Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 47

Thread: So just how fast is an E46 M3?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Murica!
    Posts
    69
    My Cars
    2001 530i, Sport

    So just how fast is an E46 M3?

    Hi guys, my friend is considering buying an E46 M3 soon. This would be his first BMW and he knows nothing about them. I told him to get on the forums and make an account. He stupidly refused, so here I am making a thread for him.

    His biggest question and concern was just how well can a STOCK E46 M3 handle itself against the newer cars of today in a race? Is it still considered a hell of a fast car like it was back in its time? Or can the average family sedan of today spank it in a race? (Just for the record I have seen some of the new cars like the 2014 Toyota Camry put out some incredible power)

    Yes, I know his main questions should be about maintenance and common problems with them. However he's young and dumb and has a bit more money than brains. Don't ask me how. So all he cares about is owning a very fast and prestigious car like a BMW. He's a racer and wants something really fast so like I said his biggest concern is speed. So, is the E46 M3 still considered a wickedly fast car? A car that can crush most other cars on the road still? Is the average V8 engine still more powerful than the M3's high performance 6 cylinder engine?
    Last edited by Metal Made Fox; 12-28-2013 at 02:34 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Tucson, AZ
    Posts
    778
    My Cars
    '01 F-250 Diesel
    4.8 seconds 0-60 with a top speed of 170 mph... that's pretty good for the price of a well cared for E46 M3. If he is worried about speed, he could try to find a CSL model, little bit of weight savings and a few little performance tweaks to the car. Regardless, either can be made significantly faster with a few mods. If I were in the market for a new car, this would be towards the top of the list... right behind the Z3M Coupe.
    1993 E36 325i (RIP)
    1995 E36 325i (SOLD)
    1987 E30 325i (SOLD)
    1990 E34 535i (SOLD)
    2001 Z3 2.5i Roady (SOLD)
    2001 Z3 3.0i Coupe (SOLD)
    1997 E36 328IC (SOLD)

  3. #3
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
    14,483
    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    I can say that I like it, I can actually drive the car as it was intended. Yeah it is quick, but there isn't a Toyota on the road that can catch me. I won't talk about the boy racer Hondas, ect. they are in a different class. If this car didn't have a speed limiter, the gears would take it out to 200 MPH, hell even at 170 MPH, it can get a bit scary even on an empty Autobahn. I would keep the kid away from this car, for if you ever turn-off the DSC, even I have put it sidewise a couple of times, he would put it around a pole.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Murica!
    Posts
    69
    My Cars
    2001 530i, Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by dworthy View Post
    but there isn't a Toyota on the road that can catch me.
    You're right, one of the newer Toyotas probably won't keep up with an M3, however here is a video of a Camry beating a 2008 535i. I was a bit disappointed. (Skip to the 1:20 mark for the beginning of the race.)

    So, how well can the E46 M3 keep up with say the V8 Mustang GT's? Or the newer V8 Camaros, or Dodge Challengers? Most of the opponents on the road my friend encounters are all driving powerful (but heavier) V8's.

    Last edited by Metal Made Fox; 12-28-2013 at 04:45 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    1,827
    My Cars
    2017 F31 M Sport
    An M3 -- especially stock -- can't keep up with those cars in a stoplight drag race. If that's the kind of car your friend wants, he'll be sorely disappointed. It's a dancer not a drag racer.

    The car doesn't have much torque unless you supercharge it. Anyone with a 90s V8 and a few thousand -- if that -- can smoke an E46 M3 in a drag race. The M3 was never a fast car in those circumstances even when new. It's a track car and it likes to be at 3-4k rpm and higher. Take those high weight V8s and put them on a track or twist road and the situation changes. Some of those cars can run faster or equal, but none will do it as easily and certainly not in amateur hands.
    Freude am Fahren
    2017 F31 Sport Wagon
    '11 VW Golf TDI (which retained its value *REALLY* well!)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Philadelphia, PA
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    2005 M3 Coupe - 6spd
    In regards to the V8 Camaros, I eat them up for lunch in my e46M3. Those V8's are all bark and no bite. A few months back, I was driving leisurely at 80MPH in the fast lane, coming alongside a new Camaro and he downshifted when I got parallel to him. All I heard was his V8 and exhaust as I followed suit with a downshift and we took off. I continued to pull car length on him as we shifted through gears. By the time I hit 145 MPH, I was already 3/4 of a car length ahead of him. Don't let that V8 BS clog your mind - if you know how to drive and treat you S54 motor well, you're better than a lot of V8's on the road. They may sound awesome, but they'll sound awesome from behind the e46M3

