Gentleman,

I am in need of your expertise... I am currently in the last part of a lemon law case with my 03 M-B CLK 500. I expect to settle within this month. I am pretty sure I will not buy a M-B anytime soon due to my personal experience. I have narrowed down my choices to the SC 430 and M3 Convertible. I have not driven either car for over a year so I wanted your input. My questions are:

1. Since this will be my only car how is cargo space between the two cars? I know M-B has a special piece of luggage that fits perfectly for the back seat/shelf on the SL models; does something like this exist either from Lexus/BMW or after-market?

2. Clearly the SC is a much more "refined" ride then the M3... other then that why did you choose the M3 over the SC or similar cars?

3. I had the Alpine Mobile Mayday in my 00 GS 300 and TeleAid in my 03 M-B CLK and really enjoy knowing that if something happens that someone is "just the touch of a button away". Does BMW have a similar service?

4. I really enjoy the after-market mod that allows you to drop the top from the Lexus fob, does something like this exist for the BMW?

Thanks for any and all help/suggestions and look forward to hearing back soon.


-A.T.

BMW does indeed have telematics- they call it BMW Assist. Same deal, if you are in need of help, just push the button and you are connected to BMW, and they can track your location via GPS.

Not sure about the convertable mod you speak of, but I'm sure some of the other guys here may be able to assist you. (Coupe guy here!)

Both great cars, very different, but great in their own respects.
Good luck!

It'll come down to what you want more: the Lexus has a softer ride and it's more about comfort; the M3 will give you significantly more performance, but you might find the ride rough.

The Lexus is a roadster, isn't it? The M3 has 2 back seats; yes, they're small, but to some (myself included) better than nothing.

If you are really after close to 100% reliability, than you'd be better off with the Lexus. The M3 is bound to have a few quirks here and there, so be prepared to deal with them.

#1: not sure about the SC430, but in the M3, with the top up, you can actually fold the top compartment and get a pretty spacey trunk.

#4: in US, that feature is not supposed to be enabled; some folks were successful in getting it enabled at the dealer. Either way, there is at least one after-market module that will allow you to do it, even CLOSE the top from the remote. Just keep in mind that the range for the key remote is pretty limited, so you're bound to sit by the car looking cool while the top is going down.

You can't go wrong with either car, it comes down to what you want/like more.

m3flyin2lo,

Thanks for your reply! I have been in the back on an M3 before and it was not that bad! Would I want to be there for a 5 hr drive... no... but hey as fun as flying is now days with the limited room who knows. I have not been in the backseat in the SC before so I cannot comment on that. As for the remote top question... you comment leads me to believe that this is an option that is coded into the car/key. Am I correct in believing this? If this is the case what equipment is needed to do so? I know on my M-B their own software is called STAR-Soft I assume BMW has their own. The $25,000 question is do you believe that you can fit luggage in for a 1-3 week trip in the trunk/back (assuming the top is up)? Really helpful guy thanks so much! As for the M's being quirky I have several friends who have done everything from leave them bone stock to doing God knows that and they still work great so they may not be as unreliable as I was lead to believe.

-A.T.

Two different cars for two different types of drivers. Since you have the MB SL 500, its hard to look at the two cars in the same manner. I have looked at the MB SL 55 or SL 500 and was impressed all around with the car, except for trunk usage and cost. Then again it's a MB SL. I currently have an 03 M3 Convertible and its been a great car all around. I just sold my GS 430 to get pick up an LX 470 so that I can buy things at Home Depot to lug it around. The SC430 was a choice I wanted when it first came out but decided against due to performance, available aftermarkets items, handling and space. You mention that you can get special luggage to fit in the SL, you can just get regular luggage to fit in the back seat of the M3 :). Overall, I am very happy with my choice in the M3. I also looked the CLK 430 Convertible, but I still can't pull the trigger on MB. I don't know why, but I just never am overly impressed. I know the new V8 Kompressor AMG models are balls to the walls fast, but if I just wanted that I could have kept my Twin Turbo. Am I biased? By now means. Lexus quality to me will be second to none. I could just have kept my GS430 and place a $14K twin turbo kit on it and it would just beat the pants off the AMG E55.

Overall the M3 CABRIO is a good choice for performance, handling, trunk space and rear space. The fit the finish are good, not great, but overall the driveability and the overall package is hard to beat at the price range.

Good luck with your decision. I know what you are going through, I was there not too long ago.

m3flyin2lo,

Thanks for your reply! I have been in the back on an M3 before and it was not that bad! Would I want to be there for a 5 hr drive... no... but hey as fun as flying is now days with the limited room who knows. I have not been in the backseat in the SC before so I cannot comment on that. As for the remote top question... you comment leads me to believe that this is an option that is coded into the car/key. Am I correct in believing this? If this is the case what equipment is needed to do so? I know on my M-B their own software is called STAR-Soft I assume BMW has their own. The $25,000 question is do you believe that you can fit luggage in for a 1-3 week trip in the trunk/back (assuming the top is up)? Really helpful guy thanks so much! As for the M's being quirky I have several friends who have done everything from leave them bone stock to doing God knows that and they still work great so they may not be as unreliable as I was lead to believe.

-A.T.

Heh, how fancy is your wardrobe? ;) I think you'd be fine with the trunk in the M3; I can fit my daughter's stroller in there and then some...

Not sure about your question on the key options. With the M3, the way it works is that the dealer (and dealer only, unfortunately) can program various options to be active or inactive; some options are linked to a key, some are linked to the car itself.

A non-US option is to allow you to drop the top with the remote; officially, it's not enabled in US. You can always do it with the key in the door lock, that will always work. And, if you really want it, you can add an after-market module that will allow you to do it with the key remote; I haven't done that, so I can't speak on how complicated it is to install.

