BRZ vs E46 M3

[ashtray]

Go!

We had an E30 and E9x discussion, but the E46 M3 is a great car to compare. Lighter than the E9x, and more powerful than the E30M3 - the E46 has 333hp, and is said to be very tossable. Luxury ride with all the bells and whistles, then turn off the electronic nannies and hit the track!

Prices are around $17-22k for the coupe or vert - so cheaper than the BRZ, and available now (no waiting). Issues? Sure - maintaining a BMW out of warranty is no fun task. Buy a new BRZ, drive it 80k miles without any issues (hopefully!). Buy a used M3 with 80k miles that had no issues and see how your luck is as you approach 160k miles.

That said, a well kept E46 M3 may be a good "in between" vehicle. Buy one with 70k miles, drive it for a year or two, sell it with 85k miles for a couple thousand bucks less - then buy a BRZ when they are easy to get (dealers stocked).

[Caliban]

once I get my hands on a FRS and will let you know

Oh, 05-06 E46M3 w/ (ZCP) Comp pkg will still cost more than FRS/BRZ.

[ashtray]

Originally Posted by Caliban

once I get my hands on a FRS and will let you know

Oh, 05-06 E46M3 w/ (ZCP) Comp pkg will still cost more than FRS/BRZ.

You sure? Quick search: '05 Comp Pkg w/ 48k miles for $26k.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac...823653912.html

BRZ pricing not announced yet, but I'm going with the Limited model - estimating $27k give or take.

Non comp pkg with 70-80k miles are going for about $20k, depending on condition, year, etc.

[Caliban]

so get the M3? Its a faster car!!

[ZDan]

The E46 is a tank compared to the FR-S/BRZ, 700-800 lb. heavier!

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by ZDan

The E46 is a tank compared to the FR-S/BRZ, 700-800 lb. heavier!

Always about the weight. lol You need to drive one of these or is it still too heavy?

[DSR2409]

Originally Posted by ashtray

You sure? Quick search: '05 Comp Pkg w/ 48k miles for $26k.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac...823653912.html

BRZ pricing not announced yet, but I'm going with the Limited model - estimating $27k give or take.

Non comp pkg with 70-80k miles are going for about $20k, depending on condition, year, etc.

The E46 M3 came from the factory with ITBs...why would they swap that out for a K&N intake?

[tachi1247]

Any BMW M car will be very expensive to maintain compared to an in warranty Subaru.

Especially so when you are buying one from the average BMW owner since they probably only did the "free" BMW maintenance which if you ask the BMW faithful has lead to the premature failure of a lot of different parts you would expect to last a lot longer than they do.

[Lonewolf]

I suggest you do some serious research into E46 M3's before taking the plunge. You do not just casually pick up a 70K mile specimen and drive it without making major repairs and/or expensive maintenance as well.

Don't get me wrong, the E46 M3 was the car I wanted more than anything in college (especially after I drove my uncle's six speed coupe...now that was awesome), but after seeing what has gone wrong with his M3, I wouldn't touch an E46 without some major coin in the bank and a service manual.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by tachi1247

Any BMW M car will be very expensive to maintain compared to an in warranty Subaru.

Especially so when you are buying one from the average BMW owner since they probably only did the "free" BMW maintenance which if you ask the BMW faithful has lead to the premature failure of a lot of different parts you would expect to last a lot longer than they do.

Another benefit is that Subaru borrowed heavily from the Impreza parts bin when making the BRZ.

[LSxJunkie]

I both love and hate the e46 M3. They're great looking cars that do pretty much everything I want them to. Except they make that AWFUL racket and the cam bolts back out which can trash your entire VANOS system, and that's a PRICEY fix. You can do it yourself, but be prepared to spend all weekend on it.

I want one quite badly, but really wish they didn't sound awful, and the only fix for that awful noise is to mix and match exhaust sections to get the noise you want, because in some cases you just end up with Honda fart. If you just swap in a rasp cancelling pipe (some companies sell these, you end up with something that sounds just neutered.

Stock
[u2b]9h83-zYmAQA[/u2b]

That noise is not for me.

Stock exhaust with CPI Rasp Terminator
[u2b]ZiGN90yUeW8[/u2b]

That noise is also not for me.

Headers, UUC Rasp X midpipes and Gruppe M exhaust.
[u2b]Icvj0mxhKqM[/u2b]

That noise could be for me, but that is also like 4k worth of exhaust IIRC.

Shame, because those cars can be made to look like this.

Originally Posted by DSR2409

The E46 M3 came from the factory with ITBs...why would they swap that out for a K&N intake?

The ITBs draw air through the plenum...which gets it from the outside world through a filter. The K&N is just a cone filter conversion.

[elcentrobaby]

^^^^ good post. Looks like you've seriously looked into it.

[Dimman]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

I suggest you do some serious research into E46 M3's before taking the plunge. You do not just casually pick up a 70K mile specimen and drive it without making major repairs and/or expensive maintenance as well.

Don't get me wrong, the E46 M3 was the car I wanted more than anything in college (especially after I drove my uncle's six speed coupe...now that was awesome), but after seeing what has gone wrong with his M3, I wouldn't touch an E46 without some major coin in the bank and a service manual.

Heard early ones had a recall for rod or crank bearings. That one of your uncle's problems?

[LSxJunkie]

Originally Posted by elcentrobaby

^^^^ good post. Looks like you've seriously looked into it.

When something piques my interest, I do all of my homework BEFORE buying. I'm picky and I'd like to know about impending headaches before spending money.