The 8L S3 - My thoughts after 2 different cars and 2.5 years of ownership

[jediknight]

Well my S3 ownership has come to an end and thought it was worth summing it all up aswell as thanking those on this forum who gave advice on problems and mods over the years..

The first car. 2001 Y, Nogaro Blue with Black Leather, Symphony2 with Bose, RSTT rep Wheels. AMD remapped. Had it from 41k-51k

but sadly ended like this...



Then after about 8 months of searching it was replaced with this.

2001 Y, Mineral Grey, Silver Leather, Heated seats, Cruise control, Parking sensors, Center arm rest, Sunroof, Luggage net, Concert1 with Bose, Alu Mirrors. OEM RSTT Wheels. Revo remapped. Had it from 31k - 53k

Looked like this just before sale.



Its been a great couple of years. The S3 is a fantastic little package. It looks smart and classy and subtlety powerful. Its relatively rare and its nice driving around in something a bit different. Remapped its really a pretty fast car. Plenty fast enough for the UK roads at any rate. Its a nicely accessible power aswell. Its affordable. I sold my last one for £10500 which i think is about as expensive as 2001 cars get but thats still a hell of alot of car for that price. Get a pre facelift pre march 01 car and its still only £210 to tax. Its very reasonable to insure and maintain. Its comfy.. I had several long (6hr +) journeys in either car and both were as much of a joy as a 6hr drive can be. Practical aswell. HAd 4 plus luggage all the way to newquay in comfort.

The only down side i had was the suspension. In standard form its quite soft and tends to understeer.. or feel like its going to understeer.. in actual fact it had a hell of alot of grip but little steering feel.

Apart from this though (which i know is easily fixed for about £2k on new suspension) i loved every minute of both cars and am still wondering if i have made the right choice as its such a good all round car.

Kind Regards

Nathan

 

[Lee_shep]

****** hell your old one got ruined.. You must of been gutted with that one, what happened!

What you got or getting next?

I've only had mine 6 weeks and must say it's the best car i've ever owned, had a few VR6's before this one and it's in a class of it's own compared to them. I've got a remap and feel it's plenty for me to handle.

 

[simch]

What..........4 plus luggage in comfort.......to Newquay!!! Thong weekend was it!! LOL

Shame what happened to "numero uno !!!" What you replaced it with?

 

[jediknight]

the first one was written off after an american pulled out without looking. i hit him and span into the opposite lane and a van coming the other way hit me again.

The newquay trip was fine. didnt take much luggage. just a small bag each. was plenty of room.

put a deposit on an e46 m3. hopefully picking it up at the weekend

 

[voorhees]

What..........4 plus luggage in comfort.......to Newquay!!! Thong weekend was it!

your funny Simch
Agree with the S3 comments

 

[rhubarb4]

Ouch mate, what happened there then such a sweet looking car, were you hurt the crash, looks a real nasty one.

 

[Maz]

The Noggy one was lovely shame it was taken out like that. The grey looks amazing and you done well to sell it for over £10k.

I see you have crossed over to the darkside... got any pics?

 

[Ess_Three]

put a deposit on an e46 m3. hopefully picking it up at the weekend

Nice choice...a car that will take much more learning than the S3...but ultimately be more rewarding.

I'm sure you'll miss the S3...I still miss mine. But...when the mood takes you...no S3 can come close to the M3 when you get in 'the zone'.

Enjoy it...

What spec/colour etc, the M3?

 

[james0808]

put a deposit on an e46 m3. hopefully picking it up at the weekend

e46 M3,dont forget the pictures.

 

[Jimmeh]

Nice post Nathan..

Didn't realise you weer on your second S3. I went to view a potential buy at the weekend, I must say, I fell in love instantly. One or two areas I want to get rectified though, (infact, I might have to give cambridgeautogleam a call sometime...)

I can't wait to see pics of the M, it's going to be seriously stunning!

Hope all goes well. Jim

 

[leecs3]

I'll be parting with mine this thursday too. It is a great little car, only thing it lacks it soul. It was a very hard choice to make between an M3 E46 and an RS4 B5. I changed my mind a number of times and its taken 4months to make my decision. I've gone with the RS4 bought from a BMW main dealers!! lol.

