[maq]

And now I want one...

First off, I really wanted to keep my 98 M3/4 5-spd. It only has less than 40k miles and is in perfect condition. The 330i ZHP was once very tempting, but I wanted another M. Recently took a look at a 2004 M3 with only 500 miles, and even that failed to convince me. But, this Tuesday, I went to the dealership for no apparent reason and sure enough, first thing the salesman said was "wanna take that new 330 out for a spin?" Now 3 days later I still can't get the E90 out of my head

Driving experience wise, I was not THAT impressed. But the fact that I drove an auto without Spork Pack and still liked it got me thinking. I still prefer the raw feeling of my E36, and that's what stopped me from the ZHP. The E90 obviously lacks it too, but I just thought it was nice to drive and didn't know why. So very odd experience, but I think it was the the overall package that got me. The car just felt complete, very well sorted and desgined. I guess BMW really moved the game on.

I wanted a SG/Terre/Aluminum 330i 6-spd with Prem + Sport Pack, no active steering/cruise and iDrive. The dealer couldn't locate one so I have to order. Think I will do ED as well. But back to the dilemma, should I do it at all?

Here's a bad pic of my beloved M3:

[johnfkitchen]

OK, numbers tell only a little of the story, and I don't mean to imply any obsession with them, but wouldn't the 0-60 times of these two cars (your M3 and the 2006 330i) be very similar?

The driving experience will no doubt be a little less "raw" in the 330. But, as you say, the E90 is just nicely put together.

Can you get to drive an example of the car you are thinking of ordering?

BTW, I had to choose which car to "dump", the '98 Corvette C5, or the '98 323is. Kept the 323, despite it having twice the miles.

[ward]

I came over from an E36 M3 too, I think there's alot of us that did that here

it's just a much more refined, comfortable ride without giving up anything on handling.

[timzerofive]

Ya I told a few of my friends who are looking for a new car to not even test drive the e90 if they are not seriously thinking about it, because once they test drive it, they wont want to buy anything else.

[onesixeight]

I also had an E36 M3 and although the E90 is a very nice car, it's still no where as fun to drive as the M3. The steering on the E36 M3 is still world class in terms of feel and is still quicker than a E90 330i.

If you were to get the E90, I would actually try and keep your E36 M3. The price has dropped to almost giveaway prices (10-15k) and I would hate to see your well kept, low mileage beauty go.

I have some nagging issues on my sister's E90 and I had a road test with the shop forman at my dealership that I've know for years and used to autocross with. We both said we wished BMW went back to it's roots and built cars like they used to...all this DSC garbage...soft-stop...which doesn't work at all, and steering feel that seems to get worse with every generation...

[HRC]

Hard to say but if my thoughts were..."Driving experience wise, I was not THAT impressed...", I wouldn't buy it. It's not really that expensive, but not that cheap either. Sounds like you enjoy your current car more, so keep that and wait for the new M3, that *might* get you excited about driving compared to the E90. Nice E36 btw.

Danny

[racyb]

Yep, made that same mistake of test driving the 06 330i when I already had my mind and budget set on the G35 sedan. And before I knew it, they found the exact 330i i wanted and now it's sitting comfortably in my garage

More than happy about making the right decision and spending the extra $$$.

[Kao BMW]

just keep your M3. Long wait, but it seems like the E90 M will be a better car for you. You'll regret going from an E36 M3 to E90.

[ward]

Originally Posted by Kao BMW

just keep your M3. Long wait, but it seems like the E90 M will be a better car for you. You'll regret going from an E36 M3 to E90.

I don't regret the M3 leaving, the Z4 helps fill that gap

[MBChariot]

The E90 is truly and awesome car, no thoughts of giving up my E46 M3 for it but the wife swore she would never get a BMW. She didn't too much care for the E46 3er's but once she test drove the 330i she was definately in love and sold her car in a heart beat (Camry V6)

[Mark]

just wanted to say thats an awesome e36m3, looks like you did a xenon retrofit to it to...

one of my dreams has always been the e36m3 sedan! That thing is just so beautiful and perfect. Thats what I'm looking forward to with the E90M3. BMWs return to making a high performance, elegant SEDAN. They skipped doing that with the E46 generation unfortunatly, but the return of an M3 Sedan is upon us. Can't wait

[maq]

Thanks for all the inputs. I did go out and test-drove the only 6-spd 330i Sport in town. And I've decided to keep the M3 for a while, at least I will skip the first model year. Not that the 330 wasn't good enough, I actually liked it. But still, it didn't feel as fast as my M3 (98 M3's 0-60 is 5.7s versus 330's 6.1s. And the 330 I drove had only 3 miles on the clock), nor did it feel as involving. Eventually I will get one, just not right now.

