M3 E46 to M3 F80 - feedback?

[herwawan]

Hi there,

I wonder if anyone around here did the jump (or own both) from E46 to F80. I am considering it (family is getting bigger, wifey isn't all that enthusiastic about the vert anymore in terms of practicality) but I keep going back and forth. I love sedans so that would still make me happy for sure and I find the F80 very cool on paper, but everyday driving is a different experience. The E46 is my daily driver so I get to enjoy it all the time.

But it also just hit 120k miles and with all the work that was put toward it over the last year (new rod bearing, VANOS rework, full suspension replacement, cooling system revamp, new AC, fix every leak from the CPV to the oil pan, and much more), maybe now is a good time to sell and move forward. The value of those E46 seems to finally have reached the bottom last year.

Apart from a strictly financial perspective though, I know how unique that car is compared to today's standards but I'd really love to hear the feedback from actual owners.

Looking forward to reading some feedback!

Thanks

[bmw]

BMW lost me as a customer of new cars after two E92 M3s with the launch of the F80 M3, which in my opinion ushered in the continuing era of ugly and not special cars that permeate the line-up at all levels. There is also so much more interesting competition in that price range for a fast family car (Panamera, Macan, Audi S/RS, Merc 63s, etc.)

If you just did all of that to your E46 it is probably sorted and good to go for another 50K+, I had one E46 M3 where I did a similar overhaul around 120K and it was still chugging along without major issue or expense when I sold it with 185K.

[r4dr]

I've driven both a fair amount, and had a handful of track days in each. I wouldn't buy an F80. Even if I wanted to upgrade my E46 M3, I'd look elsewhere. Hard to beat 4 doors and CarPlay though!

[oceansize]

I've driven both a fair amount, and had a handful of track days in each. I wouldn't buy an F80. Even if I wanted to upgrade my E46 M3, I'd look elsewhere. Hard to beat 4 doors and CarPlay though!

What sedan, in the same price range, would you buy instead?

[Icecream]

What sedan, in the same price range, would you buy instead?

quadrifoglio.

[r4dr]

What sedan, in the same price range, would you buy instead?

Depends on what you're using it for. If you want a track car and daily driver 4-door, I'm not sure anything else available new exists that I would buy. If OP only has one car, I'd say the F80 would be my bet because that's a pretty big compromise. I know I'm kind of going back on what I said, so I'll clarify. I don't think the F80 M3 is an upgrade in terms of driving engagement and that subjective feel, but I'm not sure another new car is as objectively capable at compromise.

Edit: I'd go E90 M3 before F80 M3. But that's not a new car.

[r4dr]

quadrifoglio.

Pretty to look at, reviews speak positively of the driving experience, wouldn't own an FCA product even if you paid me.

[ra2fanatic]

I had an F80. Mind you only about 8 months. After a month, I was bored of it. Sure, it's plenty fast, but it was had no character to it. It has been made to appease the masses, which is a good and a bad thing. If it's a family vehicle, then I think it'll check all the boxes, but it can't be viewed any longer as "The Ultimate Driving Machine".

[Tbonem3]

Drove a comp f80. Disgustingly fast but boooooooringggggg. Awful steering.

[bigjae46]

Maybe my E90 M3 has spoiled me but I don’t get excited about the F80 when I get into it. The first time I test drove an E9X M3...I had to have it.

It seems like it’s more about that badge nowadays. It’s a nice car but I’d rather have a 340 or 440 gran coupe.


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[sc_tr0jan_m3]

My daily is an f80 and it’s a blast! Two different machines. The torque of the f80 is addictive and it just moves with such ease!


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[GeorgeBeirut]

I own and love both.
E46 M3 (manual + csl conversion) and F82 (DCT + OEM full carbon fiber in and out + full Akrapovic exhaust, stock downpipes).
The M4 is my daily driver and after a drive, I still get out of the car with a smile on my face. I don't track my cars but very spirited drives on the streets. Power is instant, best infotainment OS in the industry, can handle turns very well, and a very tail happy (DSC off), MDM mode is fun. 1 hour long highway drives are tolerable but 1 hour of traffic is borderline to start complaining about butt pain (im 38 years old). Steering feel I got used to it and to me it not a deciding factor for not buying the car. Sometime if its for a quick grocery etc run, I do just jump into my wife's car just for more comfort and plus i have a hassle of 8 minutes for getting out of my car park (3 basements under with speed bumps, so got to drive very slow to not scrape the front lip). wife complains on how low the car is to get in and out of. Priority / mandatory when shopping for an F80 is to have an aftermarket exhaust on it and the carbon fiber bits make it look much much better than stock.

with the above said, if you can drive one for a few days that will be your deciding factor. Audi, they are boring and all they have is the quattro system which is great for launching the car. Merc C63 its a slightly more high end comfy car with great sound. Alfa, historically they are known for not being reliable like all Italian manufactures (but sound beautifully) and the new quadrifoglio i have heard of cases of reliability issues.

[jvit27]

I've also been playing with the idea of making the switch. I probably won't right now because I don't want to own multiple M3's anymore, but not ready to give up my E46 either (yet). So i'm leaning towards something less expensive with more utility. But after driving a few, the F80 takes a little time to get under your skin. There are some tradeoffs in the analog vs. digital department, and it may as well not even have a BMW badge if you compare it to the older cars but there's value in a newer car and it DOES do many things better. It doesn't 'need' as much in terms of upgrades, and it's a better M5 without the heft IMO, exhaust note notwithstanding. Plus there are a host of ways to customize it via coding that can tailor the experience to your liking.

If you do, ZCP is a must. The sum is greater than the parts compared to a non-competition package. Oh, and get the manual. And unplug the ASP immediately.

[01M3Fan]

I have both, my '01 has a lot of mods and is more track focused. My F80 has Dinan stage 2 s/w and CF intake.

Both cars are 6MT's.

E46 is my forever car, always puts a smile on my face and car begs to be driven fast with eager engine. I still get a lot of thumbs up and comments after 19 years of ownership.

F80 has more capabilities, much better turn in and overall front end grip and is insanely fast - but, lousy steering feel and isn't fun to drive (IMO). It's a great DD but closer to what I think an M5 should be (Luxo-touring) and not an M3. I'll probably sell it in a few years and get a used pickup and $$ to fund my E46 M3 touring that I keep thinking about...

[Obioban]

What sedan, in the same price range, would you buy instead?

e39 M5
e90 M3
Tesla Model 3

If leasing, Afla fourcheese.

Lexus makes some sport sedans these days that are more enjoyable to drive than the F80, and have toyota reliability.

I'd take any of the above over the F80 M3. Turbos and dead steering aren't what I get an M car for.