So lately I've been getting an itch to sell the MCS and get an M3. I've testdriven a couple of my friends' M3s and I've even haggled and settled with a few sellers.

I'm just trying to get the impression of people that have either switched from Mini to M3 or vice versa. Pros, Cons, etc. Problem with being indecisive I guess...

 

which model year M3?

I sold my 2006 M3 vert that hold only 7K miles that I have from 0 miles for my MINI. At first I had no issues. Not even a year later and I have had a ton of remorse.

M3 by far.


there are other threads on this same topic

 

M3 is a very nice car. Lots of insurance and gas plus maintenance costs.

 

Sad to hear - can you elaborate more? I'm looking at all years - hardtop, no red or yellow, plus a preference for a black interior, cloth would be awesome

I'm sure there are tons of other threads out there on this. Unfortunately, M3 won't registed in the search function...

 

It is a nice car and I realize it's going to be more expensive to maintain, but if the driving experience dictates it... I mean we're all driving MINIs for a reason also...

M3s according to my insurance are in the riskiest bracket.

 

I personally know someone here that owned a M3 and went to a MINI to never look back. If you want, PM NAM user "Kopov". About a year or so ago I sold him my 2002 MC. He currently drives a 2007 MCSa, a BMW X5 and owns a couple of bikes.

 

One other suggestion - take a look at the M Coupe, especially the 2006-2008 models. If you don't mind their less practical nature than the M3, I think it represents a driver's car in the purest form.

Such a shame that BMW has discontinued it after the 2008 model though. The new hardtop convertible Z4 replaced both Z4 hardtop and ragtop variants... but as nice as the idea of a hardtop convertible is, I still envision it as a compromise.

 

I love the M coupe. Unfortunately, one of the reasons I'm considering get an M3 is to become less conspicuous... At work, people always know when I'm there and when I'm not...

While an M3, isn't totally inconspicuous, most people can't spot one unless they're fanatics.

 

In '03 I sold my silver 99 M3 w/ 40k miles on it. It was an awesome automobile, but I was about to retire and knew I probably could not afford a 1st major mechanical issue(s). Insurance, twelve hundred dollar tires and the like, just was not an option. I certainly didn't want to sell, but reality set in. The M3 could eat up highway like it was going out of style. At the same time, my brother-in-law was trying to sell me his 2001 M Coupe. These are unbelievable cars. At the time they were the fastest BMW ever sold in the US. But, again lots of dollars to drive and maintain. When I ask my lovely wife what we should do...Out of the blue, she said why don't we buy a MINI?
We ordered a 03 Liquid Yellow/yel MCS without even test driving one! I've never looked back. Lots of mods, lots of fun and lots of MINI lust.

 

No urge to ever look at an E46 M3?

 

I'd get a hooked up 1 series before I get am M3, I to got the Mini without a test drive back in 05 and have enjoyed it ever since. don't get me wrong, the M3 is a really nice car. I think my issue would be size and weight of any vehicle I would move to after driving the mini for so many years. The 1 is also newer so it has some uniqueness to it, I've stopped looking at M3's a while ago...

 

Not trying to get attention - trying to avoid my superiors always knowing if I'm at work or not. That plus, I'm not a fan of 1-series styling... Huge fan of the E46 though...

I'm really just trying to get a sense of if I'm gaining anything with an M3. I know the M3 is definitely faster, but the sensation of speed seems greater in the Mini because it's smaller, rougher and louder. Plus I'm not entirely sure about the handling...

 

Hi,
I sold the M3 to get the Mini. M's are great cars.
I see you have mods on your mini. Sounds like you're ready to move up. The mini is more fun, for me. But lacking in luxury, comfort, real power..and size. (Fortunately, I can own more than 1 car, so I'm ok having the mini.)
Nothing wrong with the M3 handling, considering it is a larger, heavier car.

 

Why'd you switch?

 

I had a good friend with a a very nicely done E 46 M3, suspension , motor work etc. He bought a Mini as a toy to mod and to make a long story short ended up selling the M3 There is also someone in our club that ended up doing the same thing but I do not know the details on that one . The M3 is a great car without question but it is just in a different ball park expense wise in both the mod and everyday costs than a Mini. As for performance it depends where you like to do your driving . In the canyons its really not close to a well done Mini but on the Hwy or a big track the M3 will shine .

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

I put on 2000mi in 18 months - just not getting enough use. I have a couple other "toys" and it's too much car for my daughter use daily, so I let it go.

 

News: People will recognize "your car" even if you replace the Mini with a grey Corolla.

Given that, I propose a solution that's a LOT more fun:

Get a beater.

Make it interesting, though - and cheap. Get a Land Rover Disco with an Old Man Emu kit. Try an older BMW 5-series (pre-Bangle, please!). Maybe a caged autocross monster. Or go stealth like I did: Black Camry V6 XLE. The thing's damn near invisible on the road, chews up miles and spits 'em out the back seamlessly, and is just getting broken in at 159k.

Then: Leave one car at work. All the damn time. Carpool sometimes, ride your bike in and drive home, and occasionally leave 'em both there. Change parking spots often, but park courteously.

Is he here? Is he gone? You'll drive people NUTSO - and have a ball doing it. You'll also have the advantage of two steeds to choose from, with (possibly) very different capabilities. And it'll cost about the same, net.

 

LOL nice - don't think I never thought of that... I already leave spare keys/wallets/work laptops around the office so people can't tell I'm gone. Why not graduate to cars?

 

Get a really BIG beater then. I recommend a Buick. A 1995-1996 Roadmaster Station Wagon, to be precise. It's got the 'vette V8, can be retrofitted with the Police or Impala SS suspension, rides like a dream, and has skylights.

Why that, you ask?

Well, aside from being easy to mod, capable of 400+hp with bolt-ons, and common enough that any dog-armed mechanic with a room-temperature IQ can work on them...

They're Gy-stinkin-NORMOUS.

That way, if you keep being devious and lose your job, you can live that car!

BACK TO WORK, SLACKER!

 

Not my fault - 'tis the fate of a finance professional. It's all so project-oriented.

 

I'm joshing with you - I'm a Supply Chain project guy ("consultant", though what I really do is project work and implementation - making actual things happen). Same lean times for us, even the good independents are having Projects push off. We can prove five to ten times our costs in returns - but we have costs. If the paybacks aren't immediate (and often they are, but are hard to "prove" to some cynics), then nothing happens.

Folks are too busy dodging grenades to even put the fires out.

I wish you luck as well - but just think: Buying another vehicle keeps those wheels of commerce moving...

 

I'm actually in the market for an unmolested low milage E30 M3. In my opinion the first gen M3's are the closest thing to a pure sports car. Plus the looks are just killer.

 

http://www.motoringfile.com/2003/09/...heMINICooperS/

good read. i think comparing a m3 to a mini isnt even fair. the m3 is way out of the mini's league.

if i had the money to be able to do what your considering. i'd do it in a heart beat. but i'll have to wait. i'll get my m3 sooner or later, one way or another...some how...

 

You are comparing apples and oranges... we've had a '03 MCS since new and a E46 M3 SMG and now a E93 M3 cab. Love them all but did get tired of the SMG rather quickly and probably would have kept that car longer if it had the manual. For quickly getting around town it's hard to beat the Mini, and if you actually have to drive in winter weather, it's obviously better in the snow. Of course, if you want to blast down a country road it's hard to beat the M3... solution? One of each!

 

Growing up in New England weather, driving in any weather with any car is cake. But like he said, one of each is best.