2002 BMW M3: Still Worth the Money

"Is the Camry across the street one of the choices?"

Now that's funny. Good one.

I'd take the black one with the red interior. Was it the E46 M3 that started the side gill trend? People still stare because this car looks so damn purposeful.

The one with 4 wheels.

Guess LA must be different, but in Orange County an M3 is just another 3 series, which is to say: it draws no more attention than a Civic. Hell, about 10 doors down from my parents' house is an M3 driven by some punk kid who can't be over 18. Daddy drives a Bentley, so I guess it's all relative...

The RC51 for sure.

Since I'm not a big motorcycle fan I'd have to take out the M Thrizzle twice.

gossard267, it is starting to be like that everywhere: punk kids driving M3s. E46 Fanatics and other "enthusiast" sites are full of 'em (and boy, do they think they know everything).

Dang, I thought these cars held their value? Maybe the slow economy will force parents to buy their punk kids Civics like the natural order of life demands...

Had one, loved it. A few around my neighborhood with aftermarket exhausts that I think sound a lot better, but once you get up in the RPMs you tend to overlook the tinny midrange from the stock set-up. A truly great motor (later model ones anyway).

Still worth someone else's money.

Would you really say it was still worth the money if it was your money?

I like the bike :)

The RC51 for sure. Sure you'll have to get gas every 110 miles if you're riding it right, and sure it can't hold a candle up to a Ducati 999 (we'll not talk about the 1098s as by then Honda had given up on the twin), but it's a still a freakin superbike!
0-60 in 5.0 for the car? Puh-leeeeze.

LOL @ Altimadude!! Hey, its in the picture so I don't see why not!

M3 if expenses were all paid! Camry if it has to come out of my pocket!

-Cj

"Would you really say it was still worth the money if it was your money?"

After owning one for 6 months, I would have to say most emphatically yes. Sure, a Camcordima will be bulletproof for 200k miles (or maybe not) while the trim falls off an M3 a little bit at a time, but nothing I've driven this side of a P-car makes you feel like a golden driving god when you hit an interchange at twice the posted limit. And those trim pieces don't hurt the wallet too bad if you shop around and aren't afraid of a little DIY.

Mine has cost me about $1000 in maintenance (indy shop) since I've had it, and I'll probably have to pony for an Inspection II and a set of rear tires in the next year, but that's the price of admission for a ride like this (an intoxicating combination of luxury GT and sports car).

I think that I'd take my Speed Triple(with Challenge Cup mods) over the RC51 or the M3.

"M3 if expenses were all paid! Camry if it has to come out of my pocket!"

A Camry is much too dangerous; I'd die of boredom if I had to drive one every day.

"Would you really say it was still worth the money if it was your money?"

Hell yes. I know all cars are not for all people, but I fail to see how anyone can drive a twisty road at speed in a M3, then step out and NOT be invigorated by what that car can do.
And unlike Edmunds, there are owners who DIY or take their vehicles to trusted indy shops. It is expensive to keep, but barring anything catastrophic, not as expensive as the maintenance Edmunds has done.

why would anyone stop and stare at such a ubiquitous car? I never notice anyone's head turning when an M3 rolls buy. Most people think its just one of the 20 3 series cars they have seen that day. Its funny that people would praise the styling of this car while IL said the G8 GXP looks too much like the standard GT. If anything Pontiac was just following BMW's lead in terms of restraint.

"gossard267, it is starting to be like that everywhere: punk kids driving M3s. E46 Fanatics and other "enthusiast" sites are full of 'em (and boy, do they think they know everything). "

A lot of these kids are killing themselves in their E46 M3's too. I know of at least 3 or 4 E46 M3 wrecks where teenage drivers and passengers were killed in high speed fiery wrecks.

They find out they didn't know everything the hard way, then poof, they're gone. It's pretty sad.

"why would anyone stop and stare at such a ubiquitous car? I never notice anyone's head turning when an M3 rolls buy[sic]."

Be nice. Very few cars can evoke sighs of longing and covetous glances as well as a V6 FWD Saturn...

"They find out they didn't know everything the hard way, then poof, they're gone. It's pretty sad."

It's called the Law of Natural Selection- AKA Chlorine for the Genetic Pool.
It's a shame about the cars however...

Oooo, that's harsh! But I agree with you to a certain extent ;)

Oooo, that's harsh! But I agree with you to a certain extent ;)

"Oooo, that's harsh! But I agree with you to a certain extent ;)"

I can't believe how parents buy their kids hot cars before they know the kid can handle it. One time I was instructing at a Street Survival teen driving course and a kid showed up with his 17th birthday present: a new WRX STi... In contrast, my son is going to take the Street Survival course and the BMW Performance Two Day Teen School, and even then he's not driving anything with over 200 hp unless I'm in the right seat.

When I sold Mitsubishis, a mom bought her 16-year-old son a Lancer Evolution when they first came out. Her reasoning: "He's been a good boy and he's done everything I asked. He's been asking for it and I decided to reward him." His older brother (22) pulled me aside and said, "Don't worry; he knows if he gets so much as a parking ticket, Mom's pulling the keys and giving the car to me." He had the look on his face like this scenario was inevitable.
To his credit, the kid was very humble and during our test drive, actually drove the car like a granny. I told him to open it up a bit on a straight stretch and he wouldn't do it. I thought to myself, "He might actually make it."

"To his credit, the kid was very humble and during our test drive, actually drove the car like a granny. I told him to open it up a bit on a straight stretch and he wouldn't do it. I thought to myself, "He might actually make it."

It really depends on the kid. One of my dad's friends gave his 16-year-old son a new Roadrunner back in 1968. The kid was dead by the next weekend. My son just turned 14 but he already knows that I won't tolerate ANY infractions or at-fault accidents. If he wants to drive fast he can autocross or go to HPDEs with me. In the meantime, I let him drive the '02 and the Wrangler around the farm and on some closed business roads.

This generation M3 is uglier than the base 330i coupe on which it's based. The vents and tacked-on fender flares kill the look if you ask me. The rims are uglier than the 330's 17"s too. Also, why does this car have four center mounted exhaust tips when it's an I6? I'll pass. I'll have to agree with 1487- I've never seen or known anyone to stare and gawk at an M3, they're everywhere in this town and I doubt anyone but a car enthusiast could tell the difference between it and a regular 323/325i coupe.

PS- roadburner- I think the Aura looks better than the M3 too. Much classier design

"PS- roadburner- I think the Aura looks better than the M3 too. Much classier design"

Right! I'm sure the cutting edge design and performance of the Aura is giving the engineers at Munich a lot of sleepless nights.

Interesting how many of these immediately devolve into "My taste dictates this car is uglyl/beautiful, and so it is a universal truth" or one of my personal favorites, the comments relating to an article about how great a car DRIVES and the joy the car brings when DRIVEN, that start with things like, "who would notice that car?", or "who is going to be impressed when I drive up in car X?". If you are looking to impress people, dont read articles about driving. If you dont like a car, thats ok, but I'm pretty sure its OK if other people do.

Most all of those who are appearance obsessed wouldn't recognize a car with great driving characteristics if it ran over them.