Those are the two cars im looking at right now. Saturday i will have one. What do you guys think i should go with. Both have 43k miles on them M3 is a 02 and the C32 is an 03. Any feedback would be great Thanks.

 

Modded C32 would kill the M3 (unless it has a s/c)

 

C ftw

 

Carlab's M3 FTMFW

 

What are the prices of both used? Want my C32?

 

C32 you get: comfort, easier to drive, easier to mod, torque, and praticality. people will buy your stock parts when you part them out.

M3 you get: sportier look, fun to drive, slightly better gas mileage, and the engine that sounds better. engine's harder to mod, but you get better resale. no one wants stock M3 parts because they don't fit on other 3-series.

 

Wow you guys really know your stuff. Thanks for all the imput. ill keep you guys posted on what happens. Thanks again guys

 

You already know the answer from this Mercedes forum.

 

Stop being a hater, newb.

Anyways, to answer the OP- I would pick the M3 ahead of the C32 if it were a manual but seeing as it seems you're avoiding stick shift then the C32 is clearly the better choice. It has v fast shifting auto whereas the M3 can deliver fast shifts but they are rough, SMGII is bug laden and not particularly involving.

So given your options- i'd say C32.

 

wow haven't been called a newb, since... ever. Sooo... you must be the resident old timer here? yes?

Anyways, I guess you've missed my point.

What I was trying to say is - asking which car one should get; a Mercedes or a BMW on an Mercedes forum - I am pretty sure the majority result will most likely favor a... Mercedes.

shanetoast - sorry my first reponse to your post was not very helpful. My sarcasm is set a little too high lately. Anyways, I probably can't help you much. I am hoping guys that have both or have had one or the other at one time can chime in. Seek them out and they can probably give you the best opinion.

 

M3 vs C32

Well, I owned a 2001 M3, and traded her for a 04 C32. As such I can easily tell you C32 is the way to go.

Better drivability, can you say LOW end torque.
Better seats and interior
Better radio
Better Gas mileage

Okay, I think the M3 may have been faster on a road race course, however I will confirm this later this month after taking the C32 to Beaverun.

Am I biased, YES because the C32 is a BETTER car all the way around.

Having owned both, its an easy choice IMO

Good luck

See Yeah

 

if you were going for a manual m3, i'd say m3 all the way. the smg...stay away. if you're looking for one that is comparably priced to a c32 it will probably have higher mileage and abuse. the smg system is a ***** to fix if anything goes wrong.

oh and from the above post..no way the c32 gets better gas mileage then the m3.

 

oh and from the above post..no way the c32 gets better gas mileage then the m3.[/QUOTE]

I can only tell you about my cars, and MY 2001 M3 NEVER got better then 20 mpg. It was SO bad, I actually took it to the dealer to see if something was wrong with the car. I know I drive with a lead foot, and yes I take my toys to the track, so I expect poor milage.

However, when I traded the M for the C32 out of St louis, I drove the C32 back, averaging 80, and the cars computer said I was getting 25.4 mpg. I NEVER COULD HAVE DONE THAT IN THE M, PERIOD!

Oh well, to each his own, but I will never go back to BMW, IMO

See yeah

 

one of my best friend has a 02 SMG coupe. he gets around 23mpg while i'm getting 21-22 tops. that's why I said "slight" better gas mileage. lol

 

No problem, I still think something was wrong with her and my dealer was . Glad to hear it was probably my car only.

See yeah

 

I think even with a manual, I would take the C32 as a DD.

*shrug*

 

dude doesn't even own a benz and is certainly not an old timer.. loves to talk about BMW's and Audi's.. don't sweat it..

Regarding gas mileage.. those are pretty damn good numbers.. My computer says 14.3 average currently as I have only been driving around town. On my trips averaging 90mph on the highway its usually around 19-20mpg

I went from BMW to Mercedes too.. I chose the C32 over an M3 for a few reasons. Wanted an Auto, needed 4 doors, and there are a ton of M3's in town with women drivers.. LOL.. I would say 60-75% of the M3's I see have a chick behind the wheel..

 

[/QUOTE]

I can only tell you about my cars, and MY 2001 M3 NEVER got better then 20 mpg. It was SO bad, I actually took it to the dealer to see if something was wrong with the car. I know I drive with a lead foot, and yes I take my toys to the track, so I expect poor milage.

However, when I traded the M for the C32 out of St louis, I drove the C32 back, averaging 80, and the cars computer said I was getting 25.4 mpg. I NEVER COULD HAVE DONE THAT IN THE M, PERIOD!

