e36 m3 vs e46 m3

[neenja]

i'm pretty sure the E36 handles better.
Like you guys said, its more nimble, lighter etc...doesn't have as much power if you have the US version like myself...but it still handles like a bat outta hell.
I'm sure the E36 euro spec is much better than the new one, all that power and still retaining the hanlding power.

I have no doubt that my car will out-handle the new E46, let alone many ferraris, with more driving lessons of course.
I've seen stock lightweight M3's out handling Ferrari 360's, and other models on the race track....ask Sunir on this board, he'll show you pictures.

His suspension like mine has been modified, mine more so than his....with the right skill i could take on many tough competitors, and the E46 may not be in that category...heh

If you are wondering what i have, look at my sig.

E36's are awesome, I'd still love to have an E46 as a beater! haha

[lehman]

i drove both my e36 2dr M and a e46 at practically the same time. me and my frined went around racing through some roads then he was like you want to drive my car and i was like...OK when i got in the e46 i was like huh. this thing is was too smotth not even that fun to drive. my e36 was more "racy" and as far as handling there both about the same.

[carik]

is being smooth a bad thing?

[CarlsbadCroak]

It is if you want and NEED feedback from the road to push the car to the limit. Less chance of a surprise if the car tells you what is going on, rather than keeping it secret from you.

Now, a smooth car is great for picking up the kids from soccer practice, or driving across Texas, but it's a damn shame to see it happen to a BMW 3 series.

I really think there's been a shift of focus at BMW in the last few years, and not for the better. At least not for the enthusiast.

They're trying to appeal more to 'downmarket' buyers, with bland styling, reduced road feel (hell, I remember a time when BMW advertised road noise and steering wheel feel in their brochures, as a FEATURE), and more emphasis on luxury than performance, for the E46.

Those people they're trying to capture have been behind the wheel of Honda Accords and Toyata Camrys so long, that they think a car should feel numb. To those buyers, the ultimate driving machine provides the same effect as earplugs, gel seats, and a shot of novacaine in the arms would.

To actually hear the engine sing and have some feel of the pavement you're driving on are things that scare them, because the only time they hear those sorts of noises in their Toyota is when they drag the muffler off in a snowbank or blow a tire.

[WannaBeeM3]

Well a neighbor of mine use to have an E36 M3 and now he has an E46 M3. He honestly told me that the E36 handles better then the E46 but since the E46 has so much more hp, in the track the e46 would win. He is in bmwcca and goes the the race track when ever there is a club meet, I think he is currently in the B class. I'm not sure how it works. All i remember is he was telling me that there are a few classes. and he is second from the top.

[teenagedirtbag]

Yea but wait till the E46 M3 CSL comes out. with a lighter car and better technology the E46 M3 understeer and sluggish feeling is greatly reduced.

[kiley_sean]

I seriously doubt we are going to see the CSL anytime soon (if at all).

How much is the estimated cost on that puppy anyways? Like nearly 75k or more? It sounds like a really wicked car but I just don't think there will be alot of those being passed around in the U.S.

But who knows? Looking at how the sales of BMW's are sky rocketing in the U.S., would could start feeding off the same plate as Europe in no time.


Oh yeah, I like the 3-series designs in this order:

1. E30's
2. 2002's
3. E36's
4. E21's
5. E46's

I don't particulary like the E21's for some reason (except race-prepped ones), and the E46's just look too big to be labeled a "3-series" , IMO.

I like the smaller and more "boxier" styled Bimmers. If I ever total out my current bimmer, I will probably go with a 2002ti:

[kiley_sean]

I forgot the frontal view as well:

[kiley_sean]

I just figured out that I was trying to reply to two threads at once. My bad....I forgot that this was about E36 vs. E46 and not the "my E36 is out-dated" thread.

Sorry for the confusion.

BTW, I think both of the M3's are real swell, so I refuse to pick a winner. Sorry.

My vote still stands on the "boxier" look though.

[///MCosmos]

Next time around I will likely go with a Euro conversion or GT car... but likely no e46... (maybe an M5 though)

[teenagedirtbag]

yea kiley sean, its about 30% more then the normal M3.
But i mean they put carbon fibre everything in the engine bay reducing it by 210lbs. And the hood, fender,spoiler are carbon fibre while the bottom of the car is made of thermoplastic. And the engine has i think 6more horsepoweres from a remapped ecu.
the interior are non reclineable bucket seats and only comes with SMG, which they call a manual without a clutch pedal although the clutch disc exists, instead of a auto. Anyways i honesltly wouldent mind paying 30% more for a car like that, itll cost you wayyyyy more if you were to do all that stuff yourself.