 

[jediknight]

Nice choice...a car that will take much more learning than the S3...but ultimately be more rewarding.

I'm sure you'll miss the S3...I still miss mine. But...when the mood takes you...no S3 can come close to the M3 when you get in 'the zone'.

Enjoy it...

What spec/colour etc, the M3?

yes dont worry i will be many weeks going nice and easy getting used to the different handling characteristics. Looking forward to it though.

The M3 is 53 plate silver grey with red leather
SMG
nav / tv
harmon kardon
heated seats
bmw warranty

 

[Ess_Three]

yes dont worry i will be many weeks going nice and easy getting used to the different handling characteristics. Looking forward to it though.

I'm sure you'll love it...it'll take months to get to know it...and you'll really take to it I'm sure. Harder to drive...but more rewarding.

The M3 is 53 plate silver grey with red leather
SMG
nav / tv
harmon kardon
heated seats
bmw warranty

Lovely spec...that was as near as damn the spec I had picked before I went for the 911...I could do without the SMG, but the rest was on my list.
Sounds like a good choice. 18s or 19s?

Get some pics up as soon as you can Nathan!

 

[1animal1]

good luck mate..... cant wait for the pickies

 

[jediknight]

I'm sure you'll love it...it'll take months to get to know it...and you'll really take to it I'm sure. Harder to drive...but more rewarding.

Main thing worrying me at the moment is the wet. Im gonna go carefull in the dry aswell but think i'll be on tiptoes in the wet for some time.


Lovely spec...that was as near as damn the spec I had picked before I went for the 911...I could do without the SMG, but the rest was on my list.
Sounds like a good choice. 18s or 19s?

Get some pics up as soon as you can Nathan!

I tested the SMG for some time and really liked it actually. Nice and lazy when you fancy it and fun and fast when you want... I didnt find it jerky atall.. just lift off slightly when changing. Only thing i may have to hunt further for parking in some places... dont fancy a reverse parallel on any kind of hill!!!

It has the 19's but plan to buy a set of the lighter CSL wheel. and probably have the 18s with some good winter tyres on for... well the winter obviously... or most of he summer aswell if it was anything like last year!

 

[Ess_Three]

I tested the SMG for some time and really liked it actually. Nice and lazy when you fancy it and fun and fast when you want... I didnt find it jerky atall.. just lift off slightly when changing. Only thing i may have to hunt further for parking in some places... dont fancy a reverse parallel on any kind of hill!!!

I think SMG is a bit like Marmite...you either do, or you don't. Nothing in between.

It has the 19's but plan to buy a set of the lighter CSL wheel. and probably have the 18s with some good winter tyres on for... well the winter obviously... or most of he summer aswell if it was anything like last year!

CSL wheels are lush...

Lets hope summer is better this year so you don't need winter tyres! ...and you can start really enjoying the M3.

I can't wait for a few pics...:thumbsup:

 

[Nilz]

Wow what a waste of a sweet car, it looked baaaad!!!

Good luck with the new one, make sure you get some pics up of it...

 

[Shy19s]

Careful where you leave your keys... a mate of mine just had the keys from his E46 M3 knicked from his house, they stole the car, wrote it off.. Insurance are giving him 16g... he paid somewhere near the 20 mark last july..

congrats tho, get some pix up.

 

[fingermouse]

hmmm must have had my S3 too long I remember you trashing the first and replacing it .... and now thats gone ........ oh how time flys by

 

[jediknight]

Careful where you leave your keys... a mate of mine just had the keys from his E46 M3 knicked from his house, they stole the car, wrote it off.. Insurance are giving him 16g... he paid somewhere near the 20 mark last july..

congrats tho, get some pix up.

thanks... although its on a locked drive round the back of my property and keys are normally hidden away anyway in our house.

side point... not sure if it was a bit of BS but a friend who worked in insurance looked up my postcode and said it was one of the best in the country for getting insurance. Safe area etc.

