Why do you buy E46?

[m3f_kyrix1st]

In my S50B32, I ran Motul 15w-50 (track car). Interestingly, my S50B32 came from an SMG e36 M3 (though I didn't keep the smg, just had the display in the cluster).



6mt converted e46s sell for more than SMG cars, btw.



e92 is a whole different kind of car (for better or worse, depending on what you're looking for from an M3). The e46 was the more hard core (stiffness, sounds, specific output, piston speed) while the e92 is the softest/easiest.

It'd be interesting to see how E46 fares against E92 in suzuka international circuit. I guess you do have a point since the fastest M3 around nurburgring stockwise is either E36 or E46.

[m3f_jfudge02]

Personally I just like the e46 styling a little better and it's a little faster. If I was gonna go classic I'd go e30. The e36 is kinda the awkward middle child.

Again, I'll probably get flamed for saying that it's just my two cents


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Obioban]

It'd be interesting to see how E46 fares against E92 in suzuka international circuit. I guess you do have a point since the fastest M3 around nurburgring stockwise is either E36 or E46.

Eh, the fastest of the 3, on average, is the e9X. And the F8X is faster still.


But faster doesn't mean more hardcore-- e.g. the Nissan GTR is faster than either, but it's a 3800 lb turbo awd automatic computer driven thing.


Hardcore is some combination of harshness, diver involvement, and pushing the hardware set to its limits, imo. Doesn't have to be faster.


911 turbo is faster, including around a track. 911 GT3 is more hardcore. 996 GT3 is more hardcore than 991 GT3, and MUCH slower. At least, that's my take.

[m3f_kyrix1st]

Eh, the fastest of the 3, on average, is the e9X. And the F8X is faster still.


But faster doesn't mean more hardcore-- e.g. the Nissan GTR is faster than either, but it's a 3800 lb turbo awd automatic computer driven thing.


Hardcore is some combination of harshness, diver involvement, and pushing the hardware set to its limits, imo. Doesn't have to be faster.


911 turbo is faster, including around a track. 911 GT3 is more hardcore. 996 GT3 is more hardcore than 991 GT3, and MUCH slower. At least, that's my take.

Sorry to not clarify. My basis of judgment is nurburgring lap time where E46 is certainly faster than E92. In non official BTG times, E36's were just as fast. I do get what you are saying about driving experience and if I were to add, those feels kinda make cars go faster because one can push to the limit

[Obioban]

Sorry to not clarify. My basis of judgment is nurburgring lap time where E46 is certainly faster than E92. In non official BTG times, E36's were just as fast. I do get what you are saying about driving experience and if I were to add, those feels kinda make cars go faster because one can push to the limit

Yeah, ring times are... fickle. If you take an e36 M3, e46 M3, and e92 M3, all stock and healthy with equal drivers on the same day/track, 99 times out of 100 the e92 will be fastest. Add an F82 to the mix and it'll be the fastest. Add whatever replaces the F82 to the mix, and it'll be fastest.


But, if fastest is your goal... M3 is kind of the wrong car to start with. Get a Z06 for less, be faster than any of the above. Or get a GTR, and be faster still, without even having to learn to drive well.

[m3f_97_4dr_5spd_m3]

As far as the E36M3 goes, it is what it is. It is old and it is not as fast as the E46.



But I still like it. I am very happy whipping my summer/weekend warrior. I kind of like the oldness of it now. I like the old interior. I do not try to pass it off as new. It does not have navigation. It does not have Bluetooth (OEM). I have other vehicles for those needs.



We will see if the E46's interior holds up, but I for one, would not want a 19 year old (age of my car now) navigation screen in my car when the E46 gets to be that age.

[m3f_kyrix1st]

Yeah, ring times are... fickle. If you take an e36 M3, e46 M3, and e92 M3, all stock and healthy with equal drivers on the same day/track, 99 times out of 100 the e92 will be fastest. Add an F82 to the mix and it'll be the fastest. Add whatever replaces the F82 to the mix, and it'll be fastest.



But, if fastest is your goal... M3 is kind of the wrong car to start with. Get a Z06 for less, be faster than any of the above. Or get a GTR, and be faster still, without even having to learn to drive well.

Good point but Z06 goes much more expensive in my country than others. GTR is a four wheeler and I don't like that

[m3f_Voss]

Out of all the M3/4 lineup, the e36 looks the most plain and dated. There's nothing about the interior or exterior lines that has wow factor.


From a driving experience, the e36 is up there in balance and feel and has a much better exhaust note than the e46.


It's close but I'd go with the e46 because of looks.

[m3f_Mr. Wolfe]

As far as the E36M3 goes, it is what it is. It is old and it is not as fast as the E46.



But I still like it. I am very happy whipping my summer/weekend warrior. I kind of like the oldness of it now. I like the old interior. I do not try to pass it off as new. It does not have navigation. It does not have Bluetooth (OEM). I have other vehicles for those needs.



We will see if the E46's interior holds up, but I for one, would not want a 19 year old (age of my car now) navigation screen in my car when the E46 gets to be that age.

You're crazy!!!! That's the BEST part of having older vehicles. It's those small time pieces that get me cray cray about a car. I just bought a BMW brick phone for my e30!



A fun thread regardless. I like the e36M, but it is just outclassed in just about every way compared to the e46 IMO. It's everything the e36 was, just a little better - aside from the hardcore-ness if you prefer a softer, more comfortable ride.



Mr. Wolfe

[m3f_kyrix1st]

As far as the E36M3 goes, it is what it is. It is old and it is not as fast as the E46.


But I still like it. I am very happy whipping my summer/weekend warrior. I kind of like the oldness of it now. I like the old interior. I do not try to pass it off as new. It does not have navigation. It does not have Bluetooth (OEM). I have other vehicles for those needs.


We will see if the E46's interior holds up, but I for one, would not want a 19 year old (age of my car now) navigation screen in my car when the E46 gets to be that age.

E36 M3 evo has a nearly identical power weight ratio(321/1.515 vs 343/1.57 curb) and has almost identical torque output at a much lower rpm (3250 vs 4900) which gives better pull off the start until 4th gear. 55kg weight difference is marginal as to the difference in corner speed. Euro spec E36s (including S50B30, 280hp) are quite highly regarded in JP for track usage compared to the more expensive E46. People do change to S54 motors because it is cheaper to find though.　


I wholeheartedly agree that E36 lacks all the technology for daily use.

[m3f_Paulo M]

As far as the E36M3 goes, it is what it is. It is old and it is not as fast as the E46.


But I still like it. I am very happy whipping my summer/weekend warrior. I kind of like the oldness of it now. I like the old interior. I do not try to pass it off as new. It does not have navigation. It does not have Bluetooth (OEM). I have other vehicles for those needs.


We will see if the E46's interior holds up, but I for one, would not want a 19 year old (age of my car now) navigation screen in my car when the E46 gets to be that age.

E46 m3 already held up. E36 looked dated as soon as the e46 m3 came out lol. Two gens later a mint e46 m3 can still hold its own (even majority of e9x and f8x owners in their respected forums say that)

[m3f_Paulo M]

E36 M3 evo has a nearly identical power weight ratio(321/1.515 vs 343/1.57 curb) and has almost identical torque output at a much lower rpm (3250 vs 4900) which gives better pull off the start until 4th gear. 55kg weight difference is marginal as to the difference in corner speed. Euro spec E36s (including S50B30, 280hp) are quite highly regarded in JP for track usage compared to the more expensive E46. People do change to S54 motors because it is cheaper to find though.

Is the e36 m3 evo equivalent to the e46 m3 CSL?

[m3f_kyrix1st]

Is the e36 m3 evo equivalent to the e46 m3 CSL?

Nope, it's the European version of E36 M3 3.2L(S50B32) which got 321hp as opposed to 240hp US spec S52B32. There was a variant called E36 M3 CSL and E36 M3 GT for hardcore track use but numbers are very limited just like E46 M3 CSL.

[m3f_Steezy]

even if the e36 was a better car I'd still buy an e46 for the looks alone

[m3f_97_4dr_5spd_m3]

You're crazy!!!! That's the BEST part of having older vehicles. It's those small time pieces that get me cray cray about a car. I just bought a BMW brick phone for my e30!



A fun thread regardless. I like the e36M, but it is just outclassed in just about every way compared to the e46 IMO. It's everything the e36 was, just a little better - aside from the hardcore-ness if you prefer a softer, more comfortable ride.



Mr. Wolfe

I saw your phone thread. Cool that you got it. But passing it off as "I have a working phone that is just as good as a new iphone" isn't going to work. LOL. I know that youre not saying that and I know that you want it for the quirky/nostalgic look. But people here are acting as if the navi screen in the E46 isn't going to age and is going to be the bomb/comparable to what's brand new forever.



E36 isn't trying to compare to new. It is old.



Some E46 owners are acting as if their interiors are just going to continue to compare to newer interiors without aging.



And as far as aging - knowing it is old and being okay with it - I think the E36s minimalistic qualities are going to be a better bet. My opinion though....

....Two gens later a mint e46 m3 can still hold its own (even majority of e9x and f8x owners in their respected forums say that)

What does that even mean?



And, we will see how well your interior holds up in 4-6 years or so.



Maybe it holds up just fine. Great.