E36 M3 vs. E46 M3

[Jims5543]

Which do you like better and why?

On paper:

E36 M3:
Weight 3175
Horsepower: 240 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 236 ft-lbs. @ 3800 rpm

E46 M3:
Curb weight: 3415 lbs.
Torque: 262 ft-lbs. @ 4900 rpm
Horsepower: 333 hp @ 7900 rpm

I have never driven either. Anyone with some real world experience? Driving impressions? Reliability? Etc..

While I prefer an E30 M3 to all of the above, it is not feasible at this time. Maybe to replace the RX7 some day? But not as a car my wife would be driving during the week.

[TheM3nsah]

dude....really? theyve been out for so long, search, i bet theres like 10 of these threads

[Russell042]

E36 M3, slower but cheaper to maintain. Great handling car and feels more driver friendly, and obviously cheaper to buy. E46 M3, alot nicer, more luxury, Faster, buy waaaaaay more to maintain, like a Water pump for my M3 (E36) is $51 brand-new, for the E46 its more then $350. But that wouldnt stop me from buying an E46 M3, if you have the cash for the E46, i'd say jump on it and make sure its a 6 speed.

[Jims5543]

dude....really? theyve been out for so long, search, i bet theres like 10 of these threads

Thanks for the helpful post.

Please point out where the 10 threads are. My search resulted in 248 threads non of which had a title that seemed to address this subject.

I am sure it has been tossed around before, but I did not see it.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...21434324&pp=25

Furthermore, I consider myself somewhat of an RX7 guru, I have never told any one to search, no matter the question. I was always anxious to help another enthusiast out.

E36 M3, slower but cheaper to maintain. Great handling car and feels more driver friendly, and obviously cheaper to buy. E46 M3, alot nicer, more luxury, Faster, buy waaaaaay more to maintain, like a Water pump for my M3 (E36) is $51 brand-new, for the E46 its more then $350. But that wouldnt stop me from buying an E46 M3, if you have the cash for the E46, i'd say jump on it and make sure its a 6 speed.

Well, I prefer a E30 M3. But I would not want it to be a DD more of a weekend toy. This purchase would replace my E46 330i and would have to fulfill some DD duties as well.

I am having a hard time with the E36 body styling, even in M form, it just not do anything for me.

[New2M3]

Get the E46 if u can afford it...

[GTRSv]

From what i hear, the E36 is a more raw car than the E46.. I hear some of the E46 crowd goes back to the E36 for this reason. If i had the money though, I'd have an E46 no question. To be honest, it seems that an E30 and a E46 would cost about the same amount to buy though Ever consider a 330 ZHP?

[ilya1585]

S54 > S50...BUT more maintenance issues and more expensive parts. I dont think id trade mine for an E46 m3, but would rather like to add an E46 M3 to the stable.

[TimAD]

E36 M3, slower but cheaper to maintain. Great handling car and feels more driver friendly, and obviously cheaper to buy. E46 M3, alot nicer, more luxury, Faster, buy waaaaaay more to maintain, like a Water pump for my M3 (E36) is $51 brand-new, for the E46 its more then $350. But that wouldnt stop me from buying an E46 M3, if you have the cash for the E46, i'd say jump on it and make sure its a 6 speed.

Here's you answer.

[kura]

IMO, e36 m3 sedan would be more DD friendly. Some of the exterior parts are interchangeable with the non-M version making it easier to fix if u have a broken bumper or bent fender or what not. In terms of reliability, E36 is more reliable because it has less electrical amenities than e46 and like the other said, cheaper replacement parts too

[lithium726]

I like the E46 infinitely better than any E36.

It's much better looking, much more comfortable and the interior doesn't fall apart. It's also considerably quicker and surgically precise. The noise is glorious.

The E36 is a bit more raw, but IMO, the E46 is still plently raw and is worth the tradeoff for a DD.

[Jims5543]

My E46 is bone stock Factory OEM with 115K miles on it.
It has nice power and I feel the steering on it is very sharp, I love the turn in on it and I feel like it handles very predictably and well. I think with a nice suspension upgrade the E46 could be a real carver. With 225 HP it feels like it has plenty of power. I never floored it all weekend last weekend at the Dragon.

I am at a crossroads. Do I dump a ton of money into the E46 or do I get an M3 and fix it up?

I found a really nice E36 M3 but it is very pircy. I found an E46 M3 for 15K, e-mailed seller yesterday and have not heard back.

I prefer an E30 M3 over all.

I am also just toying with finding a really clean E30 non M and just fixing it up like Mikes to replace the E46. Maybe finding a Motorswapped E30 and finishing it up real nice. Then keeping the E46 until the E30 was done.

