I owned a 3.0 m3 and sold it for a 97 m 328i . I was looking for another M3 within a week - 328 lacked enjoyable power, handling etc etc. M3 evo is different again but I didn't get mine till I considered some pretty good opposition (M5, RS4/S4, 993 Porsches etc). If you can stretch to an evo, do it, you'll really enjoy it.