 

[voorhees]

unless your on an isolated island I think you always have to take your keys to bed but if your insurance is cheap then nice one.
nice choice of replacement car BTW

 

[S3Steve]

Nice choice of replacement mate, looking forward to seeing some pics, I love the E46 M3's but cant justify the cost of changing to one at the minute unfortunately.

 

[Shy19s]

thanks... although its on a locked drive round the back of my property and keys are normally hidden away anyway in our house.

side point... not sure if it was a bit of BS but a friend who worked in insurance looked up my postcode and said it was one of the best in the country for getting insurance. Safe area etc.

Awesome.. you got no worries then... Warning to every1 really.. another mate had his R32 stolen from his drive, same gag, broke in, stole keys.. but put a group up on facebook "Help find my R32" was seen in reading 2 days later and he got it back luckily.
Supercharge your m3, get 500bhp.. or so ive heard ??

 

[Ess_Three]

Supercharge your m3, get 500bhp.. or so ive heard ??

No, no no...
That'll ruin it.

An M3 isn't about outright power...it's about having to work hard for what it does and having to get the timing righ to use all the power there is.
Why do people think lots of BHP = a good car.
It doesn't.
An E46 M3 with 500 BHP would be awful, in my book.

An E46 has plenty of power to **** things up...and just enough for the chassis.
With 500 BHP you'd jessie it round the bends and unleash the silly power on the straight...the complete opposite of what an M3 is all about.

You don't buy an M3 to have the fastest car in a straight line, or the most power...you buy it as a challenge, to master.

Supercharge it?
But a 328.

 

[Ess_Three]

unless your on an isolated island I think you always have to take your keys to bed but if your insurance is cheap then nice one.
nice choice of replacement car BTW

Take my keys to bed?
No chance...

My cars sit alarmed and immobilised in a secure, alarmed garage, attached to a secure, alarmed house, all monitored and tied to the fuzz.

If some pikey with an axe is willing to break into an alarmed and police monitored house, I'd rather not have to face them.

If they are prepared to break into an alarmed house and continue to rumage about with the alarm going off (it always is...including when I'm sleeping) when I'm/was asleep upstairs - and my family are/were asleep - they are welcome to take the ****** cars.
They are insured and replacable...

The consequences of said Pikey coming into your bedroom to get the keys from you, just doesn't add up, in my book.

 

[jediknight]

No, no no...
That'll ruin it.

An M3 isn't about outright power...it's about having to work hard for what it does and having to get the timing righ to use all the power there is.
Why do people think lots of BHP = a good car.
It doesn't.
An E46 M3 with 500 BHP would be awful, in my book.

An E46 has plenty of power to **** things up...and just enough for the chassis.
With 500 BHP you'd jessie it round the bends and unleash the silly power on the straight...the complete opposite of what an M3 is all about.

You don't buy an M3 to have the fastest car in a straight line, or the most power...you buy it as a challenge, to master.

Supercharge it?
But a 328.

agreed. There will be no power mods under my ownership.

The e46 didnt 'feel' that much faster in a straight line then my s3 'felt' but it was a bit quicker from roundabout - bridge compared to the S3... the difference of NA vs FI. Am looking forward to it. It was actually a much more relaxing comfy ride than the S3... but when i did give it a brief push on the test drive it was awsome.. much more feeling.

Will hopefully have the CSL lightweight wheels and some form of suspension mod done in the first year of ownership aswell as a few choice ascetic mods.

i have the sale pic.. but to be honest it just looks like every other Silver Grey M3 at the moment.. once its detailed and with a couple of new bits i'll pop some pics up over here.

 

[Shy19s]

Each to there own opinion and luckily on places like these we are free to give our own... Personally ive never owned a car i havnt modified in some shape or form, whether it be a turbo conversion or engine replacements or simple suspension adjustments etc etc...

For example, if i had the money to spend on an M3, Supercharge it, sort the suspension out, LSD, lightend flywheel, few cosmetics..

Its a nice car, but no offence to you jediknight, every1 has them.. Id much prefere to own an M3 i'd made my own.. make sense? In a tasteful way as far as looks go, and quicker than your average.. My best m8s got an Mr2 thats near 400bhp and he blits' anything that comes next to him, the day he ****** all over an M3 was the day i said if i ever own one, it wouldnt be standard.. Thats the simple point i was making.

