May be changing my 135i for an M3 with no M-drive or EDC

[amk2912]

Hi all

I've got an opportunity to change to an 09 E90 M3 sedan though the one I'm looking at does not have M-drive and EDC (which is standard on the coupe and vert).

I love my 135i but this offer is too good - especially when spiced up with Kev's 30% tax break!

As it will be my daily drive I was wondering if the two features would really play a part to the point where I'd miss them. I am unlikely to track the car on a regular basis...maybe once a year on a BMW track day.

I'd really appreciate some opinions.

Many thanks in advance.

[WOPALX]

Originally Posted by amk2912

Hi all

I've got an opportunity to change to an 09 E90 M3 sedan though the one I'm looking at does not have M-drive and EDC (which is standard on the coupe and vert).

I love my 135i but this offer is too good - especially when spiced up with Kev's 30% tax break!

As it will be my daily drive I was wondering if the two features would really play a part to the point where I'd miss them. I am unlikely to track the car on a regular basis...maybe once a year on a BMW track day.

I'd really appreciate some opinions.

Many thanks in advance.

The one thing that I dislike about the new M3 is the lack of torque at low RPM. For a daily driver I think that would swing me towards the N54 as it's that kick in the pants 0-100km range that is most useful in day to day driving.

But the M3 exhaust note is awsome......

[Blacky]

For a daily driver I think the extra cabin space and finish would be a + for the M3.
The 1er is fairly crapped quarters for everyday use.

For me there would be no question the M3, but each to their own.

TBH I wish we had an offer on an current M3 we couldn't refuse.

Luck Bastard!

[takahashi]

Lucky man... I am jealous. M3 FTW!

[amk2912]

Thanks guys - the clincher for me is whether the fact that the car I'm looking at doesn't have M-drive or EDC would be a problem. Some pple I have spoken to reckon EDC in sport mode is way too harsh for normal driving and only really useful on the track.

Taka...you spend a bit of time on the track. Would not having EDC be a negative point for you?

[fontana302]

I have E92 M3 coupe manual (toy 08), 135i Coupe (work car 09) & 125i Conv M sports (wife's car 09). I can talk from experience as I have them all in my garage currently (all bought new special order). You do not need to worry about M Drive & particularly EDC as they are not worth optioning on a sedan if you have to pay for them (they are standard on coupe). The best thing about M Drive is the throttle sharpness & suspension sharpness settings at the press of a button, forget the steering (I value the other standard features that come with the coupe far more than these) Geoff Brabham does not use the throttle & steering sharpness in his set up on the track if you've spoken with him at any of the BMW driver/car training courses.

What I will say is that the M3 is a Jekyll & Hyde car with it - a limouisine with everything soft, Mr Hyde with it on, so it's great & lazy around town until you put your foot in too it, & fantastic when stiffened up on M drive. My wife loved it driving to work for 6 months in all soft mode before the 125i - loves that one just as much if not more - that's why you won't miss it & the hit to your hip pocket.

Don't pay for it unless this is a track day toy (which I doubt), you will get no more for it when you sell it as options are not valued.

Now bang for buck is the 135i, that's why it's my work car (JB3, Riss, APE - just for the hell of it with a turbo). It's fantastic in any environment (even as standard).

Can't beat M3 for prestige, though I reckon 4 door will devalue far more quickly compared to coupe, forget the convertible, that's a dead duck. You need some uniqueness.......

Unfortunately you aren't in Brisbane, more than happy to show what I mean if serious.

[Caduceus]

Originally Posted by amk2912

Thanks guys - the clincher for me is whether the fact that the car I'm looking at doesn't have M-drive or EDC would be a problem. Some pple I have spoken to reckon EDC in sport mode is way too harsh for normal driving and only really useful on the track.

Taka...you spend a bit of time on the track. Would not having EDC be a negative point for you?

I recently attended a BMW training day at QLD raceway driving the M3's all day including numerous high speed laps. I drove the coupe with the EDC both on and off. Turn 1 has a very bumpy brake zone leading into a fairly fast 3rd gear right hander. With the EDC off, the bumps tended to slightly unsettle the car and made it harder for me to hold my preferred line through the corner. With EDC on I managed it a bit better but I'm no expert. For the rest of the track which is fairly smooth, I couldn't tell much difference between the two settings.

For what it's worth, we asked Geoff Brabham about it and he say he leaves his car set up with the EDC in the soft setting all the time (i.e. what you'd have without the EDC option). And that's on the track. He preferred it that way and said it was plenty firm enough.

I imagine for the street his advice would apply even more so.

[fontana302]

Exactly what I said. So without EDC the suspension is firmer to meet a balance between soft/hard. You do not need to worry about non-EDC if you are paying for it (it's not standard in most parts of the world for some reason, & I have it - wouldn't pay for it if it was an option as it's an expensive one....).

[amk2912]

Thanks for your input, fontana302 and Caduceus....very helpful!

Alas, my situation with having to take three kids (4, 5 and 8) to school has taken me down the M3 sedan path. I didn't think it would be an issue with the 135i coupe in the beginning but the length of the doors in the narrow parking bays and general uncooperativeness of the kids makes drop-off and pick-up a nightmare. Of course, add in the wife and the 135i is a scratching with it's 4 seats.

The M3 sedan is a compromise between practicality and performance.

I'll miss the boot up the backside my chipped 135i gives me at 2500rpm and the freight-train pull it delivers thru to 6000rpm.

