I know most will probably say m3, but just wondering what people's thoughts are of both. I'm going to be buying an older m car soon, and I'm torn between these two. Full thread here

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=966094

The M3 is definitely going to out-handle the 6 easily. The 6 is a touring car, the M3 is a sports car. I've driven a 633CSi and it is fun, but the M3 is definitely more fun to drive as well as lighter and easier to throw into turns. Mine has the clutch rattle and definitely has a personality and keeps me busy with repairs and upgrades. If tracking is even a possibility then the M3 will definitely suit your needs better.

if u said m6 than i would have went with that. but def go with the e30. just got one and just the quick drive down the street was so much fun.

if u said m6 than i would have went with that. but def go with the e30. just got one and just the quick drive down the street was so much fun.

M635csi and M6 are VERY similar cars to drive.

Anyways, the M6/M635 has far more torque, the M3 is far more tossable. Both are a lot of fun in their own respect. M6 is more fun on the highway, and great on long sweeping roads where you can get on it and stretch it's legs. On a tight mountain road though, the E30 M3 would thrash an M6...

i vote for the shark :buttrock:buttrock i see more e30M's then shark M's. i love those cars and will appreciate faster then the e30.......well maybe? the racing haritage of the e30 will helps it value

http://www.brannfors.com/redsharkracing/images/pr_race_erik.jpg

I think its interesting that dtm325pwr thinks the m6 will appreciate better then the e30. I had always thought it was the opposite, but the more I think about it, the more I think he's right. I guess time will be the deciding factor on that one lol

I use to live in norcal, and taking route 1 was the most fun that I've almost ever had driving my m3. The roads were perfect for lightweight cars like the e30, but unfortunatly I dont live there anymore. In PA it's more higher speed sweepers, and back country roads where if you lose it your hitting a wall of tree's. Plus the tracks in the area aren't really that tight at all. And in reality I think the car would only see about 5 track days a year.

Also the m635csi is a better car in my mind then the m6. I'm not sure why sbblowz would of said that. The m635csi is lighter, has about 30 more hp, and is wayy wayy better looking. Maybe you meant the new m6?

The 633 is also miles different from the M635, which I'm sure you know, just saying you should go out and drive one with the s38/m88! lol. Because to me that's really what it's all about in the m6. The motor is just so amazing in it. But your defenitley right about the m3 being more fun and tossable in the turns, but I think the m6 has it on straight line acceleration. It's such a hard decision...

I think its interesting that dtm325pwr thinks the m6 will appreciate better then the e30. I had always thought it was the opposite, but the more I think about it, the more I think he's right. I guess time will be the deciding factor on that one lol

I use to live in norcal, and taking route 1 was the most fun that I've almost ever had driving my m3. The roads were perfect for lightweight cars like the e30, but unfortunatly I dont live there anymore. In PA it's more higher speed sweepers, and back country roads where if you lose it your hitting a wall of tree's. Plus the tracks in the area aren't really that tight at all. And in reality I think the car would only see about 5 track days a year.

Also the m635csi is a better car in my mind then the m6. I'm not sure why sbblowz would of said that. The m635csi is lighter, has about 30 more hp, and is wayy wayy better looking. Maybe you meant the new m6?

The 633 is also miles different from the M635, which I'm sure you know, just saying you should go out and drive one with the s38/m88! lol. Because to me that's really what it's all about in the m6. The motor is just so amazing in it. But your defenitley right about the m3 being more fun and tossable in the turns, but I think the m6 has it on straight line acceleration. It's such a hard decision...

In the U.S. the M635 Euro is rarer than an E30M3- that's a fact!
Overall a 6 series offers sport luxury, the E30M3 more of a raw street racer

e30 m3 all the way. The reason you see more of them is because they were more affordable and more popular than the M6 or any E24 for that matter. E24's are boats by comparison and maintenance is even more costly. To top it off, it's a 2 + 2 coupe basically. I do give the rarity factor to the euro spec M635CSi though.

I think most have it covered, the 6 is more powerful and the engine sounds great, but it is heavier and more expensive to mantain. I love the look of the 6 also. The 3 is more tossable, less comfy , but very easy to drive fast, both are appreciating in value. sooo, decide how you want to enjoy an M car and go buy the one that suits you!

