thinking of P/X ing my Storm for an E46 M3 - will I regret it?

[jpowell79 0]

Local 2nd hand dealers has a lovely black E46 M3 coupe in stock at a pretty fair price. Am considering part exchanging the storm in for it.

 

I've almost all positive reviews about the E46 M3, solid, comfortable, powerful, well-built, etc. All in all, looks a decent motor, and I'm getting a bit fed up will all the little silly things I have to keep sorting out on the corrado.

 

In the last couple of months alone, I've had to fix the drivers door handle, replace the alternator and tensioner, and now fix the immobilser issue, and it's starting to get on my nerves!

 

I keep reminding myself that it's a 17-year old car, so little things are bound to go wrong......but it just feels like it's something new every week at the moment!

 

Someone tell me I'm mad for swapping it for an M3......tell me I shouldn't do it! Tell me I'll instantly regret it! :-)

 

Has anyone owned both and can offer a genuine unbiased opinion??

[coullstar 0]

I say go for it. Always good to change, there will be other Corrado's if you want to come back. If its a standard M3 as well then thats sounds good, it hasnt been chavved as many have.

[Portent 0]

Go for it. It's a better car in almost every respect.

[Nathan Harvey 10]

Go for it mate , I was forced to get a different car and got a r32 lol at least I'm not making running repairs every week

[Jim 2]

You're not mad at all... the Corrado is a toy compared to the M3.

 

Just be prepared for the potential running costs! The Corrado may need regular little things doing but they're usually cheap to fix - the M3 is a real potential bank buster.

[Billzeebub 1]

Definitely no reason ( apart from slightly higher running costs) not to go for the M3, much as I love the Corrado the M3 is in a different league. I would say, however, that you may be getting a good deal on the Beemer but you will probably get a pretty low px figure built into that. I would try and sell privately and then get the M3. Lots of M3 s out there and there will be other good cars and good deals. Depends how blasé you are with your finances!..

 

The M3 will cost a fair bit more to service, but against that shouldn't need such regular fettling being a much newer vehicle

[Corradochris16v 10]

A work colleague has a e46 m3 it is a brilliant car looks superb with the 19s and his is black as well which really suits it. just watch out for the servicing costs if you take it to a main dealer, the service manager he took his too took one look at him and told him a 50 grand car still has 50 grand running costs implying he couldnt afford it which was nice of him! he now takes it to a bm specialist who's half the price with twice the service and they don't treat him like a peasant.

[Harrier 1]

I would love an M3,only reason stopping me is i still enjoy the Corrado & wife wont let me have both ! As already said running costs of Beamer are way more than C especially if it goes wrong,however i like the fact the Corrado gets so much more attention & the comparative rarity of it.For me i would have silver grey met but would struggle with deciding on manual or SMG.I would probably say go for it but you will miss the C

[Abdul 0]

Only thing that's stopped me getting an e46 m3 is the maintenance costs.

 

Fabulous cars to drive and still look the part IMO.

[Billzeebub 1]

The E46 M3 looks good on 19s, but drives better on 18s

[Peebee 0]

All I will say is everyone I know who's sold their Corrado now has another one or plan to get another one. The very reason why I decided I couldn't let mine go.

[pbradley98 0]

Would other M3 drivers wave at you?!! I'd miss that alone if I sold the Corrado!

[Rams 0]

The way I view it is this, e46 m3, whilst a great car, the newer models trump the old older ones. Such as values dropping from their original £50k specked price tag to 5 grand or so and becomes another M3. The rado will always be special and more special the older they get.

 

I used to import brand new cars from Germany from the factory and loved every minute of driving brand new high performance cars, even supplied Harry Rednapp an S500 L Mercedes with all the fruit! ..... BUT at the end of the day when I got back into my Corrado to drive home, I didn't feel inferior one bit. If anything, more familiar and impressed that my old 1995 Corrado felt special.

 

If its something you want to get out of your system which I wouldn't blame you..... Just make sure you return to some classic 90's driving romance. A health up together Corrado takes time to achieve but it will get there and shouldn't cost the earth. Maybe your mechanical issues are just teething problems and perhaps consider the purchase once your car is running spot on. Just don't rush your decision is where I'm trying to get to.

 

Buy the M3 and keep the Corrado, tell your wife that the Rado will be worth mylons Rodney one day! You never know, she might buy that excuse.........

 

Good luck with your decision anyway

[fragsxr 10]

sold my first corrado a few years back for a 328 m sport then a 330 m sport, not quite an m3 but still quality well built cars. they do drive and handle really well but had to spend pounds on daft niggling things goin wrong so no different to a corrado apart from the fact the c always put a bigger smile on my face... just something about them i guess. thats why ive got myself another c.

[VAG-hag 0]

great car is the E46 M3 and is head and shoulders above a 'rado.

 

Not sure you would get much for the C in part ex though & as others have said beware the M3 specific parts...... they are pricey!!

[jpowell79 0]

Went and looked at the M3 on Saturday. It does look tasty.... But rather than impulsively buying it (I must be growing up) I told the dealer I'd go away and think about it. Anyway, got back in the storm, and drove home and parked her up. Walked away thinking, what a timeless looking car! The m3 is a beast but there's just something special about the storm... I remember seeing it at 15 years old and telling my mates at school I would get one of them one day.... Never felt that way about an M3.... Any way I've decided ill keep it at least until the new year... Not quite ready to say goodbye just yet! :-)

[TheWizardofOdds 0]

Go for it. It's a better car in almost every respect.

 

Almost.

 

It's just another BMW 3 series on the road. I love M Coupes and 8 series, those are cars with individuality and character that you could maybe swap a Corrado for. I miss my Corrado like mad. I've got a workhorse Bora diesel that does about 1000 miles to a tank but it's not the same. Joyless. The M3 would be lovely, no doubt about that, but it will be just another M3.

[corrado head 0]

Personally I reckon cars and bikes are too fast to get full enjoyment out of on the road without fear of losing your licence anyway. This was confirmed by test driving a Honda CBR 1000RR :0) Theres a lot to be said for a car/bike that you can use to the full while sill being the right side of crazy fast