Help!! 2002 BMW M3 or 2004 330i ZHP??

[baadshaa_no1]

[B]Please help!!

I'm going through a major dilemma right now!! My budget is about $35k and would love to buy a BMW as my wife has now left me!!

I can either buy a 2004 BMW 330i ZHP with under 10,000 miles which comes with all of the warranties etc. Or have my dream car, a BMW M3 for the same sort of money but it will be a 2002 BMW M3 with about 35,000 miles.

I have never owned an M3 but I'm assuming they are expensive to service etc.

From all of you guy's expert opinion.... what do you think - older M3 or Newer 330i??

P.S. Both cars are not CPO vehicles...

Many thanks and respect
:dunno:

[jrp]

From all of you guy's expert opinion.... what do you think - older M3 or Newer 330i??

Service/warranty concerns aside....

Take each one out for an extended drive and you'll find your answer.

If you're still undecided after driving them back-to-back, then the 330 is your car.

[baadshaa_no1]

Why do you say 330?? Will that hold it's value better than an M3?

[Lanc3r]

Why do you say 330?? Will that hold it's value better than an M3?

No. He probably said that as a 330's maitenance will be a bit cheaper. And IF you cant tell the difference why pay more for an older car?

If it were me Id get the M and a new girlfriend. :D

[baadshaa_no1]

In terms of resale value after two years.... which one would be better?

I have driven an M3 before..... it is absolutely amazing but just concerned that it is 3 years old....

I am on the outlook for a new girlfriend.... any phone numbers :)

[Capial]

if the M3 is what you have always wanted, go for it. You only live once.

[Lanc3r]

In terms of resale value after two years.... which one would be better?

I have driven an M3 before..... it is absolutely amazing but just concerned that it is 3 years old....

I am on the outlook for a new girlfriend.... any phone numbers :)


Resale should be very similar for both cars. With maybe the M3 winning in the next 2 years as the new E90 coupe will be out well before we see a coupe E90M3.

But I would venture to say the 330 will be in warranty longer, and a bit cheaper out of warranty.

You have to decide what you and your bank account can live with.

[liuk3]

You should be able to get an E46 M3 under CPO warranty that is about in your price range. IMO, the key for the older car is to get the CPO warranty.

[jrp]

No. He probably said that as a 330's maitenance will be a bit cheaper. And IF you cant tell the difference why pay more for an older car?
Exactly.

The M3 will drink more gas and eat more tires. So if the driving experience and performance of the M3 do not outweigh the cost and age concerns, the 330 may be a better fit.

Neither car will get you laid...however, they've been known to reduce the probabilities of striking out and/or help you steal second. :thumbup:

[silvscorp]

Service/warranty concerns aside....

Take each one out for an extended drive and you'll find your answer.

If you're still undecided after driving them back-to-back, then the 330 is your car.


I was in a silmiar situation deciding between new 06 330i w/sports pkg and 03-04 m3.

You really have to drive the car in order to find out what you want. Based on your driving needs, if you can't tell much difference between the m3 and 330 then go with 330 since it's newer and less milage. 330 is still a great car none the less.

In the past weekend, I test drove a 330i and have decided I'd rather go with a used m3.

[tjg97002]

My friend has a 2004 330i w/ZHP which I drove quite a bit before buying my 2006 M3 w/ZCP. The clutch, shifter, seat position, and initial throttle response feel very similar between the two, but the M3 absolutely comes alive above 4000 RPM where the 330's power feels like your average performance sedan. I also think the suspension on the M3 is better both for daily and performance driving. Not that any of this information is a big shock, but for me, I was surprised most by the suspension refinement in the M3. The 330 w/ZHP suspension is just as harsh or a little harsher than the M3, so in my opinion it makes an OK daily driver at best. The 330 is like a weak M3, and while it's still a great car, I think you will find that you'll want to either go with the all-out performance of the M3, or get a barely used 330 w/sport package for a nice balance of sport and performance (it is a better daily ride than the 330 w/ZHP). I have a 98 Jeep Cherokee that I thought about trading in to get the 330, but I decided that what I really wanted was a versatile sports car that I could take out on the weekends and a practical car to put the daily miles on. In the end I just kept my Jeep, since it is already paid off, and bought the M3. Together I have everything that I was looking for. I have a car that can handle the winter months and the occasional run to the hardware store in the Jeep, and a phenomenal performance car that I can still fit 4 people into comfortably in the M3. I also only drive the M3 when I want to, instead of driving it when I have to, which will keep the excitement in it, keep the miles low, and keep the resale value high. The 330 w/ZHP just can't stack up to that combo. While the M3 may have cost me $10K more, it has certainly been well worth it.
If you take care of the M3, it will last and you won't have to lose sleep over warranties and maintenance costs. This is just my perspective on your question, take it for what it's worth. Best of luck with your decision...Freude am Fahren!

