 | Home > General & Technical (L663) > Cross shopping Defender vs BMW M3T |
 
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| pjm-84 Member Since: 12 Apr 2021 Location: Hampshire Posts: 662  
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Had a similar situation. P400 110 or an X545e. Both on the drive. Kept the BMW and don't regret it. Not supposed to be a reliable as the Defender but ours has not had one issue in 2.5years.
In reference to the M3 Touring - a car I've looked at as a possible replacement for my XC70. One last hurrah. However you typically lose more money on the BMW. How about the best of both worlds. V8 Defender 110? Good second hand buy at the moment |
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24th Oct 2024 4:28pm |
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| billy2shots Member Since: 23 Oct 2024 Location: England Posts: 33
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I would love a V8, well the thought of one. I know after the first month I would be fed up with fueling it and regret the choice.
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24th Oct 2024 5:44pm |
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| BrickBox Member Since: 05 Oct 2021 Location: Wales Posts: 833  
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I can’t imagine the M3 will be much better? 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
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24th Oct 2024 6:03pm |
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| Crazymind Member Since: 11 Jun 2024 Location: Glasgow Posts: 153
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I don’t see the defender V8 to be more thirsty than the M3. In the 20mpg for both, probably 15/16mpg in town the defender 18/19 the M3.
Dynamic wise no need to say the M3 will be always better. The defender is a large heavy barge and Doesn’t like to be thrown around. Needless to say it’s no sports car… The 3 Litre petrol on the defender is ok so is the 3 litre diesel. None of them will get you scream wow! I have found peace myself with buying a new defender and second hand V8 sports car. I like my driving and unfortunately the defender doesn’t really deliver. Not a surprise. It’s a superbe cruiser, great off road, great for loading and pulling trailers. The M3 touring ( drove it for 200 miles) is sharp, unexpected sharp. The driving pleasure is closer to a 911 than a bmw M! Given the choice I would only consider the defender if off road capability is needed, and it would have to be the V8. |
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24th Oct 2024 6:05pm |
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| Zed Member Since: 07 Oct 2017 Location: In the woods Posts: 3310 
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Possibly a bit above your budget but the best family car I have ever driven is the Porsche Taycan Cross, that would be my choice. Absolutely no question about it. Forget any misgivings about EV’s, it’s amazing. I urge you to take a test drive.
However between a D350 and an M3 touring I would go with the BM all day long. Apart from being lovely to drive and also very useful it does something very few new cars do, it feels special every time you start it up. WARNING. This post may contain sarcasm. |
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24th Oct 2024 6:34pm |
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| billy2shots Member Since: 23 Oct 2024 Location: England Posts: 33
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To cover a few points.
Im not considering the V8. It would be a D350. M3T can easily get 26mpg (non motorway, non dual carriageway) 9 miles drive to work (tested by me). I currently have an Ioniq5 EV. I also have my own business so have considered the Taycan cross and sport Turismo. Spoiled by choice.... |
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24th Oct 2024 6:44pm |
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| Crazymind Member Since: 11 Jun 2024 Location: Glasgow Posts: 153
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Smiles per gallon I d say M3
 my d300 does 28/30 mpg…
Taycan CT great car. It’s massive though. Bigger than the defender and wider. With a fraction of the space inside and boot. And it’s a dead horse. Depreciation is killer. M3 will not depreciate much. Defender not bad at holding value. |
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24th Oct 2024 6:51pm |
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| H1Tad Member Since: 20 Jul 2024 Location: Maine Posts: 130 
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Aren't y'all crawling with speed cameras over there? If I had an M3 (which, I never will, because I don't fit in tiny German sports sedans) then I'd be budgeting quite a bit for speeding tickets.
