E46 M3 values vs. E9X M3 values

[jet_dogg]

I have both. 2003 e46 6 speed and 09 e92 DCT. I think if you compare stock to stock the e92 M3 wins but if you compare a heavily modified e46 to a close to stock e92, the e46 wins. You need to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. E92 doesn't have the vanos or subframe issues of the e46 so that is something to also consider. I think it would be difficult to find someone that owns both and considers the e46 "better".

My buddy has both and is selling his e92. Years ago when I was considering one he just said go drive one and you'll forget about it.

This is super comfy and I have no issues dailying this. DCT is a gem in traffic or when eating/drinking.

Literally lol'd at this.

I learned long ago that you need a hooptie in the fleet. Ironically my hooptie is a Gen 2 Raptor.

Gotta have a beater.

[Epoustouflant]

I 100% need to revisit this thread.

If I'd sum it up with an analogy, the E46 and E92 comparaison feels like the Air-Cooled v Watercooled Porsche 911 gap.

They are such different driving experiences.

[LukesM]

I have both. 2003 e46 6 speed and 09 e92 DCT. I think if you compare stock to stock the e92 M3 wins but if you compare a heavily modified e46 to a close to stock e92, the e46 wins. You need to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. E92 doesn't have the vanos or subframe issues of the e46 so that is something to also consider. I think it would be difficult to find someone that owns both and considers the e46 "better".

Also depends on what you are using the cars for.
My e46 has headers with stock section 1 & 2 and el diablo out back. With that HTE sauce it feels like a damn racecar but the rasp is ridiculous. For a daily this would be very annoying and I am going to run Dinan section 3 with dual oem resonators in section 1.

E92 has evolve valved mufflers and test pipes. I leave the valves open all the time as the stock secondarys and resonators keep it mellow unless you are under WOT. This is super comfy and I have no issues dailying this. DCT is a gem in traffic or when eating/drinking. Had quad resonated Borla X-Pipe which is very similar to Dinan X pipe. This setup had incredible sound but the smell was insane. Even with an Alpine tune.

Tbonem3 If you are thinking about getting an E92 and you have the funds just do it. Chances are you won't lose money on the car and you will get to experience owning one. I bought an 03 Cobra, owned it for a year and sold it for the exact same price I bought it for. Basically rented it for the price of insurance and registration. I haven't driven a 6-speed e9X car but the DCT is great. I also have a truck that I daily and use as a kid mobile. I learned long ago that you need a hooptie in the fleet. Ironically my hooptie is a Gen 2 Raptor.

[repoman89]

^Euro dash is great! I bought a leather wrapped one (to match the upper dash) from an Eastern European dude on m5board. He did an excellent job with the stitching. It really makes the front extra spacious and very nice that the lines with the door line up.

Fold through seats on the other hand I specifically was looking for. The practicality is awesome along with such a big and wide trunk, chassis stiffness be damned

[Obioban]

Good to know. And yeah a 530i sport is what I was really looking for when I bought this, but they’re far more rare than M5s, especially clean and trustworthy ones. I’d even take an auto and swap it. There have been a few on BAT that I’ve come close to bidding on but the prices on there are hard to justify. Also the full leather interior on the M5 is so sweet. I really think the smell of the interior is like half the reason I still have this thing. Also the fiancee likes it best out of all my cars and talks me out of selling it every couple months.

I did buy and auto and swap it

I’ve long thought perfect DD would be an s54 420g e39, with no sunroof, no fold through seats, and euro M5 interior (I don’t actually really fit in e39s with the US spec dash).

[repoman89]

GAS makes a nicer monoball thrust arm solution, if you’re going that route.

it does make the front end feel a ton better. But, still no R&P steering and it’s still a 4000 lb car.

530i is the actually sporty e39. 3450 lbs and R&P 🤤

Good to know. And yeah a 530i sport is what I was really looking for when I bought this, but they’re far more rare than M5s, especially clean and trustworthy ones. I’d even take an auto and swap it. There have been a few on BAT that I’ve come close to bidding on but the prices on there are hard to justify. Also the full leather interior on the M5 is so sweet. I really think the smell of the interior is like half the reason I still have this thing. Also the fiancee likes it best out of all my cars and talks me out of selling it every couple months.

[Obioban]

GAS makes a nicer monoball thrust arm solution, if you’re going that route.

it does make the front end feel a ton better. But, still no R&P steering and it’s still a 4000 lb car.

530i is the actually sporty e39. 3450 lbs and R&P 🤤

[repoman89]

Clutch sounds like driver error. Mine is coming up on 200,000 miles, including my wife learning to drive stick on it.

Could be, it was slipping when I purchased it at 58k. Now at 66k and it hasn’t gotten worse. Symptom is it revs up without grabbing after clutching out on harder 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. I rarely try to drive it like that and it grabs fine if I let the engine slow to the appropriate RPM before clutching out, but that’s boring to have to do every time.

[Obioban]

Very tempted considering how restrictive the stock system is — and I do love this video. But really power and torque isn’t lacking at all and my clutch already needs to be replaced at 66k miles. I’ve got the Supersprint Race mufflers on it already which sounds amazing on its own, but wakes up the neighborhood on cold start. It’s more everything else that is a little lacking. Steering box, suspension capability, etc. BMW’s current habit of NLAing crucial parts and making the rest extremely expensive isn’t helping either. Going to give it a full bushing refresh and Turner monoball thrust arm bearings at least before making a final call though.

