BMW E46 M3, what is it to you, iconic, overrated, epic etc.?
Discussion
Owned one with smg gearbox for nearly two years.
I thought it felt heavy, numb, soft and unstoppable. Meaning utterly sh*te brakes.
It needed a small fortune spent on suspension and brakes to be able to last a few laps on track.
M stands for Meaningless to me ever since. Motorsport is something else entirely.
The amounts of body-roll and dive when pushing a bit were almost comical.
Terrible seats without any lateral support, steering without any feel...
To me it felt like a somewhat sporty BMW for the elderly bloke with a hint of a midlife crisis.
My midlife crisis would have been much more enjoyable if I'd just spent the cash on some fit bird.
I thought it felt heavy, numb, soft and unstoppable. Meaning utterly sh*te brakes.
It needed a small fortune spent on suspension and brakes to be able to last a few laps on track.
M stands for Meaningless to me ever since. Motorsport is something else entirely.
The amounts of body-roll and dive when pushing a bit were almost comical.
Terrible seats without any lateral support, steering without any feel...
To me it felt like a somewhat sporty BMW for the elderly bloke with a hint of a midlife crisis.
My midlife crisis would have been much more enjoyable if I'd just spent the cash on some fit bird.
HannsG said:
Captainawesome said:
If they had no torque, they wouldn't move.
Evolve can solve this problem for you.
No such thing as bad weather….just the wrong clothes.
Wonder what the Evolve remap does? Anyone had one here?Evolve can solve this problem for you.
No such thing as bad weather….just the wrong clothes.
P-Jay said:
"Not really that fast" 0-60 in 4 something and 155mph is fast in my book
Mine was still pulling at 175!I always had the opinion that it was over rated so I bought an E36 m3, ended up having a convertible, coupe and saloon over 2 years then thought what the hell let me try an E46 and it was EPIC!
Daily driver ability, sounded amazing, and handled like a proper performance car.
I'm asking myself the same questions at the moment.
Being in my mid 20's the E46 M3 was an attainable icon when I was a teenager. First thing I bought when I came out of university but now budgets and outlook has enhanced I can't work out whether it's actually as good as I think it is?
At the moment it's taking up valuable garage space which could be taken up by something from Maranello or Stuttgart but at the moment they're relatively cheap so I can't decide whether it's worth just storing it somewhere in the hope it'll go up in value in the next 10-20 years or just get rid of it.
Being in my mid 20's the E46 M3 was an attainable icon when I was a teenager. First thing I bought when I came out of university but now budgets and outlook has enhanced I can't work out whether it's actually as good as I think it is?
At the moment it's taking up valuable garage space which could be taken up by something from Maranello or Stuttgart but at the moment they're relatively cheap so I can't decide whether it's worth just storing it somewhere in the hope it'll go up in value in the next 10-20 years or just get rid of it.
If you want a fast car to use day-to-day then they are likely to live up to the hype.
If you buy one as a weekend car, I think you'd be disappointed. Certainly when I had mine, I'd get in it every morning and drive 35 miles to work and it would be perfectly nice, plenty of power if required, reasonable enough cruiser (the ride quality is far from great on the 19s though) and comfortable inside in terms of toys.
If I went out for a blast at the weekend though it was pretty boring tbh. The engine is a masterpiece, but there it ends. Rubbish brakes out the factory, the chassis is progressive enough but you need to drive like an a
hole to experience it properly imo and it wasn't terrifically involving.
Many, many betters cars out there if you want to go out and have fun at the weekend. I wouldn't have another. But I would like to put the engine in something with more of a fun bias.
If you buy one as a weekend car, I think you'd be disappointed. Certainly when I had mine, I'd get in it every morning and drive 35 miles to work and it would be perfectly nice, plenty of power if required, reasonable enough cruiser (the ride quality is far from great on the 19s though) and comfortable inside in terms of toys.
If I went out for a blast at the weekend though it was pretty boring tbh. The engine is a masterpiece, but there it ends. Rubbish brakes out the factory, the chassis is progressive enough but you need to drive like an a
hole to experience it properly imo and it wasn't terrifically involving.Many, many betters cars out there if you want to go out and have fun at the weekend. I wouldn't have another. But I would like to put the engine in something with more of a fun bias.
zeppelin101 said:
If you want a fast car to use day-to-day then they are likely to live up to the hype.
If you buy one as a weekend car, I think you'd be disappointed. Certainly when I had mine, I'd get in it every morning and drive 35 miles to work and it would be perfectly nice, plenty of power if required, reasonable enough cruiser (the ride quality is far from great on the 19s though) and comfortable inside in terms of toys.
