Who'd like an E46 M3 sedan or wagon? [Archive] - bimmerfest

03-07-2002, 08:11 AM

Originally posted by nate328Ci
Sedan

Would you buy one? :confused:

I would seriously consider a wagon. I already have an M3 sedan.

And M3T is probably the chance there is that I'll ever own another E46.

Guest84

03-07-2002, 08:15 AM

Personal preference, but I just don't care for 4 doors(regardlss of "body rigidity")

nate

03-07-2002, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by TD

I would seriously consider a wagon. I already have an M3 sedan.

And M3T is probably the chance there is that I'll ever own another E46.

The sedan has a better chance of being built and would sell much better.

You would NOT buy an E46 M3 sedan?

Mr. The Edge

03-07-2002, 08:23 AM

Tom Salkowsky said that a 4-door E46 M3 would not be built.

Dr. Phil

03-07-2002, 08:32 AM

Voted wagon since that's what I have and really appreciated some of the extra versatility. But I wouldn't pass on a sedan if touring was never a reality.

03-07-2002, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by nate328Ci

The sedan has a better chance of being built and would sell much better.

You would NOT buy an E46 M3 sedan?

I've read repeated references to the fact that an M3 wagon stands a better chance of being built than a sedan would.

And, no, I probably would NOT buy an E46 M3 sedan.

Hell, I might also have a hard time picking an M3 wagon over the next gen S4 Avant.

Chris330Ci

03-07-2002, 08:42 AM

I would take the wagon over the sedan any day of the week...

TD: I agree that a choice b/w an M3 wagon and the upcoming S4 Avant would be a tough choice, but we'll worry about that when it happens. :D

Talk about the ultimate stealth mobile... :thumb:

IndyMike

03-07-2002, 08:54 AM

I voted for the wagon, although I'll take either an M3/4 if offered.

From the inception of the E46 M3 the Touring has always been a more likely prospect than the 3/4 to make it to the market. AG built a few wagons in the beginning to toy around with the concept.

It's thought that the 3/4 will cut into M5 sales, hence it probably won't be considered until the M5 is upgraded to 10 cylinders.

I'd think it'd be gonzo to have a wagon with that kind of muscle under the hood.

I keep hoping that Audi will market their kick-ass grocery-hauler RS4 over here in the States.

That would probably influence AG to some degree as to whether they want to cede this niche entirely to Audi.

ALEX325i

03-07-2002, 09:08 AM

Hmmm... Come to think of it, maybe one of the reasons why they're not building an E46 M3/4 has to do with the fact that it would steal M5 sales... :dunno:

SacM3

03-07-2002, 10:46 AM

Really don't see a point for an M beyond a coupe/convertible but to each his own..........

glaws

03-07-2002, 01:54 PM

Anything but a M3 Coupe is a contradiction in terms. Perhaps an oxymoron.

03-07-2002, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by glaws
Anything but a M3 Coupe is a contradiction in terms. Perhaps an oxymoron.

So is an M5 an oxymoron? If not, why are 4 doors allowed on a M5 and not on a M3. Remember, the 6-series (currently absent) is the coupe variation of the 5-series. By your logic, the only legitimate Ms are the M3 and M6.

And, of the E36 generation M3s, the M3 sedans are lighter and more rigid than the coupes.

Why the 2 door elitism?

ALEX325i

03-07-2002, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by TD

So is an M5 an oxymoron? If not, why are 4 doors allowed on a M5 and not on a M3. Remember, the 6-series (currently absent) is the coupe variation of the 5-series. By your logic, the only legitimate Ms are the M3 and M6.

And, of the E36 generation M3s, the M3 sedans are lighter and more rigid than the coupes.

Why the 2 door elitism?

We kinda' have gone through this one before, and you know what I think about the whole "sports sedan" thing, and how that makes the M5 unappealing to me (unquestionably the best "sedan" ever IMO), etc.

