E46 M3 vs M235

E46 M3 vs M235

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highway

Original Poster:

1,928 posts

259 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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I’ve been offered an old bosses M235i. He’s had it from new and it’s been pampered. Its only covered 16k. Full BMW service history from new. It’s in great shape, but I have always hankered after an E 46 M3, preferably manual.

The 235 is auto. Scouring the PH classified I’ve seen what looks like a pristine E46 with some really discrete upgrades. The owner has put 6 pot BMW performance brakes on the front with Porsche on the rear. CSL wheels, carbon air box and a load of other stuff as well.

It’s on PH classifieds but I don’t think I can link to the ad. It’s up at £24950.

I read the PH article earlier this week explaining how that S54 engine is a legend. I’m guessing that, though more modern, the E46! Is significantly more special? The mods all look OEM quality on the E46- do they hurt or assist the value of the car in the longer term?

Anyone had both who can impart some wisdom?

Cannyjock

54 posts

53 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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OK, first to admit that I've owned neither - I've recently swapped a Golf R for a E90 M3. A similar comparison in some ways? Anyway, my thoughts:

The M235 will be a much better daily, have excellent real world performance with more torque, and be more up to date interior wise. The E46 on the other hand will feel a lot more special, an event to drive, but not as easy as a daily. So what do you want, a good fun daily car, or something a bit more special but more expensive to run and older/more fragile?

The only right answer is the one that suits you. If I had another daily the M3 would be an absolute no brainer choice, if it was my only car I might lean the other way. But if I did, I'd find a manual - that's personal choice though.

BTW - that's top end money for the E46, so make sure it's worth it!

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Wednesday 12th February 2020
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I haven't owned either of them either!

But I think it depends how you would be using it. If it would be your only car for all purposes the M235i might suit you better.

If you run a daily and would keep the M3 for special occasions I'd go for that option.

I bought a Z4 M Coupe in December with the same S54 engine as the E46 M3, and only did so because I've got a 330i for daily duties. I wouldn't want to subject a proper "M" model to the daily drudgery, commute, etc. It just feels too special for that sort of use IMO.

Anyway for £25K any M3 would have to be a very special example - my Z4MC didn't cost much more than half of that!



highway

Original Poster:

1,928 posts

259 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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The PH article about legendary engines suggests the ‘best’ M3 are £25k ish now. I haven’t been keeping strict market watch but cars with low miles, evidence all the weak points addressed and without a story, seem thin on the ground?

I’d use the car daily. Again, when new was this not what the M3 was marketed for? 235 no doubt quicker and easier. It just looks so bland.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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£25k for an E46 M3 is pretty strong money. A few grand more sees you into an early M2.

I mention the M2 because if you liked the 235, it gives you the extra punch of an M car.

The 235 as said will be better as a daily driver coping with the boring stuff better; more low down torque etc. The autobox is very good and suits the engine and again makes the daily stuff easy. What it won’t do is excite you; I have an M140i and find the EPAS lacking feel and the car just lacks the ‘zing’ of an M car. But it’s cheap to run, comfy and certainly quick enough when you want it to be.

The E46 is one of the best looking cars that BMW have designed in my eyes, especially the M3 but they are getting on a bit and have a few issues. It’ll need more looking after and cost more to run than something like an M235.

stevemcs

8,592 posts

92 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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I’d take the M3 and pick up a Ford Focus for £500 to use as a daily hack.

CustardOnChips

1,936 posts

61 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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M3. Use it and enjoy it.

But, do some research and understand they can be expensive to run when things go wrong.

Have a look on M3 Cutters for more advice.











And get an SMG because its better than a manual! >>>>> Runs for cover. smile

Type R Tom

3,859 posts

148 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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Don't know if you care but the M3 will likely stay the same value or maybe increase, the M235 is likely to still lose a bit.

cerb4.5lee

30,175 posts

179 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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Court_S said:
£25k for an E46 M3 is pretty strong money. A few grand more sees you into an early M2.
This is my train of thought too. The E46 M3 has had its day now for me(it was great in its day though), and I'd want something more modern for that sort of money.



Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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I think if you hanker after a E46 M3 as I did, then you won't be happy unless you buy one.

Unless, as suggested, you like the M2. It's a great car. It's been bested by the M2 Comp. But for your budget, the best alternate to the E46 M3. With all the benefits of modernity.

I bought a E46 M3 2016, 3 years and 13k miles of mainly fun use on, it became my daily; I did 10k between June and November.
That's where it's frailties showed. I've had no major issues, testimony to the quality of the cars of that era. But a lot of niggles, including failure of the sat nav biggrin

They will hold their value better, but I'm not sure if the one you're looking at is worth £25k and if you're piling on the miles (as a daily) it's going to drop.
Collectors, who you'd want to sell it too, seem to prefer standard and low miles.
If looking to deal, I would certainly get an inspection done on it. Titanium silver and a sunroof, aren't popular options and unless you'll benefit from other mods you should buy below £20k and save for maintenance.

I would forget the M235i, try and M2 and if that's not for you then shop around for E46 M3s. You need to drive a few.
But go in with your eyes open to high running costs which may negate the better depreciation curve.

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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I've used my M3 daily for 10 years now, it's quick enough when it needs to be and is a perfect tool for the job IMO. The NA engine has to be revved to to wake it up and these modern turbo cars with low down grunt can make the M3 seem lethargic if your not used to extending your right foot further, but to say it's slow amongst daily traffic is just internet chatter. Also all this talk of an M3 not being suited to daily life is rubbish unless you need the practicality of 4 doors. Driving wise there is no doubt the M3 is more engaging than the 235 but depends if that's your bag or not.