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    1,827
    My Cars
    2017 F31 M Sport
    I suppose it depends on what we're talking about for "average V8" and whether you want to know if a matched driver can take you or not.

    Are there V8 cars we can take? Sure. But dollar for dollar and with even skills, we lose the sprint. You asked if an M3 is "wicked fast" and the answer is not in a sprint. It was never built to be that and has never been. The torque isn't there for a standing start and there are plenty of V8 cars that can pull less than a car length along side as well as a few -- ZL1 and GT500 for example -- that will have no problem walking an M3. And, of course, you can always find someone who will smoke their tires or not shift their truck transmissions well enough.

    However if your friend wants to go around street racing and recklessly challenging everyone he meets at a stoplight -- or driving on public roads at "145 mph", please get him to buy something else. BMW already has enough stigmas without more street racing deaths attached to its marque.
    Freude am Fahren
    2017 F31 Sport Wagon
    '11 VW Golf TDI (which retained its value *REALLY* well!)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Boston area
    Posts
    259
    My Cars
    03 M3/07 530xiT Both MT

    e46 M3 isn't fast

    Back in the day, it was pretty quick, now it is not. The coupe is about 5 sec 0 to 60, the vert about 5.4. The 335i(s) w/o mod is around 5 sec or less. A Infiniti G35x/G37x are in the low 5 sec range. But as others have pointed out, the e46 M3 isn't really made for stoplight to stoplight. No real low end torque. Get it into the 3500+ RPM band and hang on. The M3 is really meant to be driven in the twisties/track. That's when it comes alive.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Philadelphia, PA
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    2005 M3 Coupe - 6spd
    I just watched that Camry vs 5 Series video, and I want to make mention of a few things, here. If you're referring to your friend being a "racer" and engaging in swerving through traffic like the video portrays, I wouldn't engage in any type of driving that would put other people, other than myself, in danger. I would immediately "give up" a race if I didn't have an open stretch of roadway to really let my e46 M3 loose. The situation in which I described, above, where I went past 145 MPH was on an open stretch of highway en route from San Diego CA to Scottsdale AZ where the legal speed limit is 75 MPH for a long length of time, and there is no one on the road on that mid-dessert stretch of land. I was driving a shade above the legal limit when the Camaro felt like challenging me - I just followed suit. I do not challenge people whether on open stretch, or from light to light, because I am not a "racer" and that is not what the e46M3 was built for. Someone made mention on this thread that our cars are "dancers, not a drag racer" and I have to agree. It takes a lot of torque to get a car moving from a stand still, and the S54 lacks in that manner, but on highway pulls, and especially in and out of track turns, she shines very bright. I don't own my M3 because I want to race - I like the nostalgia of the M-Series and Family, and it's nice to know I have the power in the S54 when I need it, not because I want to race light-to-light. Not to mention, you don't hear people saying "whoa! look at that 10 yr old Camry"... but the e46M3 still gets a lot of looks and fanfare. If your friend envisions "racing" like swerving through traffic, recklessly, and against anyone who feels like taking more risks than should be considered safe, then I'd suggest he picks another car... Since I treat my car like a cupcake and keep the miles down, I want to make sure there are other e46 M3's still on the road so I can buy/trade for parts as my M3 gets older... I hate seeing wrecked e46M3's...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
    Posts
    148
    My Cars
    99 E36 M3;06 E46 M3 ZCP
    The newer M235 will be faster than the E46 M3

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Westminster,MD
    Posts
    73
    My Cars
    97 E36 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by Metal Made Fox View Post
    You're right, one of the newer Toyotas probably won't keep up with an M3, however here is a video of a Camry beating a 2008 535i. I was a bit disappointed. (Skip to the 1:20 mark for the beginning of the race.)



