Bmw m3 e46 or Focus ST - What would you choose?

daRobot

I'd be interested to get your thoughts on this one folks...

I'm in a position where I can get a 01' e46 m3 with about 40k on the clock, for about 30k euro or a 07 focus st with about 12k on the clock for the same price.

If you had the choice between these two, what would you get and why?

Cheers

eringobragh

The M3's mileage might be worth looking into , its pretty low for the year of car

rebel.ranter

No contest, BMW all the way.

MarkN

I would go to the UK for the M3 cause you will prob get a 02 maybe even newer for that money, all you can compare on the two cars is the year of registration really, the rest is not worth talking about.

qz

M3 absolutely.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I would be interested to know where the OP is getting the M3 for so little...? I am thinking of getting one next year so any info would be greatfully recieved

CarLover

M3

Andrewf20

M3. Do plenty of research as buying a lemon could cost an arm & leg to fix right. I have seen cheap ones going but showed hard to find signs of crash damage. Hope you have the money to keep her running - research this also.

The magazines see the E46 M3 as a car that is a cut above.

S.I.R

m3.... unless the st had some saleen mods... then it would be the focus... little things go a long way

Henry Ford III

St.

kdevitt

M3 easily. The Focus is fine, but nothing special, and an M3 won't torque steer either.

drdre

Maverick Harsh Packer wrote: »

I would be interested to know where the OP is getting the M3 for so little...? I am thinking of getting one next year so any info would be greatfully recieved

I was also looking at getting a m3 last month but went for the golf gti.Still looking at getting a m3 as my next car in a few months.I have never found a 01 m3 for 30k.Where did the original poster see that price.Maybe from the uk but not in ireland.

unkel

@daRobot - what are you looking for in a car? The Focus and the M3 are in completely different leagues. The Focus is a "hot hatch". The BMW is a bit shy of being a "supercar"

Henry Ford III wrote: »

St.

Surprise us the next time, Henry

sc4rf4ce

m3 wins hands down. my mate has an e46 m3, and its some car.

kdevitt

00 E46 M3's are apparently going for stg10k at this stage, although they're few and far between. Heres an 01 one for less than 12K, although its sold - http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/251908.htm

That would have been landed for well under Eur30k

Churchy

I'd choose the ST. Repair costs at that age of BMW would put me off.
Would only use the M3's extra power a small amount of the time.

Focus is under warranty , easy to service , pretty quick and practical.
Bias warning - I've had 2 ST's!

omega man

Churchy wrote: »

I'd choose the ST. Repair costs at that age of BMW would put me off.
Would only use the M3's extra power a small amount of the time.

Focus is under warranty , easy to service , pretty quick and practical.
Bias warning - I've had 2 ST's!

Good point. The service/repair costs would put me off the M3 even though its such a great motor. I sold my 320D as i wanted something faster and considered a 01/02 M3 and also the ST but eventually went for a new Mazda 3 MPS as i wanted something very fast, practical and a hot hatch that didnt stand out so the MPS was the one for me. ST is a cracking motor though and that would be my choice of the 2.

michaelanthony

The ST. After owning 5 BMWs, I have come to the conclusion that they are all heavey and slow.

cantdecide

No brainer, M3.

cantdecide

michaelanthony wrote: »

The ST. After owning 5 BMWs, I have come to the conclusion that they are all heavey and slow.

Which engines- How many were M's?

My '91 E36 325 saloon was a stormer

RobAMerc

M3 -
the M3 is better
the M3 should last as long
the ST will depreciate like a mo fo
you'll get respect in an M3
ST - already has chavy image imo (and I am a big ford fan)

michaelanthony

I have a 735 v8 and it is slow.

cantdecide

It's a heavy car, it needs a powerful engine.

You're surely not comparing a 735 and an M3

michaelanthony

I'm just saying that the ST is better. I will repeat that BMWs are slow and heavy.

kdevitt

michaelanthony wrote: »

I'm just saying that the ST is better. I will repeat that BMWs are slow and heavy.