If I went out for a blast at the weekend though it was pretty boring tbh. The engine is a masterpiece, but there it ends. Rubbish brakes out the factory, the chassis is progressive enough but you need to drive like an ahole to experience it properly imo and it wasn't terrifically involving.
Many, many betters cars out there if you want to go out and have fun at the weekend. I wouldn't have another. But I would like to put the engine in something with more of a fun bias.
+1. As a all rounder performance car daily driver they are IMO unsurpassed at that price point. I agree the car does need to be driven like a loon to really appreciate it but it's a very nice place to be at all times.If you buy one as a weekend car, I think you'd be disappointed. Certainly when I had mine, I'd get in it every morning and drive 35 miles to work and it would be perfectly nice, plenty of power if required, reasonable enough cruiser (the ride quality is far from great on the 19s though) and comfortable inside in terms of toys.
If I went out for a blast at the weekend though it was pretty boring tbh. The engine is a masterpiece, but there it ends. Rubbish brakes out the factory, the chassis is progressive enough but you need to drive like an a
hole to experience it properly imo and it wasn't terrifically involving.Many, many betters cars out there if you want to go out and have fun at the weekend. I wouldn't have another. But I would like to put the engine in something with more of a fun bias.
However as a weekend car it's all round abilty to do everything so well makes it somewhat compromised in all areas. It will never excel.
I would have one again but am slighly put off by the high service costs and 12k valve service. It's also a bit bulky to really exploit on track and is therefore heavy on consumables.
I remember the kangarooing when cold.
I enjoyed mine, think its a great all round car. Starting to get a bit dated and I hardly ever see any about now compared to 5 years ago.
I think the risk of bills keeps the prices lower like the 996 but in a few years people will get over those and they will start to rise.
Mine was Silver/Grey, manual with black interior and I had both the 18 and 19s. Preferred the 18s and used them apart from to sell the car.
I did not want red interior, had to black and manual. Colour I would have loved Laguna but so rare in facelift models since it would have to be an exclusive extra. So second choice was either Red or Grey.
It was faster than most cars and made a great noise. Was very easy to work on I found too. Fitted coilovers in 2 hours which compared to my A4 is nothing.
I enjoyed mine, think its a great all round car. Starting to get a bit dated and I hardly ever see any about now compared to 5 years ago.
I think the risk of bills keeps the prices lower like the 996 but in a few years people will get over those and they will start to rise.
Mine was Silver/Grey, manual with black interior and I had both the 18 and 19s. Preferred the 18s and used them apart from to sell the car.
I did not want red interior, had to black and manual. Colour I would have loved Laguna but so rare in facelift models since it would have to be an exclusive extra. So second choice was either Red or Grey.
It was faster than most cars and made a great noise. Was very easy to work on I found too. Fitted coilovers in 2 hours which compared to my A4 is nothing.
Rawhide said:
I would have one again but am slightly put off by the high service costs and 12k valve service. It's also a bit bulky to really exploit on track and is therefore heavy on consumables.
I can concur with this, I slid mine about a bit (ok, a lot) on track and one of the rear Contis shred a piece of rubber about 1.5 wide by 6 inches long. That was quite a pricey track day.HannsG said:
Here is mine. It is the best car I have ever owned. Its 10 years old and makes all the stress at work go away when I turn the key and head home.
Silver Grey, Imola red interior and the most important part Manual gearbox.
New BMWs and other cars do nothing for me. Only mods I have done is an after market exhaust, eibachs and internal cup holders. Just buy one, but spend more than average for a decent one and it will reward you in spades.
My ideal car ... grey with red interior, manual, coupe with 19's. Just perfect. please message me if you ever sell.Silver Grey, Imola red interior and the most important part Manual gearbox.
New BMWs and other cars do nothing for me. Only mods I have done is an after market exhaust, eibachs and internal cup holders. Just buy one, but spend more than average for a decent one and it will reward you in spades.
Edited by HannsG on Saturday 13th September 16:14
I've not driven an M3 E46 but I've driven a few normal E46 BMWs. I think that with the E46 M3 buying it for any rational reason is a bit silly! Most people buy one for the engine noise and on a track the 'M' locking diff means it will drift more easily and controllably than most RWD cars.
I'm not a fan of RWD in the wet or the E46 driving position but a six grand M3 isn't going to lose money really. Just maintain it well and hope nothing expensive goes wrong. Probably best to leave the SMG alone unless it's got a nice discount over an equivalent manual car. To me the E46 is a dull shape overall, but the M3 looks much nicer with all the 'M' wheels/body parts on it.
