M3 e46 v e9x real world difference
Discussion
So I thought I had finally decided on my next car being a E9x M3 saloon .
I really thought we needed 5 doors, but we only do 3 of four trips a year and have been managing just fine without a 5 door car for the past 3 months since my M135i went, as we live in central London it's actually became easier to just get the bus / tube or do the shopping on my own in my daily snotter so the 5 door situation may not actually be an issue, saying that I prefer the look of the E9x saloon over the coupe E9x so I would get a 5 door anyway.
BUT I have always wanted a E46, real world is there actually that much difference in performance, it's rare I get a chance to get out of London for a real drive, and I'm no driving God so would I actually need the extra ponies under the bonnet, and in all honestly most of the time the performance is going to be limited to the slip road sprint and the traffic light Grand Prix.
Also does anyone have experience of kids in the car, we have one isofix car seat for the rear and also a ten year old plus the missus, is the e46 big enough?
We do go from London to Newcastle a couple of times a year and we managed just fine in my M135i 5 door,however would this be comfortable in an E46 for the back seat passenger with no fully opening rear windows for 6 hours with a 3 year old in the back?
I would be grateful if anyone had had both or has used an E46 as family transport and would be able to give a comparison on actual real world performance, I would also add I would be looking for smg / dct cars that I understand are miles apart in terms of gearbox, that aside, is the performance and drive really that far apart?
I really thought we needed 5 doors, but we only do 3 of four trips a year and have been managing just fine without a 5 door car for the past 3 months since my M135i went, as we live in central London it's actually became easier to just get the bus / tube or do the shopping on my own in my daily snotter so the 5 door situation may not actually be an issue, saying that I prefer the look of the E9x saloon over the coupe E9x so I would get a 5 door anyway.
BUT I have always wanted a E46, real world is there actually that much difference in performance, it's rare I get a chance to get out of London for a real drive, and I'm no driving God so would I actually need the extra ponies under the bonnet, and in all honestly most of the time the performance is going to be limited to the slip road sprint and the traffic light Grand Prix.
Also does anyone have experience of kids in the car, we have one isofix car seat for the rear and also a ten year old plus the missus, is the e46 big enough?
We do go from London to Newcastle a couple of times a year and we managed just fine in my M135i 5 door,however would this be comfortable in an E46 for the back seat passenger with no fully opening rear windows for 6 hours with a 3 year old in the back?
I would be grateful if anyone had had both or has used an E46 as family transport and would be able to give a comparison on actual real world performance, I would also add I would be looking for smg / dct cars that I understand are miles apart in terms of gearbox, that aside, is the performance and drive really that far apart?
From the description of your driving habits, I think you're really looking at things like comfort, build quality etc, rather than out and out chassis/performance. Saying that the V8 will be torquier, and might make the car seem significantly faster if you don't get the chance to really let the S54 sing.
I think day to day an E90 would be the nicer car to be in, transport people, take on long journeys etc, where the E46 might be a bit better on A/B roads on a sunny day.
I think day to day an E90 would be the nicer car to be in, transport people, take on long journeys etc, where the E46 might be a bit better on A/B roads on a sunny day.
I've had both, not a lot in it in real world driving it's got 80hp more but weighs 100kg+ more, better top end and longer legs from the e92, I prefer the S65 to the S54 but it's personal preference.
The e46 is more eager the e92 less so unless you turn it up to 11 and let rip, more duality with the e92 it can be comfy (ish) and rabid, whereas the e46 is always on it.
The e46 is more eager the e92 less so unless you turn it up to 11 and let rip, more duality with the e92 it can be comfy (ish) and rabid, whereas the e46 is always on it.
For me the E92 is an improvement over the E46 M3 in front end grip (especially if you get one with EDC) and it is quicker. The DCT is a marvel (if you like that sort of thing - I do) while I found SMG to be not so good.
As a daily driver for three people I don't think there is much in it.
If you go for an E46 M3 you must get one that has had the subframe repair.
As a daily driver for three people I don't think there is much in it.
If you go for an E46 M3 you must get one that has had the subframe repair.
Thanks chaps, also as my M135i recently went back I feel like I'm going to be taking a step back in terms of quality feel as even a late 2006 e46 is now ten years old and coming from a brand new car into a ten year old one is going to be noticeable, I think a e9x is more than likely on the cards
I know they did some special editions such as LE 500 and Alpine editions but they all seem to be in coupe form anyone know if they did anything in the saloon ?
I know they did some special editions such as LE 500 and Alpine editions but they all seem to be in coupe form anyone know if they did anything in the saloon ?
Krise said:
Thanks chaps, also as my M135i recently went back I feel like I'm going to be taking a step back in terms of quality feel as even a late 2006 e46 is now ten years old and coming from a brand new car into a ten year old one is going to be noticeable, I think a e9x is more than likely on the cards
I know they did some special editions such as LE 500 and Alpine editions but they all seem to be in coupe form anyone know if they did anything in the saloon ?
