E46 M3 v E92 M3

[scarebus]

ArmaghMan said:

Anyone moved from E39 M5 to E9x M3.
I'm thinking about letting the M5 go and getting a nice V8 M3 saloon,
Is the 4 litre the same or do you have to really rev it?

The M5 does have more low down torque than the M3, but the m3 is not really lacking (as I found out on my first roundabout in the wet in third gear). The top end is so much nicer, giving the car a real dual personality...

[Wills2]

thepony said:

Anyone on here that has driven both - can they tell me

which sounds louder/nicer at 8000rpm?
what do they think of the interiors how they compare?
which they think is better looking?
will either "regular" E46 M3 CS / E92 M3 Competition Package - will they be regarded as future classics in 20-30 years to come as E46 is last of NA straight six / E92 is last NA V8?
how they compare to drive?

I have been looking for a nice E46 M3 (CS/CSL) with sensible budget 20-30k but could get a used E92 for that. Please help. Thanks very much.

I've had a e46 M3 and 2 e92s, in answer to your questions.

1. Both are great sounding in and around 8k, I'll just give it to the V8 on a points decision due to the frenetic way it zooms to the red line over the last 2k accompanied by huge induction roar and mechanical thrash.
2. Many think the e46 and e39 were the pinnacle of BMW interior design, the e92 is a bit boring IMHO.
3. Very subjective only you can say that.
4. I doubt it, too many built perhaps in 30 years when they have all been scrapped but you won't have it then will you?
5. The CP e92 is a better steer than the early e92 in my opinion the e46 feels lighter on its feet than both, the e92 can feel heavy but gets on its toes as the speed rises and if you grab it by the scruff of the neck it's very biddable.

I'd go with a CSL special/won't lose money etc...

Edited by Wills2 on Friday 18th April 16:56

[cerb4.5lee]

ArmaghMan said:

Anyone moved from E39 M5 to E9x M3.
I'm thinking about letting the M5 go and getting a nice V8 M3 saloon, but I drove a couple of E46 M3s and was totally underwhelmed. If you were prepared to rev them to the limit then they sounded great and really went, but the 5 was just so much more me, just floor it any gear, any speed and it delivered.
Is the 4 litre the same or do you have to really rev it?

I was a little underwhelmed buy the E46 M3 as well I felt it just lacked a little something in the mid range, I had my E92 M3 as a daily for 10k miles over 10 months and in my opinion it doesn't make for an exciting car in the daily grind it only really feels quick once above 6k revs and its not easy to exploit what its good at.

It is a comfortable place to be and the induction noise is very nice but with the windows up the car sounds very muted but for me the reward you get back from it doesn't warrant the fuel costs and overall running costs, for me something like a M235i would reward for more of the time as a daily driver.

Plenty of owners love them as a do it all car but for me there isn't such a thing, the M3 will reward if you rev the backside off it and hang onto the limiter but that isn't always that practical on our road network.

[Captainawesome]

E46 m3 mid range issues are easily sorted by an evolve remap. Had mine done recently and although only gaining 13th the way the car drives has been transformed. Much better low down. May have got carried away and order a supersprint exhaust and carbon airbox whilst I was there. 500 quid for the map but we'll worth it.

[jon-]

Captainawesome said:

E46 m3 mid range issues are easily sorted by an evolve remap. Had mine done recently and although only gaining 13th the way the car drives has been transformed. Much better low down. May have got carried away and order a supersprint exhaust and carbon airbox whilst I was there. 500 quid for the map but we'll worth it.

A 4.1 rear diff will have it pegging an e9x M3 up to about 130...

