i remember jeremy said M3 drivers have no friends...

Honestly, those are both nice choices. You'll probably need to sit down and test drive them both, spend some seat time, and just spend some time mingling around either to see how you feel and which suits you..

M3 = more hardcore. (but I wouldn't get the 'vert imo)

IS = more balling.

why is IS more balling then M3


IS's tailight looks cheap, as if its off a corolla or sth

get the m3, but not a 'vert.

Here's some good long term info from edmund's, they bought a used one last year to add to their fleet, pretty much the situation you're in, wants a nice performance car for cheap
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/P...les/2002BMWM3/

can anyone point me to an m3/bmw forum.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/

http://www.vancouvereuros.com/

euroforums.ca

i say keep the TL if u gonna switch to IS350, since not really a better car if not the same or worse. Not much of an upgrade IMO , especially IS has no fucking rear room (im 6 feet 185 pounds)



if u gonna go for the upgrade go for the M3, but prepare a bit more dough on the side in case maintenance kicks in

how do u keep up payment on an M3 if u'r going to school?

He's buying a cheap one used from the states I believe

A friend went through this exact comparison a little while back. He really liked the IS350 and was dead set on it but then he drove an '04 M3 and went that route. He's 25ish so I think the M3 Coupe fits his personality more at this time in his life.

The priciest maintenance item on an M3 is the valve adjustment IIRC.

Kev

^


and roughly how much is that???


are you only able to do it at a stealership?

Adjusting the valve shims is a DIY job...just rent or buy the toolkit

I think it is in the range of 8 hours?

you can do it yourself.. just takes time and have enough shims around. Everywhere you go you still have to do labour at 8*labour hours.. at the dealership it is $120/hour vs 3rd part shop at 80-90/hour.

The fact is M3 is optimized for power over maintenance. Just like F1 cars engine last only for 5 races.. that's 4k km?

Honestly technology has moved on.. and I think IS350 vs 335i is a more fair comparison in terms of performance and service intervals.

It is like comparing a US car vs a Canadian car, in this day where everything is nearly par, you cannot argue that Canadian car (itself) is cheaper than a US one.

You make it sound like the M3 is gonna fall apart lol

It will still run to 200,000 km and more... but you're right the engine will live a hard life and probably require more attention

I think the OP needs to actually go do some test drives. No amount of online articles is going to replace that.

They are two different beasts, and I'm sure he will know which suits him almost right away, if he actually got behind the wheel.

I have lots of money saved up :)

Make sure you try sitting in a M3. I'm 6'1" and my head brushes against the roof of my mom's 330ci. It's so annoying!

I know you're looking at a convertible, but still, just a word of warning.

i am 6'2 and have been in tons of m3's and 3series and havent been close to hitting my head...... and more on topic... you do know you will not get either of those cars into canada for under 30k..it will cost atleast 10k to get it through customs and released from bmw/lexus as well as the exchange rate plus taxes in california, at the border, AND when you register the car here

lol.

1) YOU DO NOT PAY STATE TAX.

2) 6 % duty, 5 % gst 7 % pst (at "stated purchase price)

3) You can get an 04 coupe/convertible for around 20k.

4) And you assume I don't have USD.

I am still on my first clutch despite I have a SMG and I do a launch control once a while.

No the M3 doesn't fall apart, it fact it is one of the better put together 3er for quite a while. The S54 engine requires more routine maintenance.

Again for the 335i same amount of power, less routine maintenance. No to mention larger improvement with boltons (vs the S54).

M3 hands down because it's a M3 plus it still looks good compared to the new E92. The IS imo is old and dated now. It doesn't have the appeal it once had.

Wait, this doesnt really make sense. Isnt the IS350 just as expensive if not more than a TL?

Are you trading in or buying another and selling the TL?
I think it would make the most sense to just keep what you have, but if I had to choose I'd go with the is350 just for the reliability although I love the M3

If you are getting M3 from states, make sure get a 04 or newer model, because they have a "Bearing Recall" for 01,02 and early 03 model...I just got a 04 M3 month ago and I love it...But as a daily drive, it is pretty bad on gas...lol...

The 335i will out run both in terms on straight line performance.
It makes more than the paper 300hp.