I have officially lost it

"E90M3" (e90m3) 04/07/2019 at 20:28 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3

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While I didn’t buy it, I looked at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! this weekend. Fortunately, for both my 328i and bank account, I decided against acquiring it; however, I did at least drive it.

Despite having only driven an automatic car for the first 8 years of driving, I am now perplexed by automatic transmissions. I select a gear and sit there for a moment thinking there is something else I need to do to make the car move. This was especially true when I rented a car in Jacksonville this Feburary and it took me a moment or two to make the car move. I had less of a struggle in the UK, with a manual rental, than I did in my own country. Eventually, I figure it out and make the car move. I only make this remark to say how much I like the manual and how much this car would be a departure from driving only stick cars. Regardless of what I do with my daily, the M3 will be staying so I will at least have one manual car.

As far as the rest of the driving experience, it felt more floaty and less connected than my 3. Then again it’s not as focused on driving as the E9X is, and this coupled with the manual transmission was the reason I went with another E9X as my second car back in 2017. However, the C300 might make a better daily than my 328i. Which would I rather sit in traffic in? The C300.

Other than that, the seat in my 328i felt more comfortable. Then again, the BMW sport seats are wonderful things. I wish Mercedes had seats similar to the BMW sport pack seats in their cars; I was comfortable, but I didn’t get the immediate satisfaction of sitting in the seat as I did my 3.

It was also AWD; I didn’t really notice this. I’ve owned four cars in my life: 1997 Explorer Sport, 2011 M3, 2012 128i, 2009 328i. All of them RWD, with the exception of the Explorer being 4WD. Personally, I would rather RWD, but I wouldn’t mind a AWD car. They’re all AWD for 2014, so I wouldn’t have a choice.

So for 17k, I might be looking at my next car if my 328i wants to start throwing a CEL every month. I don’t think I’d like this as much as my 3, but I think it would fit my requirements just fine.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 20:36

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You need a C5.

fintail > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 20:38

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Lux trim is relatively rare on these, especially that late in the run.  Early 204s could be had with a manual, but I doubt lux cars, and I have only seen a couple.

E90M3 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/07/2019 at 20:39

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I’m good. 

E90M3 > fintail 04/07/2019 at 20:39

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You had to get the sport trim to get the manual, and it, sadly, wasn’t an option after 2011. 

daender > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 20:47

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Not a bad-looking car. I’m a bit surprised the BMW’s seats are more comfortable than the Benz.

E90M3 > daender 04/07/2019 at 20:48

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I feel like you sit on the Mercedes seats, as opposed to in the BMW seats. It could also be a bias, I’m not sure. 

fintail > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 20:51

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Yeah, that would be get a little old now. Have you tried a sport?  I think 204s are known to be fairly solid, and this one looks like a decent amount of car for the money.

For the seats, I don’t think BMW style extendable thigh supports were available until W205 a feature I enjoy and might make some difference.. Then again, I am not after a sport model, if I was, I would just go AMG. I just picked up a lux trim E-class, and I enjoy the plusher ride. These aren’t sports cars anyway.

E90M3 > fintail 04/07/2019 at 20:56

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I have yet to try a sport; I want a hood ornament, but I’ve heard you can swap both the grill and emblem. I’ve been meaning to try a sport, but the only sport the dealer has was a C250.

The side bolstering was also lacking. Honestly, I would really like an AMG, I’m just not sure if I want to pay for both an M and an AMG. They’re not sports cars, but I’ve really only owned BMWs, so that might be my downfall. The 2014 C63s have gotten down into the “I can reasonably afford that” range. We’ll see, I’m supposed to get a market adjustment to my salary, while it’ll probably be nothing it could bump me into the “fuck it, I need an AMG” money. 

fintail > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 21:06

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I like a hood ornament too, another reason why I sought a lux for the new car. Not easy, as I suspect maybe 10% of C and E are lux, if that. And yeah, the badge is easy to replace, or so I think.

One good thing about these cars, when a new model is introduced, the old ones really plunge in value.  Even later 204 C63s have really plummeted now.    Early 210 E63s are getting cheap too.

E90M3 > fintail 04/07/2019 at 21:10

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Pretty sure the all W204 grills, apart from the C63, are interchangeable . So I could get the hood ornament and lux grill, regardless.  

That kind of surprises me. I thought the F82 M3 was going to tank E90 M3 prices, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. If anything, it’s bolstered prices. 

random001 > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 21:14

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You will be with a C5

E90M3 > random001 04/07/2019 at 21:16

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Good and touching retirement .