[v8m3]

having owned many e46m3s and 17 e30 m3s and now an e90 m3 I have plenty of knowledge on driving these cars firstly I would say I have never found an e46 m3 impressive but when I sold one I just had to scratch that itch again, it was only when I tracked one I found the true potential and having put a complete csl running gear in a touring which was a absolute dream car to drive I allways thought the e46 was lacking something, I allways fancied a e90 but the power to weight kept putting me off, anyway a car came along at the right money and I bought it. I must say that this car has given me the best driving feeling I have had since I sold my monaro powered e30 m3 I love it and I feel in my opinion that apart from an e30 m3 sport this is the best m3 yet so I have put this engine in my e30 m3 best of both worlds
btw I have a snitzer exhaust on the e90 and it sounds awesome at 8000

Edited by v8m3 on Saturday 19th April 17:18

[manchild]

I also felt the e46 m3 was not impressive ! for everyday driving i just found it hateful tuff gear change clunky diff understeer at slower speeds and worst of all flat as a witches tit ! the thing was only good when flat out , as a track car its great but daily driving i much prefer a 330i or my current 130i , these 2 are so much easier and better to drive 90% of the time , but that 10% in the e46 was great but rarely reached hence why i moved mine on after in 9 months horses for courses i suppose.

[manchild]

I also felt the e46 m3 was not impressive ! for everyday driving i just found it hateful tuff gear change clunky diff understeer at slower speeds and worst of all flat as a witches tit ! the thing was only good when flat out , as a track car its great but daily driving i much prefer a 330i or my current 130i , these 2 are so much easier and better to drive 90% of the time , but that 10% in the e46 was great but rarely reached hence why i moved mine on after in 9 months horses for courses i suppose.

[Welshbeef]

manchild said:

I also felt the e46 m3 was not impressive ! for everyday driving i just found it hateful tuff gear change clunky diff understeer at slower speeds and worst of all flat as a witches tit ! the thing was only good when flat out , as a track car its great but daily driving i much prefer a 330i or my current 130i , these 2 are so much easier and better to drive 90% of the time , but that 10% in the e46 was great but rarely reached hence why i moved mine on after in 9 months horses for courses i suppose.

You can say they again

[JsyM3]

Welshbeef said:

manchild said:

I also felt the e46 m3 was not impressive ! for everyday driving i just found it hateful tuff gear change clunky diff understeer at slower speeds and worst of all flat as a witches tit ! the thing was only good when flat out , as a track car its great but daily driving i much prefer a 330i or my current 130i , these 2 are so much easier and better to drive 90% of the time , but that 10% in the e46 was great but rarely reached hence why i moved mine on after in 9 months horses for courses i suppose.

You can say they again

Echo echo echo

[Patrick Bateman]

Wills2 said:

I've had a e46 M3 and 2 e92s, in answer to your questions.

1. Both are great sounding in and around 8k, I'll just give it to the V8 on a points decision due to the frenetic way it zooms to the red line over the last 2k accompanied by huge induction roar and mechanical thrash.
2. Many think the e46 and e39 were the pinnacle of BMW interior design, the e92 is a bit boring IMHO.
3. Very subjective only you can say that.
4. I doubt it, too many built perhaps in 30 years when they have all been scrapped but you won't have it then will you?
5. The CP e92 is a better steer than the early e92 in my opinion the e46 feels lighter on its feet than both, the e92 can feel heavy but gets on its toes as the speed rises and if you grab it by the scruff of the neck it's very biddable.

I'd go with a CSL special/won't lose money etc...

Edited by Wills2 on Friday 18th April 16:56

This isn't helped by a lot of them being all black- trim and leather. A work mate has an e92 with red leather and it's a lot better.

[Welshbeef]

Patrick Bateman said:

This isn't helped by a lot of them being all black- trim and leather. A work mate has an e92 with red leather and it's a lot better.

I'd say best combo is an E92 white exterior to show off the roof then red interior.

[GreatPretender]

thepony said:

Either way it will be a garage queen as i have a regular car to drive about in.

In which case, you would be mad not to go for the best CSL you can afford. As far as I'm concerned, it was BMW's zenith. A sheer masterpiece. And the market agrees: values are skyrocketing.

Which makes it both a head and heart purchase. You can't say that about many other modern cars, at least in this price bracket anyway. Buy one before values get truly silly.

You won't regret it.

