What about the E46M does it for you?

[ethan]

The carbon airbox has been mentioned a few times already, but I think the high-dollar CSL program is one of the key things that sets this platform apart. It really let BMW turn M loose in a way I don't think we've seen since. While many car enthusiast communities are slapping loud exhausts and bigger turbos on their cars, E46 M3s get an aftermarket of CSL tunes, Schrick cams, excellent airbox and carbon roof replicas, Euro headers, etc. All told, you get something pretty close to a 996 GT3 or a '90s Ferrari for a fraction of the cost. And like those cars, it was all tested to work together at the factory such that done right, we don't have to worry about cooling issues or inadequate transmissions or whatever else happens when you bump the horsepower of a daily driver and take it to the track. And better than those cars, you can bring your wheels and full tool set to the track without having to tow.

But that's just one way to enjoy an E46. The more I've modded my HPDE car, the more I appreciate my stock M3. It's one thing to build a street car and another to build a race car, but blending those elements is extremely difficult as anyone who's built a dual-duty car can attest. BMW made the right street vs. performance choice at almost every turn: The stock M3 is very nearly the perfect street car. The S54 gives you the high-revving N/A race engine experience but with street car reliability. The styling is timelessly elegant but also sporty without being flashy or obnoxious. And importantly, I can fit 208cm SuperG skis because of the long wheelbase. There are almost no drivability or comfort compromises and few maintenance ones (aside from maybe M part prices, but compared to what?) It's a magical machine.

Lastly, the car's attributes seem to be the right filter for producing an excellent community.

[JeremyJames]

I always enjoy stirring the passion for our M cars. I really enjoyed all of your input. Thanks for sharing!

[JeremyJames]

Beyond the obvious outright ways it performs, it's 'freude am fahren' manages to make old school analog feel still seem relevant vs. modern technology. The throttle response ruins everything else short of GT Porsche and N/A Ferrari and the tail-happy nature of the chassis makes it more fun to hoon than 'better' cars that are too locked down in the sake of 'ring times. Power delivery keeps it exciting despite being underpowered by modern standards. Sane speeds are still very engaging but a limit is accessible on a daily basis that most supercar owners would either be afraid to attempt or surprised you did. It's a quarter of the cost of any viable substitute, and infinitely less expensive to maintain. Reliability after the big 3 is fantastic for what is very much a watered-down racecar for the street. Mods are abundant and effective. The looks are timeless and it continues to get increasngly unanimous praise from enthusiasts of all genres no matter where it goes and yet it keeps the wrong kind of attention to a minimum.

Is it the best car ever? No, but it's peak BMW and the fact it carries such a direct & mechanical lineage to 30 years worth of the greatest M cars makes it such a cohesive car that it really eliminates the need to own anything else from a marque that no longer exists in the way we originally fell in love with it. And for me it represents a period of my life where I learned how to work on cars, made incredible friendships, created valuable memories, and embodies the passion from everything I learned & experienced within.

Damn brother. You nailed it. That was awesome.

[lastMleft]

I just drove a friends well setup e92 m3 (kw clubsports, SPL arms) 1.5 hrs to the track, in traffic and took it drifting on the skid pad. After all the driving, it surprisingly made me appreciate the e46 m3 even more. Don't get me wrong, the car was great. The power and induction noise of the s65 is really what makes the e9x great along with it's nice balance. It's definitely more refined, even as a pretty track focused setup. It was surprisingly easy to drive and very daily drive-able. Even more refined than the e46 m3. Even though it's not much heavier than the e46, you can really feel the difference in the e46 eagerness to rotate and play around with the driver. I've been tossing the idea of having an e90 sedan which is my other favorite car. But the e46 m3 checks more boxes in terms of driver satisfaction for me. I wasn't expecting this but after all the work I've done on my e46 (Ohlins, 3.91 diff, rebuilt engine), it's not too far from the performance of the e9x m3. I do like how good the oem stereo system is on the e9x m3. Sounds so much better. lol

The e92 does feel heavy compared to the e46, the e46 is allot more playful and the throttle response feels quicker, but mine is supercharged so my car is way quicker than a stocke90x.

[Fresh1179]

The feeling of of passing a 500+ horsepower car in the turns at 7,000 RPM and knowing the car is fighting for you. Priceless.

[Tbonem3]

Well put. I was just talking with my friend the other day about how the car makes older cars irrelevant (almost, nostalgia is strong). It's the pinnacle. Combine that with affordable entry and ownership costs, it's a homerun.

[jvit27]

Beyond the obvious outright ways it performs, its 'freude am fahren' manages to make old school analog feel still seem relevant vs. modern technology. The throttle response ruins everything else short of GT Porsche and N/A Ferrari and the tail-happy nature of the chassis makes it more fun to hoon than 'better' cars that are too locked down in the sake of 'ring times. Power delivery keeps it exciting despite being underpowered by modern standards. Sane speeds are still very engaging but a limit is accessible on a daily basis that most supercar owners would either be afraid to attempt or surprised you did. It's a quarter of the cost of any viable substitute, and infinitely less expensive to maintain. Reliability after the big 3 is fantastic for what is very much a watered-down racecar for the street. Mods are abundant and effective. The looks are timeless and it continues to get increasngly unanimous praise from enthusiasts of all genres no matter where it goes and yet it keeps the wrong kind of attention to a minimum.

