19 too young for an e46 m3?

Originally Posted by BMWE46///M3

It's not the youth but the arrogance of it.

Of what?

Of youth.

dude just get it.. i am 16 and i was about to get a e46 m3 but i decided i didnt want the old body style so i got a e90 325i and now i am tuning it up.. so at 19 m3 is a great car to have

Originally Posted by Barca93

dude just get it.. i am 16 and i was about to get a e46 m3 but i decided i didnt want the old body style so i got a e90 325i and now i am tuning it up.. so at 19 m3 is a great car to have

1) You got an E90 325i instead of an E46 M3.

2) You're "tuning up" an E90 325i.

3) You did this voluntarily.

You're giving advice?

Originally Posted by Moderato

1) You got an E90 325i instead of an E46 M3.

2) You're "tuning up" an E90 325i.

3) You did this voluntarily.

You're giving advice?

Be easy on him, he's just a little kid!

if you can afford it get it, I was 18 when I bought my M5...only have one ticket, parking violation. oh yeah, get a valentine too...

Originally Posted by mrnile

Be easy on him, he's just a little kid!

thank you mR. nile for helping me battle the internet tuff guys

Originally Posted by Barca93

thank you mR. nile for helping me battle the internet tuff guys

"tuff?" I was just pointing out the facts. I can completely understand why you'd rather "tune up" an E90 325i instead of getting an E46 M3. Really, I can. It makes complete sense.

The E46 ///M3 key has a ATC (Automatic Teen Control) chip in it and it will not allow you to start or drive the car until your out of your teen years.

Nope.

Originally Posted by 540er

The E46 ///M3 key has a ATC (Automatic Teen Control) chip in it and it will not allow you to start or drive the car until your out of your teen years.

How does the key differentiate physical age vs. mental age?

if you drive it like a p*ssy, i think you are not too young. It's just a car with powerufl engine and high running costs and problems will come if you try to push the car because I bet the car will win.

But i reckon cars like that should be driven, you know, track days, the lot. Not just make some noise at traffic GP. If you want a good sports car, this is pretty nice choice. Otherwise, there is not a whole lot wrong with 330i ZSP.

PS. Lol at tuning 325i. how the hell can you meaningfully tune that engine is beyond me. it's pretty much tops at 218hp. There is no JB solution. There are no turbos.

I'm 22 years old in University for International Economics, I bought my M3 Cabrio a year and a half ago. LOVE IT! Its a thrill to drive! I worked and saved up for the car, because mommy and daddy weren't prepared to buy it for me. To be asking if you are the right age shows that you feel you might not be ready for the car? If you love it, buy it!

haha ur not to young bro im 19 with a 745i and my cousin is 16 with and m3.. so ur all good

No ur not to young im 19 and im looking for one.....and trust me u will love it

i have been try to convince my dad to let me get an m3 and he said i can if BMW can detuned the car. As in have the speed limited to 90 or so which isnt that bad because i wont be tempted to do anything stupid.

Originally Posted by TroyDeJ

i have been try to convince my dad to let me get an m3 and he said i can if BMW can detuned the car. As in have the speed limited to 90 or so which isnt that bad because i wont be tempted to do anything stupid.

With all due respect and I mean this in a friendly way; just get a regular car like a VW Golf or something and when you're out on your own and can afford to buy an M3 for yourself then just do so.

I just remember the young drivers, with wealthy parents, who got E46 M3s new. And how they would come and justify turning off DSC on the street because they could handle it, would never do anything stupid, and were great drivers.

I think the average life span of these cars was about 6 weeks. Before the lost it and wrapped it around a tree or pole.

It is not about age. There are 19 year olds that can handle it and there are 50 year olds that can't/

But the M3 is a very high performance car, and is, IMO, too much car for your typical 19 year old. And if you do decide to get it, budget in some GOOD driver training. I know you think you are a great driver (85% of American drivers rate themselves as Above Average or Excellent drivers, they AREN'T), but you aren't that good. But you can be.

