If you ever had to replace your e46 M3

[Tbonem3]

Already did- E90 M3

CrisSilberGrau

[zzyzx85]

I've thought about this and I determined it would probably be a BRZ/FRS/GT86/GR86

[Interlagos]

At the crazy prices - the gap to an M2 isn't much. Tempting. I like the gen 1 M2, sounds better than the m3 motor.

I bought a 2016 M2 6MT a few years back right after my ‘03.5 M3 got totaled — ended up selling the M2 within 6 months. Loved the way the car looked, but couldn’t stand how it drove and sounded. The sounds they make in sport mode and during cold starts were honestly embarrassing. Not to mention the automatic rev matching on downshifts in a 6MT car… very clear who BMW is marketing newer M cars to.

[bigjae46]

996s, 986s, 997s, and 987s have an issue with engines popping at the track. The DI engine upgrade didn't do much to 991s, 718s, and 981s have auto trans issues. 992s are too new to know truly yet. I've seen a few 991 GT3s get engines due to the DLC coating on the cams. It's a real coating, not like is advertised for our cams. The brakes will be twice as expensive, BeCaUsE pOrScHe, and go just as fast, if not faster. You probably don't need to upgrade the brakes which may balance out cost. Stock BMW brakes suck in general compared to Porsche. You can't do internal work yourself or you need thousands of dollars in special tools alone. Porsche Workshop Manual is not as reliable or as available as BMWs Repair Instructions.

My point is you will be investing significantly more money into a less reliable platform with less flexibility. If you think it's worth it and have the money, then go for it. I can almost guarantee a better track experience in almost a Porsche sports car. This is just my experience to give you another data point in helping you decide.

BMW have their own problems. No car will be perfect but over the last 15 years Porsche’s seem to have far fewer issues.

Porsche’s and BMW M cars are the few cars that requires minimal or no mods to make a relatively reliable track car, at least used to be. I haven’t really been keeping up wit the newer cars, far less interesting to me.

I got to ride in the newest GT3, a 992? It practically turns itself. Why even bother with the driver at this point?

Back to reality - I’ll keep my E46 until it’s crashed or burned down. At that point, I’ll just stick to playing ice hockey as my hobby.

[simon_c]

997.2 GTS or Lotus Evora 400 for me

[Arith2]

My car has a rollcage so it gets trailered. It is pretty light and a lot of fun but sometimes I really question whether its worth the effort.

My next track car will either be a new 911 or E9X M3. Something I can drive to/from the track. I lean towards a new 911 because how many 911s do you see actually have an issue at the track? I honestly can't think of one that I've seen.

The one thing that keeps me holding onto the E46 is running costs. It is really low cost to run. I get about 6-7 mpg, tires last 4-5 weekends and brakes up to 10-12 weekends.

996s, 986s, 997s, and 987s have an issue with engines popping at the track. The DI engine upgrade didn't do much to 991s, 718s, and 981s have auto trans issues. 992s are too new to know truly yet. I've seen a few 991 GT3s get engines due to the DLC coating on the cams. It's a real coating, not like is advertised for our cams. The brakes will be twice as expensive, BeCaUsE pOrScHe, and go just as fast, if not faster. You probably don't need to upgrade the brakes which may balance out cost. Stock BMW brakes suck in general compared to Porsche. You can't do internal work yourself or you need thousands of dollars in special tools alone. Porsche Workshop Manual is not as reliable or as available as BMWs Repair Instructions.

My point is you will be investing significantly more money into a less reliable platform with less flexibility. If you think it's worth it and have the money, then go for it. I can almost guarantee a better track experience in almost an Porsche sports car. This is just my experience to give you another data point in helping you decide.

[bigjae46]

My car has a rollcage so it gets trailered. It is pretty light and a lot of fun but sometimes I really question whether its worth the effort.

My next track car will either be a new 911 or E9X M3. Something I can drive to/from the track. I lean towards a new 911 because how many 911s do you see actually have an issue at the track? I honestly can't think of one that I've seen.

The one thing that keeps me holding onto the E46 is running costs. It is really low cost to run. I get about 6-7 mpg, tires last 4-5 weekends and brakes up to 10-12 weekends.

[Steve]

997 of any variety, doesn’t have to be a GT3, they’re all incredibly good.

E46 M3 is a better DD and has more room for stuff, but the 997 is more pure when it comes to sports car activities.

[Nate047]

I think I replied to this thread when it was new, but today if I had to replace the e46 for a somewhat daily/around town car that passes the same vibe check, I would look for an early 996 with the factory aero. For a track car I would look at an e36 M3 or maybe just like a BRZ or something cheaper and easy to run.

[Toby22]

Right now, realistically…a 2015 Jaguar FType R with rwd.

[01SG]

I would love a Lotus Esprit or Boxster Spyder, but those are not M3 replacements. Being such a great all around car, the only one that I think can beat the M3 in its own game is the 06-17 V8 Vantage. The early ones are perhaps the greatest deal in enthusiast cars today. It is a (relatively) affordable, usable, and repairable exotic. It blows my mind that people will pay more for a garden-variety 911.

And even then, the M3 can take such a beating. It is easy to repair and find parts for. Plus it can easily shed a good amount of weight, whereas the Aston cannot.

[Gt4]

If I sell one of my E46 M3 it will be for a Datsun 240z! Not that they are that expensive but I don’t have storage space available at home anymore so one car will have to go. I would sell my X3 M40i anytime but doubt the 240z would be a great daily with Canadian winter…

[Obioban]

Hard to imagine replacing my e46. I love exciting engines, and nothing near the price point is as exciting as an s54 with a csl airbox. My car is also has the big 3 done, so running costs are pretty low.

I have really been wanting to try a 911 (likely 996 for budget reasons). But would sell my e36 track car before thinking of moving my e46. But then I read of horror stories of the m96 engines that make the s54 seem like a Honda...

The s54 is pretty low running cost once you spend a weekend locking it down. I’m at nearly 350,000 s54 miles at this point, and never had an expensive issue.

Only bites you if you ignore the weak points and wait for failure to do anything.

[Lavatoad]

Hard to imagine replacing my e46. I love exciting engines, and nothing near the price point is as exciting as an s54 with a csl airbox. My car is also has the big 3 done, so running costs are pretty low.

I have really been wanting to try a 911 (likely 996 for budget reasons). But would sell my e36 track car before thinking of moving my e46. But then I read of horror stories of the m96 engines that make the s54 seem like a Honda...

[simonnim]

Probably would try the new BRZ to be quite honest. I heard great things.