BMW E46 M3, what is it to you, iconic, overrated, epic etc.?
Discussion
. And that was the 3.0 M3, I wonder how much quicker a 3.2 would have been. 
s m said:
Even quicker no doubt
CAR mag included an E36 3.2 in their M3 test
The journo(s) still picked the E30 or maybe the E46 CSL over it
There's no right answer for everyone
Of course. And I'm probably biased as I didn't really rate the E30 back in the 80's, and I came very close to buying an E36 10 years ago. Plus blatting around in someone else's car for a day or two and running one yourself isn't the same thing.CAR mag included an E36 3.2 in their M3 test
The journo(s) still picked the E30 or maybe the E46 CSL over it
There's no right answer for everyone
blade7 said:
s m said:
Even quicker no doubt
CAR mag included an E36 3.2 in their M3 test
The journo(s) still picked the E30 or maybe the E46 CSL over it
There's no right answer for everyone
Of course. And I'm probably biased as I didn't really rate the E30 back in the 80's, and I came very close to buying an E36 10 years ago. Plus blatting around in someone else's car for a day or two and running one yourself isn't the same thing.CAR mag included an E36 3.2 in their M3 test
The journo(s) still picked the E30 or maybe the E46 CSL over it
There's no right answer for everyone
Also, if you've only got a day or two to get used to driving a car at speed to explore its performance the E30 M3 is by far the more approachable and forgiving car. Because it's much slower you've got more time to deal with and correct mistakes and you're less likely to run into calamitous trouble as quickly.
In the other M3s, 'things' start happening much more quickly. Whilst one of my reasons for selling my E30 M3 was that after 7 years I was finding it too slow by the same token I had to admit that the E46 CSL was just 'too much' car for me!
I would have ended up killing myself or somebody else. I don't think it was necessarily that it was faster than a standard E46 M3 because I maintain don't think that there's materially a big difference (especially on a public road); the biggest difference was the noise and somehow how that 'noise' continually seemed to make me want to drive it stupidly fast! It was as if, if one wasn't driving it fast you were holding it back and weren't really driving it at all?
Edited by derin100 on Wednesday 25th April 13:51
derin100 said:
Very, very true!
Also, if you've only got a day or two to get used to driving a car at speed to explore its performance the E30 M3 is by far the more approachable and forgiving car. Because it's much slower you've got more time to deal with and correct mistakes and you're less likely to run into calamitous as quickly.
In the other M3s, 'things' start happening much more quickly. Whilst one of my reasons for selling my E30 M3 was that after 7 years I was finding it too slow by the same token I had to admit that the E46 CSL was just 'too much' car for me! I would have ended up killing myself or somebody else.
I know what you mean. I had an X pack RS2000 with around 150 bhp and a 87 RS Cosworth with a lot more, at the same time. There was plenty of opposite lock fun in the Escort Also, if you've only got a day or two to get used to driving a car at speed to explore its performance the E30 M3 is by far the more approachable and forgiving car. Because it's much slower you've got more time to deal with and correct mistakes and you're less likely to run into calamitous as quickly.
In the other M3s, 'things' start happening much more quickly. Whilst one of my reasons for selling my E30 M3 was that after 7 years I was finding it too slow by the same token I had to admit that the E46 CSL was just 'too much' car for me!
I would have ended up killing myself or somebody else. 
. The Sierra, not so much. It was a happy day for her indoors when I sold that Escort.I had an E46 M3 for the past 5-6 months and sold it. It was the shortest I have ever held a car.
They are cool etc, but they are not all they are cracked up to be.
They are a nice jack of all trades car. Nice power up top, pretty good in terms of handling, turn in is a little slow, brakes are OK, interior is a bit dated by today's standards.
Factor in the high running costs - OK.
Then body repairs for rusting, problems with floors, bearing problems etc... it soon becomes clear that you are spending big money on maintaining car that doesn't do anything spectacularly well.
My Integra would push it up the road (modded to 227 bhp so HP/Tonne is 214 vs the M3 228, assuming the M3 is firing all 343hp) and the DC2 is geared for acceleration.
In terms of daily comfort, I had a 530d before the M3 which was mapped. And for a daily car this was much better.
The M3 was kind of in the middle, a compromise. It did feel special because of the M badge and the sound of the s54 lump and I always had a soft spot for the E46 coupe lines. But beyond that.....meh.
They are cool etc, but they are not all they are cracked up to be.
They are a nice jack of all trades car. Nice power up top, pretty good in terms of handling, turn in is a little slow, brakes are OK, interior is a bit dated by today's standards.
Factor in the high running costs - OK.
Then body repairs for rusting, problems with floors, bearing problems etc... it soon becomes clear that you are spending big money on maintaining car that doesn't do anything spectacularly well.
My Integra would push it up the road (modded to 227 bhp so HP/Tonne is 214 vs the M3 228, assuming the M3 is firing all 343hp) and the DC2 is geared for acceleration.
In terms of daily comfort, I had a 530d before the M3 which was mapped. And for a daily car this was much better.
The M3 was kind of in the middle, a compromise. It did feel special because of the M badge and the sound of the s54 lump and I always had a soft spot for the E46 coupe lines. But beyond that.....meh.
