Buying advice required E92 M3

[Sapiense-demens]

As a pure aside, at the prices bandied about for an E92, I'd say R500k is the absolute baseline, with the foreknowledge that you're gonna have to sink >100k on basic maintainence on day 1, you're at 600k already, with a 5% chance your car elects to detonate a nuke in the engine bay costing you R0.5m to fix.

Isn't it just better to save longer and spend R700-900k which gets you into decent F8X M3/4 or even an older 997 era 911 (at 900k you're getting a great 997 and have cash to sort the IMS there as well).

@OP, I do get the V8 roar and all that being very appealing, but I can't see how a regular human runs the V8/10 M3/5/6 cars without the fear of god of something going wrong.

When the E92M3 was like high 300k for a decent one you could at least justify (and this wasn't that long ago, 2/3 yrs back even). Now at R500k and up for decent ones I'd be hunting elsewhere.

I absolutely get your point on looking for the F82. I've never driven either the E92 or the other. The E92 has been a dream car for many many years and now I can finally afford it that's why I didn't even consider any other. I will try and test drive both to see if the F82 will fill the hole. Ideally I would like to rent them to be able to drive for a few days each. Any advice on a rental where I can find them?

 

[TBP88]

I absolutely get your point on looking for the F82. I've never driven either the E92 or the other. The E92 has been a dream car for many many years and now I can finally afford it that's why I didn't even consider any other. I will try and test drive both to see if the F82 will fill the hole. Ideally I would like to rent them to be able to drive for a few days each. Any advice on a rental where I can find them?

I do get the "this was the dream car when I was 19" thing. I did exactly that with the Z4M. But the entry point back then was lower, the risk level was lower with S54s and the cost of failure was unpleasant but doable. E9XM3s are a new level.

You are hugely unlikely to find E9XM3s for rent, but I'm sure a forumite in your neck of the woods with a good one will happily *TAKE YOU* for a drive (I doubt they're gonna chuck you keys unless your stimulation game is on point).

Perhaps woodford still have some of the last gen M4comps for rent? They used to have a few at their lots in JHB and KZN at the airports.

Broadly speaking, as somebody who recently (relatively) spent a huge chunk of their change on a car, start with the longest shortlist, then try to at least see and sit in all the cars on the list, then drive as many as you liked sitting in (and are allowed to), and then start checking for specific cars.

There really isn't a better way than this to get a proper sense. If I was you - call all the above M3 adds and see if anyone lets you have a test drive, even if your intent to buy is distant/minimal, you might as well be the tyre kicker (especially if it's at a dealership!).

 

[NtandoN]

I looked for an E92 M3 a while back just like you. Prices were still good but there were a lot of abused/lemon-like cars out there. Looked good on photos but were really not in real life.
After a couple of months of searching, I went one Saturday to view another E92 and came back with the F80 and never looked back. As suggested look at the F8x platform, they are reliable cars and really fun.

 

[Rocky_cpt]

View attachment 26228

Love the jizz stains on the centre console and cubby cover. hahaha.

☠️

 

[Spanky]

View attachment 26228

Love the jizz stains on the centre console and cubby cover. hahaha.

Who doesn't enjoy a bit of dogging every now and then 🤷‍♂️

 

[KPM3_30]

Both cars cannot be compared, the e9x M3 is completely different from the F8x M3.. Yes they are both M cars, but that's where the similarities end.

The E9x M3 is slow by today's standards, without a doubt - forced induction changed the game substantially but this is a car from a bygone era, therein lies the appeal.. I completely get the pricing has gotten absurd in recent years, I bought mine when they were a relative bargain at the base of the appreciation curve, but a dream car remains that despite logic or rationality.

There is nothing quite like it, it is and always will be the only V8 M3 ever produced. I love the combination of the American muscle car persona with the German sporty feel.. Going fast has its own appeal but to a petrol-head like myself, it's about the sum of theatre in it's entirety and the feeling you get.. The E9x was my dream M car and its lived up to every expectation I had, which is why I can't find myself selling for the Fx M3.

My advice would be to experience both and then make your mind up, different strokes for different folks.

 

[individj]

coast is obviously a different experience too

 

[922-ZN]

coast is obviously a different experience too

Coast is where the E92 belongs, I feel sorry for people that have them at altitude, it should be illegal to take an E92 past PMB

 

[individj]

ive got a deep love for this car.

 

[922-ZN]

ive got a deep love for this car.

As do the rest of us who know where it's at

 

[Eust]

Coast is where the E92 belongs, I feel sorry for people that have them at altitude, it should be illegal to take an E92 past PMB

Nah we just charge ours here in JHB 🤣

 

[Sapiense-demens]

Guys

Would you guys consider the one with single hump with no EDC worth it?

 

[jld010]

Eyed a S65 E92 last year..after driving in a friends car..they really look good in person..and the driving experience is as raw as a V8 supercharged 4l engine can give.. the theatre is second to none. Look..the torque numbers are unforgivably low..bit of a joke really..slow and not a daily by any stretch. Get yourself a F82..maybe the best M car of all time if one is reasonable in your assessment of what a M car should provide you in terms of fun and dynamic driving pleasure..#educated bias😂

 

[individj]

just saw the most beautiful white e92 now at the WW in Brackenfeltskoen ...the polished 19"s looked really nice too...car looked immaculate. The gent gave it a nice pull and it sounded amazing ...sounded completely stock... reminded me why I love these so much..

 

[922-ZN]

Eyed a S65 E92 last year..after driving in a friends car..they really look good in person..and the driving experience is as raw as a V8 supercharged 4l engine can give.. the theatre is second to none. Look..the torque numbers are unforgivably low..bit of a joke really..slow and not a daily by any stretch. Get yourself a F82..maybe the best M car of all time if one is reasonable in your assessment of what a M car should provide you in terms of fun and dynamic driving pleasure..#educated bias😂

What kit does he have on the E92?