    racing on 95 around the DC area

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    22,823
    My Cars
    skateboard
    Quote Originally Posted by e36hellrotred View Post
    The newer M235 will be faster than the E46 M3
    N den
    “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
    ― George Orwell

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Murica!
    Posts
    69
    My Cars
    2001 530i, Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by JustOneS54 View Post
    I just watched that Camry vs 5 Series video, and I want to make mention of a few things, here. If you're referring to your friend being a "racer" and engaging in swerving through traffic like the video portrays, I wouldn't engage in any type of driving that would put other people, other than myself, in danger. I would immediately "give up" a race if I didn't have an open stretch of roadway to really let my e46 M3 loose. The situation in which I described, above, where I went past 145 MPH was on an open stretch of highway en route from San Diego CA to Scottsdale AZ where the legal speed limit is 75 MPH for a long length of time, and there is no one on the road on that mid-dessert stretch of land. I was driving a shade above the legal limit when the Camaro felt like challenging me - I just followed suit. I do not challenge people whether on open stretch, or from light to light, because I am not a "racer" and that is not what the e46M3 was built for. Someone made mention on this thread that our cars are "dancers, not a drag racer" and I have to agree. It takes a lot of torque to get a car moving from a stand still, and the S54 lacks in that manner, but on highway pulls, and especially in and out of track turns, she shines very bright. I don't own my M3 because I want to race - I like the nostalgia of the M-Series and Family, and it's nice to know I have the power in the S54 when I need it, not because I want to race light-to-light. Not to mention, you don't hear people saying "whoa! look at that 10 yr old Camry"... but the e46M3 still gets a lot of looks and fanfare. If your friend envisions "racing" like swerving through traffic, recklessly, and against anyone who feels like taking more risks than should be considered safe, then I'd suggest he picks another car... Since I treat my car like a cupcake and keep the miles down, I want to make sure there are other e46 M3's still on the road so I can buy/trade for parts as my M3 gets older... I hate seeing wrecked e46M3's...
    Yep, he's one of those guys. I tell him to ease up on the crazy driving but like I said he's a stubborn kid. By the way he is reading this thread so if anyone wants to try to knock some more sense into him be my guest.

    Regardless, he wanted to know how fast will the E46 M3 be if he supercharges it? Will he then be able to take on the most powerful V8 machines on the road?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Philadelphia, PA
    Posts
    53
    My Cars
    2005 M3 Coupe - 6spd
    Quote Originally Posted by Metal Made Fox View Post
    Yep, he's one of those guys. I tell him to ease up on the crazy driving but like I said he's a stubborn kid. By the way he is reading this thread so if anyone wants to try to knock some more sense into him be my guest. Regardless, he wanted to know how fast will the E46 M3 be if he supercharges it? Will he then be able to take on the most powerful V8 machines on the road?

    If he's so focused on beating/racing V8's then tell him to get something with a V8. The E46M3 is a 6 banger - very few motors put out the amount of HP/Liter like the S54 does, but it isn't a V8. Can a Turbo or SC e46M3 beat V8's? Of course. But are there V8's that can beat a FI e46M3? You bet.

    If your friend wants a car that shines on the track, then the e46 is a great pick. If he wants light-to-light, tell him to get something else. Again, why is he using V8's as his measuring stick? It sounds like he wants a V8 and not an e46M3

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Murica!
    Posts
    69
    My Cars
    2001 530i, Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by JustOneS54 View Post
    If your friend wants a car that shines on the track, then the e46 is a great pick. If he wants light-to-light, tell him to get something else. Again, why is he using V8's as his measuring stick? It sounds like he wants a V8 and not an e46M3
    He is considering a W208 CLK55 AMG as well. Well, I think he's narrowed it down to either the AMG or the M3. He likes the AMG because it's a V8, however he likes the M3 because of the styling. He doesn't really like the way the W208 looks. And he only wants Mercedes or BMW, and I think he overall like Bimmers better.

    So, I guess I should ask this for him. Between the W208 CLK55 AMG and the E46 M3 is the handling performance nearly identical?

