135 Coupe or E46 M3 - For the Same Money?

[jordan3054]

Hello From Australia

I am looking for a potential car if I do come out here to work and live in a few months, and want some of your opinions :)

135 Coupe brand new, and an E46 M3 (ones I would consider) go for around the same price, ie around AUD$ 85-90k, and I am not sure which to go for. M3 would be around MY2003

(Been told OTR for the 135i is AUD80k, so plus options prob close to the 90k mark), and M3's from 85k to 100k (ones I like)

My Thoughts.......

135 M Sport Coupe:-
-I will be buying brand new
- Very fast pace and excellent drive(from what I have read). Tweak a bit and I have been told it will give an E92 M3 a good run for its money
- Price includes 3 year warranty etc
-Nice to be driving a new model

M3:-
-I prefer (love in fact) the looks
-Always wanted one, and its an M Car after all :D
- They are not common here at all
-Prob feels more "on the edge"
- Car will be older and may have to fork out extra for warranty etc
- Pricey for a 5-6 year old car

So if it were you in my position, what would you do?
Ie the fact they are the same price etc

Suggestions for other cars welcome. Also quite tempted by an Aussie V8 (HSV or Monaro or something)for half the price :cool:

Thanks
Jordan

[Vin]

simple choice, M3 everytime.

[Missle]

If you can afford running costs then its a no brainer imho... M3 :D

135 is an awesome car in its own right though.

[XKaLiBaR]

definately M3. but have a go in both, before you decide. id say drive the 135 first, then the m3. ;)

ps. your going to lose money on the 135 anyone after a few years.

[jordan3054]

Thanks for the replies.

Deep down I wanted the M3 anyway, heart says M3, and am glad to see other people seem to think what I am thinking. At the moment, its definately going to be the M3 if any :) . Just wish used prices here in Australia werent so high compared to other cars

Its just so frustrating at the moment, as my life is in transition, and therefore will have to put off buying a car until I know where I am going to settle for the next few years.

Jordan

[h4pry]

I'd go for the 135....

E46 is old news and things have moved on...

IMO opinion the 1er will have better handling and feel much more modern...Drive them both and make your mind up!:)

[d_sport]

I Have heard that the 135 will keep up with the M3, I personally would go for the 135, be differenant and I would imagine it would hold its value better.

[imu]

Whatever the drivability of the 135, if you've always wanted an M car then you will feel short-changed by the 135...

As said earlier, if maintenance costs are not a concern, M3 all the way...!

[Griff]

Sorry but its got to be the Holden HSV - 6.0 V8 and get it supercharged!!

[h4pry]

Whatever the drivability of the 135, if you've always wanted an M car then you will feel short-changed by the 135...

As said earlier, if maintenance costs are not a concern, M3 all the way...!


Short changed because you don't have an M badge.:D

[mystic sport]

A 135 is a 1 series, a very fast 1 series but still just a 1 series and damned expensive at that (will depreciate something rotten as well).

The M3 is a genuine M car - endoff.

[Moe]

Drive them both see what you like if you going to beliving in oz buy a vert

[mysticm3]

M3. buy one and drive it to live your dreams. then sell it on you wont loose too much money as the value has come donw already and will stay stabalised for the many years to come.
then get a 135 if you really need to. simple as that mate

[Styler]

M3 baby, then get a 135 after which is 6 months old or something and save some cash to. But reckon you will find it very hard to give up an M3 if you got one.

[330ciSport]

I struggle to grasp hold of the fact that a new 135 can be the same price as a 2003 M3?

I know we're talking different countries here, but basic price for the 135 is about £30k here (yeah?) so for that I'd be expecting a pretty exceptional later M3 or a CSL.

[phat///M3]

I struggle to grasp hold of the fact that a new 135 can be the same price as a 2003 M3?

I know we're talking different countries here, but basic price for the 135 is about £30k here (yeah?) so for that I'd be expecting a pretty exceptional later M3 or a CSL.

Car prices in Australia are really high due to import tax on foreign cars I believe.

[Black Sabbath]

I certainly wouldn't rule out the 135 coupe,it has got awesome looks and should handle well I think.I understand what people are saying about the M3 but test them both,and then do some decision making

[gIzzE]

135i everytime for me. That car is pretty good out of the box, with some tuning and an LSD it will rock.
Plus the new Performance Package seats, steering wheel etc. look amazing.

A chip and exhaust will give that car 380bhp and you will see 60mph in 4.5 seconds, it is no slouch.

My dealer was saying 6 people have jumped ship on the new M3 and ordered a 135i instead, it may seem expensive for a 1 series, but for a performance car it is a bargin.

No way I would buy a 5 year old M3 for the same money, if the M3 was half the price then maybe, but at the same price?

[Missle]

[QUOTE=gIzzE]
A chip and exhaust will give that car 380bhp and you will see 60mph in 4.5 seconds, it is no slouch.
QUOTE]

Its 'book' time is 5.3 secs so dont think a remap and exhaust will knock of nearly 1 second somehow. Going by book times

[gIzzE]

Well the book time on my 335i touring was 5.6 and it did 5.1 every time in stock form, and one time 4.99, that was using an AP22 race tech meter.
With the Procede added it was always between 4.5 and 4.7 depending on how good a start you got, temperature and how dry the road was.

I am not sure what the bhp is at the wheels, but in stock form it said 286 and tuned 338, so quite a jump. I never got it on a rolling road though.

I see Superchips are now offering a plug in box giving an extra 49bhp for the 1/335i as well as the US suppliers.

