[drand]

After doing European Delivery on my 135 and M235 I was next on the list for an ED allocation for a M2 but about 6 months before my lease was up the dealership told me there was no way I was going to get one that year. In trying to decide what to drive next I happened to stop by the Mercedes dealership and test drove the C63S and I fell in love and bought one the following weekend.

In warm, dry weather the C63 was perfect. Whereas my impression of the current gen M4 is that it is technically very good, there was nothing inspiring about it and the C63 was the exact opposite. It was gorgeous, both interior and exterior, the sound was great and the engine was amazing.

Problem number 1 is that it didn't have a wet mode and 503 hp/516 lb torque with summer tires is way too much on wet, cold days. I made the mistake of not getting all season tires last winter and found even if I was very careful and only ever used 10% of the throttle I would still spin the tires several times a week.

Now 18 months in I had 24,000 miles on it and was looking at having to replace the brake pads for $1,200 (and if I followed the dealership's recommendation replacing the rotors for an extra $2,800) and a $2,000 service at 30,000 miles.

I have been trying to figure out what to do for the last month. Somehow the existence of X3 M40 was something I totally missed. I saw one a couple of weeks ago and did some research on Tuesday. I went to the dealership, test drove it and got it then. While it was sad to see it go, I really love the X3. I has all of the things I loved about my 135 & M235 and yet is more poised and comfortable. It carries over one of the aspects of the C63 that I really like in that has more of a GT feel to it when you are just cruising on the freeway.

I want to thank everyone here because it was a lot of the comments that I saw on this forum that really led me to go straight to the dealership and test drive it. You all helped me save $12,000-15,000 over the next 18 months and still put me in a car that is practically just as fast as my AMG on a cold, wet day!

[yllwwgn]

Dude congrats! It’s fantastic that you’re able to enjoy the X3 in so many ways... it’s what I tell all my car enthusiasts friends all the time... it’s greater than just the sum of all of its parts on paper. It was the test drive that got me 👍.

[MechX3M40i]

Welcome to the X3 family! In addition to the GT feel while cruising, you may find the practicality and utility of owning a X3 M40i satisfying. You can take it to the track one day, and carry all the things you bought from Home Depot the next. Enjoy the ride!

[m235hou]

Awesome choice (though I'm biased )
I've had mine for a week and love it