 

[Ess_Three]

For example, if i had the money to spend on an M3, Supercharge it, sort the suspension out, LSD, lightend flywheel, few cosmetics..

What makes you think you can do a better job than BMW's M division?
Do you think an aftermarket LSD is better than the M-Diff on an M3?
Do you think an M3 needs a lighter flywheel? doesn't seem to, to me.
Some cars are developed much further than the average shopping trolley we choose to pootle about in...that's why they cost more...why anyone with a Halfords toolkit thinks they can set a car up better than the experts, amazes me.

Its a nice car, but no offence to you jediknight, every1 has them.. Id much prefere to own an M3 i'd made my own.. make sense? In a tasteful way as far as looks go, and quicker than your average..

I agree with you there...
But sometimes I don't see the point in completely changing the character of the car. If Nathan (and others) wanted torquey monster, he could have bought a 330 and chipped it.
Surely the point of an M3 is the fine balance and revs...not sledgehammer torque.

There again, 4 x 8" tailpipes, some tribal graphics, neons and a ****-load of silver mesh over the front may make an M3 look better...unlikely though.

My best m8s got an Mr2 thats near 400bhp and he blits' anything that comes next to him,

Of course he does...

Which would you rather master though, an MR2, or an M3?

I don't recall the MR2 ever being regarded as one of the finest drivers cars ever produced...

Again...just making a point.

Somtimes cars are just better left alone...because 'experts' do a better job than we do...and all 'we' suceed in doing is ruining a ****** good car.
...and this from someone who cannot leave his cars alone...

 

[james0808]

agreed. There will be no power mods under my ownership.

If you change your mind CA Automotive are highly recommemded.

 

[Shy19s]

Public enemy #1...Ess_Three im starting to see the point your making in your signature.. you are abit of a headache arent you lol...

The standard m3 is a great car, but i wouldnt be happy owning a standard one, i was only using those modifications as examples of what i might do, maybe on looking into it id change the airfilter and remap it... but i was simply making a point that standard doesnt really cut it.. unless your going for the origional classic look...

And the m3 is a great looking car, but again its out the factory.. i could think of alot of subtle mods that would set the car off nicely in my opinion, just so its different from everyother m3 you see every5 minutes.

Does my car really look like its been crashed into halfords, covered in neons or decals all over it? so i didnt really see the point you were making there..

Of course he does...

Which would you rather master though, an MR2, or an M3?

I don't recall the MR2 ever being regarded as one of the finest drivers cars ever produced...

As far as the mr2 goes, you can talk the car down as much as you like, maybe not one of the best cars around.. but the fact that he's spent less than 10g on it, and it can beat cars worth near 6-7 times that..

Again...just making a point.

 

[1animal1]

[/quote] As far as the mr2 goes, you can talk the car down as much as you like, maybe not one of the best cars around.. but the fact that he's spent less than 10g on it, and it can beat cars worth near 6-7 times that..[/quote]

Yeah groovy mate.....not being funny but you sound half intelligent in some threads...then you go and ruin it all and post something like this....

Im sure Mr Aston who gets beasted by a sub 10k MR2 hairdresser mobile is crapping his pants.... id be thinking, oh well, i could buy 30 of those cars and make them quicker than that (unless your mate has a special secret way of extracting power that nobody in the world knows about).... Simple fact is that the MR2 has reliability issues....it isnt the best handling car in the world.... and your more likely to see a 'Dale Winton' type driving one...

And do you want the honest answer, your car no longer looks OEM, to its detrement, which we have covered in other threads.... so is the Halfords comment valid? maybe depending upon opinion

This is the most honest answer i can give to your comments above.... just hope your not daft enough to take this thread down another level

 

[Shy19s]

lol.. This is so funny... some people on these forums get so constipated over nothing... I think you need to see this mr2 before you call it a hairdressers car.. yes i do agree with you, its abit of a pansey car.. but this one is far from it to be honest.. its The mk 2? i think ..the car is proper jap spec, the suspension alone cost him 1500£ so handling isnt a problem.. Had it for a year and hasnt had a single problem with it. Ran Sub 13s on the quarter mile strip, this summer he's setting it up for the track...