I'd buy one if I was looking at fast RWD cars for 6-7K, if fuel bills aren't an issue
I think, in theory, any alternative for similar money is a bit worse in some way, Maybe a nice 3.2 Evolution or Audi S4 can be found for less? If you can't afford to run a V8 or don't want a heavier or more expensive car there aren't many options. Under 7K it seems like the best performance deal there is right now.
I'm not a fan of RWD in the wet or the E46 driving position but a six grand M3 isn't going to lose money really. Just maintain it well and hope nothing expensive goes wrong. Probably best to leave the SMG alone unless it's got a nice discount over an equivalent manual car. To me the E46 is a dull shape overall, but the M3 looks much nicer with all the 'M' wheels/body parts on it.
I'd buy one if I was looking at fast RWD cars for 6-7K, if fuel bills aren't an issue
I think, in theory, any alternative for similar money is a bit worse in some way, Maybe a nice 3.2 Evolution or Audi S4 can be found for less? If you can't afford to run a V8 or don't want a heavier or more expensive car there aren't many options. Under 7K it seems like the best performance deal there is right now.
I wanted to own one for ten years (still have the original EVO October 2000 issue with the red M3 on the cover) yet every time I test drove one it left me underwhelmed.
I think the reason for this is that the 330ci seems like the more complete car with a more exploitable engine for daily use (it would have been a DD for me).
In the end I went for a 335 which feels quicker, sounds better, and wasn't going to cost the earth to get an extended warranty on. Dare I say it, it feels more special too.
Nothing beats the E46 M3 on looks; it's just everywhere else that it's somewhat over rated.
I think the reason for this is that the 330ci seems like the more complete car with a more exploitable engine for daily use (it would have been a DD for me).
In the end I went for a 335 which feels quicker, sounds better, and wasn't going to cost the earth to get an extended warranty on. Dare I say it, it feels more special too.
Nothing beats the E46 M3 on looks; it's just everywhere else that it's somewhat over rated.
daveco said:
I wanted to own one for ten years (still have the original EVO October 2000 issue with the red M3 on the cover) yet every time I test drove one it left me underwhelmed.
This is the same as me, ended up buying a 996, never regretted it & much though I love the look of the M3 you do have to look hard to tell one apart from other E46's on the move.LordHaveMurci said:
much though I love the look of the M3 you do have to look hard to tell one apart from other E46's on the move.
I have always said the same for the E92 as well and if you were stood next to a E46/E92 M3 you could easily pick out the little details but when out on the road I always struggle to tell a M3 from the rest of the range until its up really close to me(being short sighted doesn't help me much though!) Probably the best car that £6k buys you these days. I really don't get all the negative comments that it did not handle well or that the brakes were wanting or whatever...
If I had to make a choice between an E46 M3 or a cooking 996, the BMW wins every time. Stunning engine, much better ergonomics, much better gearbox, LSD as standard, much better interior. Ok, the steering feel leaves you cold, but everything else is just so much better. BMW took the fight to Porsche and in my mind won. Just think how much better the 997 is, I would guess partly because Porsche had to raise its game due to BMW actually making a stunning product.
Get one, while they are cheap. Is it a coincidence that there are tons of them on track, and hardly any 996s (GTx excepted). When the dogs have been broken for spares, the E46 will go up. Overall, it is much more of a drivers' car than the E9x or the Fx. As to the design - it is a classic already. All lines feel right and complete from all angles.
If I had to make a choice between an E46 M3 or a cooking 996, the BMW wins every time. Stunning engine, much better ergonomics, much better gearbox, LSD as standard, much better interior. Ok, the steering feel leaves you cold, but everything else is just so much better. BMW took the fight to Porsche and in my mind won. Just think how much better the 997 is, I would guess partly because Porsche had to raise its game due to BMW actually making a stunning product.
Get one, while they are cheap. Is it a coincidence that there are tons of them on track, and hardly any 996s (GTx excepted). When the dogs have been broken for spares, the E46 will go up. Overall, it is much more of a drivers' car than the E9x or the Fx. As to the design - it is a classic already. All lines feel right and complete from all angles.
What's the image problem people keep referring to?
It's a desirable car that lots of people want to own. Sadly the idiots of the world get their hands on them when they get cheap. The very same happens with lots of other cars.
I'm confused why other brands seem to be excluded from jibes when they are far more likely to be owned by the undesirables.
It's a desirable car that lots of people want to own. Sadly the idiots of the world get their hands on them when they get cheap. The very same happens with lots of other cars.
I'm confused why other brands seem to be excluded from jibes when they are far more likely to be owned by the undesirables.
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