E9x M3's lost a bit of that special feeling?

[Big E 118]

My daily drive E46 M3 CS is currently in the body shop so I've had an E93 M3 hire car for the last week.

I've been quite surprised how much I'm looking forward to getting my E46 back. Don't get me wrong the E93 is a very good car but to me it doesn't have that feeling that a drive is an event like the E46 does.

The newer M3 feels very similar to my old E92 325i in the way it's a nice car to drive, easy to park and is very relaxing on the motorway. The E46 is harder to park, is jerky when cold, tram-lines more, just a bit raw but boy is it more of an event on the twisties!

What would you prefer for the M's of the future, a bit raw and more of an event to drive or devastatingly quick but not quite as exciting?

Edited by Big E 118 on Tuesday 22 February 21:46

[Dan S]

Good point.

I think the M brand should steer more towards the CSL feel, raw and ready for the track. However, it wont. The E9x is a perfect at being the best in both worlds, it where it excels. Its been watered down slightly, but no where near what Honda did to the Type R brand to shift units.

I expect the Fxx M3 will be softer still.

I would love a CSL if a) I was talented enough to extract its potential and b) could put up with the rawness on long m-way journeys. A future classic no doubt, still amze me what they can do.

[neilw1001]

Hey BigE - hope nothing too serious has lured the CS into the body shop. How you finding it - I'm loving every minute of mine and totally agree with your comparison with the E9X - sure many E9X owners would take issue with this, but they seem so composed they are almost pedestrian - well behaved, less a challenge. The E46 is that much more of an effort to drive (well) that is makes it so rewarding.

[CarbonBlackM5]

Judging by what lots of owners have said on this thread the E9x M3's are growers and take a few months of ownership to get under your skin. Perhaps its just a modern car trait.

[MC99]

CarbonBlackM5 said:

Judging by what lots of owners have said on this thread the E9x M3's are growers and take a few months of ownership to get under your skin. Perhaps its just a modern car trait.

+1. Just sold my E92 M3, prefered it to my E46 from back in the day in the end, the engine is a masterpiece. Agree it's less raw, more refined, but once you drive it over and over you become more able to explore it's handling depth, outright go and poise, without giving up refinement when you can't be bothered.

[Big E 118]

Hi Neil, some cosmetic damage due to someone who's idea of parking is reverse until you hit the car behind!

I haven't been driving the E92 for long enough to be comfortable in pushing it on public roads but yes it is fast and feels extremely capable. It is also a nice drive around town.

I would think BMW are making the M3 more refined for sales purposes more than anything, remember the CSL was a sales failure at the time.

IMO it's a shame really, the E92 335i/d's are very quick cars and cover the "fast but comfortable" sector, let us have the M cars a bit more special!

[threesixty]

CarbonBlackM5 said:

Judging by what lots of owners have said on this thread the E9x M3's are growers and take a few months of ownership to get under your skin. Perhaps its just a modern car trait.

Not me, its a brilliant car. But unless your giving it some it just felt like a standard 3 series. A step towards something more CSL like would tempt me back into one, the GTS looked good but the price was silly.

I mvoed on into a GT3, its feels different and special (compared to a standard carrera) even when just sitting at the lights. I think thats what bmw need to aim for more with the M3.

[Pugsey]

Current M3 is a 'slow burner'. I thought 'so what' for the first few months but it really grew on me. Not really the pure 'fun' of the older M3s though. You HAVE to push it all the time for it to feel like anything other than a plush 3Series. Which is why I'm down for my dealers very first 1M Coupe. Smaller, lighter, simpler - and (when I've had it tweaked) with near on 400bhp I'm hoping more FUN. Going to be the car that takes me to the 'Ring and back in relative comfort and handles many laps while there as my aim is to really get to know the place this year. May even frighten a few GT3s!

[MC99]

Pugsey said:

Current M3 is a 'slow burner'. I thought 'so what' for the first few months but it really grew on me. Not really the pure 'fun' of the older M3s though. You HAVE to push it all the time for it to feel like anything other than a plush 3Series. Which is why I'm down for my dealers very first 1M Coupe. Smaller, lighter, simpler - and (when I've had it tweaked) with near on 400bhp I'm hoping more FUN. Going to be the car that takes me to the 'Ring and back in relative comfort and handles many laps while there as my aim is to really get to know the place this year. May even frighten a few GT3s!

Will be keen to hear your view of the 1M, particularly with the choice of engine they've been forced to go down.

The distinct differences in feel from 335 to M3 is very noticable in anything but Motorway steady state...if you drive one and can't tell then save the money and buy the 335.

[Pugsey]

MC99 said:

Pugsey said:

Current M3 is a 'slow burner'. I thought 'so what' for the first few months but it really grew on me. Not really the pure 'fun' of the older M3s though. You HAVE to push it all the time for it to feel like anything other than a plush 3Series. Which is why I'm down for my dealers very first 1M Coupe. Smaller, lighter, simpler - and (when I've had it tweaked) with near on 400bhp I'm hoping more FUN. Going to be the car that takes me to the 'Ring and back in relative comfort and handles many laps while there as my aim is to really get to know the place this year. May even frighten a few GT3s!

Will be keen to hear your view of the 1M, particularly with the choice of engine they've been forced to go down.

The distinct differences in feel from 335 to M3 is very noticable in anything but Motorway steady state...if you drive one and can't tell then save the money and buy the 335.

Agree of course that there are real differences in feel but I was just trying to get across that, driven at 'norml' speeds the current M3 doesn't feel that 'special'. On the other hand 'normal' speeds can actually be a lot faster than you thought - and maybe that's it's prob in day to day driving. So good and refined it doesn't give you a buzz until you're doing really very naughty speeds. THEN of course it's a thing of awesome abilities.

[dele]

Never driven an E46 but as an E92 owner i personally think that the only time it feels special is when your on full on attack mode, problem with that is that its so illegal that you dont get to do it enough on the public road

If you got it on a trackday you might change your mind?

[swanny71]

Pugsey said:

..... driven at 'norml' speeds the current M3 doesn't feel that 'special'. On the other hand 'normal' speeds can actually be a lot faster than you thought - and maybe that's it's prob in day to day driving. So good and refined it doesn't give you a buzz until you're doing really very naughty speeds. THEN of course it's a thing of awesome abilities.

Exactly how I feel.
When you are driving hard it is absolutlely fking amazing, when you're not it feels like an ultra refined cruiser. Which is what I thought I wanted when I got the car BUT to really enjoy it you are risking getting yourself into deep st - and that concerns me. The engine is a masterpiece though.

[Dan S]

dele said:

Never driven an E46 but as an E92 owner i personally think that the only time it feels special is when your on full on attack mode, problem with that is that its so illegal that you dont get to do it enough on the public road

If you got it on a trackday you might change your mind?

Valid point, as soon as a got mine on track it changed completely.

[Big E 118]

I've driven an E92 on track a couple of times and it was very quick and really enjoyed it (it did have upgraded brakes!) as the balance felt spot on and the ease you could control the car with the throttle was lovely. The speeds I was doing on the track to get it near it's limit were way above what you can achieve on the road though.

I picked up my E46 again yesterday have driven the E46 and E93 back to back again. Didn't have the ability to time them and haven't looked at official stats but they do feel pretty similar acceleration wise, the E46 making a lot more noise and clunking through the gears (SMG vs DCT) making it seem more exciting.

Feel wise there is a lot less steering assistance with the E46 and the E93 feels over assisted and a bit distant at slower speeds although both have great feedback through the wheel. Overall I'm glad to have my E46 CS back as it does feel more special and that is what I'm looking for at the moment as it's my only car.

If I had a fun weekend car and wanted something a bit more relaxed but still with great performance and a stunning engine I think an E92 M3 would be the car to go for. I do like that V8 noise....