Think about selling my M3 to buy a 928

cessnapilot · 08-13-2007, 07:00 PM

Hey guys as I said I am thinking about selling my 1999 BMW M3 Conv for a 928 S4. Any thoughts on this?

I have driven a standard (early 80's) 928 and it was fun to drive but was beat to hell. I am a sporting driver (but don't race or autocross). I live in Maine and we have lots of both coast and Mt. roads that are real fun to drive. I use my M as a daily driver in the summer (well anytime their is not snow on the ground). I drive an Audi A4 V6 Quattro in the winter. I would like to use this 928 the same way as the M.

Thanks for your input guys.

Danglerb · 08-13-2007, 07:47 PM

With a 928 nothing beats driving a few before jumping in the water, its a car you either love or hate or both. Proceeding slowly is a very good idea.

What is it you like/dislike about the M3 and want to change/keep?

Do you do your own mechanical work, some or none?

928North · 08-13-2007, 09:01 PM

It is most important to answer Dangler's q re maintenance. I love my 928 more than any car I have owned but there tends to be a lot of maintenance. Fortunately, I like working on it nearly as much as driving it. I am guessing that the M is a lot less maintenance intensive.
Just my $.02

Red Baron · 03:28 AM

I would only want a 5 speed, that's me. There is nothing wrong with an auto but an S4 5 speed is a lot different driver than an auto.

Fabio421 · 08-14-2007, 07:41 AM

I agree with Baron. I wouldn't want an automatic but some people swear by them. There are quite a few people that actually prefer an auto 928 over a 5 speed. Try to take a few for a test drive first. I'm not sure what your price range is, but it may be worth driving a few that are over your budget just to get a feel for a well sorted example. If the automatic isn't adjusted properly due to age it will not shift correctly and will feel slugish.

Herr-Kuhn · 08-14-2007, 08:09 AM

I would go for a 5-spd car. Hard to find, but this is what they all should have had. My car (slightly modified

, eats new M3s as a light snack. Stock for Stock, your performance would be about equal to the M3 you have.

cessnapilot · 08-14-2007, 04:07 PM

I should have said that I do all my own work on my autos. I am a Machinist and Tool and Die Maker so doing the work does not worry me. The cost of the maint does. I know it is going to be a bit of a PIA to keep on the road.

I am helping my brother in law rebuild (I really mean REBUILD) a 1967 911. 50% of the body is new metal (rust, rust and more rust), installed 2.4L engine with megasquirt and coming soon forced Induction.

The biggest thing I don't like about my M3 is it is a 5 speed AUTO (I know, I know dont laugh) I would have had to drive from Maine to NJ to get the 5 speed and spend 5k more. Other thing I don't like is the power. There is too little of it (240hp Stock). In the US we got screwed. The rest of the world got 321hp.

To get my M changed over to a 6 speed from the E46M3 and get the power up to 300ish HP would cost around 4k (that is me doing all the work and making some of the parts myself in my personal Machine Shop). I was thinking I should save the money and get the 928S4 (only model I really want and must be a 5 speed). But I love my M3 other wise. It is a great car and a BLAST to drive.

What I have now

1999 BMW M3 Conv. 1 of 356 made world wide (in this form)
240hp, 0 to 62 in 5.9 sec top speed 167mph (all info from BMW)

I know this is all less then the 928S4 can do.

Alan in AZ · 08-14-2007, 04:43 PM

Yes this is true for an S4 - but only by a little bit..

If you want to best the Euro M3 performance you will need a GT or GTS.

Also Any S4 will be a much older car than what you are giving up - you will notice some features missing - but on the other hand fit/finish/material will probably be rather better depending on options.

M3's drive nicely but a 928 is a bigger feeling car - a bit more refined in some ways...

Good luck - make sure you get what you want first time - else you will be sucked into the expense on the wrong one... many folks have been there only to realize too late they wanted a different car really (newer, different color, different transmission...)

Alan

Danglerb · 08-14-2007, 08:41 PM

Sounds like your solid in the manual shifter camp, if it fits the budget I would look for a GT. Drive some 928's and see what you think, or ...

