BMW E46 M3, what is it to you, iconic, overrated, epic etc.?

[joema]

I can appreciate they feel a bit slow when not high in the rev range. Especially compared to a torquey V8...

And of course an M2 will be faster. State the obvious why not? 20 years between development...

Mine still brings a smile to my face. The engine is a revvy nutter. Handles fine. You don't need more power on the road. It's a nice car and as much as I get tempted by a 911 or newer M3, I'm not sure I'd be any happier and I'd regret selling a car that barely causes me any issues.

[Gouki]

Cheburator mk2 said:

P.S. Having had an E61 M5 in the past, there is no way a standard M2 or M3/4 would be on the pace in a straight line... The V10 is in a different league once moving...

Allegedly, on the very same day on my private test track we tested my E63 M6 against the M2C, maybe above 140 leptons the M6 has the edge. But BM3 would eviscerate that lead.

[TobyTR]

V10 M5/M6 would have the edge at 100mph+ comfortably over a standard M2 and F80 M3, there's no let-up from that V10, it's a fabulous motor.

I think it's a testament to how good the E46 M3 is, that it's closer in terms of objective ability to a 2017 M2, despite the 16-year development gap, than the E30 M3 managed against the E46 M3 (13-year age gap?)

[gizlaroc]

joema said:

I can appreciate they feel a bit slow when not high in the rev range. Especially compared to a torquey V8...

And of course an M2 will be faster. State the obvious why not? 20 years between development...

Mine still brings a smile to my face. The engine is a revvy nutter. Handles fine. You don't need more power on the road. It's a nice car and as much as I get tempted by a 911 or newer M3, I'm not sure I'd be any happier and I'd regret selling a car that barely causes me any issues.

I agree.

My mapped 335i touring was quicker than my CSL, but that is missing the point of why these cars are so good.

There is proper reward in learning how to drive the earlier M3s, they had to be worked, you had to get to know them and that took time, but once you did they were incredibly quick point to point and every journey was a sense of a achievement.
Now, I have driven the M2, and I agree it is a seriously quick car, but I will be honest, I was a bit bored of it after a few hours. For me it was all far too effortless, and once it started to get exciting you're going too quick to get any reward from it.

I swapped the CSL for the 335i trying to get into something new that could be tuned to be seriously quick and practical, I sold after a few months and bought another E46 SMG M3 and an A6 avant and saved £10k as well.

In many ways I preferred the regular M3 over the CSL.

[MBeemerman]

I agree totally with the above comments.
I've owned my manual coupe for 16 years now and still absolutely love the thing.
It just strikes that lovely balance between being fast enough but not stupidly fast that you have to be going at warp factor 10 to enjoy yourself.
It's taken me quite a while, well years of fettling to get it to my ideal fast road spec but it's now a car that I find just such a pleasure to own and drive and one I will never sell and it complements my 1M perfectly.

[mk2glenn]

I owned a manual E46 M3 for a while and I don't think it was "slow" although I did think the gearing was too long for a highly strung NA engine. Standard diff is 3.64 and I think something like a 3.9 would make for a much more fun car. I have never driven a modern turbocharged M car but I imagine they would feel faster in most every day driving situations.

[thebigmacmoomin]

Gouki said:

However, a friend allowed me to drive his M2 DCT competition with 400mm brake upgrade this last weekend, and albeit a short test drive I couldn't find any parameter where the E46 bested it. BMW have moved the game along across all parameters and the romanticism for the E46 probably needs a second look IF prices were equal between the two cars.

You would hope so, the E46 M3 was released in 2000 so is around 16 years older than the M2.

Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Tuesday 10th September 14:10

[cerb4.5lee]

mk2glenn said:

I owned a manual E46 M3 for a while and I don't think it was "slow" although I did think the gearing was too long for a highly strung NA engine.

I had a similar gripe with my E92 M3 and in third gear at 8400rpm(redline) it was doing 110mph. Whilst not as quick my 370Z is doing 120mph in fourth gear at 7500rpm(redline), so I much prefer the gearing in the 370Z compared to the M3.

I think Porsche like to gear their cars similar to the M3 as well, and I've read that a few people moan about it in those too.

