E46 M3 vs. Other cars you have owned

11Past9 · 04-20-2009, 10:28 PM

If you owned/own an E46 M3 I am looking for a comparison of the E46 M3 compared to other cars you have owned. I am seriously considering buying one but I am worried that the power will get old or that what other attributes it has to offer won't be enough to make me forget about modding. I am on a budget that would allow me to afford a pretty decent M3 and bolt ons/cosmetics over time so please don't suggest HPF kits.

Other cars I have considered:

SVT Cobra, Supra TT BPU, EVO VIII/IX, WRX/STi, C5 ZO6

Schn3ll · 04-20-2009, 10:34 PM

well I can tell you of the cars you have mentioned, I believe the interior blows all of them away (yes, I have sat/driven all of them) is this a DD? If so then e46 is a great choice, hands down, I doubt you will get tired of the power nor will you get tired of revving that engine! Only downside of the cars you mentioned is that all of them are MUCH easier to get power out of for less $ than the e46 (since you said HPF was not an option).

FStop7 · 04-21-2009, 01:25 AM

E46 M3 is slower by far than those other cars but on a track it will keep up relatively well. It will probably be faster than the Supra. Depending on mods the Evo/STI will kill it in a straight line or around a track. And a C5 Z06 is going to be a lot faster in both situations.

msile · 04-21-2009, 08:09 PM

I have a E46 M3 (track car), a E92 M3 and an IS-F. The E46 is not the fastest nor is it the best handling (in comparison), but the overall package is great (except for massive understeer at the track). I have not tired of it yet.

miki_M3 · 04-24-2009, 01:46 PM

Hi

I owned bmw e39 540i before buying an e46 m3 and for me it felt like a huge step up the ladder. E39 540i is a great car and you really feel the power of v8 but even with the sport package (lower suspension) and manual transmition it felt like driving a familly bus compared to a e46 m3. With m3 I have a feeling that I am driving a true sports car specialy with sport button turned on, which improves throttle response. The car feels really agile both at low and fast speed. Also the exterior and interior of the e46 m3 is unbeatable, specially with different variations of colours you can find, mine is phoneix yellow with kiwi interior. However M3 may be limited for modifing as bmw already squeezed every possible HP out of the engine and the only option to add massive HP is through turbo or supercharger. Also aftermarker parts for m3 are expansive compared to asian imports. A top of the line Grouppe M carbon fibre cold air intake will cost you at least $2,000 with shipping. My suggestion would be to take all the cars you like for a test drive and see which one suites your style best. For me e46 M3 is one of the best cars in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Just my two cent...

04-20-2009, 10:28 PM	#1
11Past9 First Lieutenant 187 Rep 307 Posts Drives: A stolen one Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: U.S.A. iTrader: (0)	E46 M3 vs. Other cars you have owned If you owned/own an E46 M3 I am looking for a comparison of the E46 M3 compared to other cars you have owned. I am seriously considering buying one but I am worried that the power will get old or that what other attributes it has to offer won't be enough to make me forget about modding. I am on a budget that would allow me to afford a pretty decent M3 and bolt ons/cosmetics over time so please don't suggest HPF kits. Other cars I have considered: SVT Cobra, Supra TT BPU, EVO VIII/IX, WRX/STi, C5 ZO6 __________________ gentle now the tender breeze blows, whispers through my Gran Torino, whistling another tired song, engine humms and bitter dreams grow, heart locked in a Gran Torino, it beats a lonely rhythm all night long
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-20-2009, 10:34 PM	#2
Schn3ll Captain 440 Rep 729 Posts Drives: '24 Carrera T Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (3) Garage List 2009 135 [0.00]	well I can tell you of the cars you have mentioned, I believe the interior blows all of them away (yes, I have sat/driven all of them) is this a DD? If so then e46 is a great choice, hands down, I doubt you will get tired of the power nor will you get tired of revving that engine! Only downside of the cars you mentioned is that all of them are MUCH easier to get power out of for less $ than the e46 (since you said HPF was not an option).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-21-2009, 01:25 AM	#3
FStop7 I like cars 329 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	E46 M3 is slower by far than those other cars but on a track it will keep up relatively well. It will probably be faster than the Supra. Depending on mods the Evo/STI will kill it in a straight line or around a track. And a C5 Z06 is going to be a lot faster in both situations. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-21-2009, 08:09 PM	#4
msile First Lieutenant 82 Rep 373 Posts Drives: AW M3 Coupe Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Florida iTrader: (2)	I have a E46 M3 (track car), a E92 M3 and an IS-F. The E46 is not the fastest nor is it the best handling (in comparison), but the overall package is great (except for massive understeer at the track). I have not tired of it yet. __________________ 1998 BMW E36 M3. 2018 BMW F80 M3. 2021 Audi R8. 2018 Porsche 991 Turbo. 2023 BMW G80 M3. 2020 Subaru STI. 2021 Porsche GT4 (Track Car).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-24-2009, 01:46 PM	#5
miki_M3 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2002 Phoneix yellow M3/// Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hamilton Canada iTrader: (0)	Hi I owned bmw e39 540i before buying an e46 m3 and for me it felt like a huge step up the ladder. E39 540i is a great car and you really feel the power of v8 but even with the sport package (lower suspension) and manual transmition it felt like driving a familly bus compared to a e46 m3. With m3 I have a feeling that I am driving a true sports car specialy with sport button turned on, which improves throttle response. The car feels really agile both at low and fast speed. Also the exterior and interior of the e46 m3 is unbeatable, specially with different variations of colours you can find, mine is phoneix yellow with kiwi interior. However M3 may be limited for modifing as bmw already squeezed every possible HP out of the engine and the only option to add massive HP is through turbo or supercharger. Also aftermarker parts for m3 are expansive compared to asian imports. A top of the line Grouppe M carbon fibre cold air intake will cost you at least $2,000 with shipping. My suggestion would be to take all the cars you like for a test drive and see which one suites your style best. For me e46 M3 is one of the best cars in the world and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Just my two cent...
	Appreciate 0 Quote