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > random001 04/07/2019 at 21:16

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No throttle position actuators, no key batteries, no rod bearing maintenance, all of the power, better gas mileage.

412GTI > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 21:20

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That’s a nice car for 17 grand. I like the hood ornament but I feel that the lux grill makes the design more outdated compared to the sports one. Maybe that’s me.

I’d also be hard pressed not to look at a Volvo at that price range. Fwd but the seats are sooo good.

E90M3 > 412GTI 04/07/2019 at 21:26

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Personally, I don’t think the design looks outdated. Wouldn’t worry about it, the hood ornament would please me every time I drove it.

While Volvo does make some amazing seats, I don’t think I want to make a foray into Volvo ownership. It seems like it can be even more expensive than either the E92 or C300. 

random001 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 04/07/2019 at 21:34

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I miss my z...

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > random001 04/07/2019 at 21:41

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I’m enjoying mine quite a lot.

Under_Score > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 21:42

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RWD? All of your needs satisfied? No need for a backseat? Think, think, think!

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/766358499/overview?aff=share_other

E90M3 > Under_Score 04/07/2019 at 21:43

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I forgot to say that having a really shitty GM interior was one of the qualities I wanted to avoid . 

Under_Score > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 21:51

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With a perk!   https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/768510712/overview?aff=share_other

BeaterGT > random001 04/07/2019 at 21:52

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I’m going through withdrawals.

nj959 > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 21:56

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Why not a GS350 if you’re looking for a comfy, dependable dd?

Or you could really lose it and go full old man spec with an ES :

E90M3 > nj959 04/07/2019 at 22:02

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Because I hate their infotainment , and that matters in a car you drive everyday.

E90M3 > Under_Score 04/07/2019 at 22:04

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I also don’t want a vehicle designed before the year 2000.

nj959 > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 22:10

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I’d forgotten about that damn mouse.

fintail > E90M3 04/07/2019 at 22:17

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BMW people might be more purists for an established configuration.  With MB, for the most part, the new one is the latest and greatest - until the next new one.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > E90M3 04/08/2019 at 10:30

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You need to try a sport. They're not so floaty, but still comfortable.

E90M3 > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 04/08/2019 at 10:30

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I really do, but the sport they had on the lot was a C250, and I’m not interested in a C250.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > E90M3 04/08/2019 at 10:36

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And you shouldn't be 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3 04/09/2019 at 13:19

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I like the hood ornament so much more than the giant dish on the grille. When (someday) I buy a MB I would want the same.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3 04/09/2019 at 13:21

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E90s are kept buoyant by the special engine. Those things are a one-hit wonder, rod bearing reliability notwithstanding .

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/09/2019 at 13:21

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I want the sport but I also want the hood ornament, good thing it seems the W204 have interchangeable grills.

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/09/2019 at 13:23

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I, personally, think it’s over played. Talking to other E9X owners, the ones that have changed them said there was little to no wear. The one person I talked to who said they were wearing was in a 2008 with ~120k miles on it. 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3 04/09/2019 at 13:26

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My local car group was formerly an E9x M3 enthusiast group (not me; I’ve never owned a BMW).

I remember a few years ago everyone was doing Blackstone reports with each oil change, and there were indeed two or three rod bearing failures. Some people also preemptively upgraded to aftermarket parts. I’d say there was a small but nonzero proportion of failures in our group, but I don’t have a dog in that fight.

You still have yours?

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/09/2019 at 13:29

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Still on the original rod bearings. I also warm mine up before I go above 3k RPM. I think a lot of it was people not warming the engines up before getting on it. There is also a possibility that BMW didn’t make them correctly. I don’t really know. I’m at 47k now, and will probably take it above 60k before I think about doing them. 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3 04/09/2019 at 13:37

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I find it jarring that owners of performance cars don’t let them warm up. I’m one of the few people in my circles who actually do. My mindset is if the oil isn’t at optimal operating temp, you risk grinding metal to metal by pushing the engine hard .

My 4C’s gauge display is set to show oil temperature all the time.

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/09/2019 at 13:46

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I’m one of the few people in my circles who actually do

If that was the case with the E9X owners too, I wouldn’t be surprised if that is one of the main causes of failures.

I’ve actually analog oil gauges on both E9Xs. I’ll get after the 3 before it’s fully warm, but never too excessively .