As Clarkson put it when introducing the sedan..."and now your children can have their spleens crushed too!!"

[takahashi]

Electronic damper is useful only if you know how to use it.

Geoff's setting is not my setting as my driving is different from his. I prefer to experiment my limit. I prefer to brake early and throttle in early. That is my time attack style... so I prefer a way to set the rear to settle.

As said before, EDC is for track only.

[Alpine*]

Personally I love the M button.

Just got home now, on the way some guy in his Porch Carrera "Cabrio"appeared in front of me. First reaction was to hit the M (full attck mode ) button and sit close, then blast past him. I know my number plates are wanky (M THREE) but come on why would you have PLAYER (unless you are a wanker!)

As other(s) have said I have both a 135 and and M and love it just the way it is, EDC and M Mode. If I were buying an E90 I would option it, purely because it is an incremental cost increase as an option but would, IMO, make it more re saleable down the road and, in the mean time, you can make use of it whilst having some fun bouncing along with the EDC on Sport (bounce bounce bounce).

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by amk2912

Hi all

I've got an opportunity to change to an 09 E90 M3 sedan though the one I'm looking at does not have M-drive and EDC (which is standard on the coupe and vert).

I love my 135i but this offer is too good - especially when spiced up with Kev's 30% tax break!

As it will be my daily drive I was wondering if the two features would really play a part to the point where I'd miss them. I am unlikely to track the car on a regular basis...maybe once a year on a BMW track day.

I'd really appreciate some opinions.

Many thanks in advance.

On another note, I'm pretty sure the tax break is now 50% so it's a great time to buy a car if you were going to do so anyway. Only problem is you save alot in the 1st year but in the years following the depreciation amount will be alot less because it's on a lesser amount of around 28k.

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by BMW86

On another note, I'm pretty sure the tax break is now 50% so it's a great time to buy a car if you were going to do so anyway. Only problem is you save alot in the 1st year but in the years following the depreciation amount will be alot less because it's on a lesser amount of around 28k.

Wish I could get the 50% break but my business does not qualify. The only benefit I can get is the 30% before 30 June.

[sparoz]

My view is that the downside of M3 is that it makes spirited driving on Australian Road impossible. You tend to run out of speed limit very quickly. Unfortunately, our human perception makes us feel torque as fun, and that's why I went with the 135 in the first place.

Otherwise, the M3 is a better DD - rides better and more relax around town, and a better track car. It just makes feeling the torque on your backside impossible because the fun starts at 7k rpm and you are already over the speed limit.

[BMW86]

stock v stock no doubt the M3 is the better car. it just is.

the question is how much better and is it worth the extra cash? thats ultimately for you to decide. everyone has their opinions. i think the m3 is a great car based on its own merits but when compared to the 135i, i think the 135i is much better valued package overall. i love the m3 but the 135i has satisfied my urge to own an m3, well at least this generation of the m3. maybe when the new on generation of m3 comes out, apparently a twin turbo 6, i'll be really keen again. even so, every time i see an m3 on the roads, old or new, i still appreciate what an amazing car it really is.

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by sparoz

My view is that the downside of M3 is that it makes spirited driving on Australian Road impossible. You tend to run out of speed limit very quickly. Unfortunately, our human perception makes us feel torque as fun, and that's why I went with the 135 in the first place.

Otherwise, the M3 is a better DD - rides better and more relax around town, and a better track car. It just makes feeling the torque on your backside impossible because the fun starts at 7k rpm and you are already over the speed limit.

That's a valid point. I certainly noticed that when I drove a M-DCT M3 a few months back...I felt a little short changed on take off and felt the 135i had more herbs off the line. Granted..you can't really boot the test car when the salesman is sitting next to you!

When I tracked my SSTT 135i a few weeks back the instructor said on THREE occasions something that sounded like "F*#K this is a quick car!!!"

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by amk2912

That's a valid point. I certainly noticed that when I drove a M-DCT M3 a few months back...I felt a little short changed on take off and felt the 135i had more herbs off the line. Granted..you can't really boot the test car when the salesman is sitting next to you!

When I tracked my SSTT 135i a few weeks back the instructor said on THREE occasions something that sounded like "F*#K this is a quick car!!!"

If you track the car regularly, I think you would find the M3 more enjoyable. It is more stable at speed and better balanced. Some reviews saying that there are improvements over the coupe from the updates (of course those improvements would probably be there with the M3 facelift coming up soon).

The 135 might beat the M3 off the line, but the M3 will cross 100km faster than the 135. Unless you already had a lsd on your 135, the m3's m-diff would be a plus as well.

Although I haven't done much driving apart from the test drives on the 135i yet, I can't imagine the 135 would out do the M3 on track. The suspension, diff and tyres are all inferior than the M3 - and the liability of the torque low down would almost be irrelevant on track, and now, you can explore the last 2000ks of rpm on the M3. I've done the driving course and the M3 was just amazing.

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by sparoz

(of course those improvements would probably be there with the M3 facelift coming up soon)

When's the facelift due?? I thought it was 3.5 years into the model cycle ie: mid 2010 possibly.

Points taken re the cars on the track. I've only tracked my 135i once so far and experienced the M3 on the Adv level II course.

[sparoz]

Coupe's due late this year for MY10, so the M3 should be in 2010.

[amk2912]

Originally Posted by sparoz

Coupe's due late this year for MY10, so the M3 should be in 2010.

Bugger...may have to hang out till then

[sparoz]

Please note the "should be" And the crisis might be gone by then