I think it all boils down to whether you want excitement or practicality in a vehicle. As much as a Defender can be called "practical" the M3 is even less so. The M3 really outshines the big D on driving dynamics and thats about it. Earlier in September, we just took an 36 hour (round trip) road trip in the Defender and it was a very nice place to be for hours on end. Mind you that I think my 21 year old diesel tank is the epitome of automotive experiences so I am perhaps not the most objective in this regard. 2022 Defender 110 SE P400 Tasman Blue Expedition and Cold weather package 2003 Hummer H1 P400 Firehouse Red 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser |
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24th Oct 2024 7:05pm |
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| billy2shots Member Since: 23 Oct 2024 Location: England Posts: 33
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I was just saying today, driving an M3 would almost guarantee points on license and fines for speeding.
It seems unfair to call the M3T a one trick pony but if I don't use it's main party truck, I might as well just by a lower powered 3 series touring. I officially cancelled the M3 today (madness with a 17% discount) but I don't think I would have been happy long term. My current car is fine. 2.5 years old, it's in fine condition as I've had it from new. It does the family thing fine. It really is fine. But fine is a bit meh I've done the two car things as well. My lad and I worked on an MX5 and had it as a fun weekend car. Don't really want an extra vehicle already got mine, wife's, business car so that's more than enough for servicing, taxing, mot'ing, insuring. |
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24th Oct 2024 7:15pm |
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| Moo Member Since: 01 Oct 2021 Location: UK Posts: 1398 
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Get a VW T-Cross. As far as my wife is concerned, it's all the car anyone needs!
 Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy. |
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25th Oct 2024 9:21am |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1426 
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If there's nothing between the 2 cars, I'd be asking "which is going to be easier to own?"
Which manufacturer/ dealer is going to keep you on the road when/if a problem occurs? Who is going to be able to source any parts required? Who will accept responsibility and fix it quickly? Who will take take months and give you the run around? I've no experience with BMW regarding these matters. In short, who can you rely on? Any issue that drags on longer than it should will rapidly negate any perceived small advantage of either car. Life's too short to give yourself unnecessary grief. |
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25th Oct 2024 9:33am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8050  
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I have always found the decision for which one vehicle to have very hard to make when the criteria for use is spread across such a wide range of usage criteria.
You have to prioritise your usages and determine what's essential and what's nice to have. For me essential: Family space Towing ability Nice to have: comfort Speed I can't help with your dilemma as I could never solve my own with one vehicle! I resorted to two over the years Defender and gsxrs Defender and chimera 5.0 Defender and TT Defender and RR Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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25th Oct 2024 10:49am |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3757
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Sensible head on....
2 year old Porsche Taycan Cross sport has to be a great buy at £55k to 60K its half price... Its high on my list at the moment..... Private plate looks like £100k plus car, However... I am lucky to have the choice of a few different cars in a variety of performances.. The quick ones I would not want as a daily... I end up driving them quickly and its a matter of time with all the cameras / unmarked police etc that the fun would stop. Also the ride, generally the sporty cars ride harder.. lower profile big wheels, lowered etc. Our roads are just too bad. Great for the odd sunny day I want to feel some pops and bangs etc but not a daily. I'm sure the M3 Touring would be a great car I'm just not sure where you can sensibly enjoy the performance. It would almost annoy you. Especially if with the family in they don't want to he hanging on round roundabouts etc. Also and a big one depending what you do as a family the boots are small. I manage to fill a Range Rover boot when on holidays and even with a roof box
The Defender 90% of the time will do all what the M3 does and more, it will be more relaxing to drive, you / family get a better view of the road. Its nice and big (safe), carries load of stuff. In the right spec / wheels can look quite nice. Sure there are loads of other options though. Myself I'm struggling on the new price compared to a couple of years old? The Defender I specked up not that long ago was the P400 hybrid (as I have solar and 20 miles local round would all be free...) it was close to £100K I just think that's too much... Probably why I have kept what we have an not made a change yet. They all do their own things very well and I like having the choice. Its a nice position to be in  |
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25th Oct 2024 11:18am |
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| Linds Hanson Member Since: 16 Jan 2021 Location: Cornwall Posts: 486
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M3 without question, the Defender market will literally be flooded soon and values will suffer.
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25th Oct 2024 11:33am |
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