Is it the best car ever? No, but it's peak BMW and the fact it carries such a direct & mechanical lineage to 30 years worth of the greatest M cars makes it such a cohesive car that it really eliminates the need to own anything else from a marque that no longer exists in the way we originally fell in love with it. And for me it represents a period of my life where I learned how to work on cars, made incredible friendships, created valuable memories, and embodies the passion from everything I learned & experienced within.

[enjoy_m3]

I just drove a friends well setup e92 m3 (kw clubsports, SPL arms) 1.5 hrs to the track, in traffic and took it drifting on the skid pad. After all the driving, it surprisingly made me appreciate the e46 m3 even more. Don't get me wrong, the car was great. The power and induction noise of the s65 is really what makes the e9x great along with it's nice balance. It's definitely more refined, even as a pretty track focused setup. It was surprisingly easy to drive and very daily drive-able. Even more refined than the e46 m3. Even though it's not much heavier than the e46, you can really feel the difference in the e46 eagerness to rotate and play around with the driver. I've been tossing the idea of having an e90 sedan which is my other favorite car. But the e46 m3 checks more boxes in terms of driver satisfaction for me. I wasn't expecting this but after all the work I've done on my e46 (Ohlins, 3.91 diff, rebuilt engine), it's not too far from the performance of the e9x m3. I do like how good the oem stereo system is on the e9x m3. Sounds so much better. lol

[spnsprt]

I've had mine for 3-4 years and after taking care of the big 3, I might have went too far and done a 4.10 final drive, TCKline coils, and some recaros. I've tracked it twice and it was great out there but on the street it's kind of a pain now and I end up driving my E39 M5 (which is great but different) like 90% of the time. I think the answer is I just need to get back out to the track.

[Malloy]

Of all my cars, I strangely get the most thumbs up/comments/etc in the M3 wagon. This weirds me out, because there's no visual indication it's not a standard 3 series wagon (other than being badged 332i, but you have to be pretty deep in to get that) with the M sport/ZHP body work and some 17" RG-Rs. That thing is absurdly attention getting, everywhere I go.

... reminds me that I need to set some time aside to get the M3 mirrors mounted up on it

People not so secretly love wagons. I've been driving M-Sport F31s daily for 7 years and the level of interest is pretty shocking. The first one was a bone stock Estoril diesel and the current one is an Alpine White gasser lowered with Eibachs/Konis and spacers. Stock looking otherwise. The white one gets a lot more attn.

[jet_dogg]

Anytime I drive through Hollywood, every douchebag in the whole universe wants to race. Chrysler products and AMGs are the worst offenders by far.

Going to have to test this theory and pull up to them at the next red light like

[Nate047]

Yeah... I get this in my S55 a lot by idiots in Hellcats... I'm like "ok let's assume yours is faster... I'll still take mine"... as I pull off from the light like the old man I am... got no time for that shit.

maw

Anytime I drive through Hollywood, every douchebag in the whole universe wants to race. Chrysler products and AMGs are the worst offenders by far.

[m3nt0s]

For me, the E46M is a lot more than just an excellent driving experience:
- Double take in the parking lot every single time
- Admire all the body lines even when parked in the garage
- Thoroughly enjoy overall driving feel with medium speed backroads cruising
- Wonderfully stable highway cruising
- Speed, power, and handling have remained relevant for public roads use regardless of any modern cars that exist, and overall feedback/driving/steering feel is better than almost anything 2015 or newer that I’ve driven
- Easily modded it to the point where I get just the right NVH to balance with feel, as I despise anything that drives like a sensory depravation tank (I’m looking at you, mom’s old 1994 Lincoln Continental…)
- Oddly, enjoy packing tons of stuff into the car and seeing just how much fits (if I’m out running errands, helping someone move, etc.)
- Super satisfying to detail
- Introducing CSL style airbox, followed by 6MT swap, made it feel like a brand new car driving experience again (though there’s no other major mod I care to do at this point
- Shared interest with friends in the incredibly knowledgeable community
- A pleasant, understated, timeless place to be on every trip
- Recent addition of classic plates and the strong market make it feel as though I didn’t waste my money 7 years ago, even if I never want to sell it
- Strong aftermarket support (including software!) after this many years seems impossibly good
- Always fun with someone recognizes it and wants to chat (well, almost always…)

[CrisSilberGrau]

Why is that not believable? Do you think we actually raced and he beat me? lol

Yah I got solicited by a few trucks. It was close off the line at least.

Tbonem3 granny shifts instead of double clutching like he should, 100% he lost.

[CrisSilberGrau]

Best looks. Always double take waking away.

Incredible duality, it's a daily for me in the summer. Silbergrau gets zero looks, or maybe I don't notice them. With satin black rims and yellow calipers it attracts the attention from enthusiasts, of all shapes and sizes. And tbh I like the incognito mode. E88S and CF roof might attract more enthusiasts but maybe more purists as well.

The way this thing feels at all speeds and rpm ranges, whether you're lugging around town or race track. It's honestly a joy.

I've done a lot of work on my own, learned a lot. Made some really good friends along the way. Huge confidence builder in that sense. Always told myself when I get my first car I'll do the work, well what better way than to wrench on the goat.

The induction noise, second to none. It's weird when you get you're dream car, coming from a point of scarcity to owning it is eye opening. I love it. Honeymoon ain't over yet (ever).