E46 M3 compared to other sports cars you've driven

[jet_dogg]

I often used to say the e46 m3 was the best car under 100k. If you're a hairdresser in a cab (just messin with you maw) or doddling around town going to car shows/meets (sup sharocks), it's a pretty boring car.

If you don't like working and being rewarded then it's not the car for you. If you enjoy taking the long road through the canyons, banging gears upshifting at redline and sliding the rear out when nobody's around there is none finer. The motorcycle-like throttle response with linear power delivery, heavy steering on coilovers and camber plates, heavy clutch and the predictable balance are what embody the experience.

No other car gives you so much value for money. It's luxurious without being overly so. It's sporty without being overly so. It's fast without being overly so. When I sit inside, it feels like a cockpit. When I walk away, I look back.

[Jimbo's M]

They were so far ahead of their competitors back then when considering the S4 and C55. It's puzzling that so many tried to copy yet so few succeeded, this car is more than the sums of its parts.

When the E46 M debuted, there was practically nothing under $100K that could touch it. It stayed that way for some time too.

[strummr]

You're not alone. Everyone knows wringing the car's neck to get power out it is what most people consider "fun to drive." I don't always want to work that hard. I like effortless power everywhere in the band, which is why my favorite is the S55 AMG. If your neck and spine don't snap back, what's the point?!

But to your point, it's also too big to toss around, because ... I don't want to work that hard. My E5E is next -- goes like a Benz and handles like a Porsche. It's about the same size as these with more torque and will stay GLUED to these almost anywhere. Then this car, and then the beater Allroad 4.2. But you can't really drive any of them as hard as this one because you run out of road real fast. Same for the 911 turbos. By the time you get into the power you've run out of room.

;-D

maw

I'll further vouch for the general 'butt' feel or lacktherof, in regards to low-torque, high-revving cars... I had an E92 M3 6mt before, and yes, it rev'd to 8400, yes it sounded amazing in the upper ranges (Corsa exhaust), but it was at a time when I wanted more visceral, 'useable' power: low-mid torque. The E92 was my dd, and I had a C6 Z06 as my wknd car (talk about torque, but with truck-like dynamics), it was a strange combo and I ended up driving my FX45 I had at the time more than either. The E92 was not a satisfying car to drive every day, the lack of low-end torque was disappointing and felt gutless; I ended up selling it within 6 mos (well, it and the C6 Z06 was traded in on a black edition GT-R). I modded the GT-R to near 900# of torque, and my current TTS probably close to 600#... it probably goes without saying but makes for more satisfying, general drives, but does lack engagement (beyond trying to keep it on the road under full boost 😁). But I've come full circle, since I've had mostly AWD, high-power, high-torque cars the last half a decade, I wanted that 'engagement' again of a light(er), RWD, manual car... thus the recent pick up of the Dinan E46 M3 6mt. (I was looking for a Shelby 350R, but didn't find one I liked - I still feel like the voodoo motor is a must-have experience)

[Epoustouflant]

I have not driven enough 90s engineered sports cars to do a direct era comparaison outside of the 996 911. I would pick the E46 M3 over a 996 every single time. They were so far ahead of their competitors back then when considering the S4 and C55. It's puzzling that so many tried to copy yet so few succeeded, this car is more than the sums of its parts.

I can offer a direct comparaison between the E46 M3 and subsequent M generations by offering an analogy with Porsche 911s.

The E46 M3 is the last of the air cooled 911s - it's the 993 to the E9X's 997.

The driving experience is raw: it requires your input at every step of the process to go anywhere fast. It has few inhibitions: it's loud, noisy, mechanical at any RPM - you need to grab it by the scruff of the neck to go anywhere. When you do, it's telling you to keep going - yet it doesn't really get you into "oh snap" situation as quickly as later M cars.

That's where the E46 M3 shines for me, and it put a smile on my face every damn time I got to drive it this Fall.

[maw1124]

That being said, I will still say that the experience you get out of an E46 M3 these days is effectively around a $25k experience.

Paying more for one is ridiculous, it's not THAT good lol.

$25k was my max number back in 2010 when I bought mine. It was (and is) a special purpose car that serves that purpose better than everything else in that range. I'm shocked when I see these selling for $45k, as one just did on BaT with slightly more miles than mine when I bought it. I might pay $25k again, but $45k is out of the question.

maw

[usdmej]

I

The only thing that is memorable with the E46 M3 is it's ability to kind of do it all. Not everything or anything at this point exceptionally well, but it can do everything.

That being said, I will still say that the experience you get out of an E46 M3 these days is effectively around a $25k experience.

