I know I will probably get a lot of people on my case here, but I figure this is a very well informed forum, and especially in this section everyone knows a lot about the E46. Now, I will start out saying I have really no background knowledge about this car nor do I know much about cars, so I ask all of you for help with my questions! Thanks in advance.

First off, let me tell you the two cars I am trying to decide between. A 2003 E46 M3, coupe, not sure about either manual or SMG(if you could clarify what this is that would be helpful, is it like manumatic?) or a new 135i coupe. Now I am not looking for a debate between the two, I am simply asking for your opinions.

Some background on me: This will be my first BMW, and actually my first good car, I am switching from a crappy Camry that was used in highschool. I will be 21 when I buy this car. I am new to manuals, but am more than willing to learn. Now, here is where it gets tricky. Right now, I am deployed in Iraq, the end of my 15 month deployment hopefully with end in April. Now this thread isnt about finances per se and whether or not I can afford it, but it must appear somewhere. When I come back, I can easily put a hefty down payment on a new 135i and finance at a pretty low rate. Or, I can get a much cheaper used m3 and probably get close to paying for it outright or putting a lot down. Here are a few things I am looking at that could sway me in one direction or another.

1: I will probably be deployed about a year after i get back, so that means whichever car I get will probably be sitting around dormant for about a year, with maybe my brother driving it once in a while to make sure it doesnt die. I am sure this favors the used m3, because a new 135i will just deprecciate way too much

2: The car will not be garaged, it will be parked in a big parking lot at my base, and it will at times sit there for a week or more when we are training in the field. Potential to be dinged (hopefully not) and susceptible to weather, but I could always just throw a cover over it

3: Drive and overall feel: I know only a limited amount of people have driven the 135, but from what I hear about the e46, it is an amazing car. Would I be missing out on a great car to have if I skipped on the m3, the total driving experience of one of BMWs best? I know everyone here has one, let me k now what you think.

Looking around, it looks like I can get a used 03 m3 coupe for ~22(correct me if I am wrong) that is in good condition with not too many miles on it. Granted, it probably wont have a warranty like a new 135, but it is a lot cheaper. A new 135 will probably run me ~35,000 after military discounts and packages. Anything you guys could throw at me would help. I just love the way they both look, and cant decide!

To me the M3 is god. I had never driven and/or owned a BMW upon getting mine. I love the car and will never get rid of it. I have never driven the 135i but hear it is very very bad ass. You need to find a way to test drive both cars upon returning home. The sitting out for possibly weeks at a time would make me nervous. You will spending a lot of time that you possibly won't have to keep the paint looking good. My recomendation would be the M3, slightly used with low miles.

My #1 word of advice is to try to test drive these vehicles.

As for the Manual vs SMG question. The SMG is a computer assisted gearbox ( correct me if I am wrong guys). It is much jerkier but the shifts are much much quicker. That is my understanding of it. The 6spd is what I would prefer. I love down shifted and winding out the gears.

Good luck with the car and get home safely.

yep. get home safe. test drive both. get the M! hahaha

you can adjust how hard you want it to shift.

03 for 22k!! show me the for sale ad

03 m for 22 is gonna have some high miles or beat up. Why not just keep the old car u got now and buy something when u get back. Seems like a waste to leave it sitting around in a lot.

your not going to get a m3 for 22- more like 30. Also, i own a m3, and i usually dont tell people what to get, but get the m3

1: I agree, the 135i would depreciate too much to be worth letting it sit around for a year. Unless you possibly put in an order position and have it arrive around the same time you do.

2: Again, I would say that the advantage goes to the used M3. At least you would have the piece of mind knowing a new car wasn't sitting out like that. I would recommend that you have it waxed for paint protection and invest in a nice car cover. Have your brother wash it here and there also.

3: I was in the same boat as you were. I could get a 335coupe or 135 on order but after talking with people and owning a e36m3, I knew that no matter what they would never be the same as an M3. The 335/135 has the potential of being a faster straight line car for more money. (You can proceed the twin-turbo engine and get ~400+HP)...but the e46m3 will outperform it in every other category. The m3 is a little edgier and demands more respect...but it also makes it all very worthwhile.

The 35 series will be more of a comfortable/fast cruiser and the M3 a true-bred sports car...depends what you want. But sports cars also demand higher attention to maintenance and typically cost more to repair/service. SMG/Manual is a debate that has no end. Personally, no matter how good a F1 style transmission (and the SMG is damn good) it cannot match the feeling of truly controlling the clutch of a car. Nailing a downshift or ripping the car into 2nd/3rd just cannot be matched (for me) by hitting a lever. Granted, the M3 is a stickler when it comes to stick and it will take a lot of practice....i think you will get more out of it!


Good luck...thanks for everything you boys are doing out there.:buttrock

I'd say keep the Camery, park that at the base and buy the M3 and store that in one of those rental storage facilities under a nice expensive car cover. Don't leave an M3 sitting like that in a big parking lot. Just asking for trouble. I know you can get a nice rental booth for around 200/month which isn't too bad.

Drive both and pick from there but my pick would be M3 just because it is meant to be more than just a step or two better than a regular 3 series.

As for the Manual vs SMG question. The SMG is a computer assisted gearbox ( correct me if I am wrong guys). It is much jerkier but the shifts are much much quicker. That is my understanding of it. The 6spd is what I would prefer. I love down shifted and winding out the gears.


I'd agree that the SMG is a bit jerkier but that partially depends on how you have it set up and how hard or soft you are on the gas. One downside (for me so far anyway) is that you have to kinda giv'er to keep from getting any lag while in Automatic. When I'm in traffic I usually shift 1st to 2nd with SMG and then flip to Auto. I love having the option to switch back and forth....Vancouver is a constant traffic jam so it comes in real handy. Keep in mind here that I've only had my M3 for about 2 weeks so I'm still learning..lol

You can park either one in my garage at no charge. Ill keep it warm and even wax it every month. Just leave me the keys! hahaha!

A year ago I was almost in your same situation - in Baghdad; however I already owned a Z3 (my first 'real' car). After I got back I had to get some work done on the zed and then...(here is where the 'god light' shines on the car and operatic music softly in the background) I saw her. It wasn't quite like that - no music - but I saw the M and had an itch to test drive her. After a go at it while the zed was being looked at ... I was pretty much sold! Though I think the 135 will be an awesome performer - I don't exactly like the look of a focus and/or honda hatchback so that pretty much eliminates the 135 for me. I did consider a 335i - but only for a minute - an //M is an //M - not a made up lower model to look/perform like one - get the original and don't look back. Not only that but I'm in awe everytime I look at it - the curves in just the right places, the power at just the right points, the superb handling and the sound...oh god the sound! Yeah, I officially love my car - after the wife drove the //m she was very glad I traded up from the zed (though I loved that car as well). Good luck in Iraq and come home soon (and in one piece)!

Cheers,
bill