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

[Pereldh]

A poor man's Z4M Coupe

[shantybeater]

Pereldh said:

A poor man's Z4M Coupe

As much as I'm a fan of a Z4M Coupe. It was pretty common knowledge the E46 M3 did everything better.

[CRA1G]

shantybeater said:

Pereldh said:

A poor man's Z4M Coupe

As much as I'm a fan of a Z4M Coupe. It was pretty common knowledge the E46 M3 did everything better.

I wouldn't say everything.... I prefer the feel of the chassis in the ZM....

[cerb4.5lee]

CRA1G said:

shantybeater said:

Pereldh said:

A poor man's Z4M Coupe

As much as I'm a fan of a Z4M Coupe. It was pretty common knowledge the E46 M3 did everything better.

I wouldn't say everything.... I prefer the feel of the chassis in the ZM....

Whereas I thought the chassis/suspension/ride was completely unresolved in my Z4M(it was the Roadster though). The M3 has a much better chassis/suspension/ride for me.

[RobM77]

CRA1G said:

shantybeater said:

Pereldh said:

A poor man's Z4M Coupe

As much as I'm a fan of a Z4M Coupe. It was pretty common knowledge the E46 M3 did everything better.

I wouldn't say everything.... I prefer the feel of the chassis in the ZM....

I agree. When I owned my Z4 3.0si I test drove an E46 M3, and I felt that whilst it did things better, by virtue of the LSD and better judged suspension, it felt like my old 330ci when doing them, whereas the Z4 Coupé always felt like a sports car. Sure, if you put your feelers out in the M3 you could sense the LSD working, or the suspension working away over the bumps, but the up-front sensations in the M3s I've driven (E46 and E92) are firmly that of the standard 3 series cars they're based on, certainly when driving at sane road speeds at least. The Z4C, to my arse at least, sided more with a coupé like a 350Z or Cayman, although probably not as accomplished as some.

[CRA1G]

cerb4.5lee said:

Whereas I thought the chassis/suspension/ride was completely unresolved in my Z4M(it was the Roadster though). The M3 has a much better chassis/suspension/ride for me.

I think the ZMC in both 3 and 4 are far superior to the Roadsters and I certainly think the 4M has the edge on the E46M imo..

[cerb4.5lee]

CRA1G said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Whereas I thought the chassis/suspension/ride was completely unresolved in my Z4M(it was the Roadster though). The M3 has a much better chassis/suspension/ride for me.

I think the ZMC in both 3 and 4 are far superior to the Roadsters and I certainly think the 4M has the edge on the E46M imo..

The Roadsters are certainly a bit wobbly for sure. I'd really like a go in a Z4M Coupe for a comparison.

[RobM77]

cerb4.5lee said:

CRA1G said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Whereas I thought the chassis/suspension/ride was completely unresolved in my Z4M(it was the Roadster though). The M3 has a much better chassis/suspension/ride for me.

I think the ZMC in both 3 and 4 are far superior to the Roadsters and I certainly think the 4M has the edge on the E46M imo..

The Roadsters are certainly a bit wobbly for sure. I'd really like a go in a Z4M Coupe for a comparison.

A few years ago someone posted torsional rigidity for various current production cars. The Z4 coupé shell was way ahead of anything else. I guess because it was initially designed as a roadster, and then made as a coupé.

[CRA1G]

RobM77 said:

A few years ago someone posted torsional rigidity for various current production cars. The Z4 coupé shell was way ahead of anything else. I guess because it was initially designed as a roadster, and then made as a coupé.

Iirc this was originally was said of the Z3MC which was a daring and ambitious project at BMW at the time and i still think it's one of the most interesting M cars of today and totally bonkers which still makes me smile...

[cerb4.5lee]

CRA1G said:

RobM77 said:

A few years ago someone posted torsional rigidity for various current production cars. The Z4 coupé shell was way ahead of anything else. I guess because it was initially designed as a roadster, and then made as a coupé.

Iirc this was originally was said of the Z3MC which was a daring and ambitious project at BMW at the time and i still think it's one of the most interesting M cars of today and totally bonkers which still makes me smile...

The Z3MC is a car that I've always admired...especially after I saw a chap ragging the backside off one and doing donuts at a car show at Silverstone years ago!

[trackdemon]

Pereldh said:

A poor man's Z4M Coupe

:yawn: Or perhaps just a less compromised car, supply/demand dictates the price. I quite fancy a Z4MC, but it doesn't make the M3 a poor mans car (you're aware of M tax no doubt!)

[Mr Tidy]

trackdemon said:

:yawn: Or perhaps just a less compromised car, supply/demand dictates the price. I quite fancy a Z4MC, but it doesn't make the M3 a poor mans car (you're aware of M tax no doubt!)

Well after buying a Z4MC in December and having an Inspection 2 service last week it's no surprise to find they also attract M tax! Including post 2006 Band M road tax!

If I was using it all the time I probably would have got an E46 M3, and been very happy with that.

But as I run a 3 Series daily and have always loved the shape of the E86, I just had to have one - and they are much rarer. Only about 600 were registered in the UK. Probably because they weren't as practical as a daily driver when new.

Whatever, for me any car with an S54 engine is very special!

[gizlaroc]

RSVR101 said:

Took mine out to do the essential shop this week. Absolutely amazing drive with the smg when you time the changes just right.

RSVR101 said:

bks, can anyone rotate those images?

You're welcome.

[Jonstar]

CRA1G said:

I think the ZMC in both 3 and 4 are far superior to the Roadsters and I certainly think the 4M has the edge on the E46M imo..

Maybe the z3m but certainly not the z4m and yes I've driven both and the z4M roadster has a stiffer chassis than the m3 coupe.

[iiNNeX]

Wen't the long way around to get some Milk and Bread today

[Driver Rider]

iiNNeX said:

Wen't the long way around to get some Milk and Bread today

that still looks lush to my eyes :-) great pic!

[CharlieH89]

Iconic and would have loved one whilst being able to afford one over the past couple of years.
Wife has suffered from a few issues in recent times so I think it will always be a dream to be able to have the luxury of one as a daily.

Estoril blue for me please.

[iiNNeX]

Driver Rider said:

that still looks lush to my eyes :-) great pic!

Thank you mate, shes very dirty but still comes out alright on pictures.

Not many things on the road can provide you with the same driving sensation and experience, I think the only other cars that would do it for me would be some type of Lotus or a Cayman S 981.

I love high revving NA engines.

[CRA1G]

Jonstar said:

CRA1G said:

I think the ZMC in both 3 and 4 are far superior to the Roadsters and I certainly think the 4M has the edge on the E46M imo..

Maybe the z3m but certainly not the z4m and yes I've driven both and the z4M roadster has a stiffer chassis than the m3 coupe.

I can't believe you think the Z4M Roadster has a stiffer chassis than the E46 M3 Coupe...? I've not just driven both I've owned both Z4MR and Z4MC still have an M3 and Z3MC but side by side having tracked both and there's now way the Z4MR is anywhere near stiffer than the M3 totally different cars.....

[Mr Tidy]

CRA1G said:

I can't believe you think the Z4M Roadster has a stiffer chassis than the E46 M3 Coupe...? I've not just driven both I've owned both Z4MR and Z4MC still have an M3 and Z3MC but side by side having tracked both and there's now way the Z4MR is anywhere near stiffer than the M3 totally different cars.....

OK so it's only on Wiki, but these are the reported numbers for the Z4 E85 and E86:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z4_(E85)

You just need to find the figures for the E46 M3 Coupe now, but from everything I have read they just aren't as stiff!

Still I've only ever had E86s.