What is your opinion on BMW M3's (2001 - 2006)?

Ok, not me but my friend in CA had that car. I didn’t like the way the M3 handled being driven up those curvy hillside roads at fast speed. It felt unstable. However, that car saved his and his wife’s lives. They were waiting for a green light when a huge truck with a sleepy driver totally slams at them from behind. Total wreck yet the hospital released them that same day. BMW’s got brute strength.

@mazingerz88 – Thanks for you reply. Was your friends a convertible or a hardtop?

@ffsc It’s a hardtop.

You might try the various BMW enthusiast forums and club web sites, which are full of people’s opinions and experiences.

A non-M 3-series will tend to be less expensive to buy and maintain.

My older (e30) 325 saved my life about 3 times by being so well balanced and maneuverable, and it survived two collisions very well.

I had a buddy with one, it was an 03 (I think) in the Laguna Seca blue. It was a hardtop.
That car was a beast. He drove that thing like it was stolen, hard acceleration, sharp cornering, the whole deal and he never had any issues with it. It’s naturally aspirated so you don’t get the turbo issues, and the car is built to be driven hard. It looked like a lot of fun, but he never let anyone drive it so I can’t speak from direct experience.