[bryan]

If you needed or had to have an M3, i think you would have already made the decision by now.

In my personal opinion, I would say go with the 330. If you are on a budget, don't make the mistake of going over or trying to slightly increase your budget - especially for an older car that will still continute to depreciate. It's better to be under your budget than go over and have to worry about potentially not being able to leiusurly afford the vechicle during times when the car needs maitnance and fixing, when the holidays are over and gas gas prices go back up, etc. At the end of the day, it still is a used car. So why not get the newest one you can? Just my take on it.

I was deciding between an 06 330xi and a slightly used M3. I went with the 330xi, I live in boston, so until i move back the burbs of NH, an M3 would not be very practical.

[Moderato]

If you like your car to be exciting to drive then get the M3. Otherwise get the 330.

[fm_illuminatus]

if the M3 is what you have always wanted, go for it. You only live once.

Seems like the best advice, if you can afford both cars, just one with a few miles more... definately go with the m3. 30K miles is nothing to sacrifice for your dream car. Besides with the m3, you will wake up every day happy with the choice you made, but with the 330i, your going to wake up every morning and wish for that m3. At least, I know that's how I would feel... :dunno:

[27rotax]

I look forward to, and look for excuses to....drive my M3 every day. I didn't feel the same about my e46 sedan (the car it replaced). To me the extra money was worth every penny! Good luck with your decision!

[baadshaa_no1]

Just a big thanks to all you guys for replying to my original question. I have decided to go for the 330i as my budget is not yet adequate to cover costs of repairs and tires. I will try and save an additional $10k over the next year and then buy an M3 by trading in the 330i. It should have good enough resale value in a year's time thus fulfilling my dream of owning an M3.

Major respects!!

[ChiUnit]

In my opinion you should just get the M3 first off but never know. A year is a long time maybe your taste will change :drive: :wave: :bareass:

[xspeedy]

I would go for the M3. It is best to aim for a three year old used car when buying used. Most of the depreciation has been eaten by the first owner.

In the end, the M3 will remain a special car for a long time.

[liuk3]

I would go for the M3. It is best to aim for a three year old used car when buying used. Most of the depreciation has been eaten by the first owner.

In the end, the M3 will remain a special car for a long time.

:stupid:
That was exactly my thinking and what I did on my last two car purchases.

[Jim in Oregon]

There is nothing that drives as nice as an M3, or looks as nice as an M3. Life is too short.

[Army Chief]

Given the totality of the circumstances, I do think the 330i is the better choice. It's more practical without being boring. It will be a bit cheaper to operate and maintain. The warranty implications are significant. The M3 is for someone who absolutely, positively cannot be happy with another car. If it is a toss up, then clearly, the 330i is still likely to please you.

A lot of people forget (probably because the U.S. only gets the 325i and 330i) that the 3.0 liter powered car is no slouch. By European standards, where you see the 316i, 318i, 320i, 323i and so forth, the 330i is considered the best of the breed. Germans tend to look at the M3 as a special car, but in a totally different class, since most can't afford it, and those who can normally go for something even bigger and more powerful. What I'm saying is that the 330i is still the car to beat in the eyes of most Germans. Is that relevant to the States? Maybe not, but there are many 325i owners out there who would love to be looking at a 330i.

There may yet come a day when you will pursue -- and score -- a M3. Until then, bide your time. Put your life back together a bit. Save some cash. Enjoy a very capable driving experience in the 330i. I think it is a fine choice, and a worthy performance machine in every sense of the word. Many here would differ, I suppose, but what would you expect from the M3 forum? It is only natural for one's opinion to follow one's money.

Chief