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View Poll Results: Which car would you buy?
1M Coupe 94 43.12%
E90/92 M3 73 33.49%
E86 Z4 M Coupe 36 16.51%
E46 M3 15 6.88%
Voters: 218. You may not vote on this poll

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      09-11-2010, 02:41 PM   #1
HERR FSTIR
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Which Will You Buy: 1M vs M3 vs Z4M

The 1M now appears fairly certain to have the following:

- Manual transmission only
- Mildly tweaked N54 (est. 340-350 hp)
- Limited weight savings (est. 3300 lbs, yielding 9.4-10 lbs/hp)
- Limited to 3 colors (white, black, valencia orange)
- Limited availability (500 units in US, 2700 worldwide)
- Estimated price point $45-50K
- Probably no carbon fiber roof

Assuming no significant variation of these specifications, and without focusing much on price, which would would buy? Which M car offers the most "pure" M driving experience?

1. 1M Coupe

2. E90/92 M3 (3700 lbs, 414 hp, 8.9 lbs/hp)

3. E86 Z4 M Coupe (3225 lbs, 338 hp, 9.5 lbs/hp)

4. E46 M3 (3400 lbs, 333 hp, 10.2 lbs/hp)
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      09-11-2010, 02:56 PM   #2
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Voted 1M, but I was looking at the Z4M Coupe just today. Can get a good deal on one locally too (10k miles!!).. no backseats though which really is why I haven't got one already.

M3 is just too big a car for me, but is more practical than the Z4M. Heart really is in the 1M to be honest, back seats, small, is an M! It's the works.
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      09-11-2010, 03:02 PM   #3
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That echoes much of my sentiments. The Z4 M coupe is really close to what I want in an M car. It is the lightest of the bunch. However, I haven't driven one so I am not sure what to think.

My experience in the e92 M3 was very positive. That motor is reason enough to buy the car. But it did seem a little too big for my taste. However, it would be nice to own the last NA M car.

Decisions, decisions, decisions....
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      09-11-2010, 04:04 PM   #4
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Dinan S3 as an Option to the 1M?

Interesting poll, but limited choices. I'm thinking about taking $10 grand and opting for a Dinan S3! My 2010 only has 4100 miles on it. By the time I finish with upgrading, I think it'll be competitive with the 1M, although it certainly will not have the 1M sachet -- nor the dealer's markup.

pge
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      09-11-2010, 04:08 PM   #5
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Didn't vote...
I have a 135 and am perfectly happy.
Why change?
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      09-11-2010, 04:17 PM   #6
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Voted 1M but only if I can get one a reasonable price.

If not I'll gradually mod the 135 over the next ten years. Suspension
, then Widebody it, then E92 M3 drivetrain with a bored stroked balanced and blueprinted supercharged S65 with all forged internals. Conservativly Figure around 700-800 hp with an ungodly amount of torque.

I had a dream where I did it and now I really want to...financial responsibilities be damned!
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      09-11-2010, 04:38 PM   #7
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2009 135i  [6.50]
Quote:
Originally Posted by ennislaw View Post
Interesting poll, but limited choices. I'm thinking about taking $10 grand and opting for a Dinan S3! My 2010 only has 4100 miles on it. By the time I finish with upgrading, I think it'll be competitive with the 1M, although it certainly will not have the 1M sachet -- nor the dealer's markup.

pge
1M is like Dinan Signature 3 plus LSD plus wheels and tires plus cosmetics and seats. It would take at least $15,000 even without the cosmetics and seats.

adding: Oops, I forgot labor. So it would be around $20,000 without the cosmetics and seats.

Last edited by GaryS; 09-12-2010 at 07:37 AM..
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      09-11-2010, 06:55 PM   #8
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On a budget : E46 M3

Raw Car: Z4M

Best sounding car / new car look: E90 M3

Wants the newest thing on the block: E82 M1

I don't care for the E82 M1 sorry...it looks nice but I could do the same to a 135I....

Bang for the Buck E46M3 wins it... the Z4M will have an amazing resale value.

I was following an X5M yesterday talk about a bad sounding car...I really hate the new M cars...My 135I didnt sounded so bad but still sounded like a vaccum cleaner and had that odd turbo noise when shifting gear....
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Its because a lot of BMW owners are housewives or business professionals and know little about cars other than BMW's are a status symbol in their own circles so that have to have one. But exotic car owners know cars, that's why they are willing to spend for a killer car and they know something different when they see one.

Last edited by mtla4; 09-11-2010 at 07:03 PM..
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      09-11-2010, 07:28 PM   #9
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I already own the Z4MC.

I'll have to test drive the car before making a choice.
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      09-11-2010, 07:36 PM   #10
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^ Nice car!



If the 1M isn't really M pure, who cares!
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      09-11-2010, 07:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E82tt6 View Post
I already own the Z4MC.
Have you driven either the E46 or E92 M3? If so, can you comment on differences in feel between Z4M and the M3?

Any criticisms of the Z4M?
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      09-11-2010, 08:18 PM   #12
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I owned a Z4M Coupe and currently own an E46 M3. I have also test driven an E92 M3 DCT and a E93 M3 stick. The Z4M Coupe and the E46 M3 honestly feel quite similar in my opinion, of which I tracked the Z4M Coupe twice and the M3 none. The E46 M3 in my opinion feels more stable and confidence inspiring, but that may be because of a combination of the weight/longer wheelbase and the fact that sitting so far back in the Z4 was an unusual feeling for me. The Z4M Coupe felt more wild but not so much in a you can enjoy on the street sort of way for me at least with my limited skill and experience. For street I do prefer the E46 M3 just because of the more natural and familiar feeling I suppose.

The E92 M3 felt fast and stable, but the weight was definitely noticeable. The jump in weight and overall size felt much larger for me than the jump from the Z4M Coupe to the E46 M3. It just feels like such a large car in comparison in more than one way. It also didn't "feel" substantially faster in a straight line than either of the S54 engined cars likely due to the small torque advantage vs large weight gain and increase in driver insulation. I took the DCT E92 all the way through 1st and 2nd full throttle and while it sure felt great, it didn't feel much if any faster despite knowing it is.

These experiences with the E92 M3 while owing the Z4M Coupe lead me to take a pass and to end up with the perfect E46 M3 after months of searching: white on cinnamon, no sunroof, zcp, no nav, etc. I have no intention of selling the E46 whether I get a 1M or not since it is honestly my favorite of the 3 available today and mine was such a rare find.

I don't really know how to answer the poll since I've already bought 2 of them and would again for both, and am strongly considering the 1M. Therefore I abstained.

Hope that gave some insight into the differences between the 3!
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      09-11-2010, 08:46 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HERR FSTIR View Post
Have you driven either the E46 or E92 M3? If so, can you comment on differences in feel between Z4M and the M3?

Any criticisms of the Z4M?
Yes on all counts :-)

For criticisms of the Z4 MC, the only big one is the shifter. It's pretty bad for a sportscar of this calibre. It's stubborn about 2nd gear. If your touch isn't right, it'll grind very easily. It generally feels slightly imprecise, and a little bumpy. It's no Porsche in that regard. When you're really having fun, it doesn't detract from the experience too much, but at first that 1-->2 shift was very annoying.

The ride might be on the harsh side for some, but I have absolutely no issues. I've taken it on a couple LONG road trips, with no problems. It'll easily carry a week's worth of stuff for a couple.

I've driven the E46 M3 several times on both street and track. It's a great car. It isn't slow by any definition, but it feels significantly slower than the E92 M3, and the Z4 MC. Not only the Z lighter, but it also has a different ECU which tends to result in a noticeable amount more HP under the same circumstances. The E46 M3 feels significantly lighter and more toss-able than the E92 M3, and feels like a bit more of a "hooligan" if you know what I mean. There's a bit more body movement, but the car changes directions a lot faster, and grips just as well. I think it'll be more fun than the E90 under certain circumstances, but not all. I think generally the E90 will be more fun on more open roads/tracks with longer corners, and the E46 will feel more fun and lower speeds where there are more rapid direction changes. Not sure which would be more fun on a day-to-day basis. Steering feel is great in both cars. The engine in the E92 is obviously superior.

I think the Z4 MC is more fun to drive than either car. It feels significantly lighter and tighter than either. It has less body movement than the E46 M3 by a LARGE margin, but does not feel unnaturally flat, or disconnected. It is far more precise than either car, and changes direction much more readily than either. In terms of handling and driving fun it is generally superior. It is much, much more difficult to drive very fast than either car. It is almost perfectly neutral, and is thus likely oversteer if you mess up. I find it very predictable and controllable, but it certainly takes more effort than either M3.