[E36BMW3series]

Wish I could help you a little more, but check out the e46 valve adjustment. Apparently that needs done every once in a while and is pretty much a dealer-only job. Also the throttle body sync/adjustment, I think those are also expensive.

You seem like a big time DIY-er, and I think the e36 would be better suited for you. Throw a S/C on the e36 and you're now faster than an e46 with 3,000 worth of bolt/on mods.

[TheM3nsah]

Thanks for the helpful post.

Please point out where the 10 threads are. My search resulted in 248 threads non of which had a title that seemed to address this subject.

I am sure it has been tossed around before, but I did not see it.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...21434324&pp=25

Furthermore, I consider myself somewhat of an RX7 guru, I have never told any one to search, no matter the question. I was always anxious to help another enthusiast out.

we like to be assholes here on bfc , its how i was treated when i was a noob and im continuing the cycle.

that being said, i prefer the 36 because of the cable throttle feel and its simplicity, the complication of the drive by wire really turns me off, and the steering didnt feel as "connected" as my e36 m3.

[wanganstyle]

if you have a high power FC, then just bite the bullet and buy the E30M. you will not regret it.

I miss my 10AE FC. great car with a nice bolt in turbo

e36m for a daily is kinda junky inside - the plastics are crappy in comparison to e30m or non M even. the s52 weight in the nose is actually not as advanced engineering as the e46 you are used to with an aluminum lump and more modern chassis design.

e46M should be more DD suited as you are already used to a e46 DD / driver. A 330 actually handles better than e46M as the Aluminum M54 is nice on the front tyres. Not really that much different between the 2 (330 and e46m).

S54 engine is a bit on the tall side, an e36m with one is a total animal and quite fun though. Not an ideal DD though -more for a weapons use!

330 ZHP with an ESS supercharger would be the nicest E46 DD....... sounds and feels awesome. very fast - silent but deadly

e36m all changed up is an ideal track weapon
e30m is whatever you feel like it to be. always feels/looks/is awesome
E30 non-m sedan with a nice built NA 6 cylinder is actually not bad (my current DD). Has more character than the E36m as a DD, handles better also. If M54b30 is enough power for your DD, many ways to setup a E30 non-m to do that.

My E46 is bone stock Factory OEM with 115K miles on it.
It has nice power and I feel the steering on it is very sharp, I love the turn in on it and I feel like it handles very predictably and well. I think with a nice suspension upgrade the E46 could be a real carver. With 225 HP it feels like it has plenty of power. I never floored it all weekend last weekend at the Dragon.

I am at a crossroads. Do I dump a ton of money into the E46 or do I get an M3 and fix it up?

I found a really nice E36 M3 but it is very pircy. I found an E46 M3 for 15K, e-mailed seller yesterday and have not heard back.

I prefer an E30 M3 over all.

I am also just toying with finding a really clean E30 non M and just fixing it up like Mikes to replace the E46. Maybe finding a Motorswapped E30 and finishing it up real nice. Then keeping the E46 until the E30 was done.

[mac a belly]

i've had an e36 m3 over 10 years... it's fast enough, i still get almost 30mpg freeway, and it's been pretty reliable. in the hood, it's not too nice. but washed up, it still looks as good as anything. win/win

[lithium726]

Wish I could help you a little more, but check out the e46 valve adjustment. Apparently that needs done every once in a while and is pretty much a dealer-only job. Also the throttle body sync/adjustment, I think those are also expensive.

valve adjustments are easy. At least you don't have to take out the cams like I have to on my other car.

Not sure why you would need to adjust the throttle bodies. They're fly by wire.

A 330 actually handles better than e46M as the Aluminum M54 is nice on the front tyres. Not really that much different between the 2 (330 and e46m).

Erm... except for the entire suspension geometry, ride height, limited slip diff, damper and spring rates... The E46M handles considerably better than stock non-M e46.

That said, you'll need to to dump money into what ever you get unless it's been recently refreshed or super low miles; but you won't get a super low mile E46 M for what you're looking to spend.

I'd say throw some coilovers and do a little maint on the E46 and keep it.

[sooky123]

As long as you're up to date on maintenance on the e36 it'll be fine. New bushings, wear and tear parts and such it'll definitely be worth it.

Then if you have a power craving you can always supercharge it or Turbo it and then have money left over. I'd go with the e36 but that's just me.

All in all just go with what you want.

[faranginline6]

Thanks for the helpful post.

Please point out where the 10 threads are. My search resulted in 248 threads non of which had a title that seemed to address this subject.