Clutch sounds like driver error. Mine is coming up on 200,000 miles, including my wife learning to drive stick on it.

[maw1124]

Yeah, my E39M makes very little sense in my "stable" but I can never seem to get rid of it. It is almost never needed and the driving experience is nothing particularly special. For road trips we just take my fiancee's CX-5 for the space, modern infotainment and so that she can drive it (automatic) and honestly that works fine for me. It's really the beautiful interior and looks that keep me holding onto it, which means I should probably just sell it. Not sure I'd replace with an E92 or E93 but maybe.

Fair... but that E92 Sedan in Silverstone over Fox (I think) makes a compelling argument... you might sell the E39, buy that and pocket cash... my buddy's E39 is Carbon over Cinnamon Extended Leather, which makes the argument for keeping it... a simply Dynavin ICE upgrade and you're back into the 21st century... kinda too easy to pass up at that point.

maw

[repoman89]

Ever been tempted to add a full Supersprint system incl headers?

https://youtu.be/qHMrCpGoG8o

Very tempted considering how restrictive the stock system is — and I do love this video. But really power and torque isn’t lacking at all and my clutch already needs to be replaced at 66k miles. I’ve got the Supersprint Race mufflers on it already which sounds amazing on its own, but wakes up the neighborhood on cold start. It’s more everything else that is a little lacking. Steering box, suspension capability, etc. BMW’s current habit of NLAing crucial parts and making the rest extremely expensive isn’t helping either. Going to give it a full bushing refresh and Turner monoball thrust arm bearings at least before making a final call though.

[jbfrancis3]

Yeah, my E39M makes very little sense in my "stable" but I can never seem to get rid of it. It is almost never needed and the driving experience is nothing particularly special. For road trips we just take my fiancee's CX-5 for the space, modern infotainment and so that she can drive it (automatic) and honestly that works fine for me. It's really the beautiful interior and looks that keep me holding onto it, which means I should probably just sell it. Not sure I'd replace with an E92 or E93 but maybe.

Ever been tempted to add a full Supersprint system incl headers?

https://youtu.be/qHMrCpGoG8o

[repoman89]

I think those comparisons, at least in Sedan format, have to do with similar power (400-ish hp) and weight (3900-ish lbs). In convertible fitment, the comparison makes zero sense. For me the M3 is a convertible car, with a sedan next and coupe last but that’s a minority opinion in forumworld — if I’m giving up the extra doors the top had better drop. And I already have superior sedans than both. But I would buy an E92 MSedan before an E39M.

maw

Yeah, my E39M makes very little sense in my "stable" but I can never seem to get rid of it. It is almost never needed and the driving experience is nothing particularly special. For road trips we just take my fiancee's CX-5 for the space, modern infotainment and so that she can drive it (automatic) and honestly that works fine for me. It's really the beautiful interior and looks that keep me holding onto it, which means I should probably just sell it. Not sure I'd replace with an E92 or E93 but maybe.

[maw1124]

Better car than the E39 M5, looks and nostalgia aside -- though didn't seem totally comparable despite everyone pitting them against each other. The E39 is a much bigger car, at least in the interior and trunk space department.

I think those comparisons, at least in Sedan format, have to do with similar power (400-ish hp) and weight (3900-ish lbs). In convertible fitment, the comparison makes zero sense. For me the M3 is a convertible car, with a sedan next and coupe last but that’s a minority opinion in forumworld — if I’m giving up the extra doors the top had better drop. And I already have superior sedans than both. But I would buy an E92 MSedan before an E39M.

maw

[repoman89]

I drove the first E9x I've ever driven this past weekend. Went to a good friend's wedding near San Francisco and he couldn't wait to hand me the keys to his E93 DCT M3 vert. Honestly it was far better than I expected and pretty much put at least my E39 M5 to shame. Despite weighing similar amounts (vert ...) the M3 masked its weight extremely well and cornered really well on brand new stock sized PS4s (in the rain). Suspension capably handled poor condition California back roads without becoming unsettled (EDC car). I think my E46 on Ohlins R&T would have been a little skittish and M5 would have been rolling over. Steering feel is still classic BMW unlike my E39 or the newer cars. I have to echo others here that the engine feels very composed, very different redline experience from the S54. The S65 seems like it wants to keep revving higher, consistently found myself surprised that I was already at 8400 where the E46 is just visceral and feels like it's going to fall apart and you're surprised it keeps going. That characteristic is a lot like my S62 where I'm hitting the rev limit often because it's not much of an experience (only 7k RPM there though). The iDrive system in those cars seems awesome if only for the fact that my friend had added a $200 Alibaba module that gave him a really nice wireless CarPlay implementation. Screen is high res and looks far ahead of its time.

Negatives: the interior, while quite comfortable and a nice place to be, didn't age particularly well, at least on his car. Only ~65k miles and it looked relatively beat up. The roof is leaking at a seal on the right side, which is going to ruin the headliner if he doesn't get to it soon. He's had constant electronics issues and dash lights. Seems like a finicky car.

I wouldn't trade my E46 M3 for one -- neither would be a daily and the E46 is more of an experience, less capable or not. Still hard not to have a really good time with the top down on those excellent California back roads in the E93. Better car than the E39 M5, looks and nostalgia aside -- though didn't seem totally comparable despite everyone pitting them against each other. The E39 is a much bigger car, at least in the interior and trunk space department.