Late Introduction: Estoril

"wbizarre - OEM fetishist" (wbizarre) 11/04/2017 at 12:06 • Filed to: BMW, M3

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Haven’t posted in a while, and completely forgot to introduce the latest leap down the BMW rabbithole. Prices on the ignominious US E36 M3 seemed to be just past the bottoming-out point, and I thought I could nearly break even by swapping the E46 330i for the M3. I definitely didn’t break even on the swap, but on the upside I was able to pick up an decent M3 for a decent price! And the color melts my heart every time I look at it.

Meet Estoril! Draped in morning frost on the drive home back in April.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:11

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Not silver! Rare!

OKcarburetor > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:13

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lux seats or vaders? Looks excellent!

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:14

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so jelly

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > OKcarburetor 11/04/2017 at 12:16

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Sadly, Vaders only came on coupes.

OKcarburetor > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:23

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The lux seats are actually pretty good though.

gmctavish needs more space > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:24

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Captain of the Enterprise > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:39

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Congratulations! Looks great and I really like that color!

Roadster Man > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:39

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That’s pretty.

awmaster10 > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 12:48

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How does it compare to the 330

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 13:02

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Best color. I want to pick up one of those while they’re cheap, but I need to sell something first...

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > awmaster10 11/04/2017 at 16:32

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It feels... more faster in comparison to the 330 than the numbers would suggest: 225hp vs 245hp in the M3. There’s a kind of tension in the M3's drivetrain, it feels more eager to go at any moment. I like that the M3's seating position is lower, and the steering wheel is less boosted. The interiors are miles apart. In terms of build quality the E46 has one of the best-built BMW interiors, and the E36 has one of the worst.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/04/2017 at 16:40

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The color played a bigger role in this purchase than I’d like to admit. I couldn’t bear another monochrome car, especially the straight-edged e36. BMW had a great color selection for this car. Dakar Yellow, Estoril Blue, British Racing Green, and not one but two purples: Techno Violet and Daytona Violet. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 19:28

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best colour in E36 range.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 11/04/2017 at 21:08

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You’re more patient than I am, haha.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 11/04/2017 at 23:51

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I literally have no space left to park anything. One car has to live on the street already