E90 M3 vs. 335i Sedan - Help me with my decision!

[STooK]

Originally Posted by e90 //M3

If I were you, I'd go peruse the 'registry' thread on this forum about bearing issues. Several of those people were tuning and/or tracking their cars. Some of them even had issues directly after doing one or both of those activities.

The M3 is a great car; but no car can be driven to the track, raced hard, then driven home on simple routine maintenance. PARTCIULARLY, friggin' ESPECIALLY, if you're talking about a high-compression engine with variable valve timing. Oiling becomes the preeminent issue with these types of engines, because at higher revs the engine will burn oil as a simple matter of operation. Ask anyone who's ever tracked, built or raced an all-motor honda engine, and they'll tell you the same thing. When you get 1qt or more down, you're taking risks with oil starvation which can easily wear the internals.

When my dad took his trip in the M3, he carried a few quarts from the dealership for this very purpose. The last thing you want to be is 1qt low out in the middle of oklahoma 200mi from the nearest place that carries the stuff. When I bought it off him, he gave me the last three or so quarts he had laying around the house. I was 40mi from home on an overnighter with my wife when the light came on. The car took over a quart before the light went off - and this is a car that's never seen a track day in it's entire life.

That black soot all over your rear bumper ain't just fuel baby, that's recycled dinosaur!

Good advise on carrying some quarts. I've heard S65 eating oil is pretty common.

[///M3Fresh]

Originally Posted by e90 //M3

If I were you, I'd go peruse the 'registry' thread on this forum about bearing issues. Several of those people were tuning and/or tracking their cars. Some of them even had issues directly after doing one or both of those activities.

The M3 is a great car; but no car can be driven to the track, raced hard, then driven home on simple routine maintenance. PARTCIULARLY, friggin' ESPECIALLY, if you're talking about a high-compression engine with variable valve timing. Oiling becomes the preeminent issue with these types of engines, because at higher revs the engine will burn oil as a simple matter of operation. Ask anyone who's ever tracked, built or raced an all-motor honda engine, and they'll tell you the same thing. When you get 1qt or more down, you're taking risks with oil starvation which can easily wear the internals.

When my dad took his trip in the M3, he carried a few quarts from the dealership for this very purpose. The last thing you want to be is 1qt low out in the middle of oklahoma 200mi from the nearest place that carries the stuff. When I bought it off him, he gave me the last three or so quarts he had laying around the house. I was 40mi from home on an overnighter with my wife when the light came on. The car took over a quart before the light went off - and this is a car that's never seen a track day in it's entire life.

That black soot all over your rear bumper ain't just fuel baby, that's recycled dinosaur!

Interesting: I believe in the manual BMW says it can burn up to a liter per 1K KM (someone else can verify this) but I never had that issue with my S54 or the S65.

When you say light came on, you mean low oil or pressure? Kinda sad that there is no dipstick and the oil system the E9XM cars use is very inaccurate (or so i feel).

[e90 //M3]

Low oil level light.

[Kung Fu English]

Did they update the iDrive in the 09 models?

I'm gonna get flamed for this, but the iDrive and infotainment system is one of the most used parts of your car, especially in daily driving. The 2013 iDrive is already been replaced and is outdated. If you are keeping it for 10 years, you probably don't want the previous generation it will get annoying.

I know it's not a car thing but realistically, it's important.

If the 08 has the same idrive as the 09-13, disregard.

[Helmsman]

They did, and agree it is a significant difference between the two.

[douglee25]

I'll probably get flamed for this one too, but I don't prefer the iDrive and Nav option. I've test driven several cars with iDrive, and while it's a nice feature, it just doesn't add much value for me personally. If a vehicle has the option, I won't stray away from it, but I'm not actively making it part of my search criteria.

To this day, I have yet to find a factory Nav system that performs as well as Google maps does on my phone. The factory navs always have some sort of limitation that just bug the shit out of me. Either they can't be fully adjusted (some features limited) while moving, the level of detail can't be changed quickly, searching for things is somewhat inaccurate, etc. I just can't get over it. Maybe it's already out on the market, but I would love if a factory touch screen would just pull up Google maps from your phone hot spot connection (or something to that effect).

Of note, the M3 that I am looking at does not have iDrive.

Doug

[Helmsman]

Actually believe the nav system can bring up Maps, using some BMW app. Haven't tryed it myself and might not work on my (2011).

Cheers

[Amirsm3]

Originally Posted by Kung Fu English

Did they update the iDrive in the 09 models?

I'm gonna get flamed for this, but the iDrive and infotainment system is one of the most used parts of your car, especially in daily driving. The 2013 iDrive is already been replaced and is outdated. If you are keeping it for 10 years, you probably don't want the previous generation it will get annoying.

I know it's not a car thing but realistically, it's important.

If the 08 has the same idrive as the 09-13, disregard.

I use mine a bunch for swapping between CD's or my iPhone for music. I'll also pull up the nav screen during trips to places I've never been and have the actual directions running on my phone. This way, I can keep track of street names and such and not have to look down at my phone.

Essentially, I just need a phone mount

But, yeah, it's nice to have the iDrive - even if it's obsolete. I know there isn't anything significant about it in terms of driving experience, but it's all personal preference at that point.

[redpriest]

I always keep a spare quart of oil in the trunk just in case. My particular car drives mostly highway miles, and it burns about a quart of oil per 7000 miles or so. I also drive 2-3k miles a month.

[Z K]

My car has iDrive but it wasn't a factor when looking at the car. I could really care less if it had navigation or not.

The good thing is being able to program your M button to whatever setting you like. That is not a feature you'll get without navigation.

[douglee25]

[douglee25]

#Boom!

[E46M3forRay]

nice pick up! Congrats

[Yay-Z]

Originally Posted by douglee25

I'll probably get flamed for this one too, but I don't prefer the iDrive and Nav option. I've test driven several cars with iDrive, and while it's a nice feature, it just doesn't add much value for me personally. If a vehicle has the option, I won't stray away from it, but I'm not actively making it part of my search criteria.

To this day, I have yet to find a factory Nav system that performs as well as Google maps does on my phone. The factory navs always have some sort of limitation that just bug the shit out of me. Either they can't be fully adjusted (some features limited) while moving, the level of detail can't be changed quickly, searching for things is somewhat inaccurate, etc. I just can't get over it. Maybe it's already out on the market, but I would love if a factory touch screen would just pull up Google maps from your phone hot spot connection (or something to that effect).

Of note, the M3 that I am looking at does not have iDrive.

Doug

totally agree about the Google maps. The in car nav systems are just behind and need to just link up with our phones

[BaseM3]

Originally Posted by Aiyahm3

Go all the way!! e90 M3!!!

Right arm!

[PrometheusM3]

These threads never get old.

Congrats on the new M, OP! You won't regret it.