None on the saloons IIRC, I would try and get a CP car if you can I think the little tweaks they did improved the car quite a bit but again CP is e92 only. I know they did some special editions such as LE 500 and Alpine editions but they all seem to be in coupe form anyone know if they did anything in the saloon ?
As above, OP... if your profile is up to date and you're still in Battersea, I'm just over by Wandsworth Bridge so you're welcome to come and take a look at my e46 sometime.
The e90/2 does feel more modern and is quicker in a straight line. But to me the straight six in the e46 is that bit more zingy and the earlier car feels more nimble and chuckable. Either will put a smile on your face.
The e90/2 does feel more modern and is quicker in a straight line. But to me the straight six in the e46 is that bit more zingy and the earlier car feels more nimble and chuckable. Either will put a smile on your face.
If you've always wanted an E46 and the space works, I'd go for that. The E90s are fantastic on a bit of open road going between 2nd-3rd-4th but otherwise, when you're held up by a Kia Picanto doing 40mph and no possibility of overtaking, they're very very dull.
Or there is always the option of driving round in 2nd gear at 6000rpm doing 9mpg!
You can always swap the E46 for an E90 in a couple years - E90 will have depreciated and the E46 might have appreciated a bit.
Or there is always the option of driving round in 2nd gear at 6000rpm doing 9mpg!
You can always swap the E46 for an E90 in a couple years - E90 will have depreciated and the E46 might have appreciated a bit.
DM9297 said:
If you've always wanted an E46 and the space works, I'd go for that. The E90s are fantastic on a bit of open road going between 2nd-3rd-4th but otherwise, when you're held up by a Kia Picanto doing 40mph and no possibility of overtaking, they're very very dull.
Or there is always the option of driving round in 2nd gear at 6000rpm doing 9mpg!
You can always swap the E46 for an E90 in a couple years - E90 will have depreciated and the E46 might have appreciated a bit.
Why would you think being stuck behind a Kia Picanto doing 40mph would be any less dull in an E46 M3 than an E92 M3?Or there is always the option of driving round in 2nd gear at 6000rpm doing 9mpg!
You can always swap the E46 for an E90 in a couple years - E90 will have depreciated and the E46 might have appreciated a bit.
I did love my E46 M3s but I can't say they were any more fun to drive than the E92 M3....The DCT makes the E92 M3 a completely different car to drive (for a host of reasons) but if that tech doesn't appeal then a manual E46 M3 wouldn't be far off.
Max Maxasson said:
Why would you think being stuck behind a Kia Picanto doing 40mph would be any less dull in an E46 M3 than an E92 M3?
I did love my E46 M3s but I can't say they were any more fun to drive than the E92 M3....The DCT makes the E92 M3 a completely different car to drive (for a host of reasons) but if that tech doesn't appeal then a manual E46 M3 wouldn't be far off.
I think you're probably right, it's because I'm not massively enamoured with the DCT.I did love my E46 M3s but I can't say they were any more fun to drive than the E92 M3....The DCT makes the E92 M3 a completely different car to drive (for a host of reasons) but if that tech doesn't appeal then a manual E46 M3 wouldn't be far off.
I've only driven one (manual) E46 - hard to articulate but I'd choose it over my current DCT E92 every time as a car to drive around town.
Max Maxasson said:
Why would you think being stuck behind a Kia Picanto doing 40mph would be any less dull in an E46 M3 than an E92 M3?
I did love my E46 M3s but I can't say they were any more fun to drive than the E92 M3....The DCT makes the E92 M3 a completely different car to drive (for a host of reasons) but if that tech doesn't appeal then a manual E46 M3 wouldn't be far off.
Agree completely. I was so dissapointed with the E46 M3. The E92 dct is on another level. I did love my E46 M3s but I can't say they were any more fun to drive than the E92 M3....The DCT makes the E92 M3 a completely different car to drive (for a host of reasons) but if that tech doesn't appeal then a manual E46 M3 wouldn't be far off.
DM9297 said:
The E90s are fantastic on a bit of open road going between 2nd-3rd-4th but otherwise, when you're held up by a Kia Picanto doing 40mph and no possibility of overtaking, they're very very dull.
Or there is always the option of driving round in 2nd gear at 6000rpm doing 9mpg!
This for me personally sums up the E9x M3 to an absolute tee and I couldn't have put it better myself if I had tried. Or there is always the option of driving round in 2nd gear at 6000rpm doing 9mpg!
Max Maxasson said:
I did love my E46 M3s but I can't say they were any more fun to drive than the E92 M3.
They both suffer from similar problems though and unless you cane the life out of them there just isn't very much reward, and you may as well be driving any other 3 series because when you are going steady they just don't feel any different. Some love the fact that the S54/S65 come alive when thrashed but for me a car should feel special whether you are going fast or slow.
GroundEffect said:
I had a Z4M before my E92 M3...both very characterful engines but the S65 really does steal the show. What a powertrain - feels like you're paying for a supercar engine with a free solidly built coupe body.
I have had both too but I am not sure the S65 is that much better...it has a stronger top end for sure but the S54 is far peppier lower down. I would probably describe it better by saying the S65 is a lovely engine let down by the heavy car it has to drag around with it.
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