Firewired

Hi all. I have a C63 sedan on order, build date is this week. Currently in an E90 M3 manual, which I am going to get out of prior to reaching 50K miles. When I moved from an RS4 to the M3 I enjoyed the improved handling, but missed the exhaust note and the torque of the RS4. Was wondering how many prior M3 owners there were and what their experiences were in transitioning over from the M3?

CPBRI

Recent posts suggest that quite a few prior M3 owners are making the move to the C63.

Carac

At one point I owned a 1988 E30 M3, a 2002 E46 M3 SMG, and a 2008 E90 M3 6-speed together.

I've owned the E30 for two years and will never sell it, I owned the 2002 M3 for 10 years and regret selling it, I owned the 2008 M3 for 11 months and don't miss it at all. Traded it on the C63.

The C63 blows the M3 out of the water in terms of everyday street use, daily driver. The jump from 295 to 443 lb-ft of torque helps and the exhaust note is incomparable. The E90 just never "got me" the way the C63 did. They over-boosted the steering vs. the E46 to help mask the weight but it's still there. The C63, E30 and E46 M3's can be fun at road legal speeds. The E90/92s require track speeds and corners to have "fun." Poking around town, running errands in the E90 felt soulless and sterile. In contrast, the C63 sounds like your own personal artillery barrage and feels like it too, without having to rev the crap out of it.

BMW lost me and nothing short of a reinvention of the M1 will make me look their way again. They have a chip to emulate the sound of the engine which is pumped through the stereo on the new M5 because of the amount of insulation it has, combined with the muffling effect of the turbos...shameful. The X5 M, X6 M and rumors of a diesel, AWD, crossover with an M badge (but "not an M car")...a case study in brand dilution.

To clarify, the current M3 is a fine car, it just doesn't elicit the emotion a C63 does for me.

GBlansten

Former 2009 C63 driver now in a 2011 E92 M3.

CZ55

Other than front seats and the roomier interior, you won't miss your M3.

350driver

I currently still have a E92 2011 M3, and I do love the car, but I also love my 2012 C63 too. I know many people compare the two, but they both have really different personalities. On the plus side for the C63, the torque is a HUGE plus, and thus the C63 is really "fun" when I am driving around town, in and out of traffic. The C63 stock exhaust note is so intoxicating as compared to the stock M exhaust. I love the interior in both cars for different reasons. I prefer the C63 2012 seats over the M seats. The nav system on both is equally good, but I do prefer the M over the C63, but that might be because I have had the M a bit longer. The C63 has a bit more "utility" due to the 4 doors. If I am going out for a night on the town or going to the store, I drive the C63, but I am going to cruise around on a nice sunny day with the windows down on the weekend or going out to the track, I am taking the M.

I personally like the looks of my M, mainly due to the cosmetic mods I have done, kind of a "M Black Series" feel (flame suite on). The biggest difference (to me) when comparing the two is the handling on and off the track. That is not to say the C63 is not great, but when compared to my M, it just can't keep up. And with my mods to the suspension, stance, engine, and exhaust, it is more visceral and just holds a special place in my heart. Of course everything I am saying is totally subjective, but feel that I am really fortunate to have both cars sitting in my garage. At times I think "Should I sell both, and buy a new C63 Black Series?", which is essentially taking the best aspects of both cars and merging them into one..the jury is still out on that one.

So to sum it up (for my opinion), If you love to track your car, and love to "mod" it, the BMW M community is MUCH bigger, and thus parts are more accessible for a lower cost,so the M is the better choice. If you are a casual enthusiast that loves to have fun around town with a big V8 torque monster at your fingertips, roll with the C63. Ultimately, they both are fantastic cars we are all lucky to have the ability to experience them.

Shellbmb

To the last two posters, why did you go to the M3 from the C63?

rory breaker

I had a beautiful Estoril 99 E36 and a rad looking TiAg on Imola Red E46 prior to moving to the C55 and the C63 and I'm about to get a '12 C63 and again not going back to M's.

The guys above are all spot on. In my eyes, the C63 is a better daily driver - more fun, the torque is addictive, loud, powerful, aggressive, etc. The only leg up I give the M is around technology (MB seems to be a bit behind) and the "feel" of the road that the M delivers. The C63 feels connected, dont get me wrong, but BMW has perfected that drivers feel.

I didnt like the E90, frankly...to me it felt like a watered down C63. No guts, no grunt. Big disappointment. Given what you enjoyed about the RS4, you'll never look back at the M3.

gthal

I owned two E92 M3s and loved both... as a daily driver, I like the C63 more.

See my review thread for more detail... M3 vs C63

After living with the C63 there isn't much I miss about the M3 other than the better gas mileage.

I moved to the C63 because of a business relationship I have (long story) and, to be honest, was worried. Not anymore and I could not be happier.

