[KG11]

I currently have a beautiful E92 M3, 2013, fully loaded that I picked up last fall. I love the car, but...it is costing me $800 a month to mostly sit in the garage. I need a car on occasion, but 75% of my driving is my old Toyota truck.

I could get clear of the M3 for a minimal hit, as I picked it up at wholesale last fall. Thoughts were to pick up a 2012 328i, 6MT M-sport package, and throw on coilovers, maybe bigger sway bars, and drive that instead. Of course, it isn't as good of a car, I know that. But it would cost me $400 a month instead of $800.

Question is: how close is the handling of a 328i w/coilovers to an M3? 85%? 90%? 70%? I used to have a 335is, and with stiffer suspension, the handling was very, very good. . I don't track the car, only road trips and back roads. I don't expect all the performance of the M, but I don't need to be throwing away $400/month for a perfect car when a very good car can be had for that much less.

[AudiA4]

Why do you need two vehicles?

[KG11]

Originally Posted by AudiA4

Why do you need two vehicles?

Need a truck for work: I am also a mountain biker and skier, and need lots o' space. Don't like to trash a nice car in the winter gravel storm around here.

[AudiA4]

Originally Posted by KG11

Need a truck for work: I am also a mountain biker and skier, and need lots o' space. Don't like to trash a nice car in the winter gravel storm around here.

Is get a Ford F-150 Raptor and call it a day. Ha!

Seriously though, I can't imagine you'd be satisfied with the 328 coming directly from an E9x M3.

[RIDERDIE]

For the last eight years I have owned a BMW and a truck. Last year I picked up a 2012 328i manual after coming off of two M3's and a fbo n54 e92. Unfortunately there is no comparison and nearly any similarities. I don't know if the e92 in 2013 went to the electronic steering like my 12 f30 has. You could make the suspension perfect but the steering feel will never change. Last week I traded my truck in for a 2014 N55 and am selling the 328i n20.

It's up to the individual. Really no comparison but still a fun car. Me personally I missed the aggressiveness. I already do miss the truck but plan on replacing with a 4runner.

[Labeef]

It will never be an M car even though you can make it handle like one.

[MomoM3]

It's downgrading to be fiscally responsible and there's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't sound like $400 per month will change your situation but your point is that for a car you keep in the garage it's the responsible thing to do. While I don't think you'll be happy with a F30 328 coming from an E92 M3, I think it's great that you can reason truthfully with yourself. Just because you can doesn't mean you should sometimes... Unless you have f-you money, of course

I've had the E92 M3 and the least I'd settle for now (performance, not price) is my F30 340i. It is certainly a compromise. I also ski and bike but the bikes go in the X5 (which is allowed to get dirty) but I have no problem throwing the skis in the 340i since my compromise also involved adding xDrive for utility. It's all about what you're willing to deal with but with you already having an E92 M3 you need to consider whether you'll be ok with the decreased performance, not price.

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by RIDERDIE

For the last eight years I have owned a BMW and a truck. Last year I picked up a 2012 328i manual after coming off of two M3's and a fbo n54 e92. Unfortunately there is no comparison and nearly any similarities. I don't know if the e92 in 2013 went to the electronic steering like my 12 f30 has. You could make the suspension perfect but the steering feel will never change. Last week I traded my truck in for a 2014 n54 and am selling the 328i n20.

It's up to the individual. Really no comparison but still a fun car. Me personally I missed the aggressiveness. I already do miss the truck but plan on replacing with a 4runner.

Ummm...a 2014 "n54"? Which 2014 BMW has that engine? To answer the question, none of the E9x series cars had electrically-assisted steering, but my 2013 F30's steering feels fine to me, especially in Sport mode.

OP - you can put all the suspension pieces you want on a non-M car, but there's no way you can economically get it to handle like an E9x M3. The LSD alone would be pretty costly. That, and it's doubtful you'd like the N20 4-cyl as much as you would the N55 6-cyl. as a replacement for your S65 V8.

[RIDERDIE]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Ummm...a 2014 "n54"? Which 2014 BMW has that engine? To answer the question, none of the E9x series cars had electrically-assisted steering, but my 2013 F30's steering feels fine to me, especially in Sport mode.

OP - you can put all the suspension pieces you want on a non-M car, but there's no way you can economically get it to handle like an E9x M3. The LSD alone would be pretty costly. That, and it's doubtful you'd like the N20 4-cyl as much as you would the N55 6-cyl. as a replacement for your S65 V8.

Simple typo, we'll aware that it's a n55...

[dalto]

It won't even be comparable. You would be much better off picking up another e92 335is.

[E92Mazing]

I made the same change loaded dct e92m3 to loaded msport f30 328 two years ago but my situation was a bit different in that I used the car as a DD. Living in NYC the roads suck and traffic is bad so saving half the cost of the lease payment, gas, and insurance for a torquey 4 door more comfortable car was not a tough decision. In your case, there's nothing you can do to a f30 328 (or any f30) to match a e92 m3. However, 800/mth to sit in your garage is a bit of $ (to me) and you could be just as happy building up something like a 996 IMO while retaining far more value.

[Michael Schott]

The handling will be fine but the dynamics especially the steering will be a disappointment. It may be possible to upgrade the EPS feel by adding M bushings, a camber adjustment plate and maybe a strut tower brace but it will never equal HPS M car steering.