keep the evo. It's a very special car. Sun, rain, mud, snow, track, or drag, it serves you well. Parts are very affordable. The most honest no bull**** performance machine.

 

One thing you have to be careful about with the M3 is that their rear subframes crack. It is a pretty common problem and pretty costly to fix. BMW does not fix this under warranty.

I have also owned an e46 M3 and loved it, but after awhile it just did not make sense. I had the full TCK suspension, SuperSprint X and S pipe, Eisenmann race exhaust and BBS LM's. The car handled amazingly well but was not practical for me to keep anymore.

I was paying for two cars and I ended up rarely driving the M3 to make all that sacrifice worth while. I sold both cars and now just have the Evo and have never regretted my decision. With just a turboback and software the car is way faster than my M3 ever was and I have more money for other things in life as well. I can drive the Evo everyday, rain or shine, and through some snow storms that very few cars could handle.

Yeah the M3 is a little more refined, but with that refinement also comes a car that does not feel as raw and connected to the road. The drive by wire is terrible and just does not feel as direct as the Evo does. I actually prefer the e36 M3 more in terms of feel and handling potential. So if you are considering an M3 shop some e36's, you'll have more money to play with and could do a supercharger kit and be faster but cheaper than an e46.

 

^^^ True regarding subframe failures; although they are rare and few between. However, there is an SB floating around now where BMW fills the subframe channels with an epoxy foam. Supposedly the foam works well, but is only beneficial if the subframe hasn't begun to crack yet. Otherwise, TMS makes a good reinforcment kit.

 

its very simple
if you want class and daily driving comfert get the m3

if you want to go racing and have the need for moding and the need to have a fast car get an evo

 

I think someone earlier mentioned the 07 335i. I think it was motortrend that did some tests and the new 335i had more power and outperformed the last model M3 in every category and was $10k cheaper. Might be worth looking into for you.

 

BIG factors to consider:

modding m3=VERY expensive and not half as fast as evo with the same $$$ spent compared to an evo..and maintenance is utterly expensive for ANY bmw. I grew up in Los Angeles, m3s=highly overrated. I've seen fully modded m3s with tons of exterior carbon pieces, wheels, supercharged, turbocharged, full race interiors, i've seen them done up as far as u can take it probably doubling the price of the car easily. They're def head turners but i still would never buy 1. For the price of that car (new), i'd get a used C6 z06 with very low miles..not necessarily for the speed, but that car has so much more sex appeal than a m3 imo

 

ps: the european spec M3 Hartge v8 is siccccck tho. CSL's are pretty nice as well

to note: im 20 as well. I'm just a big car fanatic as you can tell by my list of cars i've owned

I just de-winged my evo and my evo came modded, im de-tuning it down exterior-wise putting it back on stock wheels and such for a more mellow look. It looks more like a "normal" car and cops have never messed with me unless i was purposely doing something wrong (ie: speeding or abrupt lane changes) I turned down a g35 and 350z and my old GTO for ANOTHER evo

 

i saw on the earlier post that SMG tranny on M3 is not good. Why? I'me also a fanatic of bimmers just not that deep enough.

before I bought my EVOix that's my option. Between 330 or my evo.. I chose the Evo coz that way I dont have to compromise on the weather. snow, rain or a little bit of mud.. Love how BMW's handles.feels like your seating in a "lazy boy".

 

for an earlier post, if you purchase a 335i or an evo and don't plan on taking it to the track, walk to your mirror right now, tell yourself your a p@ssy, then punch yourself in the face.

 

+1

 

go for the m3

 

M3

 

I think you should get the M3 and trade it in on a nine. To just get away from the salvage. That way you can stay in the loop with Evo's.

 

BMW's are overrated. That is why they were never auditioned for a Tampax commercial.

 

Lets be honest Rich....noone will buy your car and you ain't got it for an M3