I am sure it has been tossed around before, but I did not see it.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...21434324&pp=25

Furthermore, I consider myself somewhat of an RX7 guru, I have never told any one to search, no matter the question. I was always anxious to help another enthusiast out.



Well, I prefer a E30 M3. But I would not want it to be a DD more of a weekend toy. This purchase would replace my E46 330i and would have to fulfill some DD duties as well.

I am having a hard time with the E36 body styling, even in M form, it just not do anything for me.

I understand you thoughts on the E36. This generation is cool, but just doesn't do it for me, either. The handling is excellent, but the chassis seems to flex like a noodle. Good torque from the S52 engine.
Build quality is a bit poor both inside and out.

Why is it you're selling your 330i ?

[SSRI]

Honestly it sounds like the e30 / e36 would be a better option for you. If the 330i was fast enough for you then an e36 M would be fine. Have you looked at e36 sedans? I like the sedan more than the coupe for some reason, the extra doors also drop about 1k off the price as well.

An e30 fixer upper isn't a bad idea either and would probably be the cheapest option.

The e46 will be the most expansive and the least easy to work on in your garage.

[acwood04]

E36 M3, slower but cheaper to maintain. Great handling car and feels more driver friendly, and obviously cheaper to buy. E46 M3, alot nicer, more luxury, Faster, buy waaaaaay more to maintain, like a Water pump for my M3 (E36) is $51 brand-new, for the E46 its more then $350. But that wouldnt stop me from buying an E46 M3, if you have the cash for the E46, i'd say jump on it and make sure its a 6 speed.

Damn right. The new new M3's are nice but its too computer controlled. Just a damn seatbelt noise for the passenger if theyre not wearing it drives me nuts in my 2010 A4 2.0T...
In my E36 97 M3 Coupe hellrot with black vaders it definetly doesnt keep beepings for small things.
The E36 is a great drivers car, i you get one with low mileage and everything, take. My dad's boss just got his son a 97 M3 Coupe with 11,000 miles on it. The guy bought it new and was killed in Iraq..... Eventually the family sold it... like 20,000$ i think he paid.

[sjpgoalie]

E36 M3s are so much more reliable than E46 M3s. I love E46s. I've had two. Maintenance over time is much more than an E36 M3. I've had two E36s also. The E46s have more electronics obviously, it's dual vanos, it has six TBs...I mean there is just a lot more stuff to break, have fail on you, or not work properly. E36s are so much more simple. They're both getting old, consider that. The newest E46 M3 you'll find is going to be nearly six years old now, you know? The oldest is going to be eleven years old...

Plus, it's not that hard or costly anymore to make an S52 push an E36 past an E46 M3

[M0nK3y]

I have never driven either. Anyone with some real world experience? Driving impressions? Reliability? Etc..

Until you do this it will always be a 1-sided post.

Wish I could help you a little more, but check out the e46 valve adjustment. Apparently that needs done every once in a while and is pretty much a dealer-only job. Also the throttle body sync/adjustment, I think those are also expensive.

Um, false statement is false. An indy shop can do valves and a DIYer can do it. Just have fun getting to cylinder #6

From what i hear, the E36 is a more raw car than the E46.. I hear some of the E46 crowd goes back to the E36 for this reason. If i had the money though, I'd have an E46 no question. To be honest, it seems that an E30 and a E46 would cost about the same amount to buy though Ever consider a 330 ZHP?

E46 -> E86 person here.

IMO, the E86 is the raw version of the E46M. Stiffer, lighter, more control. I like the E46 but it's too sloppy IMO.

OP - Drive the E36 then a E46M. Power is addicting, I jumped from a 325xi to a S54 and now every other car (including E36Ms seems meh)

[ThreeD]

I like the E46M better than the E36M. Engine feels so much more raw and exciting, the S52 is pretty boring. I also think it looks better, it has gorgeous lines. Still handles really well, and the interior build quality is so much better than the E36M. Maintenance costs are a lot more, though.

[Milla]

E36M hands down

[TEUTONIC]

E36 M3 EURO 3,2:
Curb Weight 3175
Horsepower: 321 @ 7400 rpm
Torque: 236 ft-lbs. @ 3600 rpm

E46 M3:
Curb weight: 3415 lbs.
Horsepower: 333 hp @ 7900 rpm
Torque: 262 ft-lbs. @ 4900 rpm

That is a better comparison as the usa spec e36 M3 was never a real M3.A strong e36M3 3,2 euro will easily keep up with an e46 M3..
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NlXXqgNfro&list=UUzOJ64-Y2hl9MF8XZnZHkPA&index=86&feature=plcp[/ame]