And do you want the honest answer, your car no longer looks OEM, to its detrement, which we have covered in other threads.... so is the Halfords comment valid? maybe depending upon opinion

lol im actually laughing at your comment... The only thing near my car that i baught from halfords is the microfibres i use to take the polish off..

I joined a forum to learn more about audi's and thought id be descussing interesting debates about different cars etc etc.. But as soon as the trash talk starts, i begin to wonder is this crap all a bunch of middle aged men on a chat room, hiding behind keyboards...

just hope your not daft enough to take this thread down another level

Its all fair enough stating your opinion and telling me how well you might think the m3 is set up, questioning whether the LSD or gear box needs changing.. etc etc..

But when you start getting rude, unnessesirly.. especially over the internet, i cant help but think your abit pathetic and you need to learn some respect. It would be a different story if we were talking in a group at a car show.. i think people get abit too brave when there sitting infront of a computer screen. Theres nothing wrong with putting your point across politely.

 

[S3 Rav]

cumon boys this is all getting ****** sill now. there never seems to be a constructive argument. we all love cars right so whats the point in all the argueing.??
we all got to realise that we are on here for primarily the saem reason..to discuss audis...or other cars doesn't matter. but along the way people are going to have their own views. thats fine. no need for the slanging matches going on.
some people have their cars for some things some have it for others. just different tastes but all this bickering is getting all too common now.
cum on lads pull it together.

 

[rodenal]

The mk1 mr2's are actually brilliant little cars to drive, particularly the supercharged versions. Not in the same power league as an m3 but certainly a great little drivers car........in the dry lol

 

[rhubarb4]

lol.. This is so funny... some people on these forums get so constipated over nothing... I think you need to see this mr2 before you call it a hairdressers car.. yes i do agree with you, its abit of a pansey car.. but this one is far from it to be honest.. its The mk 2? i think ..the car is proper jap spec, the suspension alone cost him 1500£ so handling isnt a problem.. Had it for a year and hasnt had a single problem with it. Ran Sub 13s on the quarter mile strip, this summer he's setting it up for the track...


lol im actually laughing at your comment... The only thing near my car that i baught from halfords is the microfibres i use to take the polish off..

I joined a forum to learn more about audi's and thought id be descussing interesting debates about different cars etc etc.. But as soon as the trash talk starts, i begin to wonder is this crap all a bunch of middle aged men on a chat room, hiding behind keyboards...


Its all fair enough stating your opinion and telling me how well you might think the m3 is set up, questioning whether the LSD or gear box needs changing.. etc etc..

But when you start getting rude, unnessesirly.. especially over the internet, i cant help but think your abit pathetic and you need to learn some respect. It would be a different story if we were talking in a group at a car show.. i think people get abit too brave when there sitting infront of a computer screen. Theres nothing wrong with putting your point across politely.

Think we should all agree to disagree on this one before it gets out of hand. Each person is entitled to there own choice about what car they like/dislike, and we should not go over the top in slating them or there views, This forum is here to benifit people and help them when needed. There is always room for friendly bantar, it would be boring otherwise, but its not nice when you spend alot of money on your car and someone takes the pxxs out of it. This is one of the most open forums I've been on and I like it that way, makes it fun to read. So lets put all the agro behind us and spread a little love lol.

 

[Ess_Three]

Public enemy #1...Ess_Three im starting to see the point your making in your signature.. you are abit of a headache arent you lol...

Oh here we go again...another crusade by a newcomer...
Boring...I've heard it all before...so it's water off a ducks back.
C- Must try harder.

The standard m3 is a great car, but i wouldnt be happy owning a standard one, i was only using those modifications as examples of what i might do, maybe on looking into it id change the airfilter and remap it... but i was simply making a point that standard doesnt really cut it.. unless your going for the origional classic look...

Driven many, have you?
Standard doesn't cut it?
You must be a special boy indeed if a standard E46 M3 doesn't cut it with your exacting standards.