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Montana - Big Sky Country
    Posts
    483
    My Cars
    M3, Miata, 240z
    Quote Originally Posted by Metal Made Fox View Post
    Yep, he's one of those guys. I tell him to ease up on the crazy driving but like I said he's a stubborn kid. By the way he is reading this thread so if anyone wants to try to knock some more sense into him be my guest.
    Your friend won't have to worry about what car to buy very much longer........ He keeps driving on public roads like what he's doing in the video, he'll be pushing up daisy's before too long. Just hope he doesn't take out other people with him at the same time. Pure and plain JUST STUPID !!!!!!!!

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Richmond, VA
    Posts
    1,827
    My Cars
    2017 F31 M Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by Metal Made Fox View Post
    Between the W208 CLK55 AMG and the E46 M3 is the handling performance nearly identical?
    He can kill himself or someone else equally well in both cars. Steer him towards the one with the best Euro NCAP rating, if you plan on being a passenger.
    Freude am Fahren
    2017 F31 Sport Wagon
    '11 VW Golf TDI (which retained its value *REALLY* well!)

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Murica!
    Posts
    69
    My Cars
    2001 530i, Sport
    Quote Originally Posted by GeorgeM3SMG View Post
    if you plan on being a passenger.
    Yeah, no way in Hell that's ever happening. I'd rather just walk than be in a car with him.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Okanagon, B.C, Canada
    Posts
    622
    My Cars
    e46 m3 / turbo brick
    E46 m3's are slow

    There are no bad questions, just impatient people with answers

  20. #20
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
    14,483
    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    Tell him to get the E-9x M3, it comes with a V-8. I for one am glad that I am over in Germany, the drivers here are wayyyyyy better than the states. Of course you will always get the douchbag running out there.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Pheonix, AZ
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    2002 M3
    i feel like a lot of these variables are driver-dependent

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    130
    My Cars
    E28 M535i
    Just buy an S1000RR and he'll beat anything if he survives.
    In Heaven… the mechanics are German, the chefs are French, the police are British, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by the Swiss.
    In Hell…the mechanics are French, the police are German, the chefs are British, the lovers are Swiss and everything is organized by the Italians.

    1986 M535i Manual

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    Posts
    2,911
    My Cars
    1997 BMW M3
    Quick vs. Fast
    97 BMW M3 (s52b32) - VF-Supercharger kit ( Vortech V2-SQ supercharger, 32 pound injectors, VF tuning ), VDO/LeatherZ Gauge Kit (Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, and Boost), UUC Motorwerks RSC36 Exhaust, Stainless Steel 6-2 Exhaust Headers, Bilstein Sports, Rear Adjustable Camber bushings, Wheel Spacers 10mm in front 25mm in back, Uprated Clutch, UUC Shift Knob, Short Shifter and Clutch Stop, Cross Brace, Mason Engineering front strut bar, Contour Wheels, Euro Ellipsoid (Angel Eyes) HID Headlights, braided steel brake lines, aluminum thermostat housing, mishimoto aluminum radiator and silicone hoses and a partridge in a pear tree

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    2,833
    My Cars
    2005 M3
    OP: Tell your buddy to go drive these cars and figure out which one makes him the happiest behind the wheel. Then tell him to go get some high performance driving instruction at a reputable school or club. This will make him faster (and hopefully smarter)behind the wheel of anything he drives going forward throughout his life.
    As a guy who modified his E36 M3 and drove it until the motor needed a rebuild (11 years), I got more enjoyment out of learning from pros how to drive faster than putting go fast parts in my car. If you ever go to the ///M school in SC, you'll see that there are pros that can go faster sideways in bigger, heavier, non-modified cars than some of the heavily modded guys here in the interweb.
    2005 M3
    “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports … all others are games.” - Ernest Hemingway

  25. #25
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Maple Grove, MN
    Posts
    1,018
    My Cars
    E39's, E53, E60.........
    Tell your friend to buy the AMG, at least when he wrecks it, it won't be as sad losing a Mercedes. Let someone who truly appreciates it buy the M3.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •