328is vs M3

[noodles101]

i have a 328is and never owned an M3 before and obviously if you've never owned one , you want 1 . lol...

but my car has 235 k but the body is in 9/10 condition. so my plan is to spend some money to make it bullet proof , so that i can drive it as a daily till im done my degree and little longer so maybe 5 years .

[Colombian]

also think about insurance.. M3 will probably be 2 to 3 times more expensive just becuase the dude at state farm feels like it!! lol.... I got a 325is and I pay 100 bucks a months which is pretty good for my age!!

[SiR]

you always spend more on mods than you think you will and insurance will be pretty close.

if you are happy with the IS then go for it! though if you are planning on putting in the us spec m3 engine... you might as well just buy the m3 and go from there.

[Dr. Flyview]

Originally Posted by noodles101

i have a 328is and never owned an M3 before and obviously if you've never owned one , you want 1 . lol...

but my car has 235 k but the body is in 9/10 condition. so my plan is to spend some money to make it bullet proof , so that i can drive it as a daily till im done my degree and little longer so maybe 5 years .

I would've bought your car if the body was 9/10

[blk325i]

lol... this again... obviously the m3 is better than the 328 doesn't matter how close they are or if you put money into the 328 to make it perform better it still comes down to M > NON-M

it's the same with the new 3 series, 335i's can be modded to be better than a stock m3, but it's still not an m3.. it still wasn't designed by the m division enginereers and built in m division factory

[dble Trouble]

Originally Posted by blk325i

lol... this again... obviously the m3 is better than the 328 doesn't matter how close they are or if you put money into the 328 to make it perform better it still comes down to M > NON-M

it's the same with the new 3 series, 335i's can be modded to be better than a stock m3, but it's still not an m3.. it still wasn't designed by the m division enginereers and built in m division factory

I'm sorry but I've heard this argument so many times on these boards and I think it's pathetic. I'm not saying a non M is better than an M but to lust after an M just because of the badge or because of where it was made is......well I've said it already pathetic. Lusting after a badge. If you already own a 328is, then I'd say keep it and modify it. In the long run it will be cheaper that way. BUT if you're shopping for a car get the best one your money can buy, being hopefully an M3.

My only other consideration would be if you're planning on upgrading the suspension, modifying the engine to achieve more power, and so on, regardless of what you buy....then get the 328is, since whether you have one or the other you'll be changing those parts!

[T.Dot_E30]

Originally Posted by Colombian

also think about insurance.. M3 will probably be 2 to 3 times more expensive just becuase the dude at state farm feels like it!! lol.... I got a 325is and I pay 100 bucks a months which is pretty good for my age!!

My M3 cost me 140/mth full coverage. I got quotes for all models. 318,325,328 and they were within 20-30 difference, ppl who say this are full of it. It's a myth.

[dbworld4k]

Originally Posted by Dr. Flyview

I would've bought your car if the body was 9/10

LOL!!!

Originally Posted by T.Dot_E30

My M3 cost me 140/mth full coverage. I got quotes for all models. 318,325,328 and they were within 20-30 difference, ppl who say this are full of it. It's a myth.

+1. Before I bought my 330Ci in 2008, I was quoted 800/yr more for the same year M3. I had just turned only 21 at that point, so it should be even smaller a difference now. Hell, in hindsight I should've waited another 6 months and bought an E46 M3 instead of my 330Ci as it would've had stock what I ended up getting done to my 330 (LSD, shorter gears, more power, better handling, etc)

As great as my E36 328i looked and handled, I always hated the lack of oomph beyond 3rd gear. That's precisely why I sold it after 3 years of modding. I also experienced similar sentiments about the E46 330ci until I got really short gears in 2009 to make her come alive... Go for the M3 and don't look back.

[TitansilberM]

When I bought my M, I planned to dd it all year. Love the car so much now I'm forced to garage it 7 months out of 12!

[doogee]

If you want the extra power and body parts out of the box, get an M3.

If you enjoy working on your car, keep and mod the 328. You can make it just as good or better than a US Spec M3 for minimal cost.

Either route you take, you're going to end up spending around the same amount of money.

And lastly, if you want a real M3, get a Eurospec

If there wasn't a US-Spec car, this argument wouldn't exist. Just like all other real M cars.

I have both a 328is and a US Spec M3. And I can honestly say, it doesn't deserve the badge.

[T.Dot_E30]

Found the old M3 vs 328 debate, if you have time read it over.

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/show...&highlight=328

[InfiniteDice]

You already have the perfect BMW, just go buy an SUV.

[Kamil]

12,000$ approx for a decent m3. 5000$ approx for a decent 328is. With 7000$ to spend on the 328is, you can get better suspension than the m3 (full coilovers), change every bushing and mount, full brakes, and even get the m3 bumpers and skirts. Probably many more things you can do to the 328is with the 7000$. I would rather drive a done up 328is with 210hp and full suspension with a similar exhaust note to the s52, than the US spec 240hp m3 thats completely stock and may be lacking the replacement of certain bushings or balljoints. If it was a euro spec e36 m3 then the difference is really noticeable. In that case obviously the m3 over the 328is. It really depends though because if i found an m3 in good shape for 10,000$ and i had 12,000$ lets say to spend, i would consider the m3 because the 2,000$ left over will get me through some maintenance.

[325isdan]

Who cares.. More pics of the E30!!

[iverson03tj]

my vote is for the 328! not saying this because i have one, its because the car was trully fun to me and the thought of it turning out the way it did still puts a smile on my face, i started with a stock 328 with a racing dynamic strut bar And it soon changed and im no mechanic, just read the forums alot, asked for help wen needed and tried to do it myself, so far i think i did pretty good