[Zombie_Head]

Hey guys,

I am saving up some money for winter, and i am not 100% sure which direction i should go and i am hoping i can hear from you guys that track very frequently.

My current E82 125i is really a peach of a car, i got KW V3 suspension, 330i front discs and a software tune. It is not the fastest BMW NA out there, even a Golf GTI can probably be faster (time wise) but it really is a sweet package. I put around 6 track days in total on it, to my surprise the PS4 i have on have 8.2mm thread left on the front and 7.5mm on the rear, i was expecting them to be toast.

Sadly, as with all non M BMWs, it needs quite a bit up upgrades for really being more capable on track. Namely the sway bars, rear subframe bushings and a LSD. Not to mention aftermarket wheels and tires for track days (Cup 2s for example) as well as the front M3/1M control arm upgrades.

When i did some calculations, it would cost me around €4,000 to do the above, +/- €500 depending in the work (i do everything myself).

Thing is, for the same amount of expenses, one can get the brakes/wheels and tires for a 1M and just go to the track and daily drive it in all conditions.

What is stopping me? well, i have to sell the 125i and probably finance the 1M (through an authorised BMW used car dealer) for a year or to. Not to mention the running costs would be double that of the 125i, at least the tires would be double (225/40/18 all round compared to 245/275's on the 1M).

Yet, every review i came across for tracking the 1M, including some of you here, say how "twitchy" the car is, or how that factory LSD is unpredictable and it could benefit from a clutch type LSD. I am also not a big fan of going sideways on the track, i prefer that "planted" or "handles like rails" and all the videos i have seen of the 1M are of people getting a lot of tail happy corner exits.

I even looked at E46 M3's and spoken with a specialist M shop, that car really has some serious running costs. Rod bearings every 80,000 kms for those that see frequent track days, head gasket recommended every 120,000 kms and it runs on my not do desireable 10w-60 (i wonder how that effects -18c winters here) and not to mention valve adjustments every 30,000 kms and significantly increased fuel consumption. Assuming you get one that has the rear subframe also reinforced, and one would need to seriously look at the brakes for track days on that car.

Bang for buck the 125i is obviously a no brainer, but i really do not like changing a lot of things, and i have already spent around €3,500 on the KW V3 suspension and software tune, adding another €4K is a bit steep, where i could get the 1M, spend that €4K on track days tires/brakes and call it a day.

Thing is, the only thing stopping me from the 1M is the turbos, i really am "living in the stone age", so to speak and just adore that NA instant responding inline 6 from BMW, something truly unique, not special like the 1M but it makes me smile.

With that said, did anyone here own and track the E46 M3 and the 1M? i would appreciate any positive feedback. I am in no rush, this will be a long winter and i am already saving up early, just wondering which direction i should go.

Much appreciated and thank you for reading this long-ish post.