BMW as first car

[i-is-in-da-house]

Can so of you owners point out good and bad for m3. I am planning to buy a 1990-1997 one.

thank-you beforehand

[DinanM3_S2]

BMW M3s are great cars, just not good 1st cars. A good 1st car should be safe and average, like a Volvo or a Honda. A BMW sports car as your 1st car is asking for trouble. If you really like BMWs, a regular 3-series would make a great car.

[i-is-in-da-house]

Thanks for the information. If its not personal or a bad idea, what was your first car. And may i ask what is the difference in a m3 and 3-series, and which one is cheaper.

Thank-you.

[01L2Cobra]

The 3-series is cheaper.

The Motorsports line (M, M3, M5, and M6) have different suspension, drive trains (engines, transmissions, and differentials), interior, exterior, brakes, and wheels than their respective regular line.

A good cheap BMW 3-series for a 1st car from 90-97 would be a 318. They can be found fairly cheap and are fun to drive. Make sure before you do anything that you have a good mechanic look it over. The rear suspension can be problematic in the 3 series.

[i-is-in-da-house]

Thanks man, i will look into them.

[KamilMk]

Exactly what 01L2Cobra said... However, telling us the kind of budget that you're on would help out lots when it comes to us giving you some advice on what to look into...

And also like DinanM3 S2 said, any of the Motorsport line BMWs is defenitely not a car anybody should start off as a 1st car... Even the E46 330 classes (for example), could be too much for some people to handle... 225HP and RWD tend to not get along with novice drivers...

[rextheracer]

Originally Posted by DinanM3_S2

BMW M3s are great cars, just not good 1st cars. A good 1st car should be safe and average, like a Volvo or a Honda. A BMW sports car as your 1st car is asking for trouble. If you really like BMWs, a regular 3-series would make a great car.

itotally agree...a 3 series is perfect for a first car. and yes the m3 is way to much for a first car. my dad let me drive his E46 M3 , and it was impossible to stay at the speed limit.

[userrq]

Yes i do agree that M3 as first car is best to have. I am also planing to have one for my son.

Thanks

[wonderkid]

i love it

[dizzle1]

I think the E36 M3 is way to much car for a young driver. Even as a first car you need real experience to drive one. I recommend you start with a E36 325i/s or 328i/s 5spd.

Once you learn to toss that around then your ready for an M3 and you will not wreck one. It takes some maturity to drive an ///M car. I know young people take cars beyond the limits and are asking for trouble.

But 1 year in the 325i 328i should be good, then get the all out M3 yea its way better I know

[Camdinans3]

well which generation m3 are you looking for......1990-1999 is a large range

E30 were produced from 1986-1992
E36 1995-1999

totally different cars. totally different pricing. a decent E30 m3 is going to still run ~15-20K whereas a DECENT E36 M3 will run ~10-15K

for a daily driver i would recommend a 96+ E36 m3. and you better be ready for some preventative maintenance because the cooling system is going to need replacing, rear shock mounts, differential bolt, differential bushings. all things that can go wrong and you need to keep ontop of. other than that the E36 is a wonderful car.