In terms of overall performance, it is the best car I have owned. It would certainly be faster around a track than my modded 135i, modded '03 cobra, or Boxster S.

I really love the Z4 MC. I was going to do ED on another 135i or an E92 M3 until I drove the car.

I don't need the back seat, and the hatch is big enough to carry anything I'd want to.

IMHO, it's a back seat vs no back seat situation.
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      09-11-2010, 09:31 PM   #14
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If I changed, it would be to the e92 m3. The v8 is just unbeatable v8>v6 all day every day, larger engines FTW
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some italian, german, and japanese ones; and on order more of the same
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      09-11-2010, 09:44 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jibaholic101 View Post
If I changed, it would be to the e92 m3. The v8 is just unbeatable v8>v6 all day every day, larger engines FTW
v6<v8<i6
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      09-11-2010, 11:55 PM   #16
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Appreciate the feedback from the Z4M owners. I've been looking around at prices on 2008 models, and it seems a low mileage Z4M can be had in the low to mid 30s. It sounds like a very dynamic car with the awesome S54 engine. It is a very tempting option.

I find the limited production numbers of the 1M particularly frustrating. It would be nice to have a chance to drive the car and make a decision. But you basically need to put a deposit down now in order to get an allocation.

Besides the engine, the other big plus of going with an E92 M3 would be European delivery. I expect ED will not be offered with the 1M, which is a shame. If I knew for a fact I could pick up a 1M in Munich and drive it around Europe for a few weeks, then my decision would be made.
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      09-12-2010, 04:48 AM   #17
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If the Serie 1 M coupe didnt fullfill my list of expectatitions then i will go for a M3 E30
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      09-12-2010, 08:56 AM   #18
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The more I think about it, the more the 335is is starting to look like a better deal than the 1M, with only a guestimated 3k difference in baseprice.

Really.
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      09-12-2010, 11:06 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HERR FSTIR View Post
Appreciate the feedback from the Z4M owners. I've been looking around at prices on 2008 models, and it seems a low mileage Z4M can be had in the low to mid 30s. It sounds like a very dynamic car with the awesome S54 engine. It is a very tempting option.

I find the limited production numbers of the 1M particularly frustrating. It would be nice to have a chance to drive the car and make a decision. But you basically need to put a deposit down now in order to get an allocation.

Besides the engine, the other big plus of going with an E92 M3 would be European delivery. I expect ED will not be offered with the 1M, which is a shame. If I knew for a fact I could pick up a 1M in Munich and drive it around Europe for a few weeks, then my decision would be made.
I second that, Herr! you and me are on the exact same page. Ive been dreaming of touring Germany in a new M-car for years. The 1M is a perfect fit for me in many ways, and the thought of it not coming together is very frustrating.
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      09-12-2010, 11:14 AM   #20
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None they lost my sale when they decided not to put DCT in 1m
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      09-12-2010, 12:40 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Future M1 owner View Post
The more I think about it, the more the 335is is starting to look like a better deal than the 1M, with only a guestimated 3k difference in baseprice.

Really.
Right on and the 335is is not a good deal to me thats why I will pass on this car. This M1 is made from left overs parts. They're milking the cow. The 1 series have poor sales in NA I dont know about Europe but its a flop.
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Its because a lot of BMW owners are housewives or business professionals and know little about cars other than BMW's are a status symbol in their own circles so that have to have one. But exotic car owners know cars, that's why they are willing to spend for a killer car and they know something different when they see one.
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      09-12-2010, 05:20 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryS View Post
1M is like Dinan Signature 3 plus LSD plus wheels and tires plus cosmetics and seats. It would take at least $15,000 even without the cosmetics and seats.
adding: Oops, I forgot labor. So it would be around $20,000 without the cosmetics and seats.
Not that I particularly disagree with your estimates (the nearest authorized Dinan installer is about an hour away), but if there's a limited production, wanna guess what you'll be paying a BMW dealer as markup over MSRP? I got a very good price over invoice for my 135i with an ED & PCD, I don't see that happening with a 1M, unfortunately.

pge
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