E36 M3....are they still fast?
Discussion
As above really, can an E36 M3 still cut the mustard....I'm getting to fever pitch to scratch an itch I've always had and seems a logical step to make from a 328i Sport which I love, but is a little asthmatic.
Still a quick car by 21st century standards? question is 3.0 or evo 3.2 and budget for vanos....
Still a quick car by 21st century standards? question is 3.0 or evo 3.2 and budget for vanos....
They represent a total bargain, I think I would go for the Evo model, and just scourer one with the right service history.
Are there any owners out there who've had both engined variants. I'd be interested to hear on experiences, you read up on the subject and you read that the 3.0 is 95% the car of the Evo, mind you I'm not sure if this is the same as the 205 GTi syndrome, where owners of 1.6 would swear its a better car and the truth is, they just wern't man enough for a 1.9...........
Are there any owners out there who've had both engined variants. I'd be interested to hear on experiences, you read up on the subject and you read that the 3.0 is 95% the car of the Evo, mind you I'm not sure if this is the same as the 205 GTi syndrome, where owners of 1.6 would swear its a better car and the truth is, they just wern't man enough for a 1.9...........
k15tox said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
At the end of the day E36 M3 is an old 2-door saloon which was quick in its day and still stands up quite well.
Why not buy a newer and less exotic 2-door BMW which will have at least as much performance and almost certainly lower running costs?
Unless of course you're desperate for that magical "M3" badge....
For the M3's price?Why not buy a newer and less exotic 2-door BMW which will have at least as much performance and almost certainly lower running costs?
Unless of course you're desperate for that magical "M3" badge....
An e46 330ci isnt quicker.
Plus i wouldnt say its just about a 'magical badge' it comes from a time when M-cars were M-cars.
That engine alone is a good enough reason to buy one.
The same reason why i would love a E30 M3, I'd be getting left for dust my modern hot hatches, but it isnt about that.
I'm not necessarily after the magical badge as one person put it, I just feel I really like a much faster version of what I already have.
Lets not talk about MR2 turbos which I'm also considering LOL
pat_y said:
If the rear went sideways when he booted it i suspect his rear trailing arm bushes might have been shot. Personally i thought the sound of a standard E36 M3 was one of it's biggest letdowns, never sounded as fast as it actually was.
sounds lovely herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KPGWO9EKos
markCSC said:
To OP
Just read a tuning guide on the E36 in PPC Magazine. They said for the 328 you can get a gain of 30bhp by fitting the 325 inlet manifold and a remap. Might be a cheap stop gap solution
I've looked into the S50 manifold upgrade before, IIRC some mods need to be done to the Throttle body as well, can't remember. Not sure on how much a remap will cost, I know if your patient you can get all the parts on eBay though hmmm... Just read a tuning guide on the E36 in PPC Magazine. They said for the 328 you can get a gain of 30bhp by fitting the 325 inlet manifold and a remap. Might be a cheap stop gap solution
CampDavid said:
They did, all the way through, no one seemed to order one though, conclusively proving that that M3 buyers are morons 
If I won a lot of money I'd force BMW to make me a one off Hellrot 1M love that colour
Oh I would want a standard car for definite, id consider a cat back and carbon airbox filter jobbie for more noise but thats it.
trouble is I have my heart set on a mint hellrot or techno violet evo, I really don't want an Estoril or Arctic silver (already have that!) need to get me a ride in a nice evo as a base level.
trouble is I have my heart set on a mint hellrot or techno violet evo, I really don't want an Estoril or Arctic silver (already have that!) need to get me a ride in a nice evo as a base level.
sulli said:
My E36 Evo was as quick as an E46 on the road - the E46 M3 is still classed as a fast car, so the Evo is too. I think mine was putting out close to the claimed 320bhp, it was a low miler and well maintained.
Great car, great engine and for £3k well worth it!
These are the sort of things I like to read Great car, great engine and for £3k well worth it!
Very positive.
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
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