E36 M3....are they still fast?

[TomM]

Paul_M3 said:

I've had an e36 M3 Evo and an e46 M3.

I've been on track with both of them. I have 'raced' with an e46 in the e36 and vice versa.

I can say for certain that there is virtually no straight line performance difference between a good M3 Evo and an e46 M3.

So in answer to the original question, yes, they are most definitely still fast.

For your info, here's a video taken from my e46 M3 with an e36 in front of me. He was holding me up through the bends, but as you can see the straightline performance meant I couldn't even attempt to overtake until he pulled over and let me past: (see 2:20 for the drag race as we pull onto the start straight)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8h4ugO3sho

Is that Dakar E36 a 3ltr? No brake light on the rear spoiler - interesting if it is, as your E46 was like for like n a straight line!

[s m]

TomM said:

Paul_M3 said:

I've had an e36 M3 Evo and an e46 M3.

I've been on track with both of them. I have 'raced' with an e46 in the e36 and vice versa.

I can say for certain that there is virtually no straight line performance difference between a good M3 Evo and an e46 M3.

So in answer to the original question, yes, they are most definitely still fast.

For your info, here's a video taken from my e46 M3 with an e36 in front of me. He was holding me up through the bends, but as you can see the straightline performance meant I couldn't even attempt to overtake until he pulled over and let me past: (see 2:20 for the drag race as we pull onto the start straight)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8h4ugO3sho

Is that Dakar E36 a 3ltr? No brake light on the rear spoiler - interesting if it is, as your E46 was like for like n a straight line!

Yes, only 1 second in it up to 100 from the Autocar tests - a 12 second car against a 13 second car ( if both are standard )

[RemyMartin]

TomM said:

Is that Dakar E36 a 3ltr? No brake light on the rear spoiler - interesting if it is, as your E46 was like for like n a straight line!

I noticed that too! I'm not sure I've ever seen a Dakar Evo....would love to be shown otherwise though!

If so, that 3.0 had some go on the straights

[s m]

RemyMartin said:

TomM said:

Is that Dakar E36 a 3ltr? No brake light on the rear spoiler - interesting if it is, as your E46 was like for like n a straight line!

I noticed that too! I'm not sure I've ever seen a Dakar Evo....would love to be shown otherwise though!

If so, that 3.0 had some go on the straights

Illustrates perfectly the big advantage in power you need to overtake a similar weight car really.

Much of the E46's advantage in timed acceleration runs over an E36 M3 seems to be up to 60....from a rolling start out of a corner that's going to be much less noticeable

[e21Mark]

Going to view a late e36 Evo in a few hours time.

[RemyMartin]

e21Mark said:

Going to view a late e36 Evo in a few hours time.

What colour? Oh and I hate you lol.

[BlitzE34]

RemyMartin said:

I noticed that too! I'm not sure I've ever seen a Dakar Evo....would love to be shown otherwise though!

If so, that 3.0 had some go on the straights

That would be a 3.0 as its a M reg.

3.0 vs 3.2? What do people say?

[e21Mark]

RemyMartin said:

e21Mark said:

Going to view a late e36 Evo in a few hours time.

What colour? Oh and I hate you lol.

It's your fault! You started it! lol

It's black on black, 6 speed coupe. It looks very nice in the ad but a) someone else has viewed it before me and b) it's much nearer £4k than 3. I'll post some pics when I get back.

[Flying machine]

On a variation of this theme - who's had a Z3m? I've seen a couple of these recently and thought they look pretty good

[TEKNOPUG]

Flying machine said:

On a variation of this theme - who's had a Z3m? I've seen a couple of these recently and thought they look pretty good

E36 front with E30 rear - best of both worlds.......perhaps......

[getawayturtle]

e21Mark said:

It's your fault! You started it! lol

It's black on black, 6 speed coupe. It looks very nice in the ad but a) someone else has viewed it before me and b) it's much nearer £4k than 3. I'll post some pics when I get back.

Look forward to seeing it. Unless it turns out to be a heap of course

[Output Flange]

BlitzE34 said:

That would be a 3.0 as its a M reg.

3.0 vs 3.2? What do people say?

Assuming they're both in good condition, the 3.2 every time.

And there are Dakar Evos out there, too.

[RemyMartin]

Flying machine said:

On a variation of this theme - who's had a Z3m? I've seen a couple of these recently and thought they look pretty good

In a different price bracket sadly, Its one car I long to own. Love the breadvan looks. Very rapid. Lighter than the e36 IIRC.

[MitchT]

I guy a used to work for bought an E36 M3 (3.0) when they first came out. I fell in love with it immediately and I'd still love one today. The insurance premiums are silly though. Even at 37 with NCB coming out of my ears I'm still being quoted £1,500 for one. Compare that with £750 to insure a £90k Ferrari 512TR which I also got a quote for (just out of curiosity).

[s m]

RemyMartin said:

Flying machine said:

On a variation of this theme - who's had a Z3m? I've seen a couple of these recently and thought they look pretty good

In a different price bracket sadly, Its one car I long to own. Love the breadvan looks. Very rapid. Lighter than the e36 IIRC.

70kg lighter than the 3.2 E36 2-door and acceleration nearly on a par with the later E46 M3. Only 2-seater though

[rallycross]

The Z3m feels very different to the M3, much more special and my one felt a lot quicker and rawer / more direct than the E36 M3's, but price wise they are still around £12k to £15k.

[s m]

rallycross said:

The Z3m feels very different to the M3, much more special and my one felt a lot quicker and rawer / more direct than the E36 M3's, but price wise they are still around £12k to £15k.

They only got a 5-speed box as well whereas the M3s had a 6-speeder

[rallycross]

Yes but that is a nice 5 speed box whereas the E36 evo 6 speed box is one of the worst clutch/ gearbox combo's I have ever driven, and I have driven hundreds of different cars.

[Rollcage]

s m said:

They only got a 5-speed box as well whereas the M3s had a 6-speeder

Only the Evo had a six speed.

My old boss had a Dakar M3 on an L reg - I'm sure he was told it was the first RHD production car. Epic machine.

[s m]

Rollcage said:

s m said:

They only got a 5-speed box as well whereas the M3s had a 6-speeder

Only the Evo had a six speed.

My old boss had a Dakar M3 on an L reg - I'm sure he was told it was the first RHD production car. Epic machine.

You are correct, early M3 3 litre had a 5-speed - then again I was comparing the same engine in the Mcoupe as in the M3.

They used a couple of K-reg Dakar Yellow rhd M3s in road tests ( they might have built after your bosses L-reg though )