E36 M3 Vs. E46 M3
Discussion
Stedman said:
No! It's not another what car thread-HORRAY!
But.
Which one is the better drive? I swear i've seen people say the E46 is a much purer drive than the E36.
This thread is only to sort out me and my friends differing opinions
Thanks.
Out the box is has to be the E46, no question. But with a few tried and tested tweeks I much prefer the E36, seems to respond better to mods, not to mention much cheaper to mod But.
Which one is the better drive? I swear i've seen people say the E46 is a much purer drive than the E36.
This thread is only to sort out me and my friends differing opinions
Thanks.
I find it rawer (in a good way), better driving position (E46 you sit too hight), the steering feels much more direct (again with a few changes).
Edited by scz4 on Thursday 17th December 12:47
Should be a bit of a 'No Brainer' really!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Although i guess if you havn't got more than £10K to spend on an M3, you may well say its the E36 !
(cant ever recall reading a review where the E36 came out as the 'Better' car!)
ps, i have had both, they are both magnificent, it is just one is more magnificent than the other!
Although i guess if you havn't got more than £10K to spend on an M3, you may well say its the E36 !
(cant ever recall reading a review where the E36 came out as the 'Better' car!)
ps, i have had both, they are both magnificent, it is just one is more magnificent than the other!
As others have said, from what I've read the E46 is a much better car than the E36 out of the box.
I may be wrong but I seam to remember one of the race series gave the E46 M3 a power to weight advantage over the E36 M3, not a lot if I remember correctly it was 10bhp/ton so when track prepared they must be very similar.
I'm seriously tempted to build an E36 3.0 track car in the near future,
Daz4m what made you think the Evo was much better than the 3.0 M3?
I wouldn't touch another evo, last one spun a shell on the bottom end, then I replaced the vanos on the replacement engine and shortly after the replacement engine spun a shell. Both of these problems seam more common on the Evo than the earlier cars.
I may be wrong but I seam to remember one of the race series gave the E46 M3 a power to weight advantage over the E36 M3, not a lot if I remember correctly it was 10bhp/ton so when track prepared they must be very similar.
I'm seriously tempted to build an E36 3.0 track car in the near future,
Daz4m what made you think the Evo was much better than the 3.0 M3?
I wouldn't touch another evo, last one spun a shell on the bottom end, then I replaced the vanos on the replacement engine and shortly after the replacement engine spun a shell. Both of these problems seam more common on the Evo than the earlier cars.
Check out my site as I have reviews on both.
Personally, I think the E46 is far superior and has some of the handling qualities of the E30. The E36 is a very refined car, quiet in comparison with the others, light but precise steering and well put together.
The E46 is a monster in comparison, the power is delivered in a much harsher way and the acceleration is more brutal than natural as in the E36.
Performance and handling goes to the E46.
The E36 looks a bit dated now especially the interior.
A nice E36 is still around £6k and a decent E46 is around £14k. Running costs are similar if kept up to scratch but the E46 has less costly items for serious repair e.g. vanos and gear box in E36 Evo.
The E46 CSL is fantastic and the E36 won't even come into thought when you're in one of those. Would prefer a manual though.
Personally, I think the E46 is far superior and has some of the handling qualities of the E30. The E36 is a very refined car, quiet in comparison with the others, light but precise steering and well put together.
The E46 is a monster in comparison, the power is delivered in a much harsher way and the acceleration is more brutal than natural as in the E36.
Performance and handling goes to the E46.
The E36 looks a bit dated now especially the interior.
A nice E36 is still around £6k and a decent E46 is around £14k. Running costs are similar if kept up to scratch but the E46 has less costly items for serious repair e.g. vanos and gear box in E36 Evo.
The E46 CSL is fantastic and the E36 won't even come into thought when you're in one of those. Would prefer a manual though.
Am I reading that right FastGerman.....that you think the E36 is quiet and refined?
My own experience is that the E36 Evo has a less refined chassis than the E46 BUT the E46 does seem to suffer from body roll that I don't remember the Evo having.
The E46 engine is a bit better I found too, but probably there isn't a lot in it performance wise that can't be covered up by driver ability...or inability for that matter!
Have to say that the E36 looks very dated internally and externally...and the E46 is starting to look dated externally.