However, this time around, I think it's more of a biz decision... I think the E46 M3/4 could steal M5 sales (when the E36 M3/4 was around, the M5 wasn't), since the HP difference is MUCH smaller than the price difference (edit: 20-25K? Heck, you can almost buy a strip 325i with that money)... ;)

exsilio

03-07-2002, 02:41 PM

well at first I was really disappointed they didn't make a sedan version..but now I don't think I could see it any other way than as a coupe. I love mine, and 4 doors would just seem to ruin the persona of the car.

I love wagons, like the RS4, but...it just would feel all wrong for the M3.

Besides that's what the M5 is for. :)

node21

03-07-2002, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by atyclb
Tom Salkowsky said that a 4-door E46 M3 would not be built.

i bet he said the same thing in 1996

03-07-2002, 07:02 PM

(I finally found the pic I first saw online YEARS ago...)

Who doesn't think THIS is hot? If you say no, you're lying.

http://www.2002bmw.com/m-series/e46_m3_touring.jpg

ALEX325i

03-07-2002, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by TD
(I finally found the pic I first saw online YEARS ago...)

Who doesn't think THIS is hot? If you say no, you're lying.

That is hot. But then again, is there such thing as a non-hot BMW? (Just teasing ya! :p You don't have to answer that... :D)

JST

03-07-2002, 09:04 PM

I like having a car that performs like the M3 does but can carry four people.

Were it not for my fixation with open-air motoring, I would prefer a car that performs like the M3 does but can carry five people and is easier for them to get into and out of.

If the car is a sedan anyway (as, according to the EPA, the 3 series is, due to the size of its rear seat), why not give it four doors?

glaws

03-08-2002, 02:37 AM

Mystikal

03-10-2002, 04:02 PM

To throw some more fuel into the flame, here's a pic of a chopped M3 sedan:

DrBimmer

03-22-2002, 05:11 AM

One more benefit to an M3 sedan or touring would be that there would be no need for the ugly reflectors on the bumpers!

Mr. The Edge

03-22-2002, 06:21 AM

Originally posted by DrBimmer
One more benefit to an M3 sedan or touring would be that there would be no need for the ugly reflectors on the bumpers!

Why not?

Wingboot

03-22-2002, 09:40 AM

Because for whatever reason the reflectors are built into the front amber lights and the tail lights on the sedans and not the coupes? The lack of small reflectors added on looks much better than the front and rear reflectors on the coupes in my opinion. The odd thing is that the M3 doesn’t have red reflectors added to the rear bumper and neither do the coupes with the “M Aero” package. It’s just a styling cue and not a regulatory requirement since I assume that the coupes have a reflective portion on their tail lights as the sedans do. I’ll check out a coupe next time I see one.

Regarding the subject of this post, would an M3 touring be “too heavy?”

hotbimmer

04-17-2002, 01:09 PM

I definately would prefer the sedan over my coupe.

Kaz

04-17-2002, 02:15 PM

Yummy...

http://www.bimmerfest.com/members/kaz/images/m3_touring.jpg

For the 'purists' out there, don't you think the convertible is just as unpure an idea as a sedan or wagon?

Aside from roadsters (where it was never meant to be a coupe), I've always considered dropheads (in Jag-speak) a way to appease those who like open-air-motoring, not something towards out-and-out performance freaks.

Mr Paddle.Shift

04-17-2002, 03:45 PM

E46 M3 Touring or Sedan. I will take neither.

My first preference is still M5 E34 Touring. FYI, I salivate at every month's Roundel classified for this particular model. Gorgeous yet viciously powerful.

Let's see..with this beast, I can shop at IKEA, CostCo, picked up the kids from school, and still kicks arse!:D And trust me, I won't debadge. And I will have Alpina wheels too.

<img src="http://www.bmw-style.de/autos/style_ray_neu1.gif">

04-17-2002, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by VinceTopasBlau3
E46 M3 Touring or Sedan. I will take neither.

My first preference is still M5 E34 Touring. FYI, I salivate at every month's Roundel classified for this particular model. Gorgeous yet viciously powerful.

Let's see..with this beast, I can shop at IKEA, CostCo, picked up the kids from school, and still kicks arse!:D And trust me, I won't debadge. And I will have Alpina wheels too.

