It's going to be a personal decision. I got the performance and no regrets. I would have regretted the LR 100%. But that's on you whether you would regret it over the extra money.
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M3P VS BMW I4 M50
- Thread starter Futur3EV
- Start date
Going to be a head and heart sort of thing. I would imagine that once I'm in the performance I would have no regrets. 2 years longer for the term but 2 more years of fun I guess.
Badge brandishing before design. You will also be in the shop four times a year in true BMW tradition.
graphic
Member
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Here's my $0.02 also. Just looking at the i4 and that 8 hour charge time is ridiculous, you will charge faster in the M3P, and get more range. You can see at 70% remaining I still have about 237 miles left. You also will have exponentially more place to charge in a Tesla. BMW 0-60 in 3.7sec is slower than my car at 0-60 in 3.1 sec.
I saw the BMW interior, it is very busy. The minimalist interior is really a relief when you own the Model 3. The technology in the Model 3 is unmatched, and it constantly gets better. I heard someone here say the Model 3 suspension is trash...don't believe that, the suspension is perfect unless you want to take your car to the track. For everyday commuting I have had no problems with the suspension.
Your car will retain it's value. You will have no problem reselling your Model 3P if you plan on upgrading, I'm not sure about BMW resell value, but I did wreck my first M3 Rear wheel drive and retained almost all the value. Here is my car (2021 M3P red/white interior):
My generic thoughts:
*Before now* (important emphasis) the trick - mine, anyway - was to buy 5- or 6-year-old BMWs with maybe 60K miles on them. At that point they're 15-18K, and all the models are roughly the same price (i.e. the prices of a 325 and a 740 are very close).
They last years and years, and they're really great cars. My other car is a 2004 X5 that I bought in 2009 for $17K - the low-end price of an economy car.
The only caveat is that you need a very good mechanic who specializes in the cars - and we do. If not you'll either have to go to a dealer ($$$$$) or have it fixed by people who don't have the special computer hookups, and equally importantly who don't know things like which aftermarket parts are okay and which will fail. That will end up costing you more. How do I know that?
So what's changed?
1. Tesla, specifically the Model 3 at its price, is ahead of everyone right now. The X5 was the best-driving car I'd ever driven, but the Tesla is in another league. It is SO much fun to drive. (I do expect other manufacturers to catch up, though.)
2. EVs in general are changing everything, from the logistics of charging for both short and long trips to maintenance.
boriszima
Member
I have AWD LR for 3 years and love it. I drove my friends Performance model 3 for a little bit. Its the same but faster taking off. Maybe a ride a bit harsher as it has 20 inch wheels vs 19, he had not issues with bent rims but he lives in nice posh place where roads are maintained. Tesla does offer boost or whatever its called to lower 0-60 of AWS LR Model 3 to be closer to Performance.
Also keep in mind, you are asking here about BWM performance (rival) to Tesla model 3 performance, what kind of answer do you expect? Have you posted similar question on BWM forums? If you can and want to afford higher $ and want more speed (no other interior differences), sure. Check insurance in your neck of the woods, now it might be more expensive to insure performance vs others model 3 due to VIN being unique
Only caution I give you is don't expect the software features to be reliable. The software upgradability the car has with Tesla's OTA update history is great, but sometimes I feel like they need to focus on making what the car already does work better. Years later I am still suffering from blacked out side cameras when reversing more than 75% of the time, summon that works maybe 20% of the time, autopark that works maybe 30% of the time, Spotify issues that prevent me changing the station for the first few minutes of a drive probably 25% of the time. All somewhat minor things, but overtime it gets irritating. All focus seems to be on FSD now.
I am seriously looking at the i4 now, but it is mostly out of frustration with the Tesla build quality than anything else.
I am seriously looking at the i4 now, but it is mostly out of frustration with the Tesla build quality than anything else.
MaskedRacerX
Member
This is an excellent way to put it. There's a really simplistic elegance with the Tesla interior, it removes a lot of visual noise - tons of visible vents, buttons, dials, etc., doesn't feel more luxurious, it feels dated.
As a 2021 M3P owner I second everything above. The M3P launches notably harder, pulls harder at lower speeds, but that's it performance-wise. Acceleration from highway speeds feels about the same.
I'm pretty sure 2021 M3P suspension is about the same as 2021 M3LR. The different feel is right in line with the different wheels+tires, nothing more. Wheels and tires can be changed easy-peasy.
The M3P 235/35R20 setup with cast wheels is rather ridiculous. Fine for smooth roads, but I promise you big Tesla cast wheels + rubberband tires means cracked wheels on bad roads. I know from the original 245/35R21 setup on my S P85, and many others have reported the same thing. I ordered smaller wheels for my M3P before I even picked up the car.
There is really one unique, special thing about the M3P: Track Mode. If that's not a selling point to you, and you don't live life a quarter mile at a time, then honestly the M3LR is a better buy. (If you do live life 1/4 mile at a time, by all means feel free to get the M3P for that alone!)
The M3P bigger brakes with two-piece rotors are nice too. That was also a selling point to me. Brakes can be upgraded though. There is no upgrade path to Track Mode.
Sorry, I meant we do have a good mechanic.
That made it sound like I'm promoting my garage, when I'm 100% not a mechanic.
Bmw seems to have the nicer interior, is quicker than the 3P only when doing something like 0 -200 km, can be ordered with 18 inch wheels and Is more quiet.
Tesla has better charging, better range, better software. Probably best to spend less on an electric car now as things keep improving lots.
Tesla has better charging, better range, better software. Probably best to spend less on an electric car now as things keep improving lots.
From a dig, i bet the M3P will be ahead of the i4 to 200km/h.
ODWms
Member
BMW I4 0-60 appears to be 3.7 seconds according to Car And Driver. Nowhere close to where it needs to be to compete with acceleration of M3P, especially considering its instant torque advantage.
thesmokingman
Active Member
I rode in a X4 m40i and found it kind of miserable. The back seat was horrendous and I sat there thinking to myself this thing is the same cost as a MYP, unbelievable! It was a friends car he just got for his wife... I had to bite my tongue. This is not exactly the same as the OP's situation but I dare say I would be similarly unimpressed with the i4.
A gas Macan I tested recently was horribly boring. Interior was cramped for its class too and in desperate need of a refresh. It was only the 4cyl base model though, they had nothing else to available.
I'll admit the Macan suspension tuning was quite good for a crossover, so maybe a good EV drivetrain would wake up the chassis...
TexasTezla
Member
I'll keep my money on the pioneers, not those desperately playing catch up. BMW et al wouldn't even be looking at electric so hard if it wasn't for Tesla...
ODWms
Member
JustJohn
Member
BMW is not playing catch up. I drove an i3 for several years as a "transitional" vehicle for several years with zero issues. I would have bought the i4M if they had done a better job with range. If anything, I think BMW has misread the market for electric vehicles in spite of having years of experience with electric drivetrains. The i3 was a great car and was everything I needed it to be - except visually appealing as a car.
