5 things you like and 5 things you dislike about your m3

[EthanolTurbo]

I have one major gripe. As a sports car manufacturer i have no idea why BMW did not offer a full solid rear bulk head as a standard option. Fold down seats on sports coupé as a mandatory option is a mystery to me. Probably this was the start of corporate push down that Mr Biermann talked about.

I could have better overall torsional rigidity with the solid rear bulk head vs a cf roof and still maintain my sunroof. I have a ski bag as an option ffs. Now to "finish" up I'd like to do the slon front brace and karb roof.

Slon wants $4600 for their front brace. Not even kidding.

[maw1124]

Only car that competes with E46 m3 is E9x M3 for anywhere near/under $100k.

A C or CLK AMG (55 or 63) might change your mind about that. Might not. But the interior materials might also still be sub par.

maw

[maw1124]

I think if you've owned the car for 10 plus years it's gonna be hard to knock it except for trivial things. The interior is one of the best designed for a true sports car. Could the materials have been more premium, maybe but at what cost. The only eye sore is the rubbery plastics that go bad with age and the eventual scratches no matter how careful you are.

Otherwise it's a pretty immaculate interior. In period cars have seldomly aged this well. An example is the 996/2 generation, now that is almost atrocious to sit inside unless you're in something special. My favorite GT3 is the 996.1 or 2 but man that interior is horrendous.

Torque wise, in period this was more than enough but most reviews still said the same. You need to be up in the revs. Recommendations made are the correct ones, catless CSL cams tune is damn near 400-450bhp depending on compression. At that level if you still need more you're missing the point.

Edit: also weight reduction.

Plastic is plastic. It’s the leather that’s the problem. The 996/997 get the same critique from me, except they’re worse. The design AND the execution both suck for a car at that price point. At least this one has price point as an excuse (or mitigating factor if you prefer). For those with cams and tunes, I understand high RPM hp increases, but what 2700RPM torque increase do you get?

E39 interior absolutely dunks on E46 and E90, especially with extended leather. I honestly think it's the best interior they ever did.

That’s because it is the best they ever did.😂. I say this having just put in a new center console and sent the old one out to be covered in Black leather (as opposed to Imola) unless the interior shop is smoking that new crack.

maw

[tlow98]

I have one major gripe. As a sports car manufacturer i have no idea why BMW did not offer a full solid rear bulk head as a standard option. Fold down seats on sports coupé as a mandatory option is a mystery to me. Probably this was the start of corporate push down that Mr Biermann talked about.

I could have better overall torsional rigidity with the solid rear bulk head vs a cf roof and still maintain my sunroof. I have a ski bag as an option ffs. Now to "finish" up I'd like to do the slon front brace and karb roof.

I get it and I agree, except for one point. BMW doesn’t make “sports” cars. They make sedans and sporting cars based on sedans. There in lies the compromise.

I wish they made a true halo sporting car. Sadly they don’t or haven’t since the M1.

[Tbonem3]

Uncompetitive? Why are you comparing performance between a car made in the late 90s to modern (turbo) era? There's more to a car than 0-60 times anyway. Has always been the case with m3s.

Good God I hate these debates.

Only car that competes with E46 m3 is E9x M3 for anywhere near/under $100k.

[usdmej]

pros: it's a well rounded car, arguably the most well rounded car of all time

cons: at this point its a well rounded old car, compared to what you can buy today it's pretty uncompetitive outside of maybe cargo practicality

[Tbonem3]

FBloggs is uninitiated

[CrisSilberGrau]

I have one major gripe. As a sports car manufacturer i have no idea why BMW did not offer a full solid rear bulk head as a standard option. Fold down seats on sports coupé as a mandatory option is a mystery to me. Probably this was the start of corporate push down that Mr Biermann talked about.

I could have better overall torsional rigidity with the solid rear bulk head vs a cf roof and still maintain my sunroof. I have a ski bag as an option ffs. Now to "finish" up I'd like to do the slon front brace and karb roof.

[EthanolTurbo]

Im of a similar opinion. I like the design of the e46 interior. The way it’s screwed together and the materials, however, is meh.

Conversely, the e90 interior design is meh, but the materials and quality are a big leap ahead.

The e39 seems to have both quality and design. Good for them!

E39 interior absolutely dunks on E46 and E90, especially with extended leather. I honestly think it's the best interior they ever did.

[CrisSilberGrau]

Recently it seems that any variation from worshipful discourse is frowned upon in this forum.
Just because someone says the car is not perfect, does not mean that it is hated.
It's just another near 20 yo car and they all have their issues.
If we were given brand new examples of this car today, we all would not be chuffed to bits with the experience.

some of the most ardent supporters of the car appear to have the most modified examples ??

peace;

I think if you've owned the car for 10 plus years it's gonna be hard to knock it except for trivial things. The interior is one of the best designed for a true sports car. Could the materials have been more premium, maybe but at what cost. The only eye sore is the rubbery plastics that go bad with age and the eventual scratches no matter how careful you are.

Otherwise it's a pretty immaculate interior. In period cars have seldomly aged this well. An example is the 996/2 generation, now that is almost atrocious to sit inside unless you're in something special. My favorite GT3 is the 996.1 or 2 but man that interior is horrendous.

Torque wise, in period this was more than enough but most reviews still said the same. You need to be up in the revs. Recommendations made are the correct ones, catless CSL cams tune is damn near 400-450bhp depending on compression. At that level if you still need more you're missing the point.

Edit: also weight reduction.

[FBloggs]

Recently it seems that any variation from worshipful discourse is frowned upon in this forum.
Just because someone says the car is not perfect, does not mean that it is hated.
It's just another near 20 yo car and they all have their issues.
If we were given brand new examples of this car today, we all would not be chuffed to bits with the experience.

some of the most ardent supporters of the car appear to have the most modified examples ??

peace;

[tlow98]

Nothing at that price point, to be fair (Benzes and Audi's of that period and before). I've made that point before -- it's a 3-series. If this was as good as the E39M, interior wouldn't have been listed. It's fine. I'm just comparing it to higher price point cars.

maw

Im of a similar opinion. I like the design of the e46 interior. The way it’s screwed together and the materials, however, is meh.

Conversely, the e90 interior design is meh, but the materials and quality are a big leap ahead.

The e39 seems to have both quality and design. Good for them!

[EthanolTurbo]

I'm working on it, just put a SS setup on and finishing up the karbonius intake. Tune is set for next Friday so hopefully after that I get what I'm hoping for

It makes a huge difference. Finally got my Karb CSL airbox and full SS setup + cams dialed in and dynoing tomorrow. It's a huge upgrade over stock.

[Wernd]

I'm working on it, just put a SS setup on and finishing up the karbonius intake. Tune is set for next Friday so hopefully after that I get what I'm hoping for

[EthanolTurbo]

Had one of those, too tall and too heavy and drove like a BB

And yes I do have something that has torque so no need to sell anything. I'm simply saying the car could use a bit more torque

Gears, power mods, lightweight flywheel, and weight reduction (especially lightweight wheels)generate more torque or allow less weight per wtq. It'll never be an S62 but there are a lot of changes you can do that will maximize and more efficiently use the torque that is available.