Hey everyone, first post. I did my browsing on here and found this forum to be quite helpful, however I just wanted to ask a few questions. I'm a very active member on many m3 forums so I did search and read all the stickies and such.

Currently, I own a modded 2004 BMW e46 M3 and love it. Had it for a little over a year and has always been my dream car. Now that I have it and put so much into it, it's starting to become a garage queen and I'm almost too nervous to drive it haha. It's a blast, but I have been tossing around the idea of getting something a bit more practical, but still has that great look and fun factor. Want something that I still care about, but won't worry about driving it in the rain, bad weather, or too nervous to drive/park it through a sketchy town. In other words, something I can drive year round.

I have always been a HUGE fan of the JEEP SRT8's since they came into production so when I thought of getting something different, the SRT8 came to mind. The thought of being able to throw my snowboards in the back and head up to the mountains and versatility of the JEEP really has me thinking. It's fast, looks great, and versatile.

Enough of what you already know. I just wanted to get your take on what you think. I know this will be a very biased answer since I am on a Jeep SRT8 forum haha, but want some honest opinions. What kind of reliability do the SRT8's have? Any known issues? I do most of the work myself to cars, unless it's a big fix, so what kind of pricing are services and such (dealership and DIY). What should I be looking for when looking for one? Feedback on selling m3 for an SRT8?

Any help is appreciated and hope to recieve some helpful advice. Thanks in advance!

If you are that worried about where you park your M3. Skip the srt8 and just get a regular 4X4 to take on ski trips and sketchy parts of towns.

If you are that worried about where you park your M3. Skip the srt8 and just get a regular 4X4 to take on ski trips and sketchy parts of towns.

Thanks for the input. I mean I am careful where I park any of my cars, but I wouldn't feel as worried or vunerable with the srt8, even though it's a beautiful vehicle. I would keep the SRT8 relatively stock. I just want something fun because I know if I go from an M3 to a normal cherokee or something, I know I'll regret it. SRT8 on the other hand I will have a hard time regretting the switch.

They are a great car, but they do get a lot of attention. People walk right past my brother's Z06 vette to check out my jeep when I'm visiting him.

Quick list of things to look out for.

1. Inner front tire wear if still using stock goodyears.

2. vibration when driving 70 MPH

3. brake squeel.

4. any trans slipping shifting gears during WOT

5. transfer case noise.

Welcome to the site and good luck on your search.

They are a great car, but they do get a lot of attention. People walk right past my brother's Z06 vette to check out my jeep when I'm visiting him.

Quick list of things to look out for.

1. Inner front tire wear if still using stock goodyears.

2. vibration when driving 70 MPH

3. brake squeel.

4. any trans slipping shifting gears during WOT

5. transfer case noise.

Welcome to the site and good luck on your search.

Thanks for the welcome as well as the advice. I will be sure to keep these in mind.

Any other feedback is welcomed!

I was in a parking lot with a friend and his fresh of the lot '10 S5, two ladies walked by and said "that is the sexiest black car we have seen...... EVER!" He smiles big and puffs out his chest and says "thank's" to which they reply "not the Audi, the Jeep!". So yes the SRT-8 garners major attention. I park my '10 as far away from any one in the parking lots as possible. While the beast is by far even with the crapyears on it one of the best vehicles I've driven in the snow (born and raised in Alaska, 27 yr snow res.) it has major drawbacks. The front bumper is a snow plow in its own right due to how low it is and when you plow wet snow that has froze...... it's a very tidy repair bill. In my opinion you cannot escape the mod bug with this vehicle, its just to damn fun! If you are at all worried about gas mileage then keep on moving. If it was me, Id buy the Jeep, but that is a biased opinion. If it was an E92 M3 then that would be a tougher choice. I suggest you find one on a lot and drive it before making up your mind. Just make sure if you catch a red light to drop it in first and when it turns green to push the pedal ALL the way to the floor, I guarantee you will be sold at that point. I was. Good luck Bro!

Thanks a lot for the response. There is no question that the SRT8 gets attention or not. I am aware that it is an eye catcher. It's not really the attention I am concerned with. Personally, I love the attention I get in my m3 so I am used to it. I just have been thinking of the idea of hopping into one for the freedom of being able to drive it during the whole year. The M stays garaged and only sees nice days and weather.

I plan on taking a few SRT8's for a test drive to see if it's something I am interested in. I know it's a quick ride for sure. Thanks again for you input!

Keep the M3 and get the SRT8.

I had an 06 e46 with a vortech charger, and a 07 laredo, i ended up just like you the m3 was always in the garage but when i drove it i loved it. One night i decided why not have a daily driver that i want to drive every day. So i ended up selling them both a few months ago and got a new 09 srt-8 and haven't looked back. The M3 was awesome and was my dream car but i have to say i would never go back. With BMW you do get the great service, but also they're are so damn expensive when they broke my smg pump was 5 grand alone with install, thanks vortech.....

