1990 928S4 or E46 M3

[dewolf]

As some may know I have a nice E46 M3. Has FSH and I'm the second owner. I have the oppurtunity to swap it for a very, very nice '90 S4 two owner car with FSH and 129,000kms on the clock. Silver with navy leather. Everything working as it should. What say the brains trust?

[porsche4life]

I say why??? They e46 is better in every measure able way except maybe looks...

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

I say why??? They e46 is better in every measure able way except maybe looks...

And depreciation. The M3 will continue to lose money and the S4 will probably hold fairly steady, at least here in Oz.

[porsche4life]

Sorry... I don't figure that in on cars... I buy and keep what makes me feel all tingly inside... M3 will do that WAY better than the 928, at least from my experience.

[Nostril Cheese]

E46. You dont want to work on a 928

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Sorry... I don't figure that in on cars... I buy and keep what makes me feel all tingly inside... M3 will do that WAY better than the 928, at least from my experience.

LOL...I agree the M3 is a great car but it just does'nt feel as solid as a Porsche. Just seems like everytime I drive it I'm thinkng about the SMG pump failing, the vanos failing, spinning a big end etc. Stupid I know but well documented issues.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by dewolf

LOL...I agree the M3 is a great car but it just does'nt feel as solid as a Porsche. Just seems like everytime I drive it I'm thinkng about the SMG pump failing, the vanos failing, spinning a big end etc. Stupid I know but well documented issues.

And you want to buy a older, electrically complex car with parts costing three times as much as the BMW?

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

And you want to buy a older, electrically complex car with parts costing three times as much as the BMW?

No more complex than an M3. Electrical stuff does'nt worry me too much. I do complex electrical installations for work. I would suggest the 928 would be cheaper to maintain. M3 requires particular oil for the engine, gearbox and diff.

[slow&rusty]

If the S4 is a 5 speed go for it!

[onewhippedpuppy]

That sorta sounds like going from bad to worse reliability. I like the 928 and don't really care for BMWs, but in this case I would take the M3.

[ZOO]

In canada we are seeing E46 M3 prices holding steady, and maybe even increasing. So depreciation may be a red herring.

[berettafan]

I would happily trade my 325 for a quality 928.

[Mrmerlin]

The 928 is a better built car and has better components
keep up with maintenance and its a reliable DD for going anywhere in a low stress environment.
Auto or stick both have their place the auto is better for crowded roads

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by dewolf

As some may know I have a nice E46 M3. Has FSH and I'm the second owner. I have the oppurtunity to swap it for a very, very nice '90 S4 two owner car with FSH and 129,000kms on the clock. Silver with navy leather. Everything working as it should. What say the brains trust?

It's really a matter of what you want. Both cars are old enough to have "leveled out" as far as reliability. The people squawking about how unreliable 928s are likely mean 20 years ago - like your S54 M3, by now the decent ones have had the weaknesses addressed, removed, or worked around. And while it was complex in the 70s when the model was introduced, there are probably trickier Ford Fiestas on dealer lots now. So if you like the 928 more than your M3, go for it.

[enzo1]

1 vote for 928, if your not skeer'd..... auto is mercedes sourced, supposed to be bullet- proof...PICS?

[javadog]

My M3's always nickled and dimed me to death and my 928 didn't.

It might come down to which one you like to drive the most. Spend some time in the 928. It's a very fast car, if you can find a way around the speeding cameras and other BS down there.

JR

[ZOO]

What is the FSH that your BMW has? I cannot figure out that acronym.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by ZOO

What is the FSH that your BMW has? I cannot figure out that acronym.

FSH, full service history.

[DanielDudley]

I've had four 928s, and I still have one. Good ones that are kept up aren't too bad to maintain. If you are going to have it serviced though, you need a specialist.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by javadog

My M3's always nickled and dimed me to death and my 928 didn't.
JR

And that's the thing that peeves me. My M3 has Euro rotors so we are talking $900 for a pair of front rotors here. The rears are about $800. For $900 I could do all four rotors, pads and caliper seals on an S4 and probably have change.