Never personally liked them
In 2011 when I was looking at cars I looked at a m3 cs a bmw 135i and a Porsche 996 turbo
Didn’t rate the m3 at all preferred the 135i and the 996 broke down when he took me out for a test drive so I bought a house instead
Don’t like the e9x m3 v8 either
Loved the e36 m3 though I’d have one of those if they were sensibly priced
In 2011 when I was looking at cars I looked at a m3 cs a bmw 135i and a Porsche 996 turbo
Didn’t rate the m3 at all preferred the 135i and the 996 broke down when he took me out for a test drive so I bought a house instead
Don’t like the e9x m3 v8 either
Loved the e36 m3 though I’d have one of those if they were sensibly priced
GONKO85 said:
I had an E46 M3 for the past 5-6 months and sold it.
My Integra would push it up the road (modded to 227 bhp so HP/Tonne is 214 vs the M3 228, assuming the M3 is firing all 343hp) and the DC2 is geared for acceleration.
In terms of daily comfort, I had a 530d before the M3 which was mapped. And for a daily car this was much better.
The M3 was kind of in the middle, a compromise. It did feel special because of the M badge and the sound of the s54 lump and I always had a soft spot for the E46 coupe lines. But beyond that.....meh.
I expect the M3 would just drive away from the Integra around 130ish, I think the M3 is capable of 170+.My Integra would push it up the road (modded to 227 bhp so HP/Tonne is 214 vs the M3 228, assuming the M3 is firing all 343hp) and the DC2 is geared for acceleration.
In terms of daily comfort, I had a 530d before the M3 which was mapped. And for a daily car this was much better.
The M3 was kind of in the middle, a compromise. It did feel special because of the M badge and the sound of the s54 lump and I always had a soft spot for the E46 coupe lines. But beyond that.....meh.
LordHaveMurci said:
RSVR101 said:
They are aging well aren't they, not just the M3 either but all E46's.
They really are.
A friend of one of my neighbours has a late (54 reg) Coupe. It's just a 320Cd Sport, but it looks fabulous IMO, in grey with those MV2 wheels. It's completely unmolested and always immaculate.
One of those cars that just looks right from every angle. Very clean, unfussy shape
GONKO85 said:
I had an E46 M3 for the past 5-6 months and sold it. It was the shortest I have ever held a car.
They are cool etc, but they are not all they are cracked up to be.
They are a nice jack of all trades car. Nice power up top, pretty good in terms of handling, turn in is a little slow, brakes are OK, interior is a bit dated by today's standards.
Factor in the high running costs - OK.
Then body repairs for rusting, problems with floors, bearing problems etc... it soon becomes clear that you are spending big money on maintaining car that doesn't do anything spectacularly well.
My Integra would push it up the road (modded to 227 bhp so HP/Tonne is 214 vs the M3 228, assuming the M3 is firing all 343hp) and the DC2 is geared for acceleration.
In terms of daily comfort, I had a 530d before the M3 which was mapped. And for a daily car this was much better.
The M3 was kind of in the middle, a compromise. It did feel special because of the M badge and the sound of the s54 lump and I always had a soft spot for the E46 coupe lines. But beyond that.....meh.
But you are looking at a 13-16 year old car that is heavy on parts. They are cool etc, but they are not all they are cracked up to be.
They are a nice jack of all trades car. Nice power up top, pretty good in terms of handling, turn in is a little slow, brakes are OK, interior is a bit dated by today's standards.
Factor in the high running costs - OK.
Then body repairs for rusting, problems with floors, bearing problems etc... it soon becomes clear that you are spending big money on maintaining car that doesn't do anything spectacularly well.
My Integra would push it up the road (modded to 227 bhp so HP/Tonne is 214 vs the M3 228, assuming the M3 is firing all 343hp) and the DC2 is geared for acceleration.
In terms of daily comfort, I had a 530d before the M3 which was mapped. And for a daily car this was much better.
The M3 was kind of in the middle, a compromise. It did feel special because of the M badge and the sound of the s54 lump and I always had a soft spot for the E46 coupe lines. But beyond that.....meh.
There is a massive difference between a new one, and one now.
I went out in a regular 2005 SMG coupe with only 28k miles on it last year, and you could just tell it was old.
It needed all the suspension and bushes doing to get it feeling like it is meant to feel again.
Age makes a huge difference.
Weekendrebuild said:
Brilliant car fast fun great looking one in my collection so real opinion , how you can say it’s not fast I’ve no idea ! I drive an atom and my home built s54 powered m3 compact as occasional daily’s an still consider the m3 fast!
I agree. The E46 is plenty fast enough. There is something about how linear the power increase is that also makes it a joy to drive, something that is lost in so many forced induced cars these days.
I don't think that there has been a bad version of the M3...
The E46 M3 may be getting on, heavy and dated as mentioned and recent AMG or RS3 hot hatches would give it a hiding, but that was the same as the F355 Spider i had until recently....its an old car, but a classic that is aging very gracefully; i think it looks better every time i see it....how could you get bored looking at this rear...
The E46 M3 may be getting on, heavy and dated as mentioned and recent AMG or RS3 hot hatches would give it a hiding, but that was the same as the F355 Spider i had until recently....its an old car, but a classic that is aging very gracefully; i think it looks better every time i see it....how could you get bored looking at this rear...
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