E46 M3 or E36 M3?

[M5Power]

I was wondering, what M3 would be the best to get and why? If I were to get a E36 what year should I be looking at? Please posts your opinions.

[Mark_In_PA]

E36 M3 if you want a track car. I hear the E46 is more of a GT.

[mpower319]

Personally, i like the e36 look better than the e46, but i'm weird because i like the e30 more than both of em so i dunno.Anyway, i would say get a '95 m3 if you get a e36.Get a e46 if you have money, because obviously, whether people want to agree with it or not, it IS the better car pretty much across the board.

[Scorp965]

If you can afford the E46 go for it...

If not the E36 is a fantastic car as well.

[Mark_In_PA]

i think it comes down to what you want. but as for E46 get a 2001 as its supposed to be the best year. These wernet affected by the engine failures.

[M5Power]

Yeah, I was looking at a 2001 E46 M3. I heard the E36 M3 is a better car to mod and you can put lots of horsepower into that engine. The thing is that I want a lot of horsepower in the car, but I don't want to put a supercharger or turbo or anything too complicated on the engine. So I thought the E46 M3 might be a better car for me. I can always put a chip, intake and exhaust on it.

[CAP-E-TAN]

the e36 is more hard car and sporty........e46 is more luxury
you won't be disappionted with either car

[pomsaeng]

The e-36 is more of a man's car, while the e-46 is more of the gentleman's car due to all the luxury. If you want to mod your car for more hp definitely get the e-36 M3. I hear that 97' was a great year for it. If you want looks go for the e-46, all you really need is tint and rims.

[schussey]

personal preference, both are great

[cooldriver88]

I would get a 1995 E36 M3 because the '95 had the OB1 electronics so it is easyer to mod and then I would put a AA Turbo kit on it, drop it, put some 18" wheels on it and do all that stuff and you would still be spending less then you would if you got a E46

[Tommy]

both of the cars have their own goods and bads. For me stock vs stock i would get the e46. the e46 m3 it looks better, is faster, has better technology, 6-speed, better fit and finish, and better interior.

[+ YOYO +]

go with E46 .. way more power. for me E36 M looks power
but I do like E30 M3 more than E36 and E46 combine.

[empire]

i'd say go with the e46 m3, if you have the money. it has more power and an all around better car

do e46 m3 hav the same 50-50 weight distribution as the e36's ?

[Nosferatu]

my opinion, because I"m in the same position is to buy an e36 m3 from 95 or 96 because they have the better options for customising. Then order the German spec m3 engine...it the 3.0 litre puts out 294 and the 3.2 liter puts out 320. Then once your done with the amazing engine swap, the german e36 m3 has a 6-speed manual racing transmission option. Not quiet the same, but there's a lot more style and horsepower potentential in a e36. Atleast these are my opinions on the mater if money is not an option. The other thing you have to becareful of is, on the e46 m3 the engine software is pushed to the max. Replacing the chip wont increase your horsepower at all simple take off the electronically controlled top speed. Yeah you can go faster but that's just cause it takes of the limit. If you want first hand advice on which is better I suggest PMing iransbest he has both an e36 and an 346 m3 he could tell you what he thinks of each of them since he has both.

[M5Power]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu

my opinion, because I"m in the same position is to buy an e36 m3 from 95 or 96 because they have the better options for customising. Then order the German spec m3 engine...it the 3.0 litre puts out 294 and the 3.2 liter puts out 320. Then once your done with the amazing engine swap, the german e36 m3 has a 6-speed manual racing transmission option. Not quiet the same, but there's a lot more style and horsepower potentential in a e36. Atleast these are my opinions on the mater if money is not an option. The other thing you have to becareful of is, on the e46 m3 the engine software is pushed to the max. Replacing the chip wont increase your horsepower at all simple take off the electronically controlled top speed. Yeah you can go faster but that's just cause it takes of the limit. If you want first hand advice on which is better I suggest PMing iransbest he has both an e36 and an 346 m3 he could tell you what he thinks of each of them since he has both.

Thanks for all the help, but I don't think I am going to spend all that time and money modding my car.

I think an E46 would be best for me. I don't want to put a turbo or supercharger in the E36. I just want a fast/powerful car, and I can put small upgrades on. Like an exhaust or intake.