The best BMW M car?
Discussion
daz05 said:
Seeing your skills you probably hit that speed at the Alford speed fest bowl, or at least your rear wheels did. 
Thank you. I have lost count of the amount of times my rear wheels have exceeded the speed of the front wheels. lol.
Which is quite funny, because im not into the 'drift' scene.
For me, it is the E36 M3. I have owned three in total and owned all three back to back with two Escort Cosworths, one being 400BHP.
The M3 Evolution for me does it all, old enough to not have loads of safty, plenty of power, no traction control, a really good chassie and reliable.
For some it is not the most exotic M3 car made, but seeing them in photos takes away from them. A friend seen mine parked up in the garage and was suprosed of the wide arse, wide tyres and how they fill the arches, big exhaust hanging off the back and the //M kit, also the grumble from the engine on tick over and the flex in the car when you blip the throttle. They sound lovely too, not raspy like the E46 and more purposeful than the E30.
It is also the first production car with NA and over 100BHP per litre only matched at the time by the McLaren F1 which has two of the engines bolted together (apparently) to make the F1s engine (Obviously more technical than that)
It also held the title of the best chassie of its decade (Out of its class)
If the E36 had wide arches and a slightly quicker stearing rack, most would be all over one. One thing that is true, the prices are rising rapidly on the E36 now.
I loved all of mine and always came back. Never took to the E46, looked nice, had the toys etc but for a out and out driving car, it just has too much going on.
The M3 Evolution for me does it all, old enough to not have loads of safty, plenty of power, no traction control, a really good chassie and reliable.
For some it is not the most exotic M3 car made, but seeing them in photos takes away from them. A friend seen mine parked up in the garage and was suprosed of the wide arse, wide tyres and how they fill the arches, big exhaust hanging off the back and the //M kit, also the grumble from the engine on tick over and the flex in the car when you blip the throttle. They sound lovely too, not raspy like the E46 and more purposeful than the E30.
It is also the first production car with NA and over 100BHP per litre only matched at the time by the McLaren F1 which has two of the engines bolted together (apparently) to make the F1s engine (Obviously more technical than that)
It also held the title of the best chassie of its decade (Out of its class)
If the E36 had wide arches and a slightly quicker stearing rack, most would be all over one. One thing that is true, the prices are rising rapidly on the E36 now.
I loved all of mine and always came back. Never took to the E46, looked nice, had the toys etc but for a out and out driving car, it just has too much going on.
Shaoxter said:
The slow steering rack and first gear torque limiter mean the E36 M3 can't be considered near the greatest M cars.
It does look the best out of all the M3's though! (IMO)
The rack in the E36 EVO was rubbish and still miles better than the variable one in the original 3.0 E36. A Z3 or E46 compact rack improves things enormously.It does look the best out of all the M3's though! (IMO)
My old EVO had an E46 rack + a few other bits and pieces to get weight down to 1440Kg. Loved that car. E46 CS had better damping and newer interior but is no quicker than the E36 and for raw driving fun, I'd have the EVO, with quicker rack.
First gear torque limiting is a non issue to me, I'm too old to care about emergency starts and quarter mile times.
Edited by Crackie on Saturday 27th June 20:22
the first gear limiter is easily removed in seconds.
i toy with selling my evo every so often, but i can't get near matching it unless i spend twice as much on whatever i'd replace it with.
i'm also starting to notice it becoming a little more exclusive and growing into its looks over time.
i toy with selling my evo every so often, but i can't get near matching it unless i spend twice as much on whatever i'd replace it with.
i'm also starting to notice it becoming a little more exclusive and growing into its looks over time.
The more I look at my E36 the more I'm liking it. I had been toying with the idea of selling it to move back to a 911 but the more I drive it too, the more I'm loving it. I totally agree though with the steering rack. I've read a lot of things about the brakes being poor but I find them brilliant for road use.
Vincefox said:
the first gear limiter is easily removed in seconds.
i toy with selling my evo every so often, but i can't get near matching it unless i spend twice as much on whatever i'd replace it with.
i'm also starting to notice it becoming a little more exclusive and growing into its looks over time.
How so? I've had a goggle and read guides, but most suggest the ECU relearns fairly quicklyi toy with selling my evo every so often, but i can't get near matching it unless i spend twice as much on whatever i'd replace it with.
i'm also starting to notice it becoming a little more exclusive and growing into its looks over time.
Chunkychucky said:
Vincefox said:
the first gear limiter is easily removed in seconds.
i toy with selling my evo every so often, but i can't get near matching it unless i spend twice as much on whatever i'd replace it with.
i'm also starting to notice it becoming a little more exclusive and growing into its looks over time.
How so? I've had a goggle and read guides, but most suggest the ECU relearns fairly quicklyi toy with selling my evo every so often, but i can't get near matching it unless i spend twice as much on whatever i'd replace it with.
i'm also starting to notice it becoming a little more exclusive and growing into its looks over time.
Well of the M's I've owned my favourite by far is the E60 M5 - just a stunning engine, and the much maligned SMG gearbox actually adds to the driving experience when you use it as a manual - nice thump from the changes in S5 mode!
Of the others:
E36 M3 EVO - bought this new as my first car in '98. Techno violet with grey leather. Not that quick and handling was 'lively' to say the least! Tried to kill me on several occasions. As my first M car it has a special place in my the memory but surprised it gets as much love on here as it does. The least accomplished imo.
E46 M3 - Loved it! A huge improvement over the E36 and loved the raspy engine note.
E39 M5 - A real old-fashioned muscle car. Lovely v8 burble. Incredible build quality, just a shame about the chocolate VANOS.
E60 M5 - As above. Just an amazingly charismatic car, and properly quick at the top end. And I suspect a future classic as we go all forced induction for M's.
Of the others:
E36 M3 EVO - bought this new as my first car in '98. Techno violet with grey leather. Not that quick and handling was 'lively' to say the least! Tried to kill me on several occasions. As my first M car it has a special place in my the memory but surprised it gets as much love on here as it does. The least accomplished imo.
E46 M3 - Loved it! A huge improvement over the E36 and loved the raspy engine note.
E39 M5 - A real old-fashioned muscle car. Lovely v8 burble. Incredible build quality, just a shame about the chocolate VANOS.
E60 M5 - As above. Just an amazingly charismatic car, and properly quick at the top end. And I suspect a future classic as we go all forced induction for M's.
I don't think the E36 M3 Evo can be called the best M ever...! but I do have a soft spot for them, here's my one owner 99 low mileage Convertible..
I think this is more worthy of it.. my low mileage ZM Coupe..
but then again my two eight's need a mention.. chalk and cheese but both lovely to drive..
I think this is more worthy of it.. my low mileage ZM Coupe..
but then again my two eight's need a mention.. chalk and cheese but both lovely to drive..
CRA1G said:
I don't think the E36 M3 Evo can be called the best M ever...! but I do have a soft spot for them, here's my one owner 99 low mileage Convertible..
I think this is more worthy of it.. my low mileage ZM Coupe..
but then again my two eight's need a mention.. chalk and cheese but both lovely to drive..
That i8 is in the wrong colour I think this is more worthy of it.. my low mileage ZM Coupe..
but then again my two eight's need a mention.. chalk and cheese but both lovely to drive..
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