The Jeep overall feels like it has so much more balls than the M did, when it comes to handling its hard to beat the M, but i have to say i was overly impressed by the jeep. It handles so much better than i thought it would. And when it comes to looks when you pull up to someone in the jeep its like a lost stare, seems like they're thinking "what the f*#k is that" and then you just blow em away. So like i said the M was awesome, but i'd never go back.

I had an 06 e46 with a vortech charger, and a 07 laredo, i ended up just like you the m3 was always in the garage but when i drove it i loved it. One night i decided why not have a daily driver that i want to drive every day. So i ended up selling them both a few months ago and got a new 09 srt-8 and haven't looked back. The M3 was awesome and was my dream car but i have to say i would never go back. With BMW you do get the great service, but also they're are so damn expensive when they broke my smg pump was 5 grand alone with install, thanks vortech.....

The Jeep overall feels like it has so much more balls than the M did, when it comes to handling its hard to beat the M, but i have to say i was overly impressed by the jeep. It handles so much better than i thought it would. And when it comes to looks when you pull up to someone in the jeep its like a lost stare, seems like they're thinking "what the f*#k is that" and then you just blow em away. So like i said the M was awesome, but i'd never go back.

Well said. Not sure how modified your M is freak86, but my intention was similar to Maraland's - that is, keep the M3 and have the srt for the daily. It took no time to totally fall in love with the jeep (actually, I was in love before I ever drove one) - it doesn't help that the M3 has low torque (well, flat torque spread across high rpms, but still...). Anyway the M3 mostly sat, so it just didn't make sense to keep her. On nice days when I could drive the M, I chose the srt keys instead.

The jeep will fit your needs nicely. You read stories all the time of people leaving dirty dipers, keying, etc. M's all the time - in addition to the general opinion that you are automatically another pompous jerk in a BMW mentality. Which is why I only drove it to the drags, sometimes office, and car meets. Although I do the same with the Jeep, I have less fear of vandilism with it should I take it anywhere else. Like Maryland, I haven't looked back yet.

I do the majority of work to the jeep, never laid a hand on the M primarily because the "free" maintenance covered it. But also glad I sold it before the warranty ran out as the complexity of the smg system scared me. The jeep compared to the BMW is cake to work on. BHS did most of the upgrades on the BMW, but I was able to do headers on the jeep myself as a point of reference. Good luck on your decision!

Keep the M3 and buy a beater.

I had an 06 e46 with a vortech charger, and a 07 laredo, i ended up just like you the m3 was always in the garage but when i drove it i loved it. One night i decided why not have a daily driver that i want to drive every day. So i ended up selling them both a few months ago and got a new 09 srt-8 and haven't looked back. The M3 was awesome and was my dream car but i have to say i would never go back. With BMW you do get the great service, but also they're are so damn expensive when they broke my smg pump was 5 grand alone with install, thanks vortech.....

The Jeep overall feels like it has so much more balls than the M did, when it comes to handling its hard to beat the M, but i have to say i was overly impressed by the jeep. It handles so much better than i thought it would. And when it comes to looks when you pull up to someone in the jeep its like a lost stare, seems like they're thinking "what the f*#k is that" and then you just blow em away. So like i said the M was awesome, but i'd never go back.

Thanks so much for the response. It's nice to hear someone that was in the same position as I am in now. I got to head out and take a few test drives in the Jeep to see if it's something I want to do. The M3 is a great car and has been a dream to own one, I am just trying to think what would be more beneficial to me in the long run and what would be better for my needs.

M3's are on the higher end to maintain, but I do most, if not all, the work myself so it's not too crazy. I enjoy working on the car, so that's not a big issue. SMG pumps, Vano Bolts, all that does get expensive when you take it to the stealer, but I don't take my cars to dealerships.

Anyway, thanks again for the response. You got me thinking more now haha.

Well said. Not sure how modified your M is freak86, but my intention was similar to Maraland's - that is, keep the M3 and have the srt for the daily. It took no time to totally fall in love with the jeep (actually, I was in love before I ever drove one) - it doesn't help that the M3 has low torque (well, flat torque spread across high rpms, but still...). Anyway the M3 mostly sat, so it just didn't make sense to keep her. On nice days when I could drive the M, I chose the srt keys instead.

The jeep will fit your needs nicely. You read stories all the time of people leaving dirty dipers, keying, etc. M's all the time - in addition to the general opinion that you are automatically another pompous jerk in a BMW mentality. Which is why I only drove it to the drags, sometimes office, and car meets. Although I do the same with the Jeep, I have less fear of vandilism with it should I take it anywhere else. Like Maryland, I haven't looked back yet.

I do the majority of work to the jeep, never laid a hand on the M primarily because the "free" maintenance covered it. But also glad I sold it before the warranty ran out as the complexity of the smg system scared me. The jeep compared to the BMW is cake to work on. BHS did most of the upgrades on the BMW, but I was able to do headers on the jeep myself as a point of reference. Good luck on your decision!

