Is the E36 M3 the best M3 made? E46ers Welcome

[m3f_Kong Sheng Han]

You daily yours? I think one of the things that bugged me was the power band. I had to get it up in the higher RPM's for it to really pull, but when it did, it was a freight train!! The powerband of the 36 is lower and more in the every day usage point. That, the gas mileage, and maintenance killed it for a DD for me.

Yes to school and back. Ten miles/day at most. Meh, if someone wants to accelerate quicker than me, they can get in a different lane. A honk will only result in asshat seeing my middle finger sticking out my window. Gas mileage - don't care; maintenance - I recently did a pretty extensive overhaul, so I'm not too worried about that. Just oil changes every year and Inspection I in about 10k miles.

[m3f_suaveflooder]

Yes to school and back. Ten miles/day at most. Meh, if someone wants to accelerate quicker than me, they can get in a different lane. A honk will only result in asshat seeing my middle finger sticking out my window. Gas mileage - don't care; maintenance - I recently did a pretty extensive overhaul, so I'm not too worried about that. Just oil changes every year and Inspection I in about 10k miles.

I wasn't referring to getting on the freeway faster. I was talking about that sweet spot where the engine has a lot of torque. It's too high to really be usable for the day to day. That's where the E36 shines! It's usable power. However to be fair, get an e46 on the track and it's strengths really come out


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[m3f_Anubis]

I don't think it's possible to rank the various M3s. Everyone will just prefer the one they own.


Each has redeeming qualities:


E30 - it's the slowest but it's the original, and it's a legend.

E36 - fun, simple, quick, classic.

E46 - basically an E30/E36 but with creature comforts, and it's fast.

E9X - technology and speed.

F8X - holy balls these are fast.


In the real world I'd probably take an F8X just for the mix of insane speed with technology and creature comfort. The E46 and E9X are just not up to par in those categories anymore, and they're a bit too modern/heavy to be a fun toy for me. If I wanted something simple, quick, and fun, I'd probably stick with my E36 just because the E30 is so insanely hard to find for reasonable money and in reasonably good shape.

[m3f_Radmobile]

This thread isn't lively enough. I'll be the straw that stirs the drink.



The e30 is over-rated! It's prices and awe reflect nothing but a hyper market.



People complain about the US-spec e36 S50/S52 because we got shafted in the horsepower department compared to the Euro-spec. We almost didn't get an e36 M3. If we didn't, we likely wouldn't have gotten the e46, e9x, etc. Who knows where we'd be?



The e36 will go down as the unsung hero in the M3 lineup.

[m3f_cscat87]

I enjoyed owning my E46, but I prefer the E36 over it. Car feels more planted, more "tossable". Its a lot of fun! The E36 is the definitely of a toy, and I don't think any other car compares. The power is more than enough, even in stock trim. The low-end torque makes it feel much quicker than the E46 when you aren't revving it out. There will always be faster cars, no matter what you drive. For me, I decided the Turbo S was about as bonkers as I wanted to go. Needless to say, I don't miss having a slightly quicker M3.

[m3f_Braymond141]

A modded E46 M3 is more rewarding in my opinion.


After owning our 128i/6 M-sport for 5 months now, even that has grown on me to be a way better car. It came with Koni FSD shocks, Eibach springs and sway bars. This car inspires huge amounts of cornering confidence that neither my modded E36 or E46 could. Lack of LSD and power (it is fast though) are the only issue. If I could afford a 1M I'd actually give up and part out my E36 for one.

[m3f_suaveflooder]

A modded E46 M3 is more rewarding in my opinion.



After owning our 128i/6 M-sport for 5 months now, even that has grown on me to be a way better car. It came with Koni FSD shocks, Eibach springs and sway bars. This car inspires huge amounts of cornering confidence that neither my modded E36 or E46 could. Lack of LSD and power (it is fast though) are the only issue. If I could afford a 1M I'd actually give up and part out my E36 for one.

I'm very anti-mod on M3's. I think BMW did a KILLER job on all the M3's. There is not a single one I would modify beyond minor suspension.



