I replaced my M3

ZOO · 09-23-2018, 05:09 AM

I know this is more of a Porsche forum, but there are some fellow M3 owners here, too. I was one of them, until yesterday when I sent my E46 M3 off to its new owner. It’s the first car I’ve actually ever made money from duriing ownership.

I’ve replaced it with a 2018 M2. Arctic white, 6MT.

Three things I learned on day one. First, this car is blisteringly fast compared to my M3, or any other car I’ve ever owned. I am respectfully careful with my right foot. I can’t wait for an open track . . .

Second, the amount of features is crazy. I am not sure I will ever use much of it. Of course my son has already configured himself a driver’s profile.

Third, the LED headlights are phenomenal. I can’t velieve how incredible they are. I find night driving much tougher as I approach my 50s, but the light pattern and spectrum took away much of that. Honestly, I can rationalize the purchase by that alone.

I know I will miss 7000 plus rpms down long straights at tracks such as Mont Tremblant. But the torque of the turbo N55 is a terrific substitute.

pavulon · 09-23-2018, 05:29 AM

Congrats and thanks for your review. I will echo your sentiments re:great lights and night driving as well as how torque makes for a pleasurable driving experience. Revs are great. Yet, having to wring out your machine in order to extract exciting levels of performance isn't all that rewarding over time. Riding a wave of acceleration from a nice turbocharged machine doesn't ever seem to get old but can make driving a regular car pretty boring by comparison. Big displacement is a good substitute for turbocharging but it still doesn't seem as effortless!

onewhippedpuppy · 09-23-2018, 05:54 AM

Sounds fun, congrats!

masraum · 09-23-2018, 06:04 AM

cool, picks of old and new?

Did the M3 have HIDs?

ZOO · 09-23-2018, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

cool, picks of old and new?

Did the M3 have HIDs?

It did -- and I thought they were fabulous. Until I drove the M2 at night.

masraum · 09-23-2018, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOO

It did -- and I thought they were fabulous. Until I drove the M2 at night.

Interesting. I'm a little surprised that the LEDs are that much of an improvement, but I guess that's why they seem to be the top option these days.

sc_rufctr · 09-23-2018, 07:35 AM

I'll never replace mine.

LakeCleElum · 09-23-2018, 08:31 AM

Pictures

MRM · 09-23-2018, 09:48 AM

This is excellent information. Did you have a chance to compare your M2 to the current M3 or M4? I'm a year or two away from replacing my 535 and I've promised myself something performance oriented and comfortable as a daily driver. The M2 and 2 series performance versions seem like a great option on paper. I'm wondering how they stack up to the current M3/M4.

wildthing · 09-23-2018, 10:31 AM

The good folks at The Grand Tour showed the M4 being faster of course, but the M2 is more a pure driver's car. I would like to drive either and confirm...

Superman · 09-23-2018, 10:32 AM

FWIW, my '78 911 has pretty good headlights. H-4s (of course) and 130/100 watt bulbs with relays. Daytime at night. IMHO

09-23-2018, 10:35 AM

Congrats on the M2. They are great cars, and they look awesome in Arctic White. I have an E92 M3 and recently played on track with a new M2. Both stock, on street tires, both driven by instructors.

Interesting to see where torque vs. revs comes into play. Lap times were about even, but the M2's torque at low revs gave it a distinct advantage coming out of the turns. The M3 would catch up only when it had a chance to rev up, and it seemed to have a better top speed on the straights.

Around town, the torque of turbo motors is very nice to have, but there's something about a naturally aspirated V8 that revs to 8200rpm that keeps me in the M3.

ZOO · 09-23-2018, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madcorgi

Congrats on the M2. They are great cars, and they look awesome in Arctic White. I have an E92 M3 and recently played on track with a new M2. Both stock, on street tires, both driven by instructors.

Interesting to see where torque vs. revs comes into play. Lap times were about even, but the M2's torque at low revs gave it a distinct advantage coming out of the turns. The M3 would catch up only when it had a chance to rev up, and it seemed to have a better top speed on the straights.

Around town, the torque of turbo motors is very nice to have, but there's something about a naturally aspirated V8 that revs to 8200rpm that keeps me in the M3.

I had to work very hard to keep pace in my E46 M3 with any of the N54 and N55 turbo BMWs on track. I had no hope of catching the S55 M turbos, though. Just too much power all around.

I am more of a Zen guy on track -- I don't do 30 minutes at 10/10ths. The power will allow me to relax a bit when I am chasing friends . . .

ZOO · 09-23-2018, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

This is excellent information. Did you have a chance to compare your M2 to the current M3 or M4? I'm a year or two away from replacing my 535 and I've promised myself something performance oriented and comfortable as a daily driver. The M2 and 2 series performance versions seem like a great option on
paper. I'm wondering how they stack up to the current M3/M4.

There are lots of great videos comparing these two cars -- I didn't do much research because the M2 is already a bit of a financial reach for my own comfort, and the M4 is way out of my league. In most videos the M4 is ultimately a bit faster (unless it is a short track where the additional power doesn't factor in quite as much), but the reviewers were partial to the M2.

The 2019 M2 has the S55 motor from the M4. That should be something . . .

ZOO · 09-23-2018, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Interesting. I'm a little surprised that the LEDs are that much of an improvement, but I guess that's why they seem to be the top option these days.

In fact, I am also trading in my 2016 F150 XLT for a 2018 F150 Lariat -- for the LED headlights (and my wife wants the heated seats, so it's win-win). The XLT headlights aren't great to begin with, and I am now an LED convert. I also learned you can buy plug and play LEDs for H4 round lights, so I might do the Miata, too.

masraum · 09-23-2018, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOO

In fact, I am also trading in my 2016 F150 XLT for a 2018 F150 Lariat -- for the LED headlights (and my wife wants the heated seats, so it's win-win). The XLT headlights aren't great to begin with, and I am now an LED convert. I also learned you can buy plug and play LEDs for H4 round lights, so I might do the Miata, too.

Wow. Heated seats are very nice, even in Houston where you don't want to use them 9-11 months out of the year.

It's nice that LEDs can be retrofit, and not too surprising since I would think that they should use the same or less power for the same or more light output.

Nickshu · Nickshu's Garage

The current M2 is the car the M3 should be. Good choice!

Ferraripete · Ferraripete's Garage

sounds like an exciting car. congrats!

wildthing · 09-23-2018, 08:13 PM

Meanwhile, 1M cars still haven't depreciated... I think the M2 is a good successor.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-23-2018, 10:32 PM

Funny that I totally agree with lights being a huge deal. I can’t stand driving anything with halogen lights anymore, getting old probably doesn’t help. HIDs are a requirement and all of my cars have them from the factory.