[v8m3]

just make sure you check the rear floor around the subframe as the e46 suffers badly as you most probably already know

[Wills2]

Patrick Bateman said:

This isn't helped by a lot of them being all black- trim and leather. A work mate has an e92 with red leather and it's a lot better.

Yeah I have full carbon fibre trim, contrasting stitching with contrasting inserts + alcantara wheel which I like but it's more the design rather than the colours very flat and not driver orientated.

[cerb4.5lee]

JsyM3 said:

Welshbeef said:

manchild said:

I also felt the e46 m3 was not impressive ! for everyday driving i just found it hateful tuff gear change clunky diff understeer at slower speeds and worst of all flat as a witches tit ! the thing was only good when flat out , as a track car its great but daily driving i much prefer a 330i or my current 130i , these 2 are so much easier and better to drive 90% of the time , but that 10% in the e46 was great but rarely reached hence why i moved mine on after in 9 months horses for courses i suppose.

You can say they again

Echo echo echo

This is exactly the same reason why I swapped my E92 M3 for a 330i.

[bennyboysvuk]

manchild said:

I also felt the e46 m3 was not impressive ! for everyday driving i just found it hateful tuff gear change clunky diff understeer at slower speeds and worst of all flat as a witches tit ! the thing was only good when flat out , as a track car its great but daily driving i much prefer a 330i or my current 130i , these 2 are so much easier and better to drive 90% of the time , but that 10% in the e46 was great but rarely reached hence why i moved mine on after in 9 months horses for courses i suppose.

I quite enjoyed driving my E46 M3 as my daily. It was epic on the lightly trafficked parts and made me drive carefully on the other bits to avoid the clunking diff and gearbox graunch into 2nd if not done with enough revs showing. It also has the cruise control button in the right place (on the steering wheel) instead of on the silly stalk like in the E92.

It's not such a quick car these days, a 535D will give it a run for its money, especially if caught napping. However the screaming soundtrack and more NVH means aurally it beats the V8 for me. I love the sound of V8s as a bystander, but unless they're screaming flat planed crank V8s they always seem a bit muted from the driving seat, especially in Ms and RSs. I much prefer the screaming 6 overall.

As for preferring a 330i for daily duties, I can't agree. My 330i could be a great car, but is let down by the electronics, setup and slushbox. Great at up to 7 tenths, but totally disappointing past that, which is a shame since my much older Sports (E30 325 Touring, E36 328 Sport LSD model) from decades gone by were very, very good.

[Patrick Bateman]

bennyboysvuk said:

I quite enjoyed driving my E46 M3 as my daily. It was epic on the lightly trafficked parts and made me drive carefully on the other bits to avoid the clunking diff and gearbox graunch into 2nd if not done with enough revs showing. It also has the cruise control button in the right place (on the steering wheel) instead of on the silly stalk like in the E92.

It's not such a quick car these days, a 535D will give it a run for its money, especially if caught napping. However the screaming soundtrack and more NVH means aurally it beats the V8 for me. I love the sound of V8s as a bystander, but unless they're screaming flat planed crank V8s they always seem a bit muted from the driving seat, especially in Ms and RSs. I much prefer the screaming 6 overall.

As for preferring a 330i for daily duties, I can't agree. My 330i could be a great car, but is let down by the electronics, setup and slushbox. Great at up to 7 tenths, but totally disappointing past that, which is a shame since my much older Sports (E30 325 Touring, E36 328 Sport LSD model) from decades gone by were very, very good.

An e46 M3 is still a pretty quick car as far as most things go in fairness.

[Welshbeef]

Patrick Bateman said:

An e46 M3 is still a pretty quick car as far as most things go in fairness.

What is the 0-100mph time (just to set the playing field).

I've driven one at pace on the track and loved it great handling above my ability the noise the engine a peach.

[E30M3SE]

Depends on which figures you wish to believe, I've seen figures ranging from 11 to 12.4 seconds.

http://fastestlaps.com/cars/bmw_m3_e46.html

http://fastestlaps.com/cars/audi_rs6_c5.html

Edited by E30M3SE on Tuesday 22 April 21:10