E46 330ci. Does this compare to the E36 M3?
Discussion
Anyone owned/drove these two models?
How do these two cars compare in the performance department?
Does the E36 M3 vastly outperform/outpace the 330ci or would a car earlier in design and around six years older start to lose edge over it's more modern E46 cousin? On paper there is a fair difference but those figures would have been when the M3 was new. Where would I be best be spending my £8000, looking around you can get a good 2002/3 330ci for this price or an M3 with a few thousand spare for any nasty surprises!
Also are the running costs a lot dearer with the M3, as for ins. I had a quote for £450 full comp on the M3 which isn't bad for a group 20 car!
How do these two cars compare in the performance department?
Does the E36 M3 vastly outperform/outpace the 330ci or would a car earlier in design and around six years older start to lose edge over it's more modern E46 cousin? On paper there is a fair difference but those figures would have been when the M3 was new. Where would I be best be spending my £8000, looking around you can get a good 2002/3 330ci for this price or an M3 with a few thousand spare for any nasty surprises!
Also are the running costs a lot dearer with the M3, as for ins. I had a quote for £450 full comp on the M3 which isn't bad for a group 20 car!
huge difference in performance, the 330ci on paper seems nippy but really just feels a bit sluggish and not like the 230bhp it is meant to have. makes a nice sound though.
i have not driven an e36 m3 to comment (only an e46)but think an e36 328i is comparable to the 330ci but perhaps feels a bit faster due to less bulk and refinement etc.
the e46 m3 is much faster than the 330ci.
i have not driven an e36 m3 to comment (only an e46)but think an e36 328i is comparable to the 330ci but perhaps feels a bit faster due to less bulk and refinement etc.
the e46 m3 is much faster than the 330ci.
Only have experience of E46's (330ci and M3) and have to agree that the M3 really is in a different league entirely. The 330ci is a lovely car and a nice place to be, but it does not feel particularly fast and is certainly not exciting. Don't believe anyone that tries to convince you that a 330ci is close to an M3 in performance / driving pleasure.
Heathwood said:
Only have experience of E46's (330ci and M3) and have to agree that the M3 really is in a different league entirely. The 330ci is a lovely car and a nice place to be, but it does not feel particularly fast and is certainly not exciting. Don't believe anyone that tries to convince you that a 330ci is close to an M3 in performance / driving pleasure.
Stock vs stock I agree however, throw on a decent full system, set of coilovers, decent rims (read 9.5" on the rear rather than the skinneys they come with!) and a decent CAI kit and theres not a huge real world difference. I know its unfair to compare modded to stock but if you get a decent 330ci then mod over a year you will have a newer car with close performance (although a straight line drag will see you beaten by the M3 everytime I will admit). The E36 m3's are more of a heart buy/want than a modern car so unless you want to look after it more and treat it with more respect than a daily normally gets Id go with the newer car.First post on here, so be easy on me.
I currently own a 51 plate 330ci coupe and have owned a 97 M3 convertible.
The 330 is a quick car for sure, it see's off most on the road that have tried in an almost effortless way, engine pretty quiet, exhaust sounds nice especially since I freed off the stuck rear exhaust flap, sounds real good around 1500-2000 revs now.
The M3 is a quick car in a very different way, the engine is superb, it lets you know that you want to get on, very buzzy and that 'cam' kicking in around 2700 is to die for, nice shove in the back and the car just well takes off, still pretty civilised, but that engine is like no other I've owned.
It's the build quality where the E46 is miles ahead, it feels so much more 'grown up', it's standard spec let alone options is miles ahead of any E36, it feels more solid and well built, I've owned 4 E36's and none felt very well screwed together.
I felt the E46 could also outhandle the M3, steering is much better, much more positive.
The M3 to be honest was a little bit disappointing, I had a few problems with the car, I have had some issues with the e46 however, but now that's sorted I feel the E46 will go on and not have 'bits falling off' like the M3.
I currently own a 51 plate 330ci coupe and have owned a 97 M3 convertible.
The 330 is a quick car for sure, it see's off most on the road that have tried in an almost effortless way, engine pretty quiet, exhaust sounds nice especially since I freed off the stuck rear exhaust flap, sounds real good around 1500-2000 revs now.
The M3 is a quick car in a very different way, the engine is superb, it lets you know that you want to get on, very buzzy and that 'cam' kicking in around 2700 is to die for, nice shove in the back and the car just well takes off, still pretty civilised, but that engine is like no other I've owned.
It's the build quality where the E46 is miles ahead, it feels so much more 'grown up', it's standard spec let alone options is miles ahead of any E36, it feels more solid and well built, I've owned 4 E36's and none felt very well screwed together.
I felt the E46 could also outhandle the M3, steering is much better, much more positive.
The M3 to be honest was a little bit disappointing, I had a few problems with the car, I have had some issues with the e46 however, but now that's sorted I feel the E46 will go on and not have 'bits falling off' like the M3.
