OK, I've hit the "no more M3" point...

[Nick M3]

I'm tired of it, it's not a good daily driver, it's unreliable (3 months at the dealer out of the last 12), and it's really WAY too much money to have tied up in something I don't like anymore.

Now I have to figure out what to replace it with...

An E39 540i/6 is looking like a pretty attractive option. Any other suggestions in the cheapish/RWD/sportyish daily/5-seater/manual category?

[TD]

Everyone has a different definition of "cheapish". You may need to be more specific.

[clyde]

CTS-V and be done with it. Or give up the stick for some wholesome fun in something that ends with SRT-8.

[JST]

I'm tired of it, it's not a good daily driver, it's unreliable (3 months at the dealer out of the last 12), and it's really WAY too much money to have tied up in something I don't like anymore.

Now I have to figure out what to replace it with...

An E39 540i/6 is looking like a pretty attractive option. Any other suggestions in the cheapish/RWD/sportyish daily/5-seater/manual category?

Dunno. It's a nice idea, but while I've come close to pulling the trigger on one of those, I could never bring myself to do it. Too big, too soft, too disconnected.

Why not an E46 330? Or, if you are going to have a tow vehicle, something with two seats like an S2000/Boxster/Corvette?

[Mr. The Edge]

Everyone has a different definition of "cheapish". You may need to be more specific.

LOL, I was thinking the same thing, especially based on the cars in that family.

[Nick M3]

Dunno. It's a nice idea, but while I've come close to pulling the trigger on one of those, I could never bring myself to do it. Too big, too soft, too disconnected.

Why not an E46 330? Or, if you are going to have a tow vehicle, something with two seats like an S2000/Boxster/Corvette?
I want torque.

I've also found that the big/disconnected bit just doesn't bother me all that much when I've got the race car around.

...and the target price is under $20K. Really, I'd like to make that less than $15K - I'm assuming that any used car will require a fairly thorough suspension bushing reconditioning effort.

[BahnBaum]

I find myself thinking similar thoughts. Although not from the reliability standpoint.

I'm either going to start driving it every day or make a move.

Nick, I'd be interested in your winter wheels if you do something.

Alex

[mark07]

Dad if you don't want to drive it every day I certainly will for you.

[rumatt]

I find myself thinking similar thoughts. Although not from the reliability standpoint.

I'm either going to start driving it every day or make a move.


I wondered how long your garage queen phase would last.

[rumatt]

I want torque.

I've also found that the big/disconnected bit just doesn't bother me all that much when I've got the race car around.

Make sense to me. Variety is good. When I had the E30, I never complained about the E46.

But what will you autox?

[lemming]

i think Niko needs 4 seats, too, for toting people.

so that is a factor.

[clyde]

I want torque.

I've also found that the big/disconnected bit just doesn't bother me all that much when I've got the race car around.

...and the target price is under $20K. Really, I'd like to make that less than $15K - I'm assuming that any used car will require a fairly thorough suspension bushing reconditioning effort.
Suburban.

[BahnBaum]

I wondered how long your garage queen phase would last.

2 1/2 years?

Alex

[BahnBaum]

Dad if you don't want to drive it every day I certainly will for you.

Who are you. And why do you call me dad?

:D

Alex

[Nick M3]

Suburban.
My parents threw a wrench in the works - I was thinking Excursion/Coxster until they told me they're buying themselves a Yukon/Tahoe because the WRX is too small for them. No point in buying a big truck now.

[lemming]

My parents threw a wrench in the works - I was thinking Excursion/Coxster until they told me they're buying themselves a Yukon/Tahoe because the WRX is too small for them. No point in buying a big truck now.

with your experience in tweaking BMWs, could you get an e36m3 to play with for that kind of money?

[zach]

with your experience in tweaking BMWs, could you get an e36m3 to play with for that kind of money?

I know where you could get one of those.

[SARAFIL]

I know where you could get one of those.

maybe a basic E90 330i or 335i 4-door?

[iateyourcheese]

maybe a basic E90 330i or 335i 4-door?

If anyone could make a second 335i explode, it would be Nick.

I have to admit that something like this is rather tempting.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=208477120&dealer_id=58350847&car_year=1998&mod_bookmark_id=null&num_records=&search_type=both&make=BMW&model=540I&distance=25&address=63137&advanced=&certified=&bkms=1157829181682&max_price=&sort_type=priceASC&min_price=&end_year=2007&start_year=1981&lang=en&cardist=9

[Nick M3]

with your experience in tweaking BMWs, could you get an e36m3 to play with for that kind of money?
I can get an E36 M3 for $10K. Why I'd want to is a more relevant question.

[zach]

I can get an E36 M3 for $10K. Why I'd want to is a more relevant question.

You can get one for less than that. But I agree, I doubt it'd be any more reliable than your M3.

[TD]

You can get one for less than that. But I agree, I doubt it'd be any more reliable than your M3.
Heh? He said his M3 has been at the dealer for 3 months out of the last year. That's worse than any E36 M3.

[zach]

Heh? He said his M3 has been at the dealer for 3 months out of the last year. That's worse than any E36 M3.

Mine's due to start having issues. 117 miles now and it's starting to feel kinda old.

Not to hijack, but we're test driving 335s and e46 M3s over the next few weeks. If none of them satisfy, I suppose I could sink a few thousand into the M3 to try to make it feel newer.

[bren]

...it's not a good daily driver....
That could have something to do with the Motons. ;)

Dad if you don't want to drive it every day I certainly will for you.

:lol:

[Nick M3]

That could have something to do with the Motons. ;)



:lol:
Mostly SMG. Motons would be a problem when I move, though.

(My commute is very pleasant on the Motons - the roads around the rhapsody are most emphatically not.)

[armaq]

Buy my M3/4 :eeps:

[clyde]

Mostly SMG.

Didn't you pay extra for that?

[Plaz]

If anyone could make a second 335i explode, it would be Nick.

:lol:

[lemming]

Heh? He said his M3 has been at the dealer for 3 months out of the last year. That's worse than any E36 M3.

please reclassify according to BMW-specific problems and Niko-specific/induced problems.

:D

the boy is a walking beta-tester for durability.

[Nick M3]

VANOS cam cog failures seem to be pretty common. I got spectacularly unlucky on that one because one of the shards got cuaght in the timing chain. Normally, it just drops to the oil pan and you get a new VANOS unit. Alternator and SMG electronics problems are also not something I take responsibility for. :p

[lemming]

VANOS cam cog failures seem to be pretty common. I got spectacularly unlucky on that one because one of the shards got cuaght in the timing chain. Normally, it just drops to the oil pan and you get a new VANOS unit. Alternator and SMG electronics problems are also not something I take responsibility for. :p

punk.

:action:

why don't you sell your m3 to Zcsav?

[zach]

punk.

:action:

why don't you sell your m3 to Zcsav?

Because he doesn't want these.

http://www.auto-innovations.com/site/images/smg2_bmw.jpg