Paying more for one is ridiculous, it's not THAT good lol.

great car to own if you can only one car. but if you have the means/space for more than one, you're probably better off diversifying your car portfolio unless a jack of all trades tickles your fancy

[Obioban]

Lol I’m 6.4” too...I agree Miata’s are to small. My M is a tight squeeze.

Seats were great for that. I used to have to recline the seat to get into the car with a helmet. Since I stuck the nogaros in, I can fit an entire fist over my head, with my seat in a proper upright position.

[Sharocks]

I've been fortunate to be able to drive a lot of different kinds of cars.

The only thing that is memorable with the E46 M3 is it's ability to kind of do it all. Not everything or anything at this point exceptionally well, but it can do everything.

That being said, I will still say that the experience you get out of an E46 M3 these days is effectively around a $25k experience.

Paying more for one is ridiculous, it's not THAT good lol.

[lastMleft]

I just don’t fit into them, At 6’4. E.g. I can’t close the roof on any generation Miata.

Lol I’m 6.4” too...I agree Miata’s are to small. My M is a tight squeeze.

[usdmej]

.... and I picked up an oven in my other M3 earlier this week



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i'm embarassed about how long it took me to figure out this wasn't a coupe picture

[Obioban]

I just don’t fit into them, At 6’4. E.g. I can’t close the roof on any generation Miata.

[t44tq]

Weight is HUGE for sure. That's why I'm put so much effort into making my car lighter (3081 lbs with a half tank as she sits today)!

But... I'm not sure size isn't equally/more important. The bigger the car, the less you can take a racing line within your lane. There's just less room to play.

I agree that size is important, but I think weight is the most important factor, still.

That being said, cars smaller than a Miata are a bit too small for me, in terms of visibility and safety. I'd love to own a Suzuki Cappucino or a Caterham, but they're so small that you literally risk being run over by an SUV.

[Obioban]

Mah dude this is so badass for so many reasons. Full stop, this is just badassery.

It also raises so many questions. What spring rates are you running? How does this improve or detract from flat ride? What's your cross-weights look like at full, 3/4 and 1/4? Why did you choose the red fuel cell and not black? Do you offer inflight refueling for others on the rally?

Also, I like how you ditched your trunk mounted tools for weight savings. We all know weight up high is a killer. Definitely a pro tip right there.

Legitimately and all joking aside - this is just awesome.

Ha.

I actually haven't had cause to install the fuel cell since I've gone flat ride, but the car should be better suited for it than previously-- I used to run 500 lb rear springs daily and swap in 700s when I ran the fuel cell. These days I run 700s (ish) daily.

Cross weights aren't effected because the weight of the fuel cell is evenly distributed left/right.

Red was cheaper, so went with red :P

Only in flight refueling for me-- I have a button in the cabin that refills the stock tank from the fuel cell. Combined we have just under 60 gallons.

The car is not light in rally mode-- also have a spare wheel/tire in the trunk, spare parts and tools in the trunk, cooler/fridge in the back seat, etc. Almost back up to stock M3 weight, fully loaded and fueled up :P

[Casa de Mesa]

And I have a fuel cell to put in the trunk for rallies

Mah dude this is so badass for so many reasons. Full stop, this is just badassery.

It also raises so many questions. What spring rates are you running? How does this improve or detract from flat ride? What's your cross-weights look like at full, 3/4 and 1/4? Why did you choose the red fuel cell and not black? Do you offer inflight refueling for others on the rally?

Also, I like how you ditched your trunk mounted tools for weight savings. We all know weight up high is a killer. Definitely a pro tip right there.

Legitimately and all joking aside - this is just awesome.

[jet_dogg]

Well we are all different, but I see your enthusiasm for the e46 I like em too but I like the old school M5 better even the old ones like the e28 with a built suspension they are fun to drive not fast but fun....👍🏽

I don't know where you're picking up my enthusiasm for the m3, but I'm about as unbiased as it gets so you'll have to accept that my experience (as well as my e34 m5 buddy who texted me there is no comparison) is different than yours.

On the topic of low torque, well that's a bunch of rubbish. I won't even get into honda talk but the torque figures are deceptive because of the ridiculous final drive ratios. It's more like proper ratio of tq/hp along with powerband that make the experience for me, as well as naturally aspirated coupled with a manual transmission. Of course there is also throttle response, high revs, and aural sensation in addition to the commonly accepted characteristics of size, weight, etc. If the m3 didn't have ITBs and carbon airboxes available I'd have sold mine a long time ago.

I test drove an rs6 and an s5 in the mid late 2000s and both were garbage. The m3 felt like a racecar compared to those but I've not driven an rs4 which another buddy owns. Now I just need to get my hands on an rs 4.0 to test drive 🤠