Does my car really look like its been crashed into halfords, covered in neons or decals all over it? so i didnt really see the point you were making there..

Yes.
Next question?

As far as the mr2 goes, you can talk the car down as much as you like, maybe not one of the best cars around.. but the fact that he's spent less than 10g on it, and it can beat cars worth near 6-7 times that..

...in a straight line, off the pedestrian crossing traffic lights down the local shopping centre. I'm so impressed.

Fortunately, the M3 still attracts drivers who aren't likely to feel the need to impress Chavs/Neds.

 

[Ess_Three]

lol.. This is so funny... some people on these forums get so constipated over nothing... I think you need to see this mr2 before you call it a hairdressers car.. yes i do agree with you, its abit of a pansey car.. but this one is far from it to be honest.. its The mk 2? i think ..the car is proper jap spec, the suspension alone cost him 1500£ so handling isnt a problem.. Had it for a year and hasnt had a single problem with it. Ran Sub 13s on the quarter mile strip, this summer he's setting it up for the track...

Wow. I'm impressed.
No, actually...I'm not.
And the Mk2 MR2 is most definately camper than a row of pink tents.

I joined a forum to learn more about audi's and thought id be descussing interesting debates about different cars etc etc..

Ahh...predictable. Roll out the hurt newbie line...
You want to play with the big boys, you'll get treated like a big boy...so wind your neck in and pipe down.
Who was throwing 'his mates MR2' into the mix?

But as soon as the trash talk starts, i begin to wonder is this crap all a bunch of middle aged men on a chat room, hiding behind keyboards...

Tell you what...be at GTI International and see if you can find the 6'3" keyboard I'll not be hiding behind.
I have no problem telling an idiot, such.

But when you start getting rude, unnessesirly.. especially over the internet, i cant help but think your abit pathetic and you need to learn some respect. It would be a different story if we were talking in a group at a car show.. i think people get abit too brave when there sitting infront of a computer screen. Theres nothing wrong with putting your point across politely.

Need to learn some respect...what a good idea.
Implement your own advice...and re-read some of your childish comments in the thread above...

 

[rhubarb4]

Oh here we go again...another crusade by a newcomer...
Boring...I've heard it all before...so it's water off a ducks back.
C- Must try harder.






Quack Quack lol

 

[fingermouse]

And the Mk2 MR2 is most definately camper than a row of pink tents.

lololol have you started doing stand up now ess ?????


i was geting bored of this thread but its started to be ammusing.

 

[Shy19s]

lol.. This is jokes... Yeah ive driven a few M3s, one of my good friends bought one as his first car at 17.. No he's not a rich boy.. i'm not hurt by a single thing said in this thread, i find it quite funny actually how pathetic the whole thing is.

I brought in the mr2 just as an interesting fact about my friends mr2.. simple as that.. The mr2 is quick. End of.

When i called you a headache.. i was joking.. get over yourself.. 6'3 doesnt mean **** to me. tell the 6'8 arab mr2 owner named omar his car is pansey.. the bottom line is that yeah im the new kid.. no one here knows who i am, and im not gunna start ranting and raving at what im gunna do or say cos i dont care enough... I'll leave it at the stage that this is over the internet.. so nothing ur really sayin matters..sorry bro.

At the end of the day whats the point getting angry, cos your probably upset cos you been bullied all your life for being such a geek, and is taking it out on forums cos u cant get someone to suck your cxck.

Im sorry but it had to be said.. its all kinda pathetic isnt it. Im 19 years old and i find it funny how some old man is gettin so upset cos i said an mr2 is quicker than an m3 and id like to change it. lol.. Im sorry if i was rude.. But grow up, seriously.. Who cares.. Get out more.

Cars.............. Havnt come on the internet for agro.. take it out on your cat.. Get enough headache from monkeys on road, then to come sit here and listen to you on ur little rant trying to be clever with cheap come backs. Its playground beef brotha.. lol

I agree with what mr rhubarb said.. Lets just leave it as is.. your opinion mr2s are girls ****** cars.. fair enough.. M3s are common and boring. Getting all aggrivated over something soooooo stupid.. ive got better things to do.
Peace