To add a bit here: 1) the M635Csi is not a rare car even in the US. A huge number of them were imported during the mid-80's when bringing in a gray market car was easy. It is only difficult to bring one in now. With the exchange rate, back in the day, they were actually cheaper than US M6's. There are at least 5-10 for sale right now. If you want a rare M car, buy a Euro E28 M5. There are only a handful in the US. For some reason, they gray market importers favored the M635, thus the higher numbers; 2) They do not trade at a premium to US M6's, but Euro M5's trade at multiples of what US M5's go for; 3) the M88 engine in the M635 requires some attention that the US (S38) M6 engine does not. They were originally equipped with single row timing chains and single valve springs. Conversion to the dual row chain used in the S38 is very expensive and either a slipped or broken chain or a bad valve spring can grenade the M88; 4) Many e30 M3's have been turned into track rats or have been heavily modified. The good original examples are appreciating at a rate that is much higher than for any E24 variant. You might want to check S14.net for some feedback on your question. Good luck with your search.

Easy choice. M3. The 635 is just a a M-Technic upgrade from the standard 6 series, the M6 was the real worked over car.

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To add a bit here: 1) the M635Csi is not a rare car even in the US. A huge number of them were imported during the mid-80's when bringing in a gray market car was easy. It is only difficult to bring one in now. With the exchange rate, back in the day, they were actually cheaper than US M6's. There are at least 5-10 for sale right now. If you want a rare M car, buy a Euro E28 M5. There are only a handful in the US. For some reason, they gray market importers favored the M635, thus the higher numbers; 2) They do not trade at a premium to US M6's, but Euro M5's trade at multiples of what US M5's go for; 3) the M88 engine in the M635 requires some attention that the US (S38) M6 engine does not. They were originally equipped with single row timing chains and single valve springs. Conversion to the dual row chain used in the S38 is very expensive and either a slipped or broken chain or a bad valve spring can grenade the M88; 4) Many e30 M3's have been turned into track rats or have been heavily modified. The good original examples are appreciating at a rate that is much higher than for any E24 variant. You might want to check S14.net for some feedback on your question. Good luck with your search.

Figures of M635csi and E30M3's sold to North America below:

1,767 built from 09/86 thru 09/88 sold in N/A
88-91 M3 - 4,996 units sold in N/A:buttrock

Figures of M635csi and E30M3's sold to North America below:

1,767 built from 09/86 thru 09/88 sold in N/A
88-91 M3 - 4,996 units sold in N/A:buttrockThe number of M635CSi's that came in during the less restrictive gray market periods is not well documented. The point has nothing to do with how many were sold:nono. There were many M635Csi's that were weekend drivers and few were track cars, so many good original examples exist. Easy to find 5 or 6 for sale at any given point. Not the case with excellent E30 M3's. It is a rare event to see an M635CSi hit 25k. Good E30 M3's hit those numbers easily.

Easy choice. M3. The 635 is just a a M-Technic upgrade from the standard 6 series, the M6 was the real worked over car.

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www.thetunersource.com (http://www.thetunersource.com) Unlike the M535i which was just a 535is playing dressup, the M635CSi was the euro version of the M6 and has an m88 mill.

I've owned and track-driven great examples of both and it comes down to what you want out of the car. Both cars have facets that make them unique, but at the end of the day, I think the M3 just sets itself apart a bit more.

The M6 takes a ton of maintenance to get to a tight feeling GT car, but once you get there, it'll be a great weekend cruiser. It remains more raw in feel than most other cars in the class, and that motor absolutely sings when spinning at 4K or above, but you have to keep on top of it. And as others have pointed out the M635 has its fair share of issues. The original BBS wheels were recalled at one point b/c of cracks in the center area (but who still uses the original metric wheels anyway), the timing chain upgrade is a pain, the harmonic balancer could spin off with sustained high rpm use. The brake rotors were prone to warpage. Multiple suspension points needed to be reinforced as well as the steering box mount as well. Some cars chew up right side motor mounts as well as thrust rod bushings and list goes on and on. While the chassis was significantly upgraded in 1983, the basic E24 chassis chassis has been around since the late 70's and its lack of rigidity shows. I got tired of trying to keep mine feeling like a modern day car. But it sure was pretty.
The E30 M3 has also been around along time, but is as raw as a street car can get. No torque to speak of, but flies like a rocket once you get to 4K. Its no Honda on the maintenance issue, but you can work on it yourself for the most part. Needs plenty of reinforcing and upgrading as well, but its not too bad for a street driven car. Whereas the sixer is a smooth rocket, the E30 M3 is a buzz bomb. Driver Feedback on the E30 M3 is better than almost any other roadcar out there (short of modern day exotics). I have two bone stock examples that easily soak up the PA bumps and hang onto Sunday curves like nothing else- leaving an ear to ear grin. That's what I value the most: the feel of a modern racecar without needing to driving 80+ to get there. IMHO, BMW hasn't been able to replicate this ever since...
HTH