Is the E92/E90 M3 worth the hype?

It's undeniable that the 2008-2012 BMW M3 is a good car, but is it truly great?

If you're like most enthusiasts, the E90/E92 M3 is a car that you have dreamt of owning at one point in time or another. The driving dynamics, racing pedigree and overall practicality make this a car that checks so many boxes for buyers, especially dads, who enjoy a screaming V8 that can fit a set of golf clubs, has room for the kids and can carve up the back-roads when you decide to take the long way home.

When I was originally in the market for my M3 I had to really do some sole searching for how this car would be used. When reading about these cars in most popular publications, you hear all about their track ability and the thoughts of having a dual purpose track car creep into your mind. Living about 45 minutes from Summit Point, a popular Motorsports Park in WV, I often would build up an illusion that it'd be fun to get out on the track once or twice a month and make the most of the E92. The reality is, going to the track is a lifestyle and though it's awesome to have the ability to take a very capable car to the track, it probably won't happen often for me.

The more likely scenario for this car in my possession would be that I'll take it to cars and coffee, make a couple back country runs over the weekend with my son in the back and use it as an excuse to get out and enjoy a drive for 30-45 minutes. With that reality established, I set out to buy a car that I have lusted over for some time.

There are many flavors of the E90/E92 but my preferred spec, as represented by the car that I currently own, is a 2011 E92 M3 with DCT, comp package, navigation and a sunroof (gasp!).

I know, this is far from the true enthusiast's model that most would spec but to be honest, this works extremely well for me, so let's break it down.

The LCI model (2011+) is a no-brainier. The updated taillights and iDrive, which most people would eventually try to retrofit anyways, is well worth the ~$3K premium you'll pay for a 2011 vs. 2008, plus you're sure to get it back on resale.

The DCT is pure preference and though I'm sure most people like to "row their own gears", I test drove both and I feel strongly that the S65 motor pairs perfectly with the DCT transmission. Add the DCT GTS flash and this transmission cracks off quick upshifts and makes some amazing noises when rev-matching on downshifts. Additionally, the slightly shorter gearing feels better suited and keeps you in the upper rev range which is vital with this motor. To amplify this experience, a cheap axle back muffler (i.e. Megan) is a must if you want to hear the S65 screams up to the 8400k redline!

When comparing Base vs. Comp models, there are only a couple of things to consider. The Comp package comes with a 10mm lower stance due to the springs. Though this does close the wheel gap a little and improve handling slightly over the Base, this is not something that I would pay a premium for, and really didn't benefit from, as I immediately went to coilovers.

The true differences (for me at least) really comes down to wheel preference. I felt that the M359 style wheels suit the e92 very well and when lowered with spacers gives the car a very aggressive stance and fitment. I'm not sure if Comp package cars still carry a premium but if they do, I wouldn't consider it as a "must have". For what it's worth, add a set of decent coilovers and replace your wheels with something like Apex Arc-8's or EC-7's which can give you a much more aggressive fitment without spacers and you'll be ahead of the comp package.

Probably the most controversial option on may car is the sunroof. Undoubtedly, the carbon fiber roof looks better, saves weight and is more desirable upon resale. With all of those things considered, I have always enjoyed a sunroof cracked open on a nice day when I'm ripping through the back-roads so it was purely my personal preference. My F80 had the carbon roof and with tinted windows it made the cabin a somewhat dark place to be. Again, just personal preference but don't feel like you "have" to find a model with a carbon roof to fit in with the traditional M3 stereotype.

From a maintenance and cost of ownership perspective I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you're aware of the two primary "common problems" with these cars, 1) rod bearing and 2) throttle actuators. If not, there are websites dedicated to these topics so I won't go into much detail here, I'll just provide a couple word of advice.

If Rod Bearings haven't been done in your car, just do them. It's a cost that you should have budgeted for prior to purchase so don't delay it, take them to a reputable shop, get them done and have that peace of mind.

If throttle actuators haven't been done, DON'T do them until needed. If these fail, it isn't catastrophic. Have some money set aside for IF they fail and IF they do, replace both of them at the same time.

