X3M to E90 M3

Hi everyone. I’ve got a 2022 X3M Comp and I’m contemplating selling it and looking for a lower mileage E90 M3. The X3M is a beast and fun to drive, but I miss the older BMW feel and I don’t see myself keeping the X3M long term so I figured I’d sell while I can still get a good amount and search for an M3, most likely 2011. I’ve had two E90s in the past and I really miss them. I would like to find one with lower miles and in excellent condition because I plan on keeping it for a long time.

Has anyone made this move or have any thoughts? I’m very torn about it because we love the X3M but we have a Raptor that serves family duties so that isn’t our priority, but we can still use the M3 for drives and cars and coffee, etc.

Thank you.

not sure what you're asking? i haven't made that exact move but had a '21 X3 MC and now have an E90 (and an X5 MC)... they're obviously, completely different.

kolosy wrote

not sure what you're asking? i haven't made that exact move but had a '21 X3 MC and now have an E90 (and an X5 MC)... they're obviously, completely different.

Yeah sorry for the confusion. I feel like I’m all over the place to be honest. I think I just want a car but not sure if I’d regret getting an e90 and lose power, technology, etc but there isn’t much like the NA V8 that’s for sure. Been considering an F80 M3, G80 M3, F90 M5 and also my holy grail an E60 M5.

I just envy you guys whenever I see an E9x on the road and the wheels in my brain start spinning. 😵‍💫

golferdude wrote

Yeah sorry for the confusion. I feel like I’m all over the place to be honest. I think I just want a car but not sure if I’d regret getting an e90 and lose power, technology, etc but there isn’t much like the NA V8 that’s for sure. Been considering an F80 M3, G80 M3, F90 M5 and also my holy grail an E60 M5.

I just envy you guys whenever I see an E9x on the road and the wheels in my brain start spinning. 😵‍💫

ah ok, i'm with you now. i went (am going?) through something similar. went X3MC (sold) -> X5 M50 (became wife's) -> E90 M3 (still have) -> E60 M5 (manual swapped, sold) -> F90 M5C (sold) -> F95 X5MC because I'm all over the place with car too.

i wouldn't replace the X3 with it. it'll feel slow and dated. i'd get a G80 before an E90 if i were replacing. different story if it's an add.

golferdude wrote

Yeah sorry for the confusion. I feel like I’m all over the place to be honest. I think I just want a car but not sure if I’d regret getting an e90 and lose power, technology, etc but there isn’t much like the NA V8 that’s for sure. Been considering an F80 M3, G80 M3, F90 M5 and also my holy grail an E60 M5.

I just envy you guys whenever I see an E9x on the road and the wheels in my brain start spinning. 😵‍💫

I'm a bit of a tech nerd. The one place that I do not want connectivity and modern screens are cars. I have the cic idrive and I think it's the perfect mix of modern and old.

I bought an e93 M3 for the emotional and physical connection. I did not want an appliance on wheels.

Test drive one, see what you think. At the end of the day it's your car, your life.

Sounds like to me your heart wants an E90, so should be an easy decision imo.

Now I’ve got to find the right one. There are a couple candidates. I don’t recall but did they make an E90 M3 without the nav and moonroof?

I love my E90 M3, I've had it for 8 years and not sure I'll ever sell it.

With that said, I wouldn't trade a 2022 X3M for one, not if it was my only vehicle. A 2nd car, no question.

But you only live once, and it sounds like it's an itch you need to scratch! You can always get back into an X3M if needed, those are easy to find.

Interesting, I have a Rav4 Prime (daily) and E93 M3 and been contemplating whether to sell them both for an X3M. Reason being is the E93 M3 has made me hate driving my Rav4. So now the M3 is the daily but I still need an suv for daily tasks and errands. Fascinating to see this the other way around.

We basically have the same vehicles. I daily a gen2 Raptor, have a Harrop E90 M3, and my wife drives the X3m. I don’t ever plan to get rid of the M3 but I also don’t think I would want it as my only vehicle. I’m in a situation that I have to have a truck as well due to hobbies (moto, MTB) and also the need to tow occasionally. That’s a tough call they are two very different vehicles.

golferdude wrote

Now I’ve got to find the right one. There are a couple candidates. I don’t recall but did they make an E90 M3 without the nav and moonroof?

Yes, slicktop and single-hump. Relatively rare, and at a premium price on the preowned market, ceteris paribus.