My own experience is that the E36 Evo has a less refined chassis than the E46 BUT the E46 does seem to suffer from body roll that I don't remember the Evo having.
The E46 engine is a bit better I found too, but probably there isn't a lot in it performance wise that can't be covered up by driver ability...or inability for that matter!
Have to say that the E36 looks very dated internally and externally...and the E46 is starting to look dated externally.
Edited by Piscean57 on Thursday 17th December 21:14
fastgerman said:
The E46 is a monster in comparison, the power is delivered in a much harsher way and the acceleration is more brutal than natural as in the E36.
Wouldn't agree with that statement. Also my current Evo is considerably louder than my E46 was as well. To be fair it isnt standard but the E46 from memory seemed pretty quite once warmed up, sounded fantastic with the windows down during tunnel blasts etc though
IMO
The E46 is a great car, modern inside, stiff, powerfull with all the right toys, sounds and technology, but I still sold it and went back to my favored E36 Evo.
More old school, but more practical than and E30, it seems nimbler around the country lanes and more up to the task on a trackday.
The E46 felt a bit to powerfull and big on the country lanes, though im sure theres not much real difference. The traction control anoyed me too, as it was allows interfering, especially when powering out infront on traffic from a junction for example.
The running costs were higher for the e46 too ;0(
Still love the e46 as a car, and if id never had a e36 to compar it against, my feelings my lean more towards the e46, but as it happens im still firmly in the e36 camp.
But must add I do miss the rasp of the motor when booting it, as it could really hawl, but how often do you get to drive on the edge.
The E46 is a great car, modern inside, stiff, powerfull with all the right toys, sounds and technology, but I still sold it and went back to my favored E36 Evo.
More old school, but more practical than and E30, it seems nimbler around the country lanes and more up to the task on a trackday.
The E46 felt a bit to powerfull and big on the country lanes, though im sure theres not much real difference. The traction control anoyed me too, as it was allows interfering, especially when powering out infront on traffic from a junction for example.
The running costs were higher for the e46 too ;0(
Still love the e46 as a car, and if id never had a e36 to compar it against, my feelings my lean more towards the e46, but as it happens im still firmly in the e36 camp.
But must add I do miss the rasp of the motor when booting it, as it could really hawl, but how often do you get to drive on the edge.
Edited by MPWR321BHP on Friday 18th December 11:15
I find the E46 to be a better handler than the E36. It also seems to hang on a little longer before it slides.
The E46 feels a fair bit quicker in a straight line than a standard 3.0, but a good evo doesn't feel very much slower at all (by good, the Evo I tried had a few mods, so slightly unfair comparison really).
The E36 feels like it's built of iron compared to the E46 which somehow feels more hollow.
The E46 feels a fair bit quicker in a straight line than a standard 3.0, but a good evo doesn't feel very much slower at all (by good, the Evo I tried had a few mods, so slightly unfair comparison really).
The E36 feels like it's built of iron compared to the E46 which somehow feels more hollow.
The E46 is the better car but that’s to be expected as it's much newer.
The E36 is still very capable and there isn't much in it's price bracket that will provide comparable performance.
It's a testament to the design of the car that it's endured so well 10 years after the last one was sold.
The E36 is still very capable and there isn't much in it's price bracket that will provide comparable performance.
It's a testament to the design of the car that it's endured so well 10 years after the last one was sold.
E36 -
personally I found the EVO a bit 'dull' it gave good grip, and was a fine car for munching distance over A roads, but no great shakes on twisties.
strangely I seem to recall the earlier 3.0 as being much more lively and feeling more direct but then it was a long time ago I owned one and perhaps because it was my first 'M' I loved it regardless!!
E46 -
beats the drive of an E36 all round. The engine is a peach too, and that all adds to the experience!
personally I found the EVO a bit 'dull' it gave good grip, and was a fine car for munching distance over A roads, but no great shakes on twisties.
strangely I seem to recall the earlier 3.0 as being much more lively and feeling more direct but then it was a long time ago I owned one and perhaps because it was my first 'M' I loved it regardless!!
E46 -
beats the drive of an E36 all round. The engine is a peach too, and that all adds to the experience!
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