Morning oppo, AKA I woke up at 3 and couldn't fall back asleep 

"E90M3" (e90m3) 02/25/2019 at 05:52 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3

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Since I couldn’t fall back asleep, it’s time for some unnecessary car shopping. Before we get to the car in question, which should be obvious from the picture , I want to talk about another car, my M3.

I got my M3 in July of 2014 with just under 16k miles on it and I paid $ 49.9k for it. That was at the upper end of my budget, I really didn’t want to spend more than 45k, but I wasn’t able to find what I wanted at that price which was a 2011 E90 M3 with a manual, iDrive, leather, a color that wasn’t red or black and under 40k miles. Obviously, I was able to find that car and I purchased it, even if it took two months. I don’t have buyers remorse, but I do have a question, should I have gotten a 1M instead?

At this time in 2014, you could find a 1M for around the same price. This is where I should mention that it took me so long to find the M3 because I couldn’t find one with a manual; the majority of 2011 M3s were DCT. The manual was a requirement, so much so I started thinking about getting an E92 or even waiting a year and buying a brand new F80 because then I would be the one ticking all the options boxes. There was also another car I considered, the 1M. That would solve my manual problem as they were all manuals. I also knew that this was going to depreciate less than an E90.

Now, I eventually found an M3 that fit all my requriments and bought that, but, at times, I’ve wondered if I should’ve gotten the 1M instead. Keep that for a few years and then probably sell it for close to what I bought it for because it wouldn’t have that many miles on it, in 4.5 years I’ve managed to put 31k miles on my M3. However, the M3 was the car I always wanted, so I got that instead. I also realize to recoup the money from the 1M, I would have to sell it. Additionally, there aren’t many low mile single owner E90 M3s out there as there were in 2014.

So I guess all things considered, I was probably better off with the E90, but there is the “what if” factor.

Anyways, on to the 1M. I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! After driving one, I’m thinking that I made the right decision to get the E90. The N54 in the 1M just doesn’t feel as special as the S65 in the M3. Yes, the 1M can be made faster, but that’s not relevant for feel.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! It’s also one of the few 1Ms that on sale today that’s not at EAG.

This is certainly a nice example, but unfortunately , unless I come into a bunch of money, all I can do is look now. I’ll also never know if I made the right decision to get the M3 instead of one of these. 

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 05:58

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pip bip - choose Corrour > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 06:03

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good evening

:)

gettingoldercarguy > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 06:41

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EAG provides me empathy for those who hate BaT.

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 06:42

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Lol EAG sucks. It does make for some good eye candy on the way to work though.

random001 > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 06:43

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I didn’t know they made manual X5's....

gettingoldercarguy > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 06:48

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Either car has an online six, so it's a toss up.

E90M3 > gettingoldercarguy 02/25/2019 at 07:15

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This is going to become a thing, isn’t it. 

E90M3 > random001 02/25/2019 at 07:17

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Yup, first gen only, or as far as the North American market is concerned. 

E90M3 > gettingoldercarguy 02/25/2019 at 07:18

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I’m ok with BAT, it’s something where people will pay more than the car is “worth” because of emotions and things like that. 

E90M3 > UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy 02/25/2019 at 07:19

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I’m with you on that one. Also, I would probably frequent that place just to drool. 

random001 > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 07:30

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TIL.

WilliamsSW > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 08:21

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  G reat way to start the week, ugh.

Sounds to me like you probably got the right car. A dream car should be just that - not a compromise because it will hold its value.

Besides, the time will come for the E90 M3. And 8000 RPM V8 noises beat a turbo 6.

Tripper > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 08:31

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“ I don’t have buyers remorse, but I do have a question, should I have gotten a 1M instead?”

Yes because the 1M would still be worth what you paid for it or more. Also because it’s smaller and that episode of Top Gear with Jeremy whipping it around that airfield made it look like more fun that I already know that it is.

I had a deposit on one when they were released, but I was in Europe when mine arrived, and it was white... So I would have had to buy it sight unseen in a color that isn’t a color. I decided against it. I’m not remorseful about that though. I doubt I’d still have it and I really would have been stretching the budget at the time. Still I have driven one, albeit heavily modified it was tons of fun.

On the other side of the coin. M cars without turbos>M cars with turbos.

BeaterGT > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 08:42

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I think if you had the 1M, you’d want to drive it less with how they are being priced. And I might be alone in this camp but the E9X M3 looks way better aesthetically whereas the 1M is like a bad mashup between a clown shoe and an M3 (flame suit on) .

Do both cars use the same manual gearbox?

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 08:59

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Yeah, there’s at least always cool cars outside, even if they sit outside for a long time (for better or for worse on the “never seen bad weather” front).

Oddly enough, the employees there seem to drive Porsches. A 997.2S, 981 Cayman S, and 930 Turbo have been spotted by me in the past.

E90M3 > BeaterGT 02/25/2019 at 09:57

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That might be true, but then I haven’t really driven my M3 much since I’ve had the 3.

Looking at realoem, they’ve got different part numbers, so I don’t believe so. 1M M3

E90M3 > Tripper 02/25/2019 at 10:11

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The 1M would’ve been the better financial decision , but the M3 was the car I had wanted for a decade. Plus long run, you’re not going to have as many low mileage E90s because people drove them.

Either way both great cars, it’s too bad I can’t own them both.

E90M3 > WilliamsSW 02/25/2019 at 10:13

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I’m interested to see what the future holds for the E90. 

WilliamsSW > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 10:16

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S65 + 3 pedals will make it collectible, I guarantee it.  Might not be as big a $ car as the 1M, only because it isn’t as rare, but it’s desirable.

Shift24 > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 10:16

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IMO the 1M overpriced prices are due to its rarity and people wanting BMW go back to the light weight coupes like the E36 M3. Essentially the Euro E36 M3 we never got. The N54 is a decent motor but in the 1 series it can rack up hours at a shop due to oil leaks. Also the HPFP is covered up to 120k or 10 years but they are coming up on the end of that warranty

BeaterGT > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 10:27

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But why would you want the 1M transmission? Look how much it weighs!

Jokes aside, probably just different gear ratios.

E90M3 > BeaterGT 02/25/2019 at 10:38

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I kind of figured the only difference is the ratios.

gettingoldercarguy > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 12:17

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Yeah, I agree.  However, I also feel that sense people would say the same thing about EAG.

gettingoldercarguy > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 12:18

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Gotta run with jokes like this.

E90M3 > gettingoldercarguy 02/25/2019 at 13:06

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It just seems that EAG buys up the market and resells. 

gettingoldercarguy > E90M3 02/25/2019 at 13:39

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Yeah, minimal work and a lot of price increase. I’ve seen a bunch of that on BaT lately as well. It’s unfortunate and I don’t like flippers in general. Extending that general disdain goes to investment collectors. And since money has been so cheap for so long, it’s really out of control.

On a different note, I’m looking at E38 740iLs. I want a lead sled project car that friends and family can use when they visit. Also, I want to drop an iron block LS and single turbo it.