Hi, this is my first time on this board. I'm currently lookin for a new car, either a 98 M3 or a 98 ITR and I was wondering if any of you coudl help me out here. Right now, I own a 97 E36 but it's kind of a piece of **** and constantly has problems. So I've narrowed my choices down to those two.. Granted, a 98 M3 will cost way more, so the decision is basically between a 98 M3 with race springs, and that's about it... or.... a 98 ITR with suspension, rims, stereo, and like $5k for engine mods....Anyone drive both? own both? expereinces? opinions? pictures? anything to help me decide?... id also probably be lookin to change the front end to the japanese type R front end... anyone know how much that costs? also, where in the bay area is a good place to buy all these things.... thanks for any replies....

 

forgot to add... i dont track the car or anything like that, but i want a quick sporty car to drive fast on the freeway/through twisties, etc..... my main concerns are speed, reliability, maintenance, handling, looks, safety, image...

 

M3

 

first off welcome to the boards. Both cars will not let you down in performance(all categories). If the two vehicles were well maintained and in good condition then thats another plus. The R is basically an almost all out race car straight from the factory. You can hear just about any sound that your car makes by just driving it. The BMW is pretty much quiet and more luxurious. To get to the point, if you can afford it, go for the M3

 

image? you are a tard like the rest of the world.

D

 

if you aren't going to track it at all, save yourself the hassle of owning an R...you can still do all the things you wanted to a GSR and you will have less problems, ie theft, etc...

The M3 is a great car (haven't driven an older one, but I have driven a mid 90's 328 and the new M3). Of the ones I have driven, I have been very happy with, but you are looking at 2 different cars...small, nimble FWD, mid to large, somewhat nimble RWD...

Hell, I like em both, but you will probably be more suited in a BMW or the very most a GSR...

 

Hey man,
you've been emailing me I believe, welcome to the board. Just to throw in another factor, a 98 M3 is much more expensive than almost any Type R.

 

hey dawg m3 man..get it if u have the doe..i love this car

 

Type R's are nice, but M3's are nicer, if you want a hardcore road corse car, than the R would be your better bet, but for a daily driver and occasional racing the M3 is much nicer, and more powerfull. You can pick up a lot of HP with a few little bolt ons on a M3.

 

m3
the thing has massive power, love it. but it is quite a bit more than a type R.

 

maintanence costs on an m3 (or any bmw for that matter) as they get older/out of warranty.... it's something that has me waking at night in a cold sweat....!

 

M3 for sure if you dont bring the ITR to the track, they borned for the track.


[Modified by DC2R, 3:52 AM 9/2/2001]


[Modified by DC2R, 3:54 AM 9/2/2001]

 

If I didnt track or Autocross, i'd have still gotten my R. I guess i'm just more of a hardass than some other folks....


Rob-
who is bored as **** and drinkin

 

I'm agreeing with those recommending the M3. Sweet ride but, similar to porsche, expensive to maintain where the ITR is dependable and therefore cheap to maintain.

I'm a fan of the underdog, though. The M3 was on my list of cars, but I liked the fact that I could hang close to a 5.0 mustang in a mere stock 4 cyl. and whoop it's *** with a few bolt-ons. Yeuh!

 

M3.......mmmmmm..........RWD and torque.

-Randy
'00 EBP Si
STS AutoX prepped.

 

might i suggest an e46 m3 instead? You'll get by better financially because financing is gonna be less % than a cash loan for the car. And if you are paying cash, you could put down ~$30k and have an ultra low payment... Performance step-up is well worth it.....

 

Good call, the e46 M3 is much more street friendly as well.

 

i went through the same decision before i bought my R. there was a beautiful glowing white m3 4 door staring me in the face at the dealership one month before the R was to come back for 2001, and i needed a car BAD. after sleepless nights of deciding, i waited for the R because of exclusivity and because it is considered an icon car in our hobby. ultimately, you'll see more m3's in one day, and how many more chances in life will you get to be the owner and driver of a genuine type R? a month later, my brother got an m3.

 

M3, M3, M3

This is coming from a owner of both cars. I love the E36. Great power, great trq, a little bit slippery, but fun to handle. The R is great if you get more power squeezed out of it. My R has a lot more power now and can practally beat any N/A E36 M3. All my friends have E36's, all the teams I'm will are all E36s, all the shops I go to are E36's! They are just great. A little bit more common the the 98R 's, however if I was to choose between the two from the start I would have got the E36 first. Here's a few pictures to help you decide:

Friend's E36:


Another friends M3:


My E36:


My 98 R:


My 98 R:


I would say go for the E36 if your gonna start all over!
BTW- If you need help decideding more, drop me an E-mail. Atherton is close to me and I own both cars that your looking for. My 98 R is basically what you described, with a lot more. Plus my friends around here have all different combo's of type R mods and M3 mod's... I'm your M3/R man, I love both cars!
If you need more pictures of other R's or M3's or different shots of the engines, etc... let me know!


[Modified by Rboosted717, 12:18 PM 9/2/2001]

 

Cant agree with you here Rboosted. I owned a 95 E36 M3 and traded it in on a 98 ITR. And haven't looked back since. After selling my first R I ended up getting another one. Sounds like this guy is on a budget, and driving an M3 will burn a hole in his pocket. Maintenance and repair costs if anything breaks are WAY MORE than with the R. And if he has $7k to play with he can make his R spank M3's and still have money in the bank! Get a Type R man!!!

 

The only M power BMW's I have driven were a 95 M3 and a 2002 M coupe(318 hp).I really like the BMW's.They do everything well.The M3 won't be any or much faster in a straight line than an ITR with an Intake and a good driver.I just found that the refinement of the M3 was was incredible.I know some people on here think that the ITR is the endall sports coupe and that is fine.I personally would take the BMW.Two years ago when I got my R I probably wouldn't have said that,But after owning this car and driving the BMW I would go for the more refined and smoother ride of the BMW.That is,considering you have no interest in autocrossing the Integra or the M3.

 

hahahaha
sorry, i just had to laugh at that

 

The E36 M3 and the ITR have exactly the same power-to-weight ratio.

The ITR is less expensive.

The ITR is more reliable.

The ITR is MUCH better on wet and on snowy roads.

They are both hella fun at the track.

They both hold their value well (particularly if they're kept stock).

 

The JDM front end will cost somewhere between 3K and 5K depending on options.

I've never personally had the chance to drive or own a 98 M3. But my 2001 ITR is just fun the way it is. I have nothing on but just an air intake and it's fun to drive. I don't worry about it malfunctioning. It's great on the gas. It's just a great car to have. I say 98 ITR.

 

um sorry to say, but our '95 M3 has never broken down. Nor has any of my friends. I have heard of things happening (ie water pump problems, etc...) however I love the R, but nothing can compaire to the quality of a german built car. I will not argue with anyone on that fact. German's build killer cars and the M3 is a prime example of that. Yes the R is great. In fact if I were to compair the R to a german car, it would be the light weight M3. That is a true "R"ace verison of the E36 line, as with the type R is the "R"ace version of the integra DC2 line.
Anyway, if parts are a problem getting for some reason for the M3, just let me know, I have many contacts with the M3 crowd.