<img src="http://www.bmw-style.de/autos/style_ray_neu1.gif">

I see the daytona violet one in Florida listed and drool too. But that's a lot of money for a 9 year old car. That always snaps me back to reality.

Mr Paddle.Shift

04-18-2002, 12:27 AM

Huh? It's still on sale? Wasn't that the one we talked about WAY back at the Org? :confused:

Originally posted by TD

I see the daytona violet one in Florida listed and drool too. But that's a lot of money for a 9 year old car. That always snaps me back to reality.

Ben Liaw

12-04-2003, 06:46 AM

(I finally found the pic I first saw online YEARS ago...)

Who doesn't think THIS is hot? If you say no, you're lying.

http://www.2002bmw.com/m-series/e46_m3_touring.jpg

The version I'm working on...

http://www.rogueengineering.com/pics/wagon2/images/DSCN3654.jpg

Not quite as dramatic, but at least it will have the S54 and 6-speed!

krms

12-04-2003, 04:37 PM

Ben,what a great project to work on.

Just read more in the E46 forum. Please keep us posted on the progress.

Cheers.

Clarke

12-06-2003, 03:09 AM

Cause I'm old, I think. My first "sports car" was an MG TD. Then I lusted after a Healy, but never could afford one. To me the M3 Is a "sports car" with some practicality. I can carry three more people in some comfort when I need to, but thats as far as I will go. Matter of style, perception and self-image I guess. As always - to each his own. Glaws; I'm not young either and have been through plenty of roadsters,TR3s etc.The M3 is a fantastic gran tourer that performs as well or better than most sportscars.Given the extra practicailty of the back seat over a 2 seater why not go for the doors or wagon? I would love a M3 or M5 touring just as I lusted after one of these Shooting Brakes back in the day.http://www.astonmartins.org/np6c/pics/am011307.jpg

alpinewhite325i

12-06-2003, 04:25 AM

Ben Liaw

12-06-2003, 05:18 AM

Regarding the subject of this post, would an M3 touring be “too heavy?”

That's exactly what I was thinking...too heavy. With all the talk around here about the E46 being a "fat pig", I would think that you guys would consider an M wagon to be an "obese pig". :yikes:

Actually, a preliminary weight of the project shows that it's extremely similar to the E46 M3 coupe. At 3398 lbs. (empty gas tank) and near 50/50 weight distribution, there does not seem to be much of a penalty for having a wagon.

I just don't understand everyone's admiration for wagons, but to each his own. :dunno:

One trip to Ikea, the grocery store, and Home depot (in the same trip) will give you an appreciation for the wagon.

Nick325xiT 5spd

12-06-2003, 06:31 AM

Or a trip to Radial Tire with TWO sets of wheels AND an additional four free tires. That really made me appreciate the carrying capacity of the Barge. :)

Dr. Phil

12-06-2003, 08:08 AM

Or a trip to Radial Tire with TWO sets of wheels AND an additional four free tires. That really made me appreciate the carrying capacity of the Barge. :)
What will you do after today then :dunno: :D

___lk___

12-06-2003, 08:39 AM

One more benefit to an M3 sedan or touring would be that there would be no need for the ugly reflectors on the bumpers!

they only need the ugly reflectors so that they can legally put the ugly clears on the blinkers....USA requires amber/front, red/rear reflectors visible from the side of the car. :rolleyes:

...and it wouldn't surprise me if a sedan made a late appearance during the e90 swithover year when the e46 m3 is still made.

ObD

12-14-2003, 03:51 PM

...and it wouldn't surprise me if a sedan made a late appearance during the e90 swithover year when the e46 m3 is still made.

I've been thinking this could happen too. Pulling the trigger would be a no brainer.

David Keogh

12-14-2003, 03:56 PM

Since my dream car is a rocket touring car (something like an RS4, but made by BMW), my vote was an easy one.

bluer1

12-14-2003, 04:29 PM

Who would be interested in BMW producing one of these M3 variants?

In all honesty - if there had been an M3/4 when I bought my 330i, I would have bought it. The main thing that kept me out of an M3 was the coupe configuration.
:thumbdwn: