Anyone had VX220 NA or E46 M3?
- Thread starter hopz121
- Start date
)
I had a SMG E46 M3.
Anything in particular you would like to know?
Anything in particular you would like to know?
The car will be used as my daily hack until Sept then I'll get a daily driver and it would be a toy.
Just looking for advice really as I think both if I find a good one will be safe investments and pretty fun.
I do like the odd track day but if I had a mint M3 I would probably never take it on track where as a VX220 I would.
I like that the VX220 is a lot cheaper to run, but not sure if it's too raw and that an M3 would be better suited.
What did you think of you M3 no fit state.
Do you miss the VX220 danstar?
The insurance funnily enough is a lot cheaper on the VX220 as well.
The VX220 has some nice mods on it too.
Just looking for advice really as I think both if I find a good one will be safe investments and pretty fun.
I do like the odd track day but if I had a mint M3 I would probably never take it on track where as a VX220 I would.
I like that the VX220 is a lot cheaper to run, but not sure if it's too raw and that an M3 would be better suited.
What did you think of you M3 no fit state.
Do you miss the VX220 danstar?
The insurance funnily enough is a lot cheaper on the VX220 as well.
The VX220 has some nice mods on it too.
I loved the raw brute feeling of it when pushing on, made even better by the SMG box and slamming through the gears without lifting the accelerator. It was immensely fast but after coming from my previous Z4 it just felt to big with a mass of car behind the drivers seat. Though of course I'd find this with any fast saloon now.
I did worry about the rear subframe/boot floor cracks though in my two years on ownership I never had a problem.
The looks a really liked and it always reminded me of muscle car with its wider arches and bonnet bulge.
If you don't need four seats though and have the money I'd look at the the Z4m. All the power and noise and for me what feels like much tighter package.
I did worry about the rear subframe/boot floor cracks though in my two years on ownership I never had a problem.
The looks a really liked and it always reminded me of muscle car with its wider arches and bonnet bulge.
If you don't need four seats though and have the money I'd look at the the Z4m. All the power and noise and for me what feels like much tighter package.
Your a brave man to have a Vx220 as a daily driver..... Noisy,crap build quality and the Ecotec 2.2 is a pig of an engine and not that reliable.
Quick (ish) only because they are light.
E46 M3 is a much better car,but prices are on the up and its a real trial to get a good one....
Sheds from £5k to £7k and nice ones with good spec and decent colour combo's can bring £12k..Even more with low miles.
The S54 and its malodies are well documented,but they are pretty robust considering how old the E46 now is.SMG brings its own problems,manuals dont suffer much apart from layshaft rattles and the odd bearing grumble.
The biggest problem you will encounter is rust.... Wings and boot area are very common for scabbing,front end is usually battered with stonechips unless painted..
Then the obvious elephant in the room is the rear subframe chassis cracking,and in worse case the full boot floor will need replacing.. 99% are out of the BMW warranty period now too so that makes matters a bit worse. Prices between £400 and £4000 to get the floor sorted if you fall foul.
Bide your time and buy a good one and you will have a great car that will always be in demand..
Quick (ish) only because they are light.
E46 M3 is a much better car,but prices are on the up and its a real trial to get a good one....
Sheds from £5k to £7k and nice ones with good spec and decent colour combo's can bring £12k..Even more with low miles.
The S54 and its malodies are well documented,but they are pretty robust considering how old the E46 now is.SMG brings its own problems,manuals dont suffer much apart from layshaft rattles and the odd bearing grumble.
The biggest problem you will encounter is rust.... Wings and boot area are very common for scabbing,front end is usually battered with stonechips unless painted..
Then the obvious elephant in the room is the rear subframe chassis cracking,and in worse case the full boot floor will need replacing.. 99% are out of the BMW warranty period now too so that makes matters a bit worse. Prices between £400 and £4000 to get the floor sorted if you fall foul.
Bide your time and buy a good one and you will have a great car that will always be in demand..
I had a E46 M3, wish I'd held on to it now as the prices are on the up.
Only had it just over a year, but it was great fun. Never had any issues. Think people get a bit sensitive about M cars, you'd think they are made of glass. Mine used to do 15mpg, don't expect much more unless you drive like a granny.
Only had it just over a year, but it was great fun. Never had any issues. Think people get a bit sensitive about M cars, you'd think they are made of glass. Mine used to do 15mpg, don't expect much more unless you drive like a granny.
I do miss the vx220 alot was a great car for the money hated it in the wet its a weekend car in good weather i feel not a daily id be afraid to park it anywhere all it would take is someone to knock it and its gone. It was basically a go kart. If you do get one its shares some parts with the lotus so read up before buying anything for it, i found that out with one of the roof cables snapped. I did get a hardtop for mine as well as having the soft top both leaked like no tomorrow. I would think the M3 would be a better choice to be honest if your planning on having something your able to use alot.hopz121 said:The car will be used as my daily hack until Sept then I'll get a daily driver and it would be a toy.
Just looking for advice really as I think both if I find a good one will be safe investments and pretty fun.
I do like the odd track day but if I had a mint M3 I would probably never take it on track where as a VX220 I would.
I like that the VX220 is a lot cheaper to run, but not sure if it's too raw and that an M3 would be better suited.
What did you think of you M3 no fit state.
Do you miss the VX220 danstar *(STARR)*?
The insurance funnily enough is a lot cheaper on the VX220 as well.
The VX220 has some nice mods on it too.
My dad has had a E46 M3 SMG from new (in 2003) now just clocked over 40k and it's lovely. I think he's holding onto it thinking it's going to be worth some decent money some day... As a daily driver it would certainly be entertaining if you can find a decent, unmolested one. GLWTS