Originally Posted by thefriscokid

Hey everyone,

I'm a 19 year old driven college student in pre-med, been saving money and will be working through the summer (funds should be complete come August) to trade in my '04 2.5i X3 for a black e46 m3 coupe with the competition package. Been an m3 fanatic for a long time and dying to get it.

My parents don't care that I buy it as long as I raise the money, my question to you guys, is 19 years old too young to be driving the "The Ultimate Driving Machine"

Thanks.

I think age is a poor indicator of how responsible someone is. I know 40 year old men who are less responsible than 20 year old kids.

Just respect the car. It's a lot of power under the hood, so don't get reckless with it. Remember, there is a time and place for speed. Most of the time you're probably going to be in the wrong place for it.

The fact that he is asking suggests that he is aware that he SHOULD be uncertain about it. If I'd had an M3 at 19, or even at 30, I'd probably have killed myself. In even a 325 at that age, I was always pushing it - how much faster could I take this turn today, etc. - and I came close to paying serious consequences a couple times. Stuff that should be reserved for the track. I'm 42 now and age has brought a level of wariness and maturity. Do I still push it? Yes, but hell it's an M3, and it can handle being pushed. But I'm much more aware of the limits. That said, I'd still say go for it. Just drive smart, learn to approach limits rather than pushing through them, learn the car and enjoy it. It's an unbelievable car, especially the E46.

When you can afford to buy the damn thing for yourself, that's when you're ready for it.

Just because the OP says his parents are paying for the insurance, doesn't mean they know what that bill is going to be... Maybe they don't know that it's going to cost them maybe $4K a year more than a beatup Carolla that a kid in schools should be driving.

Originally Posted by rrsperry

Just because the OP says his parents are paying for the insurance, doesn't mean they know what that bill is going to be... Maybe they don't know that it's going to cost them maybe $4K a year more than a beatup Carolla that a kid in schools should be driving.

Believe it or not, it would've cost me ~$1000 more to insure a Honda Civic than my E46 ZHP (I'm 19 also, I got this car at 17. Before I get chastised, I earned the car and do all the work for it). IIRC, the quote for an E46 M3 wasn't that much more than the 330. I'm looking to upgrade to an M3 in the near future, but I am a safe driver. In the 80k miles I've driven since I was 16, I never got into an accident, and I only got 1 ticket (I was driving with the flow of traffic, but I was driving my buddy's STi... which stands out a bit).

If you're a generally mature kid, go for it. Just keep in mind that the car needs to be respected. It's very easy to kill yourself and others if you screw up. Don't bother detuning it even if you can. Even a honda civic can go well into the triple digit speeds - it's the power of the M3 that can get you in trouble (especially in suboptimal conditions), and you won't really be able to detune that.

If you're not already accustomed to ~300 HP, I'd recommend taking a look at E46 330s (preferably ZHPs). They're very respectable cars, and I've thoroughly enjoyed mile of driving mine. It's also a much easier car to handle if you don't have much experience. Honestly, I'm only looking to get a new car since the miles are getting a bit high (and after everything I've put into this car, another ZHP just wouldn't be the same).

It really is all about location, location, location...

Originally Posted by rrsperry

Just because the OP says his parents are paying for the insurance, doesn't mean they know what that bill is going to be... Maybe they don't know that it's going to cost them maybe $4K a year more than a beatup Carolla that a kid in schools should be driving.

There is a small percentage of kids that get it early. Doesn't mean they are grown men. Just means they figured it out early. And I mean a very small percentage. In med school? I would say, my hats off to you. So you want an M? I say go for it. Just be informed that the cost of the car is the least of your considerations. My son got his M3 when he was 17. The insurance is in the low 4's. Strap it on! You make a mistake it might cost you med school. Good luck. Be smart.

not at all man, the faster you get it out of your system the faster you ll be driving spec A cars =P