Keep M3 or buy new 911

First I have to apoligize to BMW and the dealership. When I bought the 2013 M3 I knew it only had 411hp. The dealer at the time told me to drive it for awhile then come back so they could add more hp.

Well I complained on this forum that that when I went back they could not add power. I thought and said on this forum they lied to me to sell the car. It apears they knew HP kits would come but not when. Maybe they said that maybe not but I did not hear that said.

Well I apologize. I went back today to ask then buy something else either there or somewhere

Well now they can upgrade. The 411 stock hp can now be upgraded in three stages all the way up to 665hp. So the kits are now for sale and the dealer can due them. The high hp is is expensive in my view at $14,000 US. But it can be done.

Now I have to decide, do nothing, upgrade hp, buy the new 911 they have there or look at a Mclaren 12C.

I have driven the 911 and have owned three and I love the one they have. It is a 011S and a stunning blue color.

I have never driven a meclaren so I may do that before I decide.

Any thoughts or recommendations are appreciated

Lee

 

Porsche has whatever you need in the new 911. I would get a new 911c2s, which also has a power upgrade option available. The c4s and cab are nice, and if you can live with PDK, the new GT3 is out with the 991ts due out this fall.

 

I love my Porsches, but a BMW is a great practical car! Is the 665hp kit a total of $14k (includes stage 1 and 2), or do you have to buy stage 1 at $xxxx and stage 2 at $xxxx, then pop for the $14k? If it is $14k total and you retain the BMW warranty, I think it is a great way to go. However, a McLaren is a completely different ball game.

 

Do you want a sedan, GT, or sports car?

Only one on your list is unique although I like all three.

If you will only keep it a while, you probably won't get back your investment in upgrades.

Robb

 

Great question. The dealer told me $14K, total, done and the warranty was still viable. The dealer told me the BMW M3 engine is built with the expectation the owner will upgrade it.

The M3 now drives better since the dealer updated the handling to "Sport Plus"

My Friend Jay who is a car guy told me that was too much engine hp for the car. He recommended I do not put the HP up quite that high.

It may be the best to go. Especially it is a manual car and the Porsche 911 the dealer has is automatic and I hate automatics.

Thank you for your opinions.

Lee

 

Yes the dealer mentioned the new 911.s coming soon.

I prefer manuals but on some cars that is all you can get. My 568 and the Galardo have fancy manuals and they are fast to shift. But sadly I will never buy a new on of these cars because of the automatics only. This is why I love my Audi V10 manual.

The 911 I drove is an S but I have never driven the cars you mention although I have heard about them.

I used to not like 4 whell drives but the latest technology seems to work very well. I do not even notice it anymore.

 

leead1:

Try researching the 600 hp ESS Tuning supercharger kit. They seem to be well proven, ESS is a reputable tuner.

Good luck!

Edit: Just saw that you already have drive the new 911, nevermind. (It's getting late here, sorry)

 

First I saw saw your car profile picture. A great car chasis shot and unusual for this forum. A very nice project

Question: the tuner kit you talk about was it for the BMW M3 or the 911?

Lee

 

There is no way to add over 200hp without either a supercharger or a turbo kit and 14k is not expensive considering the amount of labor to install (trust me I know first hand) those kits. The VF engineering 650hp kit is almost 17K and that does not even include labor. I find it amazing that the warranty would still be in place after adding that much HP though. I have found out the hard (and expensive) way that adding that much power changes much more than just the feeling when you push down the pedal and with many modded cars the chassis and suspension tend to not always like the extra power. Sorry Lee but what they are telling you makes no sense to me.

 

The profile picture is the bare aluminium chassis of a Honda NSX - my all time favourite car A stock photo, not my own car.

I was talking about the BMW M3.

 

My 991c2s has the 7 speed three pedal manual gearbox and is wonderful to drive. You can go to your local Porsche dealer and he should be able to locate a 7mt 911s for you through the dealer inventory network, as most of the new to Porsche buyers only seem to buy pdk cars.

 

The best way to improve the performance of a production street car is to: 1st - participate in several DE track event and/or schools; 2nd - upgrade tires; 3rd - upgrade brakes; 4th - upgrade suspension; and, 5th - if you can still drive the car at 10/10ths, then look into a power increase. I have seen many drivers at track events, including myself, get passed by drivers in much slower cars because the driver was better and/or their slower car had better tires, brakes, suspension and/or setup.