The biggest thing you need to consider between the two cars is the service, maintenance and rolling restoration type work that a circa 17yr old car will need when compared to a newer offering. Mine has been staggeringly reliable but that's not to say I have to keep on top of niggles and minor issues as they crop up which for some is an annoyance to just getting in and turning the key, but for me is down to just general maintenance of running an older (more interesting) car.

25k is a tad steep if your thinking of getting into E46 ownership, but before you part with the cash, just get out there and get behind the wheel of a few cars to see what floats your boat. driving

Edited by NotNormal on Thursday 13th February 09:28

Type R Tom

3,859 posts

148 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
quotequote all
NotNormal said:
I've used my M3 daily for 10 years now, it's quick enough when it needs to be and is a perfect tool for the job IMO. The NA engine has to be revved to to wake it up and these modern turbo cars with low down grunt can make the M3 seem lethargic if your not used to extending your right foot further, but to say it's slow amongst daily traffic is just internet chatter. Also all this talk of an M3 not being suited to daily life is rubbish unless you need the practicality of 4 doors. Driving wise there is no doubt the M3 is more engaging than the 235 but depends if that's your bag or not.


Edited by NotNormal on Thursday 13th February 09:28
That aspect of the NA engine is exactly what makes it a good daily, just keep it below 4K at it feels like a normal 3. Don't daily mine anymore, partly due to fuel costs but when I did never felt it was a problem.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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I was doing pretty well keeping up with a stripped and track-prepped E46 M3 on Semi slicks in my M135i with better brakes :-)

My vote would be M235i.

E46 is lovely on occasion you can use it but in the real world the M235i will be everything you want

- more comfortable
- faster
- more economical
- nicer interior
- more refined
- more reliable
- cheaper to run

ST66N

72 posts

83 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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The 235 is a great all-rounder but unless/until you do some work to it, it will miss out to an M car above 8/10ths.

The M2 is drifting into your price range, but if you're going to daily it and do a lot of motorway/dual carriageway driving, strongly consider DCT. I've a manual and sixth is very low.

Cheburator mk2

2,973 posts

198 months

Thursday 13th February 2020
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xjay1337 said:
I was doing pretty well keeping up with a stripped and track-prepped E46 M3 on Semi slicks in my M135i with better brakes :-)

My vote would be M235i.

E46 is lovely on occasion you can use it but in the real world the M235i will be everything you want

- more comfortable
- faster
- more economical
- nicer interior
- more refined
- more reliable
- cheaper to run
Was the track prepped E46 M3 driver aware you were keeping up with him? Just asking...

A properly prepped E46 M3 is 996/7 GT3 quick. I know because I have one of each and I also race against them.

As for the M235i or M140i vs. a proper and possibly the best ///M car ever made - personally, if I wanted a washing machine I would have bought a Miele...

silly

T1berious

2,242 posts

154 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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As mentioned 25k is very strong money for an E46 M3, I paid 19k for a Z4MC from a bmw dealer.

An M235 would be the better daily and plenty fast enough. The S54 is not a cheap engine to run and the Inspection II service is >900. As much as I loved it and was sad to see it go, I don't miss the big Bill's.

The B58 will still entertain higher in the rev range, the 440i is shockingly fast when you want it to be and pretty economical when on a long run.

For a daily, M235, for an occasional use, weekend or high days? E46 M3 with a very real view if the running costs.

cerb4.5lee

30,175 posts

179 months

Friday 14th February 2020
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T1berious said:
For a daily, M235, for an occasional use, weekend or high days? E46 M3 with a very real view if the running costs.
Agree and I'd go for the M235 as a daily(I prefer the turbo low down torque for a daily). I often question whether the M3 is really special enough to be a weekend/occasional car though...because it was built to be a very usable all round car(practical/comfortable etc).

Cheburator mk2

2,973 posts

198 months

Friday 14th February 2020
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
Agree and I'd go for the M235 as a daily(I prefer the turbo low down torque for a daily). I often question whether the M3 is really special enough to be a weekend/occasional car though...because it was built to be a very usable all round car(practical/comfortable etc).
Look at it in the context of things... Until recently I used to drive as a daily beater E53 X5 4.8iS which I have had for 5yrs and 50k miles (from 50k to 100k). Awesome car, but not very involving compared to all the other cars in my garage. Recently I bought a F15 X5 50i with about 30k worth of options thrown in. Now that is a bus compared to the old 4.8iS. Yes, it is indicently quick - 0-60 in 4.3 and super comfortable, and the B&O stereo is to die for, but it makes the old E53 X5 4.8iS seem the pinnacle of analogue engineering. Which it probably was to be fair...

So, yes, in the context of other 2000s machines, let's say a 996, an E46 M3 could well be a bit ho-hum, but compared to the modern dross, it is streets ahead in terms of specialness and just the right balance between analogue/digital...

NotNormal

2,357 posts

213 months

Friday 14th February 2020
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
... I often question whether the M3 is really special enough to be a weekend/occasional car though...because it was built to be a very usable all round car(practical/comfortable etc).
Agree, if mine was to be a weekend car I would have sold it years ago as there are more interesting cars that suit the "weekend/special car" role.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Friday 14th February 2020
quotequote all
Cheburator mk2 said:
Was the track prepped E46 M3 driver aware you were keeping up with him? Just asking...

A properly prepped E46 M3 is 996/7 GT3 quick. I know because I have one of each and I also race against them.

As for the M235i or M140i vs. a proper and possibly the best ///M car ever made - personally, if I wanted a washing machine I would have bought a Miele...

silly
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