I know how you feel. I've been through a lot of cars the past 15 years, but I just came back to an e92 after trying a lot of other stuff (F80 M3, GT4, GT3 RS, F90 M5, Audi RS6). these are just great cars, and to me they are the sweet spot. the size is perfect, the sound is amazing, the chassis balance of sportiness & comfort is perfect for the street, and the performance level is just right (many cars these days are just too quick to enjoy without risking jail time).

there are some really nice cars out there. it just takes some patience to find the right one (took me almost two months to find what I was looking for).

good luck with your search!

Brosef wrote

I know how you feel. I've been through a lot of cars the past 15 years, but I just came back to an e92 after trying a lot of other stuff (F80 M3, GT4, GT3 RS, F90 M5, Audi RS6). these are just great cars, and to me they are the sweet spot. the size is perfect, the sound is amazing, the chassis balance of sportiness & comfort is perfect for the street, and the performance level is just right (many cars these days are just too quick to enjoy without risking jail time).

there are some really nice cars out there. it just takes some patience to find the right one (took me almost two months to find what I was looking for).

good luck with your search!

man ain't that the truth. in the city the F90 has two modes -- 620 hp sitting in traffic, and 620 hp trying to get you arrested on the highway.

An E9x M3 with DCT and CarPlay retrofit is still a relevant daily driver in 2024. You will need to keep up on the maintenance, though. These cars need a lot of work now that they are over ten years old.

vitalsigns wrote

Yes, slicktop and single-hump. Relatively rare, and at a premium price on the preowned market, ceteris paribus.

Definitely rare, my slicktop came with nav but I swapped to single hump although my other E90 came with sunroof but factory single hump...I'd swap to a carbon roof on that one but she's a bone stock garage queen with sub 30k miles that I don't want to butcher...if I could find a slicktop headliner I might be swayed...

You and the rest of us are looking for that unicorn e90... I didnt have money for one in college when they came out.. now looking to get into one now.

Thanks everyone for the insight, advice and ideas. I just sold my X3M today because I got a good offer. Now I can focus on finding what I REALLY want.

Absolutley love the X3M. Best sleeper car made in recent years. I dream of taking over my wife’s X3 M40i and slapping a big turbo on that B58. Unfortunately, it’ll never be an X3M tho.

Tragiclil wrote

Interesting, I have a Rav4 Prime (daily) and E93 M3 and been contemplating whether to sell them both for an X3M. Reason being is the E93 M3 has made me hate driving my Rav4. So now the M3 is the daily but I still need an suv for daily tasks and errands. Fascinating to see this the other way around.

I’ve got the exact problem. I have an e90 335, e92 m3 and a 21 RAV4 LE coming up on the end of its lease. I rented an X5 40i and fell in love. The luxurious feel, power and tech has me thinking of selling something to get into one. I know I’d regret selling the m3 but also feel like I could get a chunk of change on it too.

I’m going to resist the urge and simply buy an x3 or x5 as an addition so the future me doesn’t hate me.

ATLIEN wrote

I’ve got the exact problem. I have an e90 335, e92 m3 and a 21 RAV4 LE coming up on the end of its lease. I rented an X5 40i and fell in love. The luxurious feel, power and tech has me thinking of selling something to get into one. I know I’d regret selling the m3 but also feel like I could get a chunk of change on it too.

I’m going to resist the urge and simply buy an x3 or x5 as an addition so the future me doesn’t hate me.

Do it. The b58 is a silky smooth motor and if you want more out of it you can take it to 500hp for pennies on the dollar. My wife drives the x5 and I find it’s a nice complement to the S65 e90.

CamasM3e93 wrote

Do it. The b58 is a silky smooth motor and if you want more out of it you can take it to 500hp for pennies on the dollar. My wife drives the x5 and I find it’s a nice complement to the S65 e90.

I have until July to make the decision. The beauty of the RAV4 is that sucker has equity in the lease of about $4k. Great appliance but man I just can’t with the loud 4 cylinder engine note. I enjoyed the utter silence and q-ship ride of the X5. I was surprised that it didn’t have radar cruise control as standard.

I've always purchased the newer version of any car/truck. Going backwards is very hard to justify, IMO. I get it. You're not going backwards but you're going to the same as before. Therefore you know the pros and cons of the platform.

I recommend the F80 M3 because fast, light and good looking.

The G80 M3 looks too stupid in which case I would pay less than market. I would buy a G80 M3 but the price better be low. The next version will likely NOT have such a ridiculous grill.