From ///M to MINI
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,037
Likes: 0
From: Planet CROC
My wife drives a BMW 328xi and loves it. Tis black with gray interior. Elegant. Fast acceleration and tight handling, etc. Excellent car.
But there's just something about the MINI that goes beyond all that. When I tell her this, she calls me obsessed or nutty, usually both. I simply reply that she's not part of the MINIverse...
I've never felt this way about a car.
But there's just something about the MINI that goes beyond all that. When I tell her this, she calls me obsessed or nutty, usually both. I simply reply that she's not part of the MINIverse...
I've never felt this way about a car.
FINALLY a thread of folks who feel my pain!
I sold my 2006 e46 M3 cabrio that had 7500 miles on it. I am waiting for my MCS to arrive.
Just about every person says the same thing. "you sold your beautiful M3 for a mini???"
I bought it brand new and it was loaded with everything. However, being it only had 7500 miles on it since I bought it new, I obviously didnt drive it. It was the only vehicle we have that we had a car payment on..
Once the mini arrives, it will be driven every day. Still in our garage is my F150, the wifes 2005 330i, a honda VTX cruiser, and a kawasaki ZX-10..
So i still have choices for speed and wind in my face..
But still annoying when folks give me that "look". Dont get me wrong, the m3 was a BLAST to drive....
I sold my 2006 e46 M3 cabrio that had 7500 miles on it. I am waiting for my MCS to arrive.
Just about every person says the same thing. "you sold your beautiful M3 for a mini???"
I bought it brand new and it was loaded with everything. However, being it only had 7500 miles on it since I bought it new, I obviously didnt drive it. It was the only vehicle we have that we had a car payment on..
Once the mini arrives, it will be driven every day. Still in our garage is my F150, the wifes 2005 330i, a honda VTX cruiser, and a kawasaki ZX-10..
So i still have choices for speed and wind in my face..
But still annoying when folks give me that "look". Dont get me wrong, the m3 was a BLAST to drive....
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Wow, its great to see I'm not alone.
"Hi my name's Monty and I sold my M3 for a mini"......"Hiiii Montyyy"
Well its official. I pick up my New Pepper White, Premium, MCS on Saturday!!! Thanks again for all the feedback.
"Hi my name's Monty and I sold my M3 for a mini"......"Hiiii Montyyy"
Well its official. I pick up my New Pepper White, Premium, MCS on Saturday!!! Thanks again for all the feedback.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Hanover, Pa.
New here as I am considering a clubman to replace my 540. I am enjoying this thread. I have an e30 M3 for my toy and have heard much of the same from people that sold their e46s for and old and slow e30. It is all about the driver involvement.
Cheers,
John
Cheers,
John
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Monty: Well if size constraints aren't a concern, and you really like the way the MCS drives...I say stick with it. A new 328i will cost you into the 40K, and a new MINI would be 30K or less. You could show her the economics...BTW, has she sat in the MINI, or even driven it? I bet once she does, she'll know why you want the MCS. I've changed a few minds after people were skeptical about why I chose a MINI. I had them sit in it...not drive though 
Also you could tell her it is made by BMW...that seems to make people respect them a little better too. BTW, what is your other vehicle?
Side NOte: Monty...are you from bimmerforums? Your SN looks familiar to me.
Also you could tell her it is made by BMW...that seems to make people respect them a little better too. BTW, what is your other vehicle?
Side NOte: Monty...are you from bimmerforums? Your SN looks familiar to me.
E46 > E30 is another excellent move. Fantastic car. I think a "classic" E30 may be in my future.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
From: Upsidedownsville, CA
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
From: Upsidedownsville, CA
Are you still in the business, as tough as it is right now?
Because I've loved our E46 325iT, I test drove an E46 M3 'vert a couple of weeks before driving and buying my R52 cabrio.
Don't get me wrong, I liked the M3 and I'm not saying the R52 is a beter car -- but for my needs and for the money, the R52 was a much better choice . . . and I have not looked back once.
Edit -- by the way, some MINI owners (even some on this forum) have just stuck M badges on their MINIs -- you could just do that and have best of both worlds
Don't get me wrong, I liked the M3 and I'm not saying the R52 is a beter car -- but for my needs and for the money, the R52 was a much better choice . . . and I have not looked back once.
Edit -- by the way, some MINI owners (even some on this forum) have just stuck M badges on their MINIs -- you could just do that and have best of both worlds
Last edited by eager2own; Jun 4, 2008 at 09:59 AM.
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Yes I'm still in the "business" but I've transitioned it into a full-fledged financial advisory business. I write the occasional loan but work at a wire house and focus primarily on private wealth.
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Lower Makefield, PA
I went from a dinan supercharged Estoril E36 M3 to the MCS, all my friends thought I was insane for doing it. only thing that made me look back was the power and RWD. working on the power portion but i think making it RWD may be out of my budget:-p
Lovin the Mini though
Lovin the Mini though
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
If anyone has a e36 M3 they are looking to get rid of please let me know. I would prefer model year 94-95, black w/ black interior, lightly modded or unmodded, no major dings or scratches on the outside, not worried if the vader seat bolsters are in bad shape. Has to be a manual.
PM me
PM me
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Lower Makefield, PA
If anyone has a e36 M3 they are looking to get rid of please let me know. I would prefer model year 94-95, black w/ black interior, lightly modded or unmodded, no major dings or scratches on the outside, not worried if the vader seat bolsters are in bad shape. Has to be a manual.
PM me
PM me
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,027
Likes: 0
I've still got my eyes open for deals though. I'm hoping to find some disgrutled ex-wife that won the e36 m3 from her cheating ex-husband in a divorce suit and I'll convince her that its a 318 and worth nothing. Worth a shot, right?
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Lower Makefield, PA
I know. I had to just stop looking becuase it's just not in the cards at the moment. I'm probably going to have to push the e36 project back another year
I've still got my eyes open for deals though. I'm hoping to find some disgrutled ex-wife that won the e36 m3 from her cheating ex-husband in a divorce suit and I'll convince her that its a 318 and worth nothing. Worth a shot, right?
I've still got my eyes open for deals though. I'm hoping to find some disgrutled ex-wife that won the e36 m3 from her cheating ex-husband in a divorce suit and I'll convince her that its a 318 and worth nothing. Worth a shot, right?
haha good luck with that one:-p
Another ///M owner chiming in....
But I am OLD SCHOOL baby! 
After 4 years of owning a 1991 Dinan E34 M5 (which I am now selling), the only manual tranny, fun, powerful, good-looking and good MPG daily driver commuter that I can think of is a pre-owned 05 MCS JCW! So I went from this....to this:
Whew.....and I thought I was the only one that "downgraded" from a ///M. But I know I will be depressed and shed a tear when she goes
Regards,
Charles
After 4 years of owning a 1991 Dinan E34 M5 (which I am now selling), the only manual tranny, fun, powerful, good-looking and good MPG daily driver commuter that I can think of is a pre-owned 05 MCS JCW! So I went from this....to this:Whew.....and I thought I was the only one that "downgraded" from a ///M. But I know I will be depressed and shed a tear when she goes
Regards,
Charles
Really???
Personally I think they're too BLING and 18" are a bit too big for the Mini, so I'm trying to sell this set and get a set of 17" OEM R90's.
Folks who have/had 18 and 17 inch wheels, do you notice a big difference in the ride?
Thanks,
Charles
To answer your question, it really depends on tires. If you go from a runflat on 17s to a conventional tire on 18s with equal sidewall height, you may actually find the 18s to be less harsh. AOTBE, including total diameter, 18s will be more harsh as there is less sidewall to abosrb vibration.
