in_d_haus said:
Conclusion:
Is one better than the other? No,
And perceived fun levels. It's still an E46 at heart, and we all know that the E46 handles better at the cost of fun.Alan F said:
what do you mean 'no' ?
The E46 M3 is far superior to the E36 M3 in everyway except one and that's price . . .
in_d_haus said:Ok,
As many of you have seen from the "Lookie" post I went and test drove an 1999 E36 M3 today. I am seriously considering purchasing the car. Some of you have asked my (dyed in the wool E46 fan) my opinion of the E36 and how it compares to the E46 M3 which I drove recently.
E36 M3:
This is a great car. Very fast pulls well through all gears. Handles very well. It has a seat of the pants feel you don't get in the E46. This car NEEDS an SSK! I think the throws are longer than my 325ci! At least it felt that way.
E46 M3:
This is an amazing car! It is so competent, it does everything well. It is heavy but the extra power (333hp) and great steering compensates well. I could drive this car faster around a track than the E36 though it would feel slower. You don't have the seat of the pants feel that you do in the E36, this takes away some of the fun factor. In Sport mode this car is a monster pulling almost too hard for the street through all 6 gears and the entire rev band.
Conclusion:
Is one better than the other? No, they are both great cars worthy of the "///M" badge. They are different animals though.
In the hands of an expert driver I'd love to see a race between these two just to see who would win...I don't think I could bet on either.
nate328Ci said:
I'd get the E46 M3 SMG
And, I'd bet on it in a race![]()
in_d_haus said:I'd absolutely get the E46 M3 IF the economic outlook at Boeing and in my area were not in the grim shape it is. The E36 will be a very fun I can play with till better times. The E36 will run me about the same (actually a bit less) as my 325 currently does and my insurance isn't even moving up a whole lot.
When things are better I can move this car, it's in immaculate condition and loaded, for a better price than the 325 and get either an E46 M3 or whatever is new at that time.
My 325 is a great car but not for the heavy tracking I've been doing to it. it just can't compete and I'm afraid it will break from the stress....I've got a big competitive streak!
Let me at those Porsches!
nate328Ci said:
Your 325 is stressed :yikes:
I'm not sure the E36 is as up to heavy tracking as well. Watch those subframe mounts! The fronts can tear with heavy track use, and the rear fails too! Get the X-Brace though.
Maybe you could get an M3/4 and sell the E34 :dunno: Or sell both cars and get the E46 M3.
BTW, what kind of brake pads are you using on the 325? My full maintainance is out in 40 miles and I have to start paying. Looking for low fade, but streetable.
Let me elobarate a little bit since my post sounds too dicky . . .Alan F said:
what do you mean 'no' ?
The E46 M3 is far superior to the E36 M3 in everyway except one and that's price . . .
in_d_haus said:
Well, maybe it isn't stressed. it does well but I'm tired of getting passed by M3s on the straight, I can hang with most anything on the corners.
in_d_haus said:The cool thing was that my salesman went in the back and came out with a brand new 1999 E36 M3 sales brochure and gave it to me...old stock.
nate328Ci said:Ever driven an E36 M3 on the track?
in_d_haus said:
I just use the stock pads for now. I was going to look to aftermarket pads next track season. They do have a Cosmos black '99 M3/4 down at the dealer as well. I'm a coupe guy
Jetfire said:Good review. I figured it would be longer too, but you summed it up nicely.
The only thing I would like on my '99 M3 is more power. Then again, I spend lots of time with LS1 guys. I agree with your assessment that the E36 M has superior road feel and driver intuition. The E46 M3 is a beast of a machine, but I was turned away by a few things. Price is one of them - a well equipped M3 coupe will run well past $52k after sales tax, luxury tax, and gas guzzler tax. Another thing is the isolation of the E46 platform. The M3 goes a long way towards fixing this, but it's still less connected than the E36. That's fine - I realize that it's intended to be a more luxurious ride, and I'm sure that 325 and 330 buyers and non-enthusiast M3 buyers appreciate it. I'm willing to bet that enthusiast M3 owners wouldn't mind a little less quiet and a little more feedback.
Good luck with your decision!