[Takumi587]

Not feeling this car a little. HOwever, i have not seen it in person. When i saw the 335 in person i thought it looked good compared to its pictures. But i dont know about this bigger engine and idrive stuff. Sounds like more repairs and problems for the future. If i were to buy the new m3 it would be about 2 years after b/c by then we will have definite reviews and any modifications needed for it. Just like when the E46 came out. They added the strut bars in the front after its first year. Plus the comparisons will be available by then. Their may be new software the comes out or a new type of SMG. When its in the showroom I will see what my urge is then. B/c right now i dont feel how i felt for the E46 M3 when i first saw it. Well thats my opinion. Hopefully it will be better than expected. I always say expect the unexpected. But i would wait unless someone can give me good reasons why I should put a down payment for reserving one now.

[suburbanjim]

I think I can safely say that those of use who are planning on actually buying one think you should definitely wait.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Takumi587

Not feeling this car a little. HOwever, i have not seen it in person. When i saw the 335 in person i thought it looked good compared to its pictures. But i dont know about this bigger engine and idrive stuff. Sounds like more repairs and problems for the future. If i were to buy the new m3 it would be about 2 years after b/c by then we will have definite reviews and any modifications needed for it. Just like when the E46 came out. They added the strut bars in the front after its first year. Plus the comparisons will be available by then. Their may be new software the comes out or a new type of SMG. When its in the showroom I will see what my urge is then. B/c right now i feel like when i say the E46 M3. Well thats my opinion. Hopefully it will be better than expected. I always say expect the unexpected. But i would wait unless someone can give me good reasons why I should put a down payment for reserving one now.

Likely if you put money down now you will be into second year allocations, depending on where you live. I put a deposit down 10/05 and was #9 on my fairly large dealer's list.

That being said, I purchased my E46 M3 pretty early (5/01 production) and have no regrets. Improvements that came out later were mostly easily retrofittable ones (strut bar, LED tails, larger brakes, etc.). And, there were fewer bearing issues on '01s than '02s. The best rumors are that the DCT transmission will start production between March and May '08, which might be worth waiting for, if you're so inclined.

[LALaw]

I think you should pay a 10K premium and be the first to have the new M3 on your block.

[jkalex05]

My dad put down a $10,000 downpayment and is #2 in San Antonio, Texas to get the e92 M3.

He is claiming its for him. However I know its my 21st birthday present. Since I love bimmers and got him into them, he has an e60 M5 and a 650ci.

[Cicada]

ill wait for the ones that come off of lease and are CPO'ed :P

[stracer28]

Originally Posted by jkalex05

My dad put down a $10,000 downpayment and is #2 in San Antonio, Texas to get the e92 M3.

He is claiming its for him. However I know its my 21st birthday present. Since I love bimmers and got him into them, he has an e60 M5 and a 650ci.

Must be nice to be spoiled. I'd wait at least a year after it first comes out for the simple fact that the first production year of a new model they're still working out the bugs, +it will give more time for the tuners to catch up and have good products. I work in the Honda factory and the first year of prod blows. Can't wait for the 08 accord to hit mp. Here comes the overtime

[SquirrelRR]

Originally Posted by jkalex05

My dad put down a $10,000 downpayment and is #2 in San Antonio, Texas to get the e92 M3.

He is claiming its for him. However I know its my 21st birthday present. Since I love bimmers and got him into them, he has an e60 M5 and a 650ci.

Bla bla you want a cookie for that? WHat does this even have to do w/ the OP's question of whether or not to wait...

As always unless you really need the urge to show off .. wait for 2nd year production

[lagunasecablue]

My dad's 2002 745Li has been in the shop 28 times for non-service related problems (power steering breaking, coils going bad, iDrive being possessed, etc.). Learned our 1st-year-production lesson from that car... never again.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by lagunasecablue

My dad's 2002 745Li has been in the shop 28 times for non-service related problems (power steering breaking, coils going bad, iDrive being possessed, etc.). Learned our 1st-year-production lesson from that car... never again.

I don't think you can generalize based on your bad experience wtih one car. As I posted earlier, by early E46 M3 has been extremely reliable. With 51k now, only "serious" issues were a cam sensor and fuel pump. Logic would tell you, of course, that later years should be better, but it's not always the case. 2002 M3s had many more rod bearing failures than 2001s. This, of course, was a quality control issue and not a design one.