Harsh ride is none of my concern.
Is there any other reason why some people say it is not a good daily driver?

Harsh ride is none of my concern.
Is there any other reason why some people say it is not a good daily driver?
Why did "some people" say it's a bad daily driver? What was their reason?

its to fast for a daily driver:D.....jk

as long as u can keep ur foot of that gas all the time go for it:pullover

Since I got my M3, I haven't arrived home from work a single day without being in a good mood.

The ride isn't that harsh, unless you've done some suspension mods. Or maybe 19's are really harsh. Don't know about the 19's because I don't have them.

They are a little harsh. I have the 19"s and suspension mods. However I can take 90 degree turns w/o any problems. In fact people look at me like I'm crazy! I guess you can't have it all...

The whole point of the M3 is that it's a daily driver.

The whole point of the M3 is that it's a daily driver.
+1 :werd:

OMG PLEASE don't drive your ///M everyday! Not only are you decreasing the value by adding miles, but every time it leaves the driveway you risk getting in a collision!!!














jp! I leave my "DD" Jeep in the drive every morning. I refuse to drive it.

i just got mine, love it, see no probs driving it everyday.
unless there is a day you'd rather not have any fun...
i drive my wifes 300C on those days...lol.

I have 19's and the car feels great! The M3 is great as a daily driver, plus there's no such thing as too fast! Whoever said the ride is harsh must have been the passenger...

How are SMG's by the way?

OMG PLEASE don't drive your ///M everyday! Not only are you decreasing the value by adding miles, but every time it leaves the driveway you risk getting in a collision!!!

I see you as a Ferrari owner in the future as this is the same reasoning that my Ferrari buddies use for not driving their cars.

The M3 is a perfect DD. But this is coming from someone who DD an F40 for 5 years.

How are SMG's by the way?
The most fun you can have with two fingers outside the bedroom, IMO.

The most fun you can have with two fingers outside the bedroom, IMO.

+1

Just got mine 1/14/08 and can't stop driving it. 04 SMG vert and the top goes down if the temp is over 60F.

The most fun you can have with two fingers outside the bedroom, IMO.
After a blown transmission, blown SMG pump, multiple SMG relay failures and other electronic issues, it's hard for me to recommend SMG.

I mean, it only stranded me 5 times and got really boring most of the rest of the time. (Oh yes, and it's a severe autocrossing handicap.)

After a blown transmission, blown SMG pump, multiple SMG relay failures and other electronic issues, it's hard for me to recommend SMG.

I mean, it only stranded me 5 times and got really boring most of the rest of the time. (Oh yes, and it's a severe autocrossing handicap.)
Maybe you're the source of the statistic, like the SNL skit. I see the label of "total lemon POS" in your sig, so I guess you got a bad one.

I've read your other posts about how daily dull and boring you find the M3, so I would assume you're probably pretty hard on the car, too. I won't argue that failures are costly, but I have yet to see any hard statistics to really support the SMG's widely held reputation of a mechanical disaster waiting to happen.

I say it's a blast to drive, but I guess I'm boring. Seemed enough of an adrenaline rush on the back roads of the Virgina Blueridge.

I see you as a Ferrari owner in the future as this is the same reasoning that my Ferrari buddies use for not driving their cars.

The M3 is a perfect DD. But this is coming from someone who DD an F40 for 5 years.

I'm pretty sure he was kidding

Harsh ride is none of my concern.
Is there any other reason why some people say it is not a good daily driver?


Oh my god! I love my car as an everyday driver!!. Its the best thing to wake up to in the world. I love it. Do it Do it Do it!

How is the maintenance cost compared to a non-M bimmer?

I have done most maintenance on my wife's 325i during the last 6+ years and I would not say it costs more to own a 325i than an Accord.

How much money on average a year are you spending? I have read $2000/yr in one of the threads on this forum. Is that the average?

How is the maintenance cost compared to a non-M bimmer?

I have done most maintenance on my wife's 325i during the last 6+ years and I would not say it costs more to own a 325i than an Accord.

How much money on average a year are you spending? I have read $2000/yr in one of the threads on this forum. Is that the average?

Depends on the car. I've spent $4,x00 in the past few months but I did buy a higher-mileage example. $1,700 of that was on Inspection II, $2,000 was suspension, $550 for snow wheels/tires (necessary if you're otherwise using summer tires), and a few miscellaneous things.