Oh well, to each his own, but I will never go back to BMW, IMO

See yeah[/QUOTE]

You must drive like Grandpa George because my '02 C32 gets about 20 MPG on the highway (steady 80 MPH cruising) and 16.5 in my urban every day commute. That's in line with the EPA figures. Our '06 RSX Type-S, by contrast, gets 25 MPG in the exact same urban commute. Pretty substantial difference! My '97 M3/4 with the 240-horse S52 engine got about 21 MPG in the urban jungle. Gas mileage isn't this car's strong suit.

As to the M v. the C32, I can only speak to the E36 M3 v. the C32. It's a tough choice because they're very different cars, despite their deceptive "on paper" similarities. Most people here summarized them accurately -- C32 is more luxury, more comfortable, less edgy, etc. Depends on what you want I suppose. Put most simply, the M3 is more like a sports car and the C32 like a muscle car. The C32 can be a relatively uninvolving driving experience when you're not getting on it. This is not an insult because sometimes that's just fine.

I'd never buy an SMG BMW though. If you're leaning towards the M3, definitely hold out for a standard manual. They're more plentiful, it will be cheaper to buy, more fun to drive, and certainly less costly to maintain.

 

i have both.

easiest way too look at it.

C32:

the good:
Better made car hands down. interior finish, solid feel, easy to drive. Hauls *** and easy to mod. feels amazing when floored but around town its civil if needed. Torque for days. - better paint, windows, heated seats work better.

the bad: outdated look, every C-class from 04' up has the same body kit. sleeper (good I guess). boring to drive at times. Headlights are rubbish.- no WOW factor. enigine sounds like a airplane. nav is trash with no real options.

M3:

the good:Looks awsome with right wheels. ( general public perception) that it is the fastest car BMW makes. Girls dig it more. Comes off as a more "sports" car than the C32. handles great and great response. high rpm. engine sounds amazing. brakes are good. aggresive stance. SMG is fun once you learn it. most reliable car i have ever owned. not a single problem ever. C32 has never given me problems but I feel in the future it easily could. better wheels. Gets more "respect" from other car enthusiast.

the bad: absolutely rubbish interior. Peels, leather fades and wears fast. exterior paint is rubbish. weather stripping is garbage and falls off. windows never seal to perfection. honda mugen cars wanna race all day. did i mention the interoir is rubbish. expensive to maintian. aftermarket is a ripp off. alot more I just can't remember it.


I think the M3 is more fun to drive but certainly has its quirks. but if I wanted a car that gave me the perfect experience i would drive a S-class.

The C32 is a great car. I get mad at BMW for making a great car but such crappy materials for the interior and exterior.

I have no kids. If you have any kids get the C32.

BTW:
I drive SMG and it is a hoot. i drive it hard at times and soft when I need too. it's just fun and cool. All my previous cars (other than C32) have been manual - but traffic made me change my mind. Most people who nock the SMG have never owned one. really most smg owners find that once you know how to drive it, it is the best. New technology isn't always embraced. the important thing is realizing how it works. it's the exact same tranny as the six speed ,only controlled electronicly. thru paddles shifts. hard to explain the particulars but after my first month in the car I felt I made the right decision. it was just as fun as a 6 speed but no left leg cramps in traffic and more interesting to drive. .. dunno - don't take your first test drive in a SMG car as your final decision maker. drive SMg car in different setttings to see how it behaves. ... only then will you

 

If you're looking at the M3 DSG and C32, you might as well take a look at the Audi S4 (B6). V8 noises and in terms of performance and comfort, it's probably between the M3 and the C32. And if it matters to you (i.e. you drive in rain) it is also AWD.

 

stay away from audis. they are problematic, expensive to fix, and in my opinion- expensive vw's. i do have to admit my b5 s4's were animals but i would never ever buy another.

 

Vic, great and informative comparison! (I love your driveway btw )

I saw that the OP had made the post on e46 and it's funny how the opinions/comments weren't as objective as they are here on mbworld.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=468611

(I've linked it to them as well.)

 

Not surprised, much of the BMW crouwd is quite religious about their brand.

 

I was in your same boat two years ago.

I needed the 4 doors so I went for the C32.

The 02's are a bit outdated but with a few mods you'll refresh its look.

Also, check for insurance quotes on both cars.

 

LOL thats funny.... If I was driving an M3 I would say BMW are better cars! Its all preference at this point.

Everyone talks about M3 are so great on the track but most of those guys would never take their M3 with 19inch rims on it.
if you drive it everyday then the C32 is the way to go.
fun to drive= SMG M3
Ride comfort = c32
everyday driving= C32
tracking the car= M3
modding the car= c32 would be cheap to mod but you can spend more on M3 and make it faster
resale value= M3 would have a better resale till the new M3 is out then it will tank
faster on a 1/4 mile= cold day C32 hot day M3
interior= C32 hand down just better seat

this to me is just my opinon.... I dont street race cuz Tickets are just Expensive
Insurance would be cheaper on a C32
if your buying both cars without warranty you will be paying up the *** if need repair.