[Missle]

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications_technical_specs/0,,1156_181236422__bs-MQ%3D%3D%40bb-Q1A%3D%40bm-MTIzZA%3D%3D,00.html

Book times above and bhp (306).

Just cant see it putting down those types of times from remap and exhaust but if it can then thats some pocket rocket! would be very impressive!

[jordan3054]

I find it hard to grasp that a new 135 could be the same price as a 2003 M3

Yeah I also find it strange that a used M3 is the same price as a new 135. In fact, a used M3 could get me a new X5, New Q7 etc etc. E46 M3 prices here seem to be pretty solid

But I think what some have said is right, get an M3 first, live the dream I always had, then later on I can decide if I want to sell it or not for something else. I think I have realised now if I dont get an E46 M3 I will always wish I had.

And also it will have to be a vert. The weather here man!!!!! Perfect IMO

[dxb335d]

I'd go for the 135....

E46 is old news and things have moved on...

IMO opinion the 1er will have better handling and feel much more modern...Drive them both and make your mind up!:)

i agree
+1.:D

[jordan3054]

i agree
+1.:D

Lol i agree as well to some extent. I think tho however that I have realised having an E46 M3 is something I have to get out of my system.

Then I will be able to move on to other things :)

[phat///M3]

e46 M3 FTW m8, an M car is an M car you will see why.

[330ciSport]

e46 M3 FTW m8, an M car is an M car you will see why.

Agreed but, to all intent purposes, the 135i is an ///M car, IMO, they're just avoiding any ///M badging on the 1 series range to avoid conflict with the old ///M1 and possible "new" ///M1. Kind of like how the 850csi was reported as being developed as the ///M8 but never badged that way (for different reasons).

It will drive and look like an ///M car so I wouldn't let that put you off. You might get less "wanker" signs off passing motorists too!

[SarahJane]

My thoughts are.... Go for the 135.. M3's are the nuts, but i love the 135... M3's are quiet common really, no one has a pimped out 1er.... Be different :D
But i can see why you cant decide. If you want the looks and the power get the M, but if you want a nice little project car to play around with, get the 135, 'charge' it and trick it out and im sure you'll be as fast as an M3... If not a likkle faster...... :rolleyes:

[phat///M3]

Jordan m8 where exactly are you going to live/ or live in OZ? We're thinking of moving there too. Shoot me a pm if you dont mind, I got a couple of questions if thats ok.

[peppernick]

Jordan, forget what the performance figures read. You're young, you want a nice car, you've got flare, and you've got the means to drop £30k on a toy.

Fc*k understatement. You're at the time of your life where you want some attention. Everybody goes through that, but not everyone can be in the position to consider and M3 or a new 135i.

Get the M3. It's a sense of occassion each time you walk up to it. You want to look at it, you want to dream of driving and modding it. You want people to comment ...... 'wow! Nice M :cool:'

Leave the 135i for more sensible people, who would sell their vital organs to be in the position to buy an M3 10 years earlier, at your age, but found them out of reach then.

[XKaLiBaR]

135i is not an ///M. for one perfect reason, only ///M cars come with LSD

that was my main reason for changing from a 330 to an M3

[330ciSport]

135i is not an ///M. for one perfect reason, only ///M cars come with LSD

that was my main reason for changing from a 330 to an M3

True'ish, but LSD'S are hardly the defining factor of the ///M cars, so no, its not the perfect reason. The LSD It's part of a much larger picture.

Also, I think if you look back through the history of BMW's, LSD's are not exclusive to the ///M range.

If your dismissing it because it doesnt have an LSD then you're mental. Oh, though it does have an M-diff, not an LSD, but it's got the ///M-"badge" which you seem to like.

Getting from A to B in the quickest possible manner does not usually involve getting sideways a lot, which LSD's are handy for, but hardly essential for fast on-road driving, which is what 95% of these cars would be used for.

I also changed from a 330 to an M3, but for so many more resons than its not having an LSD.

[jordan3054]

Jordan, forget what the performance figures read. You're young, you want a nice car, you've got flare, and you've got the means to drop £30k on a toy.

Fc*k understatement. You're at the time of your life where you want some attention. Everybody goes through that, but not everyone can be in the position to consider and M3 or a new 135i.

Get the M3. It's a sense of occassion each time you walk up to it. You want to look at it, you want to dream of driving and modding it. You want people to comment ...... 'wow! Nice M :cool:'

Leave the 135i for more sensible people, who would sell their vital organs to be in the position to buy an M3 10 years earlier, at your age, but found them out of reach then.

Lol I love the way you put it NIck. I think at the moment my mind is pretty set on an M3.

NOw as I said before, just got to wait on Visas etc to foind out when/where I am going to be settling for a while. Until then, its going to be a boring wait

Phat M3 - PM on its way mate :)

[phat///M3]

Lol I love the way you put it NIck. I think at the moment my mind is pretty set on an M3.

NOw as I said before, just got to wait on Visas etc to foind out when/where I am going to be settling for a while. Until then, its going to be a boring wait

Phat M3 - PM on its way mate :)

PM replied m8.

Im going to research the market properly (more regarding if the M will hold its value as otherwise its a shame to drop 65K Euros on a second hand M3) and also importing a car from abroad, I might have found a suitable solution for getting an M out there for a more reasonable amount.

Ive got the OZ bug now too.

[jordan3054]

PM replied m8.

I might have found a suitable solution for getting an M out there for a more reasonable amount.

Ive got the OZ bug now too.

Well if you do know of a good way do let me know. Go for OZ, hopefully we will see each other there :)