Really like the Z. Starting to get tired of my 330 though I've only had it for a year. Thinking about trading it in for a new car. A new M3 and pay another 20k or a PPW Z and have money left over for mods... though choice.

 

Cool cars!

 

 

 

I'm in exactly the same boat. I plan on dumping about $25K in parts over about a year to get the G35 coupe right up there.

Its either a loaded M3 with a lightweight wheel package and upgraded sound system or a G35 Coupe with a TT setup (or engine swap) new suspension, wheels, Nismo aero kit, sound system etc.

Anyone with any comments? The M3 is pretty much a faster 330Ci its not *that* great a track machine due to its heavier weight plus too much travel in the suspension. Straight line of course the M3 wins but once you factor in an engine upgrade for the Coupe or the Z that point is mute.

I'm not a super fan of BMWs ie they dont light my fire so its not a real big wow factor for me. I am actually planning on debadging the car and putting 323Ci on it since no one would know the difference anyway

One big factor that is really starting to play into my decision is the total redesign to the E90 platform for the new 3er as well as the shift from to the name from an M3 to an M4 in a couple of years.

If I get the Z/Coupe I will probably have it for the rest of my life with a new car in about 4-5 years wheras with the M3 I would sell it in about 4 years. Not too sure what the market for an M3 would be then

 

I'm pretty sure that 'M' can light your fire

 

Ahhhhh thats what you think.

 

Tough decision, Finality. I don't know too much about the M3...I know its fast, extremely well engineered...my bro in law has an M5 and races these guys on the fwy all the time, and says they pretty much stay with him until the speeds exceed 100mph -- and then his big dog mill starts baring its teeth...and its "good night now"

I've kept up with my bro's M5 in my Z. But the same thing happens to me in my Z as any speeder in an M3 -- at triple digit speeds, he's got a lot more under the hood -- for now.

I'm leaning towards spending some big dough on mods for my Z. For all intents an purposes, I can't use my z as a daily driver, and I don't want to just have it sit in my garage untouched. Haven't decided exactly what to do, but a TT is definitely on the list.

good luck, bro.

 

It all comes down to what you want...

Name, or Speed?

The M3 is very fast, runs a 13.5 stock quater mile, handles great, good for the money. Unless you have about another 5,000 or so, you won't be making any major performance gains in it though.

The G35 on the other hand isn't a "M3", but it's still very luxuious, very fast stock, and has other qualities of a "sports car" while keeping in touch to a drivers desire in luxury. Difference is 53hp between the two cars, but if you plan to TT it, expect to run about 320rwhp (total estimate). You'd eat M3's for lunch.

Plus both cars are great at the track...

So basically.. do you want the speed, or do you want the name "M3" more?

 

Thats just it the M name doesn't do that much for me. In fact very few people will know I even have an M3. If I buy it I WILL debadge it for to a 325Ci. I'm doing it for other minor issues but mainly I dont like to show off. I have a higher budget for my car than I really am spending thats why the Coupe is so attractive to me right now.

As for HP the M3 shows very very little gains with any mods. Some people have talked about a supercharger but no way am I going to push an overstressed exploding engine past its limits....

M3s are a bit faster than 13.5 they can run 13.1s once you get your technique down and a drag racer once ran a 12.7 with it (he could probably run the Zs a lot lower as well).

As for your point on speed I plan on dynoing at 400+ rwhp within a year so. You guys need to check out maxima.org and see what they are doing with Turbo kits for the Maxima VQ30 engine. Maximas dyno 150-160 stock with a turbo kit costing ~$4500 (installed) @ 12.5 psi they run about 420 fwhp. 11 psi runs about 370 fwhp and thats with totally stock internals. Even running a lowly 8psi with a mid-size turbo T3/T04 hybrid on a Z would provide impressive results to say the least.

About 50 fwhp can be added with ~$1000 in bolt ons for the Maxima though dont expect that to happen with the Z.

Download the turbo compilation videos @ 12.5 psi and watch him do a roll from 60-100 mph its pretty mindblowing http://www.hlh0501.com/index.html

The BMW name does not enthrall me that much. I originally wanted to get a CLK 500 or CLK 55 and add a bolt on super charger from Lorinser or Kleemann but it was a bit flashier than what I wanted to go with so I downgraded my car choices. Plus I wanted to learn a stick for my next car so the CLK is out for now.

I'm stuck with a very tough choice and have had numerous conversations with various car nuts about what I should get and I have not yet met a single person who can give me that answer. There are numerous reasons why I like and dislike any car, I can see the faults and weaknesses with nearly everything out there (except for the CL, S, and SL in 55 and 600 variant forms). Its not really a clear cut choice for me......

I've driven both the 350Z and the M3 both are AWESOME with the M3 being highly overrated in mags and by users its more to do with a prestigous heritage than the actual car itself. Is the M3 a better car? Most definetly its not $20K better though more like 10K especially once you factor in the interior in comparison to the Z/Coupes. Drop the 20K in mods and I would have a truley awesome car on the coupe running an insane amount of horespower with a true sport suspension to boot.

 

I've gone over this myself a few times ....

I have a 6speed G35 coupe on order right now awaiting arrival in 2 weeks.

Considering there is a single turbo app for the z coming from Top Secret which produces 540 HP (463 RWHP @ 18 PSI) I believe on stock engine internals.

As far as I can remember the only thing that was changed was the rear end and the clutch, aluminum intake,front mount intercooler, injectors, exhaust system, fuel rail,3 into 1 headers, cusco lsd, HKS engine management and some others I can't think of right now and that the G35 has the same engine ... well .. I am looking forward to that.

The M3 like you said is not very tuneable.... so what you get is generally what you have.

The coupe is a good smart buy, with a very strong tuneable motor.

take care man

 

Just think about this: the new BMW 3 series platform is due around 2005 and the coupe will probably change for the 2006 model. If you plan on keeping this car for 4 or 5 years it will probably look old when the new 3 series is out. But with the Z you have a design that is classic, as with the last Z I think that this car is one of those cars that keep looking good as time goes by because its shape is so different form anything out there. I'm kind of in the same dillemma myself, sometimes I'm sure I want to go for the BMW's and other days I see a Z on the street and I'm totally for it. But I think overall the Z is a better choice, fast, cheaper and less pretencious than the BMW.