E46-M3 the next modern classic

[tomscott]

Well when I was buying mine I wanted the E46 M3 as my dads (above) was one of my fav cars we had. But I had just turned 23 when I bought the Z4Mc and I had about 3 months earlier nearly pulled the trigger on an E46 but the cheapest insurance quote for the E46 M3 was £2600 guessing because so many were made and so many young idiots had bought them and written them off (were not all the same), whereas the Z4M coupe was £1060... No contest really suppose with only 550 in the UK and with about 520 left on the road the write off statistic was a lot lower.

Dont know if you have driven an e46 but the ride is sublime compared to the Z lol which I really liked! I just really wanted and M really and especially the S54 with that raspy exhaust, always loved the Z4Mc but wanted the 4 seats. But one came into my local dealer and as soon as I saw it I was sold quick test drive and signed there and then. So Bought the Z4Mc and bought the cooper S as a run around as I got a spanking deal with it and the part x on my old cooper. Was a fun week picked up the brand new Cs and a week later the Z4Mc.

In a perfect world I would run a 2 seater like the Z4M as a weekend car and have an M3 as a daily/family car. Thats the plan anyway, but a long long way off.

 

[StevenH72]

Well when I was buying mine I wanted the E46 M3 as my dads (above) was one of my fav cars we had. But I had just turned 23 when I bought the Z4Mc and I had about 3 months earlier nearly pulled the trigger on an E46 but the cheapest insurance quote for the E46 M3 was £2600 guessing because so many were made and so many young idiots had bought them and written them off (were not all the same), whereas the Z4M coupe was £1060... No contest really suppose with only 550 in the UK and with about 520 left on the road the write off statistic was a lot lower.

Dont know if you have driven an e46 but the ride is sublime compared to the Z lol which I really liked! I just really wanted and M really and especially the S54 with that raspy exhaust, always loved the Z4Mc but wanted the 4 seats. But one came into my local dealer and as soon as I saw it I was sold quick test drive and signed there and then. So Bought the Z4Mc and bought the cooper S as a run around as I got a spanking deal with it and the part x on my old cooper. Was a fun week picked up the brand new Cs and a week later the Z4Mc.

In a perfect world I would run a 2 seater like the Z4M as a weekend car and have an M3 as a daily/family car. Thats the plan anyway, but a long long way off.

Fair enough and I understand your reasoning behind getting the Z.

Now that you've owned the Z, if you were given the choice of owning 1 car (lets assume you didn't "need" 4 seats but just a car for the enjoyment of driving) would you stick with the Z or go with an E46 M3?

i.e. in your mind which is the better car with regards to pure driving enjoyment.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

In a perfect world I would run a 2 seater like the Z4M as a weekend car and have an M3 as a daily/family car. Thats the plan anyway, but a long long way off.

I agree I do miss having a weekend fun car both my zed & TVR I used as weekenders & I love my M3 as my daily but it would be nice to still have the zed too!

I enjoy taking the missus TT out but that's more of a nice car to drive rather than a sporty motor tbh...I miss the S54 a great engine :driving:

 

[tomscott]

If I was 100% honest the Z is awesome but its ride on British roads is very poor it is very skitish and the m3 is more planted bigger boot similar performance.

But what do you want fun or sensible fun?

It's a hard choice but when you get those perfect conditions the Z is hard to beat. Very rewarding to drive. imo its one of the best looking cars on the road, rare blend of rarity, performance and looks not many cars can boast. which is why its better than the more mundane m3 and the interiors are much cooler.

The M3 has the name the Z has the kudos and the dark horse shock value to most people not in the know. It turns heads and I love that.

It's down to preference and you have to drive them and live with them for a while. Driving the Z feels like being in the back seats of an M3 because your in a similar position over the rear axel which is why the z feels skittish.

Hard choice but both are awesome I love my Z and that's what I would choose

 

[StevenH72]

If I was 100% honest the Z is awesome but its ride on British roads is very poor it is very skitish and the m3 is more planted bigger boot similar performance.

But what do you want fun or sensible fun?

It's a hard choice but when you get those perfect conditions the Z is hard to beat. Very rewarding to drive. imo its one of the best looking cars on the road, rare blend of rarity, performance and looks not many cars can boast. which is why its better than the more mundane m3 and the interiors are much cooler.

The M3 has the name the Z has the kudos and the dark horse shock value to most people not in the know. It turns heads and I love that.

It's down to preference and you have to drive them and live with them for a while. Driving the Z feels like being in the back seats of an M3 because your in a similar position over the rear axel which is why the z feels skittish.

Hard choice but both are awesome I love my Z and that's what I would choose

The "skittish" nature of the Z is the one thing that crops up time and time again when reading reviews/ road tests or talking to owners.

I wonder whether the ride quality will prevent the Z from becoming a future classic or whether, the engine, looks and rarity will be enough to push it in the same direction as the Z3M? Although, am I right in saying that the reviews of the Z3M's ride aren't too dissimilar to the Z4M's anyway?

Having not owned either (but driven both) it's the rarity and looks of the Z that have won me over. Glad to see that the views of a long term owner come out positively for the Z also. :driving:

 

[tomscott]

Ye similar ride to the z3m. Obviously you can reduce it with suspension tweaks although mine is lowered it rides better than the standard cars I've been in. You get used to it and just see it as a quirk.

 

[Ewazix]

I love them too but I think too many were made for it to be a classic... And yes they are so cheap now that any old retard is buying them and ruining them.

My thoughts exactly.

Having been involved with classics for 30 years I posted my theory on 'futures' on another thread a few months ago and think it stands up OK when considering any M3, the only thing I'de say is that rarity can be a two way street, rarity makes it interesting, but not necessarily sought after by buyers.

.............. there are some distinct factors that help a car 'make it' and get treated/priced as a classic,
1. Anything eventually, so long as it's old, exceptionally low mileage and in totally original 'time warp' condition
2. Two seater roadsters no matter how 'sporting' they actually are
3. Quirky or interesting cult cars, sometimes despite not actually being very good (Beetle, 2CV, std Mini, Messerschmitt)
4. Anything that's been featured on TV or film (seen the price of a Red Audi Q since Life On Mars?)
5. A specific model with sporting heritage
6. Limited production factory sports models (Homogenisation specials like the RS500 etc)
7. Anything tagged 'Supercar' or exotic (any Ferrari, Lambo etc)

The more boxes it ticks the earlier it will stabilise in value and then appreciate. On the whole ///M cars have always lagged way behind their rightful spot in the pantheon of classic car values probably because of dodgy mods, a certain 'image' (which takes a long time to dispel) and the cars have a reputation for expensive maintenance. But yes a nice original E46 M3 will get there.

 

[ZermattV]

Quick search online and all the best ones atm are convertibles but this one looks mint! Although would you pay 19k for a 7 year old BMW? When you can get the E92 from about 22-23k?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201305206844928/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/price-to/20000/maximum-mileage/up_to_40000_miles/model/m3/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1501/postcode/ca117tu/page/1?logcode=p

This is the kind of car I would like to buy from munich legends estoril blue, stick my CSLs on it would look a beast.

http://www.munichlegends.co.uk/component/option,com_rdautos/id,221/view,detail/

Funnily enough I think that's the car in the straight six article and front cover

 

[buzyg]

Interesting conundrum is that there are many more M3s than Z4s, however many more of the M3s will be daily drivers cars or track day raggers. so over time the M3s will wear out and dissappear form the market place quicker than the Z4s. :?