[g3org3y]

MBeemerman said:

I agree totally with the above comments.
I've owned my manual coupe for 16 years now and still absolutely love the thing.
It just strikes that lovely balance between being fast enough but not stupidly fast that you have to be going at warp factor 10 to enjoy yourself.
It's taken me quite a while, well years of fettling to get it to my ideal fast road spec but it's now a car that I find just such a pleasure to own and drive and one I will never sell and it complements my 1M perfectly.

That grey M3 looks bloody lovely. Currently having a v difficult decision between E9X M3 Vs E46 M3 as my next purchase.

[MBeemerman]

Thanks mate, it's been a bit of a Labour of love over the last 16 years !
My plan was to sell it back in 2011 when I bought the 1M , but when it arrived I just couldn't let it go as they are just so different from each other.
The 46 feels very much a modern classic today but I know they need a bit spending on them here and there to make them feel very different from the standard car.
Mines had ap brakes, csl wheels, faster csl steering rack, ac schnitzer rs suspension that has just brilliant ride quality, recaros, weighted m5 gear stick that shortens the throw, 100 cell cats, eventuri carbon intake and a remap.

[cerb4.5lee]

MBeemerman said:

Thanks mate, it's been a bit of a Labour of love over the last 16 years !
My plan was to sell it back in 2011 when I bought the 1M , but when it arrived I just couldn't let it go as they are just so different from each other.
The 46 feels very much a modern classic today but I know they need a bit spending on them here and there to make them feel very different from the standard car.
Mines had ap brakes, csl wheels, faster csl steering rack, ac schnitzer rs suspension that has just brilliant ride quality, recaros, weighted m5 gear stick that shortens the throw, 100 cell cats, eventuri carbon intake and a remap.

Blimey those seats look minty mint! Very nice.

[MBeemerman]

It doesn't get driven very often, only in the summer so it's super low mileage.

[cerb4.5lee]

MBeemerman said:

It doesn't get driven very often, only in the summer so it's super low mileage.

It is a real credit to you for sure.

[MBeemerman]

Thanks for your kind words.
Everyone has there own subjective opinions on these cars but my personal opinion is how a car makes you feel and do you enjoy driving it, not comparing it with something else or newer rivals.
My M3 wouldn't see which way my 1M went, the 1M feels like a complete hooligan in comparison but I still enjoy driving the m3 just as much they are completely different and from completely different times.

A couple more pics !

[MBeemerman]

upload images

[g3org3y]

LIKE

[TobyTR]

MBeemerman said:

Thanks mate, it's been a bit of a Labour of love over the last 16 years !
My plan was to sell it back in 2011 when I bought the 1M , but when it arrived I just couldn't let it go as they are just so different from each other.
The 46 feels very much a modern classic today but I know they need a bit spending on them here and there to make them feel very different from the standard car.
Mines had ap brakes, csl wheels, faster csl steering rack, ac schnitzer rs suspension that has just brilliant ride quality, recaros, weighted m5 gear stick that shortens the throw, 100 cell cats, eventuri carbon intake and a remap.

Glorious example!

What bhp is it putting out with the air intake and remap? Must be on par with a CSL surely?

It's a testament that Autocar, Car Throttle and Carfection among others still rate these as the sweetspot M3

[MBeemerman]

Thanks Toby, it's producing 360bhp now and for a n/a engine is surprisingly torquey.
It's the noise that gets you though, sounds absolutely lovely !
Makes you realise how the sound of a car adds so much to the overall experience.

[Gouki]

mk2glenn said:

I owned a manual E46 M3 for a while and I don't think it was "slow" although I did think the gearing was too long for a highly strung NA engine. Standard diff is 3.64 and I think something like a 3.9 would make for a much more fun car. I have never driven a modern turbocharged M car but I imagine they would feel faster in most every day driving situations.

Changed my diff to 3.91, makes quite a positive difference and still maintains good motorway cruising manners.

[Cheburator mk2]

Gouki said:

Changed my diff to 3.91, makes quite a positive difference and still maintains good motorway cruising manners.

Previous owner did the same to my GT3 - installed a GT3 Cup ratio of 4:1 - top speed is down to 178mph (bothered) but feck me it’s quick in any gear vs a stock GT3 of the same vintage. I would imagine it would do wonders to the E46 M3... Only downside would be that 33mpg at steady 70mph would not be achievable anymore