Hi,
Just wondering any of you from E46 M3 to Mini Cooper S?

 

I had an E46 M3 and ended up getting a Cooper S. I kept my E36 M3 becasue I like it more than the E46. Very happy about the MINI. The only thing I miss about the M3 is the SMG.

 

I did too. Went from '01 M3 to '03 MCS in 2003 when we decided to move to Hawaii from California. Seemed like a smart decision at the time but I sometimes miss it.

 

Not the E46, but we switched from the E36. Occasionally miss that engine... but not the electrical gremlins and the more expensive tires... that don't last as long... I really miss the more supportive and comfortable seats as I can't stand the seats in the MINI.

 

I am planning on keeping my 2003 E46 M3 to go along with my '06 MCS/JCW. I've racked up 46K miles on the M and would like to slow that down a bit. The Mini will become my primary driver with the M becoming more a weekend and longer trip cruiser. I think both cars have a lot going for them, the sheer speed of the M3 along with that wonderful engine growl! and the Mini with its go-kart handling and all around fun factor. I can't wait to have both in the garage.

 

I am thinking to sell my M to get the mini Cooper S, that's why I want to hear what you guys think.

 

im actually doing the opposite. Im selling the MINI before winter and ordering an '06 ZCP M3 in february. The MINI is a fun car, but the M3 is a FUN car. I had an E36 as a dd and the MINI as a fun weekend car. I just can't pass up on an E46 before the E90 comes out. From the spy photos, I'm so happy there is an '06 M3.

 

I have an '05 MCS, and my dad has an '03 M3 w/SMG. My brother has probably had the most seat time in both (out of the three of us), and he loves the MINI and the M3 equally. They're different types of vehicles. The MINI weighs a lot less, and is FWD, while the M3 is a little overweight but is a well-balanced and high-powered RWD vehicle.

Honestly, I can't see anyone being unhappy with either. The ride in the MINI is a little more choppy because of the shorter wheelbase, and the M3 is much more expensive to purchase, service, and maintain. The M3 takes long sweeping corners like nobody's business, and the MINI is more at home in tighter turns. Both can be great around a track, but they each have different strengths.

One thing I have noticed in the M3 is that it's a lot easier to get yourself in a lot more trouble at high rates of speed - especially if you don't have much driving experience. I have been off-track sideways in the M3 at ~100 mph because I didn't have enough experience to handle the level of grip and the horsepower. I learned my lesson, and have become a better driver as a result, but the possibility for disaster was definitely there. Luckily, nothing bad happened. I feel that the MINI is a lot easier to control at the limit.

Again, I can't see anyone being unhappy with either.

 

From what I've seen here and on Roadfly there are quite a few that made the change, plus there are those that have both. My SO had an E46 M3 and he says that he has as much fun driving an MCS, and having driven the M3 plenty I tend to agree. One is a bigger heavier car with more horsepower, the other is much smaller, nimbler and direct. I do miss rear wheel drive sometime, but not too much as the Mini's FWD is very effective and different feeling then that of other fwd cars that I've driven.

Unless you are tracking a car you can't really utilize the full potential of the S54 engine for the most part anyway - many I know that try to end up with lots of tickets and I see plenty get in accidents when they test the limits. As people have said, it better to drive a slow car fast then a fast car slow - and that is what you have here, fast vs quick. Fast is good for bragging rights, but quick in this car is damn fun.

Now, if its an image thing, then that is something else - I feel that a fair number of M3 customers are in it for the image and appearance that it projects as much or more then anything. And if you need that BMW badge to feel good about what people think of you then the Mini won't satisfy..