 05:04 PM
#70
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
Originally Posted by JonsilvZ
The 2000+ M3s have engines blowing
02-07-2008 | 06:59 PM
#71
Originally Posted by Adhesive
350z hands down, a 1996 m3 is history... especially because its reaching 80 k miles. M3 is known for issues so I wouldn't recommend buying one unless its under 30 k miles at most*
02-07-2008 | 07:00 PM
#72
Originally Posted by JonsilvZ
The 2000+ M3s have engines blowing
usually electronic crap like all the other bmw's
02-07-2008 | 11:50 PM
#76
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
is this the US version of E36 M3? or the euro spec?
I've driven the euro spec E36 M3. If you are staying NA and not planning on boasting, that car is a beast ! But the interior/exterior is outdated. Also some electronics issue, but its a decent car.
I wouldnt pick a US E36 M3 over a 350z though
I've driven the euro spec E36 M3. If you are staying NA and not planning on boasting, that car is a beast ! But the interior/exterior is outdated. Also some electronics issue, but its a decent car.
I wouldnt pick a US E36 M3 over a 350z though