GBlansten

My 09 C63 came off lease this summer. Too soon to get a C63 coupe unless I wanted to extend my 09 lease and wait.

I did not want another sedan (married and no kids).

I didn't trust my MB dealer based on prior experience to be able to get me a C63 soon enough after they came out and I figured I would pay through the nose.

So, I ordered a E92 in anticipation of my 09 coming off lease and delivery went well.

Since getting the M3 I enjoy driving it a little more than the C63. I loved the hell out of the C63 btw. No regrets.

But, I like the expanded customization of the M3 settings (suspension, throttle, steering) and I like the handling a little better.

The biggest thing I like over the C63 is the M-DCT transmission in the M3. It is awesome. I drove manuals for so many years but this thing is great.

So, right now I'm 53% M3 and 47% C63. They are both fantastic cars.

ajgk

I had a 1988 M3 and a 2008 M3. I traded the M3 for my first 63. It was a 2010 with P31 package. I now have a 2012 C63 Coupe(edition 1). I would never go back to BMW. The c63 is so much more fun to drive. It has better throttle response and a great exhaust note. It is also quite a bit more reliable than the M3.

Merconvert

That RS4 exhaust note is hard to beat! I came from an RS4 cabrio ( even noisier than the sedan!) to the C63 coupe. I'd say the two are about even on sound, with RS4 a little more raucous and having that crazy top end engine whine that mimics a supercharger. C63 compensates with an amusing "bark" on upshifts under full throttle, and impressive backfiring on downshifts.

I've driven quite a few E92 M3's and agree with the owner above who commented that around town they can be a little dull. On track, when extended, they come alive. If I drove on a race track every day I'd have bought one, but I reckon C63 is way more characterful at sub-sonic speeds.

Firewired

Thank everyone for the insight. One noise I loved with the RS4 exhaust was the exotic burble sound that the RS4 would make when you accelerated hard and then let off the gas, it was a deep machine gun like noise. Don't know if you know what I mean. Does the C63 exhaust ever make a similar sound?

From reading everyone's feedback. it seems like I will be okay either way. The dealer gave me a ballpark estimate on my M3 when I put my order in. I have a long relationship with them, so think I will be okay, but I figure if he surprise me and offer me drastically different for the M3 when the car comes in I can alway extend the service and warranty on the M3 and just stay in it and be okay.

Carac

Yeah, pop, crackle, bark...love it. Here's what you can expect...just a tad quieter since I believe this is with more or less cat-less and tuned a tad louder.

Merconvert

I know exactly what you mean. Somehow RS4 manages to be even more noisy and metallic off throttle than on. C63 is not quite the same, but does still sound good off throttle coming down from high rpm, and crackles and pops more more as it does it.
You'll probably recall the weirdest thing with the RS4 is that even at 8000rpm it never sounds like it's revving hard - it's all bass. C63 on the other hand leaves you in no doubt when you are approaching the limiter....

CZ55

I bought my C brand new with the great incentives. I got offered the same price that I paid when it was new so I sold it. I was in the market for a M6 because of the marvelous V10 engine. Then somehow I ended up buying the M3.

gthal

+1 on this... the M3's DCT is notably better than the MCT in the C63. The transmission is the only part of the C63 that is a disappointment. For me, though, the sound, power, torque, and granite feeling far outweigh the transmission performance. Also, I don't notice a notable difference in handling in the 2012 C63 coupe versus my 2011 ZCP M3 on the street... there might be a small difference on the track but I find them to be very comparable on the street.

-=Hot|Ice=-

Personally, I find the C63 AMG more fun more of the time. That's what strayed me away from an M3. I also have some gripes about the direction BMW is going in.

whtclk

"M3 drivers have no friends"

izzyAMG

I always wondered if I should have gotten an e92 m3 instead. This thread is giving me more light into my decision getting our c63. So far I'm good with my decision.

Ex_Red

Wow...that's exactly how I feel.

And I came from 2 E36 M3s, 2 E46 M3s and a 335i. If I were to buy another M car today, it would be a 2007/8 Z4 M Coupe.

SF_C63

The Z4M is a fantastic car. "Hardcore" was the first word that came to mind when I had the M button on and took off in 1st. The throttle is so sensitive and you have to pay attention to drive the car smoothly. I loved that about the car, it made you work to be a better driver and you become proud of that.

I expected the same from the E92 M3 and was surprisingly dissapointed by how easy it is to drive. That's the direction BMW wanted to head in so they have succeeded in that regard.

Ex_Red

I'm damned glad that AMG built the C63 the way they did!

bmoney12

The DCT is the only thing I miss from my E90 M3.

derek

Owned e46 m3 and test drove e90 and e92 m3. DCT better than MCT, but were I to purchase m3 i'd get a manual. I just wish the c63 came with bigger rubber and had a manual option. Other than that, the car is a blast! Oh, it eats brake pads though on the track.