 

Yes it is a supercharger. I would not want the turbo lsg. Thank you for confirming the #14K price tag.

I agree on the waranty. I validated that for a second time while I was there. He went on to say the supercharher company warrants their unit and NMW warrants the engine.
It doeseem like alot of power to put in an engine aftermarket and to warrant it. He did say you can track the car.

Lee

 

If it was me... I'd go for a factory-spec car designed to handle all the power from the start - chassis, brakes, clutch, etc. Plus when you go to sell it, I think you'll find some guys don't want a modified car.

If you don't need the back seat and boot space of the 3, I would go with the 991. Unless you need another exotic, in which case the McLaren would be more of a statement.

 

991 hands down is my vote!!! The 991 is the best 911 so far with its fresh sculptured lines, wider wheelbase, looks fast just sitting still while the M3 has the same look for the last 10 years!
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Hi,can you please tell me what the two lower HP options were?I have an M3 and it does seem a bit weak,lack of torque maybe.Thanks

 

Says the guy who's recommending a 911...??

 

Anthony that is the way my 2013 M3 feels also.

Yhey did not tell me only mentioned the higher HP number. I assume it eas in roughly equal parts sort of

411hp base
496hp stage 1
581hp stage 2
665hp Final stage

What stopped me is the $14K price tag for the final stage.

I am not really happy with the car either. Handles okay but not great and has little power.

I am not sure what I am going to do. I may drive the Mclaren and maybe trade it in.

What has me worried is my 2014 vette only has 450 HP. I get in in sept of this year. maybe the torque and light weight may make it feel better.

My Lotus Evora turbo only has 350hp. It handles so well and feels fast. One of my favorite driving experiences.

Lee

 

Reading this makes me very happy I'm satisfied with the acceleration of my 360 with a leisurly mid 12-second 1/4 mile...in fact I didn't upgrade to my 360 from my air cooled 911 for more speed, just more for more experience...the extra speed came as a bonus I like to get on the car on the back roads and open highways, and as it is the 360 is too fast to really ring it out on public roads (which I never do when there is traffic, usually early morning weekend drives).

With that said, the original poster has a real need for speed....I agree with what the OP's friend said about that level of HP in an M3 from the most extreme factory mods being "too much" for the car...the performance upgrade may seem pricy at $14K, but with a factory warranty and in-house engieering from BMW, those are two huge plusses in my book (especially the in-house engineering). BUT I feel once you're getting into this kind of HP, the way to go may be:

A V10 Audi looks awesome and has the all wheel drive to get that power down to the ground with the quattro (all wheel drive). The car is fast right out of the box, but if you want more at least you could mod the R8 and still get the power down...I've seen cars with too much HP that can't get it down, and that becomes counter productive. Since you're considering other cars as far up the food chain as a McLearan, I think a V10 R8 (modded further if need be) should be on your list of potentials...I'd sell the M3 stock before you mod it and put the $ towards that!

By the way Lee, if you lived up by me I'd let you drive my 48HP beetle bug around for a couple of days...after that you may be satisfied with the stock M3 power (or even with any car that breaks the 100hp barrier )

 

You have the money for a Mclaren but want to put a supercharger on an M3 ?

Seriously ?

IMO buy a used MP4 ; a car properly designed for the horse power in all aspects.

 

There do seem to be a good number of lightly used ones around. Tempting.

 

Sorry, but you are all over the place.

Mclaren vs M3? Really? They are two totally different cars.

If you add a supercharger, no way will BMW cover your engine.

BMW won't cover your engine if you add a tune boosting 20 HP. They certainly are not going to cover the engine if you supercharge/turbo it. Nor should they.

 

Both great looking cars, but one has a back seat...a real back seat and one doesn't. If you don't care about that get the 991.

MB

 

Steve thank you for the post. As I said I have never been around a Mclaren. But thursday I will get a feel for them. I suspect it to have more HP and power than an M3. I have been reviewing Utube videos by car correspondents on the Mclaren 12C.

The M3 does not have enough power but it handles okay. I am concered the Mclaren will be to much of a cruise car. Although it appears you can set it from cruise to wild with the electronics in the car.

On your comment "no way they will cover the car under warranty" that is what the dealer said i.e. would cover the car. But what you said makes more sense to me. I may not have understood him correctly. I am not going that route anyway.

Lee

 

Smart move Lee!