Ironman88

Well, if there is any good news with fuel pump going bad, at least it's not too expensive to address on the zhp. If that had occurred on a 997.2 - it would cost you 8X as much.

snethss

Cars approaching 15+ years are going to need a lot of upkeep regardless of make. I wouldn't want to juggle aging vehicles.
Porsche bubble seems more stable than the BMW bubble. More than a decade of serious quality issues is starting to wear on the BMW brand. Sure, Porsche has problems, but they only impact a small portion of owners.

jayzbird

Have you considered jumping to an e9x M3? I have one of those along with a 997.2 TT, both coupes, and yet they could not be more different and sublime in their own ways. The sound of that 8500 RPM v8 is intoxicating.

Glyndellis

And the fuel pump swap in a ZHP takes about 30 minutes.

Rodie

I'm with a previous poster here -- I think you need to swap both Bimmers for an E46 M3 convertible to have best of all worlds (my previous car was an E46 M3 before I got the 997 so have at least driven both.)

• The 997 should be equal to or greater than the E46 M3 from a performance standpoint. (if you want performance, I'm thinking you're more likely to grab the keys to the 997 when you want to scratch that itch. Perhaps even if it's only that is newer to you.)
• Sounds like most of your problems with the M3 as a DD is related to non-stock parts of aftermarket additions. I'm not 100% sure here, but I didn't have a problem DD'ing my M3 at all but your tastes may be different.
• Not sure if your M3 is an SMG or Manual -- I had an SMG and always longed for a manual. If you're in that boat -- make the change.
• Seems like keeping the 330 is both it's capability as a DD and the fact that it is a convertible. I would think you could get both in a stock 'vert M3 of the same era.

All that said, the downside seems to be that both BMW's are properly sorted out, and as mentioned that is no small thing. If I had to choose between the two -- I'd keep the 330 and sell the M3. If there was not 997 involved, I'd keep the M3 for sure. Since there is, I don't see anything you're going to get from the M3 couple that you wouldn't from the 997 coupe. If the years/mileage are similar, the M3 will fetch more and you'd have you DD/convertible in the 330 regardless.

Good luck with your first world problem!
Rodie

Full Boost

All i will say - is that my s54 swapped e30 is an intoxicating drive.

That 5-8K RPM sound = OMG.

M3 ALLLLLLLLL day!

Nosubstitute531

My m3 is a manual ... only issue was that when I bought the car, it came with a horrendous lightweight flywheel and spring clutch which ruined the car for me. That being said, I’ve decided to change the flywheel and clutch back to stock in the car ... I drove the car hard yesterday and no matter how badly I want to keep a convertible, I just don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over ....

Nosubstitute531

THIS.. s54 with headers and a full borla exhaust ... my car sounds like a CSL....

I plan on getting my 997 with jake Raby stage two engine in the next two weeks. Will post my decision soon. Stay tuned.

Nosubstitute531

unfortunately I can’t afford to do that lol. Spent all my saved up car money in buying a what I think and hope to be ... the perfect 997.

Steve 911

I have stock exhaust and headers, but mine sounds very close to a CSL...

loungin

Good for you. 8k redline ftw!

Ohio Performance

The free tunes along with the pretty much unlimited DME programming makes the M3 worth it to keep. Hell the SMG free upgrade makes it a great transmission.

it took me about 4 different throttle maps to get my gas pedal the way I wanted. Miss that car but not the subframe.