What wheel sizes fit on e46m3 for winter setup? Do you have winter tires/wheels or do you swap the tires out?

What wheel sizes fit on e46m3 for winter setup? Do you have winter tires/wheels or do you swap the tires out?

I have dedicated winter wheels/tires. ASA JH3 with Blizzack LM-22s. Bought 'em used from a fellow Bf.cer.

Size is 225/50/17 all around.

How is the maintenance cost compared to a non-M bimmer?

I have done most maintenance on my wife's 325i during the last 6+ years and I would not say it costs more to own a 325i than an Accord.

How much money on average a year are you spending? I have read $2000/yr in one of the threads on this forum. Is that the average?


If you get one that was Maint. its whole life properly, you can step in to one with cheap maint bills all year. if you step into someone elses headache.. it WILL be your headache. Just know what your dealing with and the whole history of the car before you purchase it. g/l

How is the maintenance cost compared to a non-M bimmer?

I have done most maintenance on my wife's 325i during the last 6+ years and I would not say it costs more to own a 325i than an Accord.

How much money on average a year are you spending? I have read $2000/yr in one of the threads on this forum. Is that the average?
The only real difference in basic maintenance is the valve adjustment and the slightly higher cost of oil.

The only real difference in basic maintenance is the valve adjustment and the slightly higher cost of oil.

And accelerated tire wear and more expensive tires.

How much does it cost to get the valve adjustment done?
Is it required every 30K miles or 60K miles?
TIA.

How much does it cost to get the valve adjustment done?
Is it required every 30K miles or 60K miles?
TIA.

It's required whenever you hear valve ticking. :stickoutt

Usually every ~ 30k miles.

I constantly fight the urge to drive the ///M (I don't like putting miles on the car for daily). I enjoy my 2008 pathfinder as my daily.

I drive mine on good days and bad. Snow, rain makes the ride even more fun. With a set of Winter Dunlops I find all the grip I need.

I don't get why some folks buy into the Daily Driver Deletion package.

A car is after all a depreciating asset. Enjoy it since you're paying dearly.

I drive mine everyday and I have 19"s and frankly, I don't give a d___(hoot), I paid for it, I'm driving it.

This is the reason I bought the car - I drive it - let the next owner worry about the rock chips & mileage. I didn't buy a trinket to sit in my garage and watch it collect dust. It ain't appreciating in value, I drive it.

The ride is a little harsh for me but its like that on sport suspension w/ 19s nothing big. It makes a good daily driver as long as you promise not to speed too much... or get caught. As for valve adjustment it gets done during inspection II which is a day job cause oil gets changed when the engine is warm and valves done cold. I forget the cost but its up there.

ive heard storied that launch control on the SMG can only be used a few times since it wears the clutch out like crazy, is this true?

I use it as a weekend/nice day driver, I didnt buy it new so I am not taking the hit in depriciation. Yes it goes down as the years roll on but nothing like the first few years.

As for harsh ride, the M3 is like a crown vic or something compared to my lowered accord. So that is all relative.

Mine is a daily drive and is used for autocross and HPDE. I have stiffer lowering springs. However, the car is not too harsh to drive everyday. The roads are good here in the Northwest.

The engine oil is expensive, but last twice as long. The valve adjustment should only be a once in a life time event for the engine. It is a simple car to work on for DIYers.

e46 M3 Imola Red

in response to your post- I have an E46 SMG on 19" soon to add suspension, ground control coil over....that said, I drive mine everyday. Like others have said, the ride is fine, the most important thing is; how do you plan to drive it? The best part of an M3 is that you can drive it mellow or you can drive like it was intended to be driven i.e. like a race car!
I have found , before you make the car go any faster, you have to be able to control it, and in stock form theres plenty of power to get out of control.

Great car and I smile every time I drive it!

Good luck

i put 150-200 miles on mine a day. pss9 coilovers and 19's. smg as well. I love it. The nly better highway car i've owned was a 750iL. this one is still a great daily.

Drive it like you stole it. That's what it's for.

I have 19's and the car feels great! The M3 is great as a daily driver, plus there's no such thing as too fast! Whoever said the ride is harsh must have been the passenger...

How are SMG's by the way?

i drive everyday my m3 and i always keep the minimun speed. It could be fast but it all depends how you drive and smg is totally cool if you have not try it you should