I am considering picking up a 1999 M3 (coupe), and was wondering how they compare to the ITR. Are they much more luxurious?

I did a search, so no bugging on the real, word-em-up? I am the original Jamaican Gangsta Killa. I murder for fun. But yeah, just wanted the heads up from anyone that had/has one, especially someone that also has an ITR.

MikE?

Thanks In Advan (ce) <----- Hahahahhaha, JDM joke. I am like a King

 

my brother has a 99
it is more fine tuned, plush and luxurious than the R. It is faster too. I think its a good buy, but it gets tiring with heavy shifting and heavy clutch. The shifter isn't crisp like the R was. If you have the money get it.

 

if you wanted luxurious, i would suggest getting a lexus IS300

 

I like the M3. Nice sporty, and as far as clutch pressure goes.... you'll get it in the R when you replace it with a highperf. clutch anyway.

 

oh la la, M3 is very good choice...more power and lux...
but as u know Bimmers are high maintenance cars, compare to honda

 

Dude, grab your nuts and shift!!!!!! it is not bad at all. if an M3 is making you tired than you really have not felt a stiff clutch at all. BMW has perfect wieght for the petal.... it is for "spirited" driving and a stift clutch just make the exsperiance more fun.

-nate... who loves his bmw clutch

edit: GO for it! if it is the right price you will love it! Bimmers are not high matenance at all!!! the only thing you will ever need to replace is the spark plugs at 70K and the vanos unit should be looked at at 90k. Otherwise they are problem free... have had know many people who have them and have never had a probelm. I have had few things to replace on my 1990 with 140k but that is it.


[Modified by Nate, 7:13 AM 5/12/2002]


[Modified by Nate, 7:18 AM 5/12/2002]

 

If my R were stolen, that would be my first choice used replacement.

 

Nice choice....i recently sold my R, had a S2K reserved, but i think i may pick up a 00 M Coupe (the one that looks like the civic hatchback on steroids.) instead. tired of waiting...

 

Are you buying it for luxury (and some performance)? If so, 99 e36 M3 is a great car.

If you're buying it for performance (but with added luxury), then go with pre-OBDII e36 M3 ('94-'95). These can be modded easier and gain more HP due to their OBDI check.

 

Aside from the OBD, was the 94/95 engine any different from the 96-99?

 

95 = OBD1 and a 3.0L engine
96 = OBD2 and a 3.2L engine

BUT the 3.0 engine can produce more than the 3.2 with the addition of a Euro HFM.

Warren

 

Damn John make up your mind. What color was the M coupe?

 

He said M3 coupe, not M Coupe.

Warren

 

He's talkin about me The M Coupe is Black...going to test drive her today.

 

Well what do you want to know specifically? My dad has a 96 M3 and it is a very nice car, so I'll try to help out. The M3 has some nice torque, so you really don't need to rev it to have fun. Also it is quieter, especially on the freeway. As far as the suspension goes, it is nice and stiff, very similar to the ITR's. As far as luxury it is a typical BMW, quality materials and very good fit and finish. I agree that the clutch is somewhat stiff, but that doesn't bother me at all. There is a reason that the E36 M3 was the best selling M car to date.

 

M3=

 

I've driven and ridden in a lot of these cars, on the street and on the track. Compared to the Type R, they have nice power and nice handling. Not really all that much quicker than an ITR, which is not surprising, since they have the exact same power-to-weight ratio as the ITR. They're a lot heavier - by 600 pounds!!! And you WILL feel that weight on the track, where they are less nimble. They have an advantage in stealth; they look like other BMWs and they're better in terms of being conspicuous theft targets. They are not as reliable as the ITR; don't let anyone kid you otherwise. They hold their value well (just like the ITR). The quality of the interior materials really sucks; in particular, their ergonomics (the feel of the controls, little stuff like the glove box) is really nowhere near as good as the ITR. And they won't handle as well on slippery roads (particularly in winter conditions) as the ITR.

All in all, they're nice cars, but they're not a big step up from the ITR. The E46 M3 is, but for twice the bucks, it better be.

 

nsxtcjr- The ITR surely will handle better in winter due to it being fwd, any rwd car is always going to be worse in winter. I can see where you are coming from in the ergonomics aspect, but I think that is more of an opinion. A car like the M3 is a luxury sports car where the ITR in my opinion is a stripped down racer. The BMW offers you featurs such as heated seats that you can't even get in the ITR, also the optional non-power Vader seats hold you in place very well. As far as reliability, I have to disagree. I've seen plenty of M3's w/ over 100k on them w/only minor problems, however the M3 will definatly cost more to maintain. For an example of build quality our old 525 has 230k on the original clutch, that speaks for itslef. I'm not trying to get into a flame war here, just tyring to help 99ITR SC make a good decision.

 

on a more pessimistic note..i was forwarded to a site in which over 20s E46 M3 owners reported blowing their motors with ridiculously low mileage...and getting the run around by bmw....i dont kno the validity of all this but it makes me think twice...btw...the total cost of a replacement engine plus labor nears 20,000 for a new motor.

 

ITR's were built more for racing then the M3, just keep that in mind when you are driving and wonder where all the harshness and noise went

 

That's probably why it's so hard to find one!

 

This is indeed true. I saw one of them happen for no apparent reason a week ago at a BMW CCA drivers school at Road America, where I was instructing. (Not my student though.)

 

go luck on paying those repair bills

I just recently saw a 1995 Silver M3 coupe for sale at a local dealer.
77k miles....asking $21,500.....but I don't think I'd go for it. with that many miles, and not knowing the maintenance history....just to scary to even consider.

 

Ummm I thought he was asking about a e36 m3... What does the new e46 have to do with it!!! Also the e36 engine had been sourted out for a few years befor they made the production model(was going to be in the last year of the e30, instead they rushed the e36 body into production). The new e46 motor is going to have some problems as it is a brand new engine, I know many b18c5 that people have blown up. In the wrong hands, and when you are not use to the car yet you could easly blow any engine.
I agree with Mtldown.

-nate

 

OT: If I had a choice of a M3, I would take a low-mileage E30 M3 with evo accessories. That car ownz!