New member here - 135i or E46 M3?

[BigBoss168]

Hi all - new member here - looks like a great forum so I look forward to participating.

I'm looking to replace my 2002 Boxster 2.7 and it seems that for around $65-70K you can pick up either a 1-year old 135i with <10,000km or a 2004/05 E46 M3 with <60,000km, both in manual. Thoughts on one versus the other? I only drive about 5,000km per year (I walk to work) and do a couple of track days per year but generally speaking I only really drive on the weekends. Sometimes go for a Sunday morning blast but that's probably only once per month if that. This is my only car so it needs to be able to go to the supermarket, run errands etc. as well.

I've driven both (although not at the same time) and both are great cars. The 135i I drove was an auto (haven't driven a manual one but I hope to do that over the next couple of weeks). Been a couple of years since I borrowed my former boss's M3 for the weekend and that was a blast. I must say that I've always had a bit of a hankering for an M-car but the 135i has had such good reviews and was so much fun to drive...

I did a search and read the earlier discussion - but since prices for the M3s have come down substantially over the last 12 months and some nice cars seem to be coming onto the market I thought I'd ask for revised opinions.

Thanks in advance!

[BMWDave]

Hi and welcome to the forums.

I think you'll find here, at 1addicts that most of us with 135i's weighed up the same decision you're trying to make and end up with a 1'er. I know I did. Granted, M3 prices have come down since I picked up my 135i over a year ago. Both are great cars. As my car is also my only car, and I don't do a lot of track work/motokanas/etc, I really love the low down torque the 135i gives. Makes every day living (and lane changing/diving) very easy. The M you need to have more open roads to really enjoy. My 2c.

[d3syd]

I agree. Although I have never driven a E46 M3, I would imagine that the meaty low down torque of the 135i would be hard to beat. You get seamless grunt virtually from idle to the redline...

[Caduceus]

How important is warranty to you?

These beasties can be expensive to fix if something goes wrong. Either choice has a chance of being fastidiously maintained or mercilessly thrashed. Or both together.

[harpoon]

I battled with this decision and after driving both (SMG M3), it was a no contest in a driving sense. The 135 engine is a big leap forward from the e46 M3 and if you can live without the "M" mystique (which is attractive lets be honest), then it's a no brainer. The 135s looks are nowhere near the M3 imho but the engine and overallpackage overcame this for me.

[Alpine*]

And here is your new car



Cheers

[zenderm3]

Originally Posted by taipan168

Hi all - new member here - looks like a great forum so I look forward to participating.

I'm looking to replace my 2002 Boxster 2.7 and it seems that for around $65-70K you can pick up either a 1-year old 135i with <10,000km or a 2004/05 E46 M3 with <60,000km, both in manual. Thoughts on one versus the other? I only drive about 5,000km per year (I walk to work) and do a couple of track days per year but generally speaking I only really drive on the weekends. Sometimes go for a Sunday morning blast but that's probably only once per month if that. This is my only car so it needs to be able to go to the supermarket, run errands etc. as well.

I've driven both (although not at the same time) and both are great cars. The 135i I drove was an auto (haven't driven a manual one but I hope to do that over the next couple of weeks). Been a couple of years since I borrowed my former boss's M3 for the weekend and that was a blast. I must say that I've always had a bit of a hankering for an M-car but the 135i has had such good reviews and was so much fun to drive...

I did a search and read the earlier discussion - but since prices for the M3s have come down substantially over the last 12 months and some nice cars seem to be coming onto the market I thought I'd ask for revised opinions.

Thanks in advance!

Hey Mate, My ///M is on order but I can say from test drives, the 135i would have been the car I purchased if the ///M wasn't my dream car. It has a great engine, and frankly it is a more carnal feeling when you drive it.... Like you, I've done both the Manual and Auto and like both - although personally think that the Manual is my preference.

Good luck! Either way, E46 M3 or 135i, you're making the right choice!

[BigBoss168]

Thanks for the replies everybody, very helpful. Looks like I'll have to try to drive both as close as back to back as I can.

Originally Posted by Caduceus

How important is warranty to you?

I can see the appeal and assurance of having a warranty, however if I went for the M3 (which is likely to be quite a bit less than the 135i) I'd set aside some cash as a provision for repairs.

[Breville]

If I wasn't bothered about the warranty and didn't need a daily drive then it would be E46 M3 for me. However I much prefer the 135 on the road as the torque out of corners is far superior and you have to be on it more of the time in the M3. If you do track days then there's not much in it.

[bmwzone]

135i stick leatherette any color m sport package u r set 4 life

[BrokenVert]

Well I smoked an M3 vert full of assholes yesterday so I would say 135i . That and dont E46 M3 rear suspension arms fall apart at around 70K?

[Guran]

Originally Posted by Breville

If you do track days then there's not much in it.

Tests by MOTOR suggest the 135i is a little quicker around at least some tracks. At Wakefield Park, the 135i lapped in 1:09.9 (Sep 2008) whereas the E46 M3 did between 1:11.81 and 1:12.75 depending on the make of tyres (Dec 2005). With semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, the E46 got down to 1:09.9 ... matching the 135i on OEM Bridgestone runflats. I think this is good evidence of the low down torque in the 135i giving better drive out of the corners, despite the absence of a proper LSD.

[Breville]

Originally Posted by Guran

Tests by MOTOR suggest the 135i is a little quicker around at least some tracks. At Wakefield Park, the 135i lapped in 1:09.9 (Sep 2008) whereas the E46 M3 did between 1:11.81 and 1:12.75 depending on the make of tyres (Dec 2005). With semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres, the E46 got down to 1:09.9 ... matching the 135i on OEM Bridgestone runflats. I think this is good evidence of the low down torque in the 135i giving better drive out of the corners, despite the absence of a proper LSD.

Torque as we all know is fantastic on the 1er. I reckon the M3 'feels' quicker on the track though, which for me is what is important. I'd never sway mine for an E46 now...

[RadiuM]

Originally Posted by bmwzone

135i stick leatherette any color m sport package u r set 4 life

you from america?

ALL 135i's in australia come with boston leather and the M sport package standard

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by RadiuM

you from america?

ALL 135i's in australia come with boston leather and the M sport package standard

You lucky bastards...

[bfi2906]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

You lucky bastards...

Yes we are!

But we pay for it - through the nose.....

[05C4R]

I'd set aside some cash as a provision for repairs.[/quote]


lol

[E86M.au]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

dont E46 M3 rear suspension arms fall apart at around 70K?

subframe is the well known issue but many dealers are fixing them out of good will as it appears to be a manufacturing defect.

OP - if hankering for a weekend M car there is one that u have overlooked, is in your price range and not that common...

[BMW86]

torque is what sold me the car, and plenty of it, down low... if that's what you like

[~sarah~]

BrokenVert: Well I smoked an M3 vert full of assholes yesterday so I would say 135i .

hahahaha. how do you know that where assholes.

[MikeVictor]

Originally Posted by ~sarah~

hahahaha. how do you know that where assholes.

and he was smoking them? sounds a bit kinky for my taste...

[E86M.au]

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the allure of an ///M...