Koni's/Eibachs (or something similar) for street cars (majority of us, since very few will track their car often and the M3 is more than capable in stock form for the novice)



Coilovers for track cars.



I've seen more people become unhappy with their cars after mods than happy with them. They spend more and more money, only to sell it at the end because the original character has been destroyed.

[m3f_M3_Tiag]

yes, i personally believe that an E36 chassis can be made to track better than an E46 an E9x.


This is a personal opinion, and many I'm sure disagree.

[m3f_suaveflooder]

This thread isn't lively enough. I'll be the straw that stirs the drink.


The e30 is over-rated! It's prices and awe reflect nothing but a hyper market.


People complain about the US-spec e36 S50/S52 because we got shafted in the horsepower department compared to the Euro-spec. We almost didn't get an e36 M3. If we didn't, we likely wouldn't have gotten the e46, e9x, etc. Who knows where we'd be?


The e36 will go down as the unsung hero in the M3 lineup.

Agreed.


As far as the E30 is concerned, I think Anubis nailed it with the "it's the original" idea. I've seen a ton of review on the car and no one thinks, as far as performance is concerned, the E30 is worth the money it's fetching. But supply and demand, as well as the beginning of a great car, is what people are paying for. Not necessarily the car's performance.


When it comes to the evo E36, I also agree. There was a guy on here that mentioned that he liked the S52 better than the S50B32 (he owned an evo E36 M3) for the same reason I prefer it over the S54…you have to rev the crap out of it to really feel how the engine shines. The S54 kind of feels like a dog on the street, but on the track, the engine comes alive and THAT is where you see just how beautiful the engine is. As a street driven car, or daily (which, like I mentioned is where most of these cars spend their driving hours), it's just not as rewarding to me as the E36 is (I owned my E46 about a year and a half….longer than I've had my E36)

[m3f_westopher]

An s54 is not a "dog" on the street. It has higher torque beginning earlier than the s52. Its a better engine in any measurable, and unmeasurable way. Not to mention there is an extra gear in the s54 cars which will make it shine even more. I'd agree with you about the s52 being more practical/usable than the s50b32, not to mention most people claim the HP figures for the s50 were pretty optimistic.

[m3f_Braymond141]

I prefer it over the S54…you have to rev the crap out of it to really feel how the engine shines. The S54 kind of feels like a dog on the street

This is completely inaccurate. Even in the heavier E46 M3 the S54 is a TERRIFIC motor that does everything better.

[m3f_suaveflooder]

An s54 is not a "dog" on the street. It has higher torque beginning earlier than the s52. Its a better engine in any measurable, and unmeasurable way. Not to mention there is an extra gear in the s54 cars which will make it shine even more. I'd agree with you about the s52 being more practical/usable than the s50b32, not to mention most people claim the HP figures for the s50 were pretty optimistic.

This is completely inaccurate. Even in the heavier E46 M3 the S54 is a TERRIFIC motor that does everything better.

lol, I had a feeling I would get a response out of that comment. I am in no way saying the E36 is faster in any way, shape, or form, but it certainly feels that way. It uses the power better. Maybe it was because I knew how the car pulled up top that led me wanting down low. Just my thoughts guys.





How long did you two own your E46's??



Here's mine…. Daily driver the entire time I owned it. I've had the pleasure of owning in both.

[m3f_Braymond141]

I've owned 3 for a total of 4 years.

[m3f_suaveflooder]

I've owned 3 for a total of 4 years.

Pics? I'm actually interested. I've never seen pics of your other M3's. Just that beautiful e36


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[m3f_EricSMG]

The E46 is for sure faster at every rpm - from 2.5k on up it's simply no contest, the 46M rips like a bat out of hell.



However - it has such a flat torque curve that it never "builds" like the very peaky S52, with it's huge torque peak right in the middle. The S54 makes 80% of it's peak torque at 2.5k and at 7.5k so the "thrust" is virtually consistent across the band.



Thus, the S52 can feel torquier and nearly as fast down low due to the shape of it's curve even though it makes less everywhere and far less in many areas. I happen to love the S52 and think it's HIGHLY underrated because it's damn quick and feels great on the road. It's actually plenty of motor for the E36 chassis, in my opinion.