so i have a 09 w P30 and eurocharged tune. there are many aspects i enjoy about the car and a few that i dont.

of course the sound, torque, and power are amazing. the harsh ride of the p30, the worry of headbolt failure, and the kinda cheapish interior are some of the things i dont like. not to mention the drawbacks of the old school 7speed automatic.

ive been looking at trading for a E90 M3 and im curious if any ex M3 owners could chime in w their experience and thoughts.

thanks!

 

maybe trade upto a 2014?

 

+1

A lot of your concerns can be taken care of by just staying "in house" but upgrading to the new model.

FWIW, I test drove, back to back, an E92 M3 "Lime Rock Edition" and a friend's '12 C63. The M3 was great but the C63 was just as good. However, the updated interior on the face-lifted C63 blew the old E9X interior out of the water. C63 was also flat-out more fun.

 

+8000 for a newer facelifted C63, maybe a coupe just to switch things up more, unless you need a sedan

The new MCT still is not as good as a DCT in all areas other than upshift speeds, but the M156 and the interior/exterior styling would propel me to get it over a DCT M3.

 

Interesting query, I too am looking at an M3 but going a little more analogue with an E46 as a project. I can downsize and have $45 to $50K to develop the M3 to a higher level of performance!

Seems to be a huge after market support for the M3 which I will tap into.

Trouble is the C63 is the best car I have ever owned so making the decision will not be easy, good luck with your decision.

 

Have fun with the maintenance costs on that! I know a guy that had to replace the rod bearing on his S54 at 25k miles! Everything on those cars seems to need replacing or adjusting so often. I've been very pleased with the upkeep of the C63. Knock on wood, but I just have to buy tires and oil essentially. If you do get an e46, please share your build with us though. I love watching project cars progress. And good luck if you make the leap!

 

i am also considering this change, i have loved driving the C63 for the last 5 yrs but it suffers in comparison to the M3 in terms of handling and balance. the 09 gearbox is absolutely awful, i must admit i have not driven a car with the new MCT box though.

 

M3 handling and balance are no doubt better than the C63. I test drove both same day back to back and the M3 did handle SLIGHTLY better. If the M3 is a 10 of 10, the C63 is a 9 of 10 for street driving.

The SLIGHT advantage the M3 has in handling is so minimal in every day street driving when you compare ALL the advantages the C63 has for every day street driving.

The 2012+ C63 is extremely neutral in handling.
Exhaust note is to die for.
On demand power all the time. Have fun reving out to 6000rpm to finally feel the M3 pull hard.
I pesonally love the MCT gear box on my 2013. It leaves nothing to be desired on my mountain runs.

I get a laugh out of people who compare these tiny spec advantages, making them out to be the end all. The M3 DCT is slightly quicker and it has slightly better handling... okay... but only if your tracking your car will you really appreciate these things. How often do you track your car vs. how often you street drive your car?

99% of us street drive our car and never hit the track. Those that do track the car do it a handful of times out of the year, with the rest of their driving experience on the street. So what matters more?

 

I have driven an 09' c63, a 12' c63 with PP, and have owned my e92 m3 with DCT for 4 years. If you love taking fast corners and changing gear - just in daily driving and not even tracking- nothing beat the m3 chassis and that DCT gear box. Once I've driven the DCT I could not stand driving the MERC transmission due to its slow responses in manual mode when compared to the lightning quick speed of the BMW.
The interior of the m3 is not as modern as the updated c63 but materials are on the same level. Stock exhaust on the m3 is too quiet so an aftermarket set is recommended.

 

And for this reason I went with the C63, that and the fact that I loved the overall power delivery of this car.
I will say I think the styling of the E90 M3 is better imho, and I love the aftermarket support of the BMW, but I am happy with my purchase. Just wish I had more wheel options.

 

Go drive the M3. Even with the differences b/w the 09 transmission and the DCT, you still will feel underwhelmed by the lack of torque and need to rev sky high to go anywhere. The drivability alone kept me from ever seriously considering the M3.

 

I had a chance to drive the current M3. But i own C63 and i would not have it any other way. Pls don't get me wrong, BMW makes awesome cars. And I have affinity with Munich, but there is no way i would consider going to M3 from C63. If i were to consider an upgrade and/or change, it would be for another C63. Or SLS. Amen.

 

This is a textbook example of why you don't post while you're all cracked out

 

A much debated topic without a clear answer. Depends on which forum you post the question, I assure you if you posted on Bimmerpost the answers would be the opposite of what they are here. I had an e92 M3 with DCT for 3 years, and after 5 weeks of C63 ownership I can argue either side effectively. The DCT vs. MCT is noticeable every time you drive the car, not just on the track. DCT is the clear winner. Precise, immediate shifts make a difference. Having said that, the torque and the sound from the M156 is addictive. Styling (both exterior and interior) are very subjective, personally I prefer the C63. Handling is tighter in the M3, but I very much like the ride in the C63.

I would get the M3, if for no other reason, to experience a different approach to making a terrific car. Both of these cars are a blast to drive.

 

Bottom line is there are pro's and con's to each car when compared to eachother.

For me, the pro's of the C63 far outweight the pro's of the M3 for my use of the car - spirited street driving.

 

A word on the gear box. The M3's DCT is better, sure.

BUT

You need to "row" the M3's gearbox more to stay in its power curve.
When I hit the mountains, I can stay in 1 or 2 gears the entire time due to the wide power band of the C63.