The 330ci can never be described as anything more than a comfy GT cruiser, even in sporty Sport guise. The potential fun that a 230bhp, 6-pot, rear drive coupe should deliver just doesn't exist. They are very nice cars, don't get me wrong, so long as you are after a car of the kind it is.
WTF? I SWEAR that I read the E46 330CI was 260BHP? I checked and it's only 230BHP?! CRAZY!
My S2000 had 240BHP, granted you had to be north of 5-6k+ to get a decent response out of it, and the relatively poor amount of torque at the lower revs and it's in a completely different market...
The E36 M3 would eat the E46 330ci. But if your a capable driver with some semi slicks on a track you can get some very respectable times. You won't be dragging other cars off the line but that goes without saying to most cars unless your in a beast that someone else will always be faster off the line. But anything about 6seconds is moderately fast off the mark imo. Not lightning but pretty fast.
Koing
My S2000 had 240BHP, granted you had to be north of 5-6k+ to get a decent response out of it, and the relatively poor amount of torque at the lower revs and it's in a completely different market...
The E36 M3 would eat the E46 330ci. But if your a capable driver with some semi slicks on a track you can get some very respectable times. You won't be dragging other cars off the line but that goes without saying to most cars unless your in a beast that someone else will always be faster off the line. But anything about 6seconds is moderately fast off the mark imo. Not lightning but pretty fast.
Koing
Ok short answer to this question is no.
I've had both the cars in question and the only area the 330ci wins in is cabin comfort and a higher standard spec.
The M3 will out perform it all day long and you won't actually see much of a difference in the gas milage as there is only a couple of mpg in it.
BUT the M3 will cost almost twice as much to run in terms of servicing and parts cost.
You need to really drive both and then decide if the extra performance is something your happy to pay for.
There isn't anything wrong with the 330ci (I loved mine) but it's just not an M-Car.
I've had both the cars in question and the only area the 330ci wins in is cabin comfort and a higher standard spec.
The M3 will out perform it all day long and you won't actually see much of a difference in the gas milage as there is only a couple of mpg in it.
BUT the M3 will cost almost twice as much to run in terms of servicing and parts cost.
You need to really drive both and then decide if the extra performance is something your happy to pay for.
There isn't anything wrong with the 330ci (I loved mine) but it's just not an M-Car.
Slurms said:
There isn't anything wrong with the 330ci (I loved mine) but it's just not an M-Car.
Slurms said:
There isn't anything wrong with the 330ci (I loved mine) but it's just not an M-Car.
This. It's a miguided comparison in terms of the criteria that matter (namely the core character and abilities of the cars).Also loved my 330Ci (and persoanlly a bit puzzled by apparent slagging the car gets, mainly due to misguided comparisons - it's actually the best car of its type imo, even if that means it's a great big compromise). It was fast enough (long gearing and refinement hide the sensation but its quick enough for 95% of on-road situations unless you're certifiable, frankly), relatively comfortable and pseudo sporty...
...BUT in no way as urgent or involving as either E36 M3 or E46 M3 (driven both extensively but owned neither).
The only judgement against the 330Ci (in Sport guise at least) is that it sits slap in the divide between sporty and luxurious and so despite making a decent fist of the compromise it doesn't quite hit the bulleyes in either respect, which can leave you wanting in certain situations (and potentially seeing it as more "sporty" if you're a "luxury-lover", or vice versa).
Edited by Diesel Meister on Sunday 7th March 14:07
Edited by Diesel Meister on Sunday 7th March 14:07
I too toyed with this dilema a few years ago. Older high milage E36 M3 or newer E46 330i. Ended up with an E46 330i Sport 4 door. Best car I ever owned. Sounded lovely, went very well (tbh, fast enough for UK roads). Did 50k miles in 3 years, sold for reasonable money too (with 96k miles on it).
Now I have a 2004 E46 M3, which is superb, but a different idea of a car entirely to the 330i. Its not 'better' but more exciting. I drove the 330i everyday, but keep the M3 for highdays and holidays, due mainly to the cost hike to run it. Also seems a waste of such a vehicle to be stuck in traffic or following endless queues of lemmings on my rural commute in the M. So now I drive a commuter car in the week, (yawn).
The 330i was better value for money if I'm honest..
Now I have a 2004 E46 M3, which is superb, but a different idea of a car entirely to the 330i. Its not 'better' but more exciting. I drove the 330i everyday, but keep the M3 for highdays and holidays, due mainly to the cost hike to run it. Also seems a waste of such a vehicle to be stuck in traffic or following endless queues of lemmings on my rural commute in the M. So now I drive a commuter car in the week, (yawn).
The 330i was better value for money if I'm honest..
Phugoid said:
In my experience there's nothing in it between E36 and E46 M3s. Tells you it all really.
Get a healthy M3 Evo and you're laughing. The newer car is a much nicer place to be mind.
You must be having a laugh!! You really can't have driven both of these cars in anger (the way they are intended to be driven Get a healthy M3 Evo and you're laughing. The newer car is a much nicer place to be mind.
)to make a statement like that. I had an E36 and an E46 at the same time before I sold the E36 on, they are miles apart!! More so on a track.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff