US Spec M3 1996-99 Double Vanos or not?

[m3f_hkyplaynazn]

I've read just about everything online about the E36 M3 and i'm planning to make a purchase. I have read that the S52US B32 if that is the correct engine code for these model years are single vanos. I just wanted someone to verify that they are indeed single vanos because one of the salespeople at the dealership that I work for insist they are double vanos and I think he's mistaken.



I was also wondering, does having single vanos make the m3 less fun/responsive, even though the handling was great I seriously thought the 2002 330ci with double vanos is much more fun to drive. The M3 just didn't feel fast, I plan to test more M3s to see if that was just characteristic of one vehicle maybe the engine had problems or something. Let me know if i'm supposed to be impressed by the way the car feels on acceleration cause I was dissappointed by this particular vehicle but hopefully it was just not up to par because I would really like to own an E36 M3.

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

The euros are doubled, us is single.

[m3f_CosmosNight]

I wish we had double

[m3f_rab986]

:???: OMG....you thought the 330ci was more fun to drive? The M3 did not seem fast? It has a little over 100hp more! Oh.....I get it.......today is backwards day right? April Fools? You must have just drove a 325i with an M3 badge on it. Go drive another, Heck if you are around Tulsa, Oklahoma....Drive mine! :???:

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

I wish we had double



Hehe. As my dad once told me: Wish in one hand, sh!t in the other. See which fills up faster.







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I too am baffled...?



Though, from driving plenty of 330's at work, they do see lighter, and maybe quicker than the E36 M3... but, they don't have the same feel, lack of engine growl and such. They are a 'nice' car. The M3 is an 'awesome' car.

[m3f_Predator_7d824d33ea]

i ve own a e36 evo (double vanos - 321bhp) and have driven e36 m3s (single vanos - 286bhp ) and in my personal opinion the only difference is that a single vanos machine is a fraction of a second slower picking up speed from low revs ( anywhere below 3500rpm ), the single vanos also takes a fraction of second longer responding to the throttle than a double vanos and finally the single vanos engine makes a much more meatier bass/roar from its engine throughout its entire rev range whereas the double vanos tends to make a roar/deep bellowing above 2700rpm.



you wouldn't even notice the differences unless you drove both e36 m3s single or double vanos.( bit of a dumb F%^ing statement )



One thing i no is a fact, is that the double vanos m3 e36 engine has a vanos unit which is a F$%ing nightmare. the double vanos unit is a lot less reliable than the single vanos unit. I just had my vanos replaced 2 months ago on my evo and the cost was above 1000 pounds.



thats just my opinion anyway, if i were you i would just buy a e36 3.0l/3.2l single vanos M3, it'll save you the headache of vanos failure.



by the way if the M3 you drove didn't feel faster than a 330i then it must BE FUC*ED.



good luck with hunting for E36 M3, you made the right choice.

[m3f_98technovlt]

The difference in BHP between the 330 and an e36 M3 is around 15 IIRC - (225 vs 240) The additional heft of the 330 should make it around .7 seconds slower though....

[m3f_m3-dude]

I would also factor in price, not just performance. The 330 is slower, and a lot more expensive than a e36 m3.

[m3f_rab986]

LOL...Oh...My bad...I just realized he was comparing the 330ci to an E36 m3 not an E46. I'll go back to bed now. HEHE Sorry!

[m3f_Tpb31_67f747186d]

The gearing in the M3 is more suited to spirited driving than that of the 330. Also, the E36 M3 has more torque than the 330, so off the line it should pull harder. So I agree with the others who said that the M3 you were driving felt slow. My mom has a 330, and I drive that, and I enjoy the drive, but afterwords I yearn for my M. It goes faster you can feel the road better, handles better, and IMPO is more fun to drive than the 330. Either way you go though, you will get a great car.