Thanks bud! My M is pretty highly modded so it's got 10K+ worth of mods on there at the moment. Brands from Vorsteiner, Supersprint, all the way to KW coilovers. It's an amazing car with everythning had done to it, so I know it would be very hard to part with. I've wanted it ever since I was a kid and saved for a while for it and finally got it, so it's tough to say after 1.5 years I am thinking of getting rid of it, you know?

Thanks for the response though. It's nice to hear people in the same category and know what I am going through. I will be sure to do more research and see what I could possibly be getting myself in to.

If it were possible, I would love to keep the m3 and get the srt8, but not it's just not in the budget for me at the moment. We'll see though.

Thanks again everyone for their input. Any more feedback is welcomed.

Still waiting to hear the reliability of these trucks. I know Jeeps have a great reputation, but just want to know in the long term how it is. Thanks.

I plan on buying the WK2 SRT8 flat out, and then getting a loan for a used E92 M3. you can pick them up around $40k right now with good options... in a few years they'll be down to $30k... M3's that is.

I plan on buying the WK2 SRT8 flat out, and then getting a loan for a used E92 M3. you can pick them up around $40k right now with good options... in a few years they'll be down to $30k... M3's that is.

That'll be a nice combo. I want to see the next gen M3 turbocharged like the rumors I hear! Keep my 07 and pick up a turbo M3 after the bugs are worked out.

I plan on buying the WK2 SRT8 flat out, and then getting a loan for a used E92 M3. you can pick them up around $40k right now with good options... in a few years they'll be down to $30k... M3's that is.

Yeah the newer e9x m3's are in the mid to upper 40's fully loaded pretty much right now. It'll be in the 30's very soon though.

That'll be a nice combo. I want to see the next gen M3 turbocharged like the rumors I hear! Keep my 07 and pick up a turbo M3 after the bugs are worked out.

Im curious how the new 2012 m3's are going to be. The e46 was the last true M car, so we'll see what happens.

How'd the test drives go?

I have about 25k on the odometer, so I can't really comment on reliability just yet... But at least a couple on here pushing near or over the 100k mark without drama, at various levels of power adders.

How'd the test drives go?

I have about 25k on the odometer, so I can't really comment on reliability just yet... But at least a couple on here pushing near or over the 100k mark without drama, at various levels of power adders.

I never got a chance to go test any yet. Got snow today and was busy all day long so never got a chance to head to the Jeep dealer. Going snowboarding next weekend as well, so maybe someday during the week if I can find some time.

Thanks for the input! Glad to hear these cars can handle a tremendous amount of power and still be reliable.

Here is what I am thinking. Order a new M3 vert for ED in a couple of months. As soon as the M3 is stateside, sell the Jeep SRT8 and drive the M3 vert. A month before the snow hits buy the 2012 Jeep Srt8.

Why not have both? Best of both worlds.

With the residuals on the BMW lease and the actual resale of the Jeep SRT8. The cost of owning both is not nearly as much as one would think.

Here is what I am thinking. Order a new M3 vert for ED in a couple of months. As soon as the M3 is stateside, sell the Jeep SRT8 and drive the M3 vert. A month before the snow hits buy the 2012 Jeep Srt8.

Why not have both? Best of both worlds.

With the residuals on the BMW lease and the actual resale of the Jeep SRT8. The cost of owning both is not nearly as much as one would think.

Thanks for your opinion, but I do not own an SRT8 at the moment, just the m3. Also, I would never own a vert m3 haha. Not an m3 in my opinion. However, my financial situation wont allow me to do that. As great as that sounds, it's not in the budget at the moment since I am house hunting at the moment with the fiance so I can't just start throwing money at cars. Thanks for the feedback though!

^ A house is always more important than a car.

I was looking at a 335xi before the Jeep. The Jeep has EXCELLENT resale value. It actually costs less to own (not including gas) than a Camry.

The residual on the M3 vert is 67% and combined with ED is a great deal right now.

^ A house is always more important than a car.

I was looking at a 335xi before the Jeep. The Jeep has EXCELLENT resale value. It actually costs less to own (not including gas) than a Camry.

The residual on the M3 vert is 67% and combined with ED is a great deal right now.

I agree! Thats always good to know about the resale. Definitely food for thought.

i have a 01 m3 , and a 08 jeep srt8. best of both. i could not let the m3 go.

i have a 01 m3 , and a 08 jeep srt8. best of both. i could not let the m3 go.

Thanks for the feedback! I decided to keep the M and just wait until I can pick up an SRT8 as well. I couldn't part with the M after everything I've done to it and the feeling it gives me. I think I started thinking about the idea of selling it for a Jeep was because I kept the M stored for a while and haven't driven it much due to the weather and it got me thinking. I took it out last week for a drive and a photoshoot and made me fall in love with it again.

Thanks for the input everyone!