Z4 M coupes are made in USA. Reliability is pretty good. I test drove a black one yesterday, and i was impressed. Power is good, but not like an Evo. Once you get in, it feels like your name has changed to Bond........James Bond. I give it a thumbs up and would prefer it from a M3.

 

As far as stright line racing M3 pulls strong on the highway. But if u want to make it any faster u need to throw in a $10+ supercharger. But u will still only run low to mid 12 sec 1/4 mile passes. Adding N/A mods do not help at all as far as power goes. The best thing to do with a E46 M3 is get a 6spd tranny. Get the stock 18s not the 19s and throw on some drag radials. Also get ECU upgrade and 4:10 gears. Then u should have a high 12 sec M3.

My plans were to get a E46 M3. But I went with a Evo IX. But if I went the M3 route I would of done a sick nitrous set-up.

Headers, gears, ecu, and nitrous kit will get u serious gains. Horsepowerfreaks has a turbo kit for the M3. They've reached 650+ RWHP on stock internals. So spraying a big shot in a M3 shouldn't be a problem. Theres a guy named bOki on E46fanantics.com hes got a nice nitrous setup.

http://media.putfile.com/Drag-M3

 

id take a evo anyday over a m3 but thats just me

 

i would wait for the v8 version. That's will be an awsome car!!!

 

It will be awesome, but so far it's been getting mediocre reviews, saying that it lost the thrill that the E46 M3 had and is more tame, despite having two more cylinders and a buttload more horsepower. It seems like for the first time, most auto publications are more excited for the C-Class AMG than the M3. Almost every publication I've read has given great reviews to the upcoming C63, with most of them believing it will give the new V-8 M3 a run for its money not just in a straight line but around the corners.

 

+1, keep the Evo, or wait a while for the V8 E92 version, my dad is.

 

are you insane KEEP THE EVO unless you just want a car to pick up chicks in

 

Explain 'reworked Nissan.' It is a Nissan. Infiniti is a badge for the USDM market. The G35 and upcoming G37 is the best thing Nissan is producing right now and they are p-i-m-p. Extremely reliable, very low maintenance.

 

Yes, the 1st Gen M Coupe has a lack of electronic BS so not too much to break. There are some updates that are nice to have (shift pin update) and the '01 and '02 cars are the ones to own as they have the S54. They are also very easy cars to work on yourself.

The two things that you need to watch for are differential mounts cracking and tearing (BMW still covers most of these uder warranty) and failure of the S54 motor. I don't think the engine is much to worry about as most went early in their lives with the root cause being an assembly issue that caused bearing failure.

I do not like the 2nd Gen M Coupe at all. It lost the raw and fun feel and became a GT car.

 

I too almost bought an 04 m3 6spd. If you want to LOOK good then get the m3. but if you want to enjoy your drive to/from work stick with the evo. After I test drove the m3, i happily got back into my evo....started her up.....and listened to my turbo spool as i drove away never to return to BMW! m3's interior wasn't as i expected either. Looked pretty cheap actually. they're more of a handling car, not power. G/L