One of the areas where I'm probably most disappointed with the E92 is the interior. To no fault of it's own, it's almost a 10 year old car, but I don't believe the interior of the E92 3 series was ever great, even when new.

The seat position is high but to honest I'm OK with that, though couple that with the (dreaded) sunroof and someone that is over 6 foot probably won't be comfortable. Additionally, the carbonfiber leather trim is....well....isn't really noticeable or attractive and makes the whole dash seem like a bland large piece of plastic . And lastly, the cupholders - BMW, what were you thinking?!?!

Compared to a 2011 S5, this BMW interior feels like it tried to mix premium feel and track use, failing at both.

With this primarily being a weekend car and something that would frequent cars and coffee, "mod-ability" was also very important. The E92 M3 is easily one of the most mod friendly cars out there due to the availability and wide range of performance, interior and exterior parts available.

Knowing some of shortfalls of the car (interior, power, etc.), I thought I'd be able to address these through mods but after I purchased the car and doing my research with a credit card in hand, some of the areas I believed could use the most improvement on this car fell short in the mod market.

Yes, low end torque can be improved slightly through pulley's, resonator delete, intake, tune or even a full blown supercharger but from my experience it'll never be enough to really feel suitable power below 5,500 RPMS.

There are also some real carbonfiber trim pieces that can be purchased at a reasonable price but they are glossy and look out of place in the cabin.

Even the seating position can be addressed with some Recaro seats or an amazing set of M-Performance seats BUT $5,000+, really?!?!?!

So after owning this car for 6 months, is it worth the hype? Kind of.....

First off, let me say that when purchasing this car most people immediately worry about the cost of ownership. I've been lucky enough that outside of expenses I originally budgeted for (i.e. rod bearings, coilovers, tune, spark plugs, intake and exhaust) the only additional expense was a thermostat that ran me about $800 installed.

Now, for the driving experience!

There is no denying that the S65 paired with the DCT offers a very unique driving experience. It's not uncommon for people to ask "what kind of motor is in that" and to get a thumbs up as I'm downshifting by unsuspecting drivers as the rev-matching hits perfectly from 3500 rpms to 5000 rpms when going from 3rd to 2nd.

The most visceral experience of this car, without question, is the sound it makes. The S65 screaming above 6,000 RPMs is the closest you'll get to an F1 sound under $100,000 (besides the E60 M5) and that is what keeps you coming back.

The downside is that for this car to truly be fun, you have to live in the 6,000+ RPM range because as I'm sure you're aware, the torque down low is minimal.

This car is not scary fast, BUT it is very capable in the right hands and in the right environment, which is often at a track or an autocross event where you can run this car at 9/10 or 10/10's with minimal impact if you make a mistake. Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, that is the driving environment this car would often see during my ownership.

When looking at the E92 in it's totality, it's good, but not good FOR ME.

I feel that it's dated interior, sometimes mechanical nuances and inflated cost of ownership for wearable items in additional to it's lack of low end power (by today's standards), outweigh the benefits of it's track ability and high revving enjoyment that are somewhat wasted on me and my current driving style.

If you find yourself at the track and want a car that is capable of keeping up with just about anything lap after lap, the E92 would be a great tool for that. With some basic preventative maintenance and your willingness to turn a wrench keeping down the labor cost of wearable items, I'd highly recommend this car.

For me, I'll be looking to replace the E92 soon and in my humble opinion, there is some stiff competition for my $25K against some newer, albeit less "track oriented" competitors that more align to my current "weekend car" requirements such as tuned 435i's and S5's, B8.5 RS5, W204 C63, Gen 6 Chevy Camaro 1SS, Mustang GT and a higher mileage CTS-V v2

Again, I'm 100% certain that the E92 would walk around several of the aforementioned cars around the track but if I don't spend time on the track, does it matter?

My next job is to sift through this competition to find the next weekend car that I can enjoy with my son. On a positive not, the E92 is still in my garage so as I'm looking for it's replacement I still have something to persuade my son to go to cars and coffee with me in!

Let me know your thoughts on pro's/con's of the car's I mentioned to replace the M3 and feel free to make recommendations for any that I may have missed!