Good luck.

I would get the M3 vert. I have driven both the SC430 and M3 coupe and vert. IMHO the only thing that the lex has over an M3 is the retractable hardtop. The only way for you to decide is go drive both cars back to back. You'll see that the M3 will give you a much greater driving experience. I think that the M3 has a more usable back seat than the SC. The SC's back seat is a joke. With 2 adults in the car the front seats are touching the back. Only one person can fit in the bac kof the SC and thats if their feet is on the other side of the seat. The M3 vert will give you a one of a kind driving experience and the smile on ur face will only grow wider and wider every time u drive it. BTW... What was the problem you had with the CLK500? I have a CLK500 in my garage and have had no problems with it yet. I have owned 5-6 MB's and have no issues with them what so ever. Currently I have a C230K, CLK500, and older body CLK55. I am curious on what happened to yours?

For those of you that are interested here is a link to the MBWorld forum where I posted my entire story about my M-B CLK 500. As of now it looks like the M3 is the way to go. While it may not be as plush as the SC it has 250% more after-market toys you can add on, sportier look, faster, $7k less and a bit more geared for my age 22. How impressed are you with the DVD Nav? I have had Alpine's which was AMAZING as well as M-B's AWFUL and the Lexus one is very good as well. Thoughts?


http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61493&highlight=lemon
-A.T.

Hands down, the m3 vert.
Believe me, you might get a little sick of the sc430. :D

Wow! Even most of the Lexus forum people are saying the M3. What about waiting time? I would need this in no less then a month's time silver, black leather, Nav, HIDs, winter package. Basically fully loaded. What time period are we talking about here?

-A.T.

man read the whole thread on the MB forum. Let us know if MBUSA gives you your money back. Mercedes dropped to below the industry average this year in JD power reliability ratings.

Wow! Even most of the Lexus forum people are saying the M3. What about waiting time? I would need this in no less then a month's time silver, black leather, Nav, HIDs, winter package. Basically fully loaded. What time period are we talking about here?

-A.T.

Most M3 Verts on dealers lots are loaded up to their gills in options. Its rare to find a M3 vert without Navi, park distance etc. Out of all the M3 verts i see sitting on dealer's lot, i have yet to see one without a nav, hids, Cold weather, etc. Most have MSRP's of about 62K+

I sell BMW's in Athens, Georgia, and can get you a nice deal. Lemme know!

BTW...I'd go with the M3! :mdrbig

I sell BMW's in Athens, Georgia, and can get you a nice deal. Lemme know!

BTW...I'd go with the M3! :mdrbig

Check your mail.

I would say get the M3. It is sportier and in a pinch can hold 4 adults. They are very reliable, though not as much as a Lexus would be. Keep in mind the Lexus is going to be an automatic. I don't know how that sits with you, but for me that is an instant turn-off.

Also, if you are worried about the winter weather, though I do not know how bad it gets in NC, you can buy a hardtop for the M3 in the winter.

An SC is more of a cruiser, where the M3 can cruise and tear it up five minutes later. Your best bet is to drive them back to back on the same day. Then do your research.

You gentlemen have been very helpful! I was worried about the waiting because according to my friend he said that not many BMWs come stocked with Nav.. i.e. if you want it you need to special order it. I did not want to wait several months (8 to be exact) if I wanted the CLK Convertible. Looks like you guys sold me! I'm going to make some calls tomm to get a test drive and see what happens. As for my lemon law case I don't see how I can loose. While they can argue that certain things were not looked at/broken the number of times needed (2 or 4) depending on if it is safety related or not, they can not argue that it wasn't in the shop for less then 30 days which I exceed. I’m expecting that MBUSA will hold out as long as possible before they settle with me. I just want to get this stuff behind me and move on. I'm practicing typing the "///" already ;)

-A.T.

Well, let me be the first to welcome you to the family!

Check your mail.

Got it! I'm on it!

:redcap:

Guys BimmerDawg has located a car with every option I want but the aluminum trim. What do you think about this option? Does it make it look that much better? Acccording to BimmerDawg if you wanted to change it after the fact it would cost $3,000. Has anyone been able to change the trim after delivery? How hard/how much time did it take?

-A.T.

What would you be replacing the aluminum trim with? Wood?

He said that if you dont get the aluminum trim then it is some plastic-like trim. I have not seen this trim, only the aluminum. Any thoughts?

-A.T.

What would you be replacing the aluminum trim with? Wood?

Like A.T. said, it's a painted plastic trim that is dark grey. Looks good, IMO.

Curiously, however, wood is an option. I found that out today. Strange.

Oh yeah, A.T., it's $2,000, not $3,000. :)

Wood is now an option? Interesting. I would definately be ticking that box for my order.

Wood is now an option? Interesting. I would definately be ticking that box for my order.

Yep, option 774.

What's $1,000 between friends? ;) How much is the wood option?

-A.T.

Well, I thought I'd mention it since no one else has and it seemed sort of obvious to me.

The MB is a slushbox, no? The M3 is available as manual or "SMG" which while it will shift gears for you isn't exactly an automatic. No idea how the Lex is offered...

Low speed driving with SMG can be a bit jerky, as it's actually a computer controller manual transmission. If you're execting luxury car smoothness in this regard you may be disappointed.

Regarding the trim, another option might be to find a fellow enthusiast with the wood trim and trade plus cash? Might be less than the $2k additional.

Anyway, I'm sure the wood trim is nice, but who cares... just go drive the thing.

- John

What's $1,000 between friends? ;) How much is the wood option?

-A.T.

Heh, I hear ya.

It's a priority 1 option, so it's probably crazy expensive...I don't have the pricing, though.

Why would it be expensive if it is on the 330??

Same thing for non-M's as M's...I'm not sure why.