No its not, you're wrong on both counts.

E92

What kind of driving do you do that you find the 735i "slow"? Its not like we have Autobahns with no speed limit.

BMWs are far from the heaviest in their class, they always manage to make the fastest versions of cars in their class, when the E28 524td came out, it was the fastest diesel in the world, same goes from the original 530d in 1999, and the 740d in 2000, and the 535d and subsequently 335d were the fastest diesels available in either Ireland or the UK initially.

xabi

michaelanthony wrote: »

I have a 735 v8 and it is slow.

It was never designed to be fast.

X.

Mr Magnolia

M3 +1

E92 wrote: »

What kind of driving do you do that you find the 735i "slow"? Its not like we have Autobahns with no speed limit.

True, but getting to the limit in a hurry is good fun.

I torque.

michaelanthony

E92 wrote: »

What kind of driving do you do that you find the 735i "slow"? Its not like we have Autobahns with no speed limit.

BMWs are far from the heaviest in their class, they always manage to make the fastest versions of cars in their class, when the E28 524td came out, it was the fastest diesel in the world, same goes from the original 530d in 1999, and the 740d in 2000, and the 535d and subsequently 335d were the fastest diesels available in either Ireland or the UK initially.

0-60. You people are full of questions.

Mr Magnolia

michaelanthony wrote: »

0-60. You people are full of questions.

?




[/irony]

MarkN

Jesus that 335i I just bought doesn't feel slow to me. It has a BMW thingy on the front and back of it too. Think it's a BMW??

I suppose the best way to look at these two cars is this;

if you are worried about running costs and servicing - buy the ST.

if you are not and want a stupidly fast car which still commands respect on the roads - buy the M3.

CarLover

michaelanthony wrote: »

I will repeat that BMWs are slow and heavy.

Either you're joking or you don't really know what you're talking about.

All large ambassadorial cars are big, slow and heavy and need great big lumps of engines to get them from a to b. How you came to the conclusion that all BW's are slow and heavy is beyond me. It's a bit like saying all Fords are slow and heavy. They are if they have underpowered engines for their relative size...

cancan

Unless you have a very generous warranty with the m3 run a mile.
Repairs cost an absolute mint, and they have a habit of going pop.
Obviously a nicer car, if someone else is paying the bills.

Keep an eye out for...

"M3s seem to need new big end shell bearings alarmingly frequently"
"E46 M3 SMGs have suffered a small spate of sudden complete engine failures. BMW replaced engines of UK sourced cars FOC without quibble."

"Many E46s suffer premature front suspension balljoint failure. Bushes in front suspension wishbones often need replacing after 3 - 4 years. Means new wishbones. Spate of snapping rear coil springs on 4 - 5 year olds increasingly common. 17" wheels easily damaged on inner rim. Clonks from the rear either mean a coil has snapped or the diff has torn away from its mounting."

"If buying an M3 crucial to check the oil pressure for the shell bearing problem. "

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=36&

richie_rvf

M3 - make sure it has a warranty and you'll be safe.

Obviously check with BMW as to the status of the car with regard to warranty claims and call backs.

The engine in the E46 M3 has won engine of the year for every year it was in production.

There should be no M3's out there with the shell bearing problem at this stage.

With regard to michaelanthony - what year is your 735?? If you compare a Ferrari 308 to a new Astra SRi (not sure which model, the 2.0 turbo) then the Ferrari will appear to be slow and heavy.

I'd ask you to drive an E46 M3 and tell us it's slow......:rolleyes:

Biro

E92 wrote: »

... the 535d and subsequently 335d were the fastest diesels available in either Ireland or the UK initially.

Nope, the A8 4.2 V8 TDi was out before the 535d, and is still quicker than it with a 5.9 0-60 time.

CarLover

Actually...I've changed my mind. An M3 is for an enthusiast. Given that the OP is comparing it to an ST (not directly comparing but comparing in terms of buying) I'd say ST.