Why not slap some boost on the M3? If you basically like it, like having a convertible etc.

Herr-Kuhn · 08-15-2007, 01:03 PM

The M3 inline 6 can handle lots of pressure...I've seen 100) HP on those engines....600 is not too far a stretch at all.

cessnapilot · 08-15-2007, 03:53 PM

So I would be looking for something like a GT then? What would something like that go for? I would be asking $18,500ish for my M (book is 22,000). What kind of power and performance does this model have? I have not read much about it. I

I have thought very hard about a Turbo. I have seen Turbo kits for 7k to 9k taking the power to a claimed 450hp. I could do it for much less as I can make lots of the parts myself. I would have to go with a MegaSquirt EFI system but the thought of blowing a 10k engine keeps me from starting to turn steel in the basement.

I have always like the 928 but saddly I dont have any near me to test drive.

Stan.Shaw · 08-15-2007, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cessnapilot

The biggest thing I don't like about my M3 is it is a 5 speed AUTO (I know, I know dont laugh) I would have had to drive from Maine to NJ to get the 5 speed and spend 5k more. Other thing I don't like is the power. There is too little of it (240hp Stock). In the US we got screwed. The rest of the world got 321hp.

To get my M changed over to a 6 speed from the E46M3 and get the power up to 300ish HP would cost around 4k (that is me doing all the work and making some of the parts myself in my personal Machine Shop). I was thinking I should save the money and get the 928S4 (only model I really want and must be a 5 speed). But I love my M3 other wise. It is a great car and a BLAST to drive.
.

Disclaimer: I love 928s and M3s.... and yes my wife knows.

I own a 96 M3 with 5 speed, track prepared and had a 87 S4 5 speed for the past year. The M3 feels faster. The M3 feels lighter. The S4 is not far behind in feel. I owned my M3 when it was stock and my improvements are not hp nor weight reduction related.

If you feel the M3 is underpowered I would be very surprised if you didn't think the same of the 928 S4. The 928 GT is only 10 more hp but does have a better differental (and transmission) so it might be better. I suspect any stock 928 will feel heavy when compared to a stock E36 M3, presuming both have the same transmission type.

Both cars can be boosted in a variety of ways, and of course the 928s V8 will likely make it more receptive to higher hp than the M3.

Stan.Shaw · 08-15-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cessnapilot

So I would be looking for something like a GT then? What would something like that go for? I would be asking $18,500ish for my M (book is 22,000). What kind of power and performance does this model have? I have not read much about it. I

I have always like the 928 but saddly I dont have any near me to test drive.

There are plenty in New England and like many in Boston at the upcoming Boston Shark Party at the LARS Museum.

A nice GT will be in the same, or higher, price range. Unfortunately this approaches an older E46 M3 price, where you can get the 2000+ refinements and the same hp of the Euro E36 M3s.

A nice GTS is unlikely to be found for less than perhaps $30k and the 5 speeds are commonly listed with $40k+, $50k+ and even $60k+ prices.

By the way, I plan on keeping my E36 M3 forever and at least a couple of 928s, including the 928 race car

A 928 is a much better street grand touring car than an M3 as there is much more room for the driver.

cessnapilot · 08-16-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan.Shaw

Disclaimer: I love 928s and M3s.... and yes my wife knows.

I own a 96 M3 with 5 speed, track prepared and had a 87 S4 5 speed for the past year. The M3 feels faster. The M3 feels lighter. The S4 is not far behind in feel. I owned my M3 when it was stock and my improvements are not hp nor weight reduction related.

If you feel the M3 is underpowered I would be very surprised if you didn't think the same of the 928 S4. The 928 GT is only 10 more hp but does have a better differental (and transmission) so it might be better. I suspect any stock 928 will feel heavy when compared to a stock E36 M3, presuming both have the same transmission type.

Both cars can be boosted in a variety of ways, and of course the 928s V8 will likely make it more receptive to higher hp than the M3.

That was very helpfull. It sounds like I might be better off trying to up the power in my M3 then going after a 928. All you guys have been a big help. Thanks so much for all the great info.