For this reason, I don't make a big deal of the C63's speedshift gearbox. I personally feel its great... When doing a mountain run, sometimes I'll just stay in 3rd gear for the entire run... you CAN'T do that in the M3.

 

You should test drive a new C63. My 2014 has a much better ride and mouch better transmission. I think you will pleasantly surprised at the 2012 revision's effectiveness in these two areas. Bumps I used to avoid in my 2011 on a well known work cycle commute I know ride over and the tranny is much quicker than our pre-2012 version and while not M3 quick, it should be much to your liking.

Go for a spin!

 

how's it awful? you guys chirp the 7 speed all day long...but lets see you shift a manual as fast as this "awful 7 speed" because I raced a done up new m3 and guess what...that "awful 7 speed" of mine smoked him and I wasn't even in M or S+ mode

 

slow? i smoked a brand new M3 with my "slow 7 speed" and I've smoked countless other cars...Jesus LOL you guys want the shifts to happen even quicker? go get a TCU tune maybe... IDK about you but my "crappy" 7 speed shifts way quicker then ANYONE can manually...sounds like you guys need to go drive a piece of crap for awhile...obviously you guys have forgotten how 99% of cars on the road shift compared to a C63...theres NO way in hell ANY of you can manually shift quicker then this "crappy" 7 speed..UNLESS the C63 is in M mode then MAYBE but even in M mode it shifts fairly quick...I'd love to see you do it without taking any powerloss while changing gears also...im not saying the 7 speed is the best or fastest but it sure as hell ain't "slow" like you guys make it out to be...atleast to me

 

^ I think people mean the time it takes from when you hit the paddle shifter to the time the gear actually changes - it does take a tad bit longer then the M3. Cuz that really matters... lol.

People get lost in crap. The MCT is a fantastic transmission.

 

No reason to be defensive. If the question was, "is the MCT an excellent transmission?", then the answer is easy, absolutely. Instead, the question is, "is the MCT comparable to the DCT?", the answer is equally simple, no it is not.

 

I traded my 2010 E90 w/ DCT and M performance exhaust for a 13 sedan w/ development package back in April. Only wish I had done it sooner. The M3 was ok, but never really impressed me. The c63 on the other hand, has amazed me . So much more power, audible exhaust, and the torque!!! Massive! I don't track my car and it is a DD for me. Maybe a few more misc. rattles than the M3, but I really enjoy the c63 so much more than the M3.

 

I had an e46 M3 for 6 years (150k miles), they are very reliable cars. BMW did the rod bearings on all cars, used or new, for free, if someone blew a rod bearing they did not take advantage of the offer. The car gets good MPG, is easy on tires and brakes, and is low maintenance. It is a great car, but imho the C63 (any generation) is much better, can't comment on the e9x M3, haven't owned one.

But here is some objective info to consider:
-the C63 is faster than the M3 in a straight-line, no doubt.
-on the 'Ring, same driver:

8:05 --- 152.91 km/h - BMW M3, 420 PS/1608 kg (sport auto 12/07)
this car had DCT and Pirelli Corso sport tires, similar to Pilot Sport Cups, also this was the coupe, not 4 door

8:13 --- 150.43 km/h - Mercedes C63 AMG, 457 PS/1761 (sport auto, 02/09)

8 seconds may seem like a lot, but the C63 did NOT have sport tires, it had Michelin PS2's. 8 seconds is only 1.6% or so, and you can guess what the tires are worth (I've read 5 to 10 seconds). In addition the M3 4 door is heavier and has a higher CoG so that would add a few seconds or more. For all intent and purpose the C63 will be as fast, if not faster, on real world roads.

 

Excellent analysis Ingen, and who of us quite frankly, is running around the ring on a regular basis??? The large majority are NOT tracking our cars and if we are, its not roundy rounds nor road courses, BUT stoplight to stoplight and QTR Mile tracks.

I go to the M car forums and the ONLY defense I ever see against the C63 is that the M cars handle better than the C63........Other than that, they KNOW which car is better!!

 

Very well said... I also came from many years in the M3 (had a 2008 and 2011 E90 M3) and both cars are excellent options that go about things rather differently. There are times that I miss the tossable feeling of the M3 and the noticeably lighter weight... but on the other hand the sound/fury of the C63 is second to none and never fails to put a smile on my face. The M3 was a blast when you take it up to 8k rpm but we all know how reasonable that is in daily driving... I did it quite often mind you.

Styling is personal of course, I'm still a sucker for the M3 exterior (loved the flared fenders) but the C63 has a much nicer interior and seats. Shoot me but I preferred the latest gen of i-Drive to the Comand system in my 2013 C63. The modding options/community is far greater for the M3 as well (wheel options alone are 100x better) but that is to be expected given how long the M3 has been around...

I've often been asked which is the 'better' car but I personally don't see it as being objective vs subjective. 0-60, Ring Times, etc aren't that helpful in day to day driving so really it comes down to your own interpretation/experience with each car. Anyone that says the C63 is objectively 'better' than the M3 (or vice versa) is missing the point IMO.

For anyone interested in reading a great comparison of the two cars this C&D test is excellent... IMO they nail how truly different the two cars really are. And I quote...

'A photo finish: A single point, the smallest possible margin of victory, separated what turned out to be two vastly dissimilar cars. Sure, both play in the same segment, both have V-8s, both are rear-wheel drive, and both come from Germany, but their spirits are different.'

All that said when I had the option I still went for the C63 vs another M3 so that says much about where my head is at.