Mark: I'm a sedan guy myself. The M3/4 fits me like a glove. It's subtle, pratical, well balanced, has amazing handling and more than enough grunt when needed. My car is almost stock. I've added some OE upgrades such as Euro floating rotors, Motorsport cross brace, ZKW Euro headlights + Catz HID and some other stuff. The only aftermarket performance mod is a Conforti intake. It drives like a dream. Next step would be some BBS RGRs and Koni's when the stock shocks are gone.

Here's a pic taken when it was bone stock and had less than 20k miles

[RichReg]

Ahh yes, now I can remember back in the day when your car first came out.

Very nice pic, BTW;;it could have been in the BMW M3 brochure for that year.
Keep it for now, if you can't afford two cars.

[bobnaz]

I had a 97M3...now have 330I prem/lux and no regrets. I loved my M3 but this car is all that and more.

[citan]

mag,
you said you looked at a 04 M3 and I didn't convince you, what didn't you like about it??

I too am considering a late model, used M3 or the new 330...

[F32Fleet]

Try the ZHP if you haven't . It's very close if not better than E36 M3 IMHO.

[CC 330i]

Well, I can say that the E90 combo that you want (SG, Terra, Aluminum with Sport Package and not much else) is exactly what I wanted. I ended up with all of that except with Black Leatherette and I am very happy with my decision. It wasn't as fast as the S4 I really wanted, but once I drove the car, I knew that horsepower wasn't everything.

I would love to have an M3, and always liked the E36 M3, but I am happy to have my first new car too. If you can hold out, by all means that is really the smartest decision, because the E90s will certainly become "better" as they find little things to improve here and there and get more software updates in the car. You will still be able to get a brand new E90 (or E92 M3) for several years to come. By then, any potential problems that those of us "early adopters" find will be taken care of.

[JVFan]

How do you like your leatherette CC? That is my exact car..

SG, 6 man, sport, black leatherette, 330

Not that you have this issue in CA but I already have 17" Dunlop M3 Sport DSST winters on Replica Wheels M3...before the car gets here!

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by JVFan

How do you like your leatherette CC? That is my exact car..

SG, 6 man, sport, black leatherette, 330

Not that you have this issue in CA but I already have 17" Dunlop M3 Sport DSST winters on Replica Wheels M3...before the car gets here!

I like the leatherette just fine. Not that I wouldn't have liked leather, but I found the car with the correct colors and options and it didn't have leather so I went for it. I guess you could say that I would have gone for black leatherette over any color of leather other than black or terra. I was going to go ahead and order one, and if I had, it would have been SG, aluminum, terra. As it turns out, I got SG, aluminum, black leatherette, sport, and satellite prep. The best part is, it only cost me about $38.5 K.

[maq]

Originally Posted by RichReg

Ahh yes, now I can remember back in the day when your car first came out.

Very nice pic, BTW;;it could have been in the BMW M3 brochure for that year.
Keep it for now, if you can't afford two cars.

Thanks for the compliment... And that pic sure has been around LOL. Glad to see another OG here.

I probably can afford two cars if I wanted to, but it just doesn't make much sense. I don't really need 2 cars and if I do, the second car would be something different (something like a 2-seater vert).

citan: I did like the E46 M3, but I'd really like a sedan (Yes the back seats do get a lot of use). So a 2+2 isn't very pratical. Plus, I don't really get to use all those horses very often. Something with around 250hp and decent low end torque is plenty for me.

Socom: I've driven the 330 ZHP plenty times. I've always wanted one ever since it came out at the LA Autoshow in late 02. It's one of my favorite Bimmers along with the E34 M5 and E36 M3/4. In fact I'm still tempted now. If I come across a good deal I just might end up getting it.

CC: Congrats on the SG 330i. If the combo we wanted wasn't so hard too find, I'd probably be driving an E90 by now.

[ksfrogman]

Some comparisons are simply difficult to explain to others. A friend of mine just got a used Lexus GS 300, and though she didn't blatantly say it, I get the distinct impression she thinks that this is a "step up" from the 3-series BMW since the IS is in that category (and the GS costs more).

I told her it's like comparing apples and oranges from two different size categories. One is a larger luxury sedan (if not sedate), and the other is a smaller luxury sport sedan that is so well-rounded when it comes to performance (braking, handling, acceleration), refinement, and tradition.

What I like so much about the e90 is that it is traditional conservativism that is business-like, and with no pretenses, meaning that it is classy. The e90 dresses its driver in a handsome sport-coat that will suit any occasion. It's a baby-wolf in sheep's clothing.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by MarkE90M3

just wanted to say thats an awesome e36m3, looks like you did a xenon retrofit to it to...

one of my dreams has always been the e36m3 sedan! That thing is just so beautiful and perfect. Thats what I'm looking forward to with the E90M3. BMWs return to making a high performance, elegant SEDAN. They skipped doing that with the E46 generation unfortunatly, but the return of an M3 Sedan is upon us. Can't wait

Are you sure?