Any M3 owners out there that drives it as an everyday car? I want to buy an used one but I don't know if I can use it as an everyday car. I live in chicago so the I'll need to use it the winter. 60 miles communte everyday.
any M3 owners out ther?
- Thread starter noxipoo
- Start date
My boss has the E46 and one of my best friends had the E36.
My boss prefers to drive his Acura RSX-S than the M3. He's got 18" rims on his M3 and he's cracked 2 on potholes in NYC. He's thinking of downsizing to 16" because the rims cost like $1000 a pop. My other friend shelved his M3 during the winter and drove a Sentra. Forget driving them in slick weather, you will fishtail pretty bad if you take a turn too fast. In the snow, those cars are undriveable.
I've got an E36 325i and cannot drive it in snow. Rain is pretty bad too. I fishtailed 90degrees a few weeks ago in the rain when I took a turn at normal speed.
My boss prefers to drive his Acura RSX-S than the M3. He's got 18" rims on his M3 and he's cracked 2 on potholes in NYC. He's thinking of downsizing to 16" because the rims cost like $1000 a pop. My other friend shelved his M3 during the winter and drove a Sentra. Forget driving them in slick weather, you will fishtail pretty bad if you take a turn too fast. In the snow, those cars are undriveable.
I've got an E36 325i and cannot drive it in snow. Rain is pretty bad too. I fishtailed 90degrees a few weeks ago in the rain when I took a turn at normal speed.
- Nov 27, 1999
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I saw a couple of M3's being driven around like crazy in wet conditions with traction control (or is it called DSC in them), on some show, either Car & Driver or Road & Track..and they were absolutely amazing. Even when the editors mashed the gas pedal the car would brake when it couldn't handle it.
I've driven an M3 in poor weather -- not for the faint of heart. I have an RX-8 and that's RWD too... and it's no good in the winter.
If you can afford an M3 however, you can afford a $2000 beater car. That's what I am doing now, just saving up some cash and I'm going to buy a beater to drive back and forth to work. This way my RX-8 becomes my autox/weekend car and my beater is exactly that
If you can afford an M3 however, you can afford a $2000 beater car. That's what I am doing now, just saving up some cash and I'm going to buy a beater to drive back and forth to work. This way my RX-8 becomes my autox/weekend car and my beater is exactly that
i'm getting a new M3, just looking at used one and see if i can afford it. If its not usable in winter i can't get it since theres no way i can afford 2 cars.
Regardless, you can just about forget driving in snow in an M3. The E36s are even worse because they don't have traction control. I've had cars with TC and honestly they don't do squat for you in snow and at moderate speeds. Its not like it can magically stop your car when you lose control which a BMW may be prone to do in snow.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
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Buy a Subaru WRX-STi, performance is equal to the E46 M3 and with AWD you won't have any problems in the winter. Get a decent set of winter tires for it and you'll have nothing to worry about. Great Auto-x car too!
I don't understand why people make suggestions like that. He didn't ask for alternative cars - he asked about the M3 because that's what he wants.
If you have a set of good winter tires and don't drive like an idiot, you should be fine.
It's probably better that you get a beater tho.
It's probably better that you get a beater tho.
I've seen several M3's fishtailing in the snow. If I lived in Florida or Cali, I'd consider it. But out here in Chicagoland it just seems like another sports car you can't use 4 months out of the year.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
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You can drive an M3 in the snow, with WINTER TIRES ONLY. The smallest rim you can put on an M3 is a 17" because otherwise, you won't clear the brakes. So figure you need to get 4 17" wheels/tires + mounting and balancing which will run at least $1000 (more if you go with a good winter tire, like the BLIZZAKS). Or, you can take that $1000 and buy a beater. You can then list your M3 as a weekend only car (like I'm going to do) and save ~15% on car insurance. Take out liability on the beater, and the insurance stays about the same between both cars. Then you have a car you can really enjoy on the weekends, a beater that saves you gas money to and from work, and you'll wind up enjoying the M3 more than if you drive it every day.
However I will stress -- if you can afford the M3, you can afford a beater too. Because if you want the M3 and say you can't afford another car, chances are that you can BARELY afford the M3 and are probably making a stupid decision either way.
However I will stress -- if you can afford the M3, you can afford a beater too. Because if you want the M3 and say you can't afford another car, chances are that you can BARELY afford the M3 and are probably making a stupid decision either way.
I don't know about the M3, but my '84 325e was actually pretty good in the snow IF you put weight in the back. It would climb hills like nothing else.
Sideways?
My 95 325i can't even make it up the hump to my driveway from a standstill. It needs a push unless it comes in with some speed.
my friend has a 98 M3 and he uses blizzaks in the winter...it is a must
not using it is asking for death
not using it is asking for death
This is a used M3, so yes i can't afford another car. a new STI would be 2x the cost of the M3s i'm looking at. Sounds like i'll be ok with winter tires. I don't drive like an idiot, especially when theres snow out. I'll look more into the cost of actually owning this car.
my friend has a 04' M3, only 4 months old and the mileage is already 10000+
he bought his car around $62000 and he sold it recently around $40000 cuz he's moving to other contries.
but why only $40000 for a 4 month old car? cuz one of his friends crashed his car the day before the buyer came n' take a look.... too bad
but over all, that car's pretty neat
he bought his car around $62000 and he sold it recently around $40000 cuz he's moving to other contries.
but why only $40000 for a 4 month old car? cuz one of his friends crashed his car the day before the buyer came n' take a look.... too bad
but over all, that car's pretty neat
Used as in what model? E36? E46?
I can tell you some nightmare stories about the E36 which caused my friend to sell his and swear off BMW.
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Just trying to be helpful! :wine:
Its really not that helpful though as the typical M3 buyer would never consider a WRX, I myself am not a typical M3 buyer but also wouldn't consider the WRX and instead would much rather opt for an Audi Quattro or even gasp an Infinity or Lexus (<--hates japanese cars)...Subaru WRX is a nice budget car but IMHO not to be compared with a BMW, Lexus, Merc, Audi or Infinity.
It can be done, especially the older less powerful models (E36). I've known people with M3 as their daily driver in Connecticut (lots of snow). Heck, I know a person with M Roadster as his daily driver. It was a pain in the ass though.
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