Will be easier to look after and cheaper. Buying an older M3 is really for a lover of the motor...and given that you're weighing it up against the Ford I'm not sure you're that hardcore and prepared for what an M3 will be like. Sorry...I don't mean any offense by that. I'm just trying to give more practical advice. It's like Alfa's...you have to be an enthusiast to buy say a 166. No shame in not being that hardcore

Gatster

'00 M5...;););)

Turner

m3

would prefer an e36 m3 tho.

Matt Simis

If you are really comparing those 2 very different options, then you are already a Focus driver. The Focus is a hothatch, the M3 is an M3. And for the record, I dont like BMWs generally, the 3 series being the subject of most of my loathing.

galwaytt

Bringto Mechanic Weekly

Sure the ST will depreciate, but in real life dynamic terms, outside of autobahn storming, will be as quick as the M3. And cheap to run.

The M3 will not. And, like it or not, it's still a 7 y.o. car........which means it was designed in the ......'90's, so the cabin isn't as nice as (any) contemporary car - Bee Emms are renowned for being sparce even when new......

Andrewf20

Matt Simis wrote: »

And for the record, I dont like BMWs generally, the 3 series being the subject of most of my loathing.

Whats the reason?

Gerry

I agree - if the OP is comparing a focus and an m3, I'd say they should go for the focus. The m3 is a completely different kettle of fish - rear wheel drive, it will handle better, as well as being considerably faster. It will need a little more skill to drive it on the limit. If you can get over the number plate, and want a properly fast car, go for it.

cantdecide

Ya, I'm starting to feel that way too. If he was asking Golf GTI vs Ford or M3 vs S4 it would be a whole lot more sensible.


(personally,I'd still have the M3)

WizZard

My heart says M3, but my head says Focus ST

Personally I adore the E46 M3, and it is a fantastic drive, but given the fact that you have even a modicum of doubt as to which to choose, I'd say go for the ST. 90% of the fun but with less ownership hassle (IMHO)

TURRICAN

ST
lots of tuning parts to be got in england..cheap
ford always made a cool performance car.
beemers are just a common car. st will stand proud:D

sneakyST

Buy yourself an ST and get some mods which will see off an M3. if you go to 340bhp that should give you a top speed of 170 and 0-60 in 5.5

kdevitt

sneakyST wrote: »

Buy yourself an ST and get some mods which will see off an M3. if you go to 340bhp that should give you a top speed of 170 and 0-60 in 5.5

Am I missing something? Thats still slower than an M3... ... and the focus will be still FWD. The torque steer is bad enough as it is without pumping in an extra 100bhp

sneakyST

kdevitt wrote: »

Am I missing something? Thats still slower than an M3... ... and the focus will be still FWD. The torque steer is bad enough as it is without pumping in an extra 100bhp

Mid range will be better i.e. in gear times which is what really matters.

There's no torque steer on an ST . Dont believe the hype. It depends on the chassis

I unfortunately had to sell my ST (needed a bigger car) but its great fun and can handle the power.

Dont buy one if you want to save on fuel bills though even as standard

kdevitt

sneakyST wrote: »

There's no torque steer on an ST . Dont believe the hype. It depends on the chassis

I'm not into hype, I've driven one...and sorry, but there is torque steer, something which the owner agreed on (Dave McCann of Dave McCann Tyres).

Am not saying they're a bad car - its just not as good as an M3.

sneakyST

kdevitt wrote: »

Am not saying they're a bad car - its just not as good as an M3.

I agree on that with you - but no harm in giving the OP options:D

daRobot

Churchy wrote: »

I'd choose the ST. Repair costs at that age of BMW would put me off.
Would only use the M3's extra power a small amount of the time.

Focus is under warranty , easy to service , pretty quick and practical.

Thanks for all the replys folks.I'm actually leaning towards the focus (With a 285bhp remap).

I realise that the M3 is a lot faster, but the question is when am I going to use the extra power it provides on a day to day basis. Potentially I could spend a fortune if anything goes wrong with it.

Gonna get a test drive in both and make up my mind.