Okay the recent 3 series MUST have the gill vents and Four tail pipes

Do ALL M3 model years have these parts?


Four tail pipes same thing? dead giveaway for ALL years?


Then I saw a "M5" (yeah right) what are the M5 tell tale parts?

Same as M3?

Need a "guide book" to identify posers so I can start up a conversation with them and not have _ME_ look like the fool!

No. The E36 M does not have quads or the side grill. It has a seperate more agressive aero pkg, square mesh front intake and rear diffuser as well as diff side mirrors and wheels plus larger wheels.
The M5 has the quad exhaust and diff aero pkg as well. However the last model yr of the E39 w/the sports pkg looks damn near identical to the M5 except the wheels are diff and it does not have the quads just one big exhaust on the left rear.
Funny thing coming to work tonight I was behind a older Ford F150 and on the tailgate he hand painted a roundel right in the center of the gate and then hand painted the M3 badge to the lower left of the gate, good stuff.

Both the E39 M5 and E46 M3 have a quad-pipe exhaust system. Now, I don't know about the M5, but the current M3 shares no body panels with the regular 3-Series Coupe except for the roof and (I think) trunk/boot.

[EDIT] erikM3 is right; the E36 M3 does not have four exhaust pipes.

Funny thing coming to work tonight I was behind a older Ford F150 and on the tailgate he hand painted a roundel right in the center of the gate and then hand painted the M3 badge to the lower left of the gate, good stuff.

Did it fool you or could you tell it was still a Ford? :D

Did it fool you or could you tell it was still a Ford? :D

It mighta fooled me...


IMO it's MUCH easier to tell fakes with the E46 than with the E36...

for the E46, I know that there is an AM quad-pipe exhaust for the reg 3-series, and that they could easily change the wheels and mirrors, and even the trunk spoiler lip, and they could even go to the extent of adding the side guills... but something that they could easily overlook is the power dome on the hood... and maybe even the oval mirror on the inside, although not all M3s have it anymore... Anyways, too many things to change on the outside therefore it's hard to truly fool the M3 know-it-all...

for the E36, anyone could just slap on the front and rear spoilers, the side mirrors and the wheels, and at that point, it becomes real hard to tell the real from the fake...

Anyways, I don't know why I just typed that, but I felt it would have been a waste if I erased it all, so here's my pointless ranting...

for the E36, anyone could just slap on the front and rear spoilers, the side mirrors and the wheels, and at that point, it becomes real hard to tell the real from the fake...


Even after they do all that the easiest dead giveaway are the staggered pipes

Even after they do all that the easiest dead giveaway are the staggered pipes
What are staggered pipes? I should know it 'cause I owned an E36 M3, but hey, it never hurts to ask... ;)

What are staggered pipes? I should know it 'cause I owned an E36 M3, but hey, it never hurts to ask... ;)

I thought that the E36 pipes were in the same place in both the regulars and in the M... am I wrong??

I thought that the E36 pipes were in the same place in both the regulars and in the M... am I wrong??
That's my understanding. That's why I asked what staggered pipes meant.

It mighta fooled me...


IMO it's MUCH easier to tell fakes with the E46 than with the E36...

for the E46, I know that there is an AM quad-pipe exhaust for the reg 3-series, and that they could easily change the wheels and mirrors, and even the trunk spoiler lip, and they could even go to the extent of adding the side guills... but something that they could easily overlook is the power dome on the hood... and maybe even the oval mirror on the inside, although not all M3s have it anymore... Anyways, too many things to change on the outside therefore it's hard to truly fool the M3 know-it-all...

for the E36, anyone could just slap on the front and rear spoilers, the side mirrors and the wheels, and at that point, it becomes real hard to tell the real from the fake...

Anyways, I don't know why I just typed that, but I felt it would have been a waste if I erased it all, so here's my pointless ranting...

Naw, it's not ranting, it's nice to see all the differences in writing.

Staggered pipes = left tip (on E36s) is slightly shorter than the right tip when looking at the back of the car. It flows with the rear valence and looks very clean.

Staggered pipes = left tip (on E36s) is slightly shorter than the right tip when looking at the back of the car. It flows with the rear valence and looks very clean.
Ah, okay. Thanks for the explanation. So that means the E36 M3's got staggered pipes but not the non-M E36 models? I wouldn't know; one of my first mods to my E36 M3 was a Dinan exhaust system. ;)

Staggered pipes = left tip (on E36s) is slightly shorter than the right tip when looking at the back of the car. It flows with the rear valence and looks very clean.

Interesting... I've never noticed that before...
how significant of a difference in length does the staggering create??

Interesting... I've never noticed that before...
how significant of a difference in length does the staggering create??
Not that I remember, but I'd imagine it's less than half an inch. :roll:

Look at mirrors and seats. Thats one good give away because alot of people wont' change their seats or mirrors out. If you can get close to the car, look at the callipers, they have the ///M on them, if they are still stock, you can look at the steering wheel and insturment cluster also.

Easy. Just look at the driver.

i think once u see a 3 with quad tail pipes center positioned thats 99% a M3 cuz regualr e46 coupe cant have the exhaust placed center due to the spare tires space and as for M3 those space was shaved off and M3 uses run flat tires. I have seen rugualr e46 coupe having quad tail pipes but they are way at both sides of bumper not centered.

The E36's, for me are a little harder to figure out, cause I never really like the car. The E46 though, I just look at it, and I just seem to know if it is a real M or not. Sometimes it gets a little tricky, but you just look at a few things like the vin and it's a dead give away. The 5, I also don't have to much knowlege about that car ether.

I actually saw this idiot driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse with Bmw badge on the front and back.

I actually saw this idiot driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse with Bmw badge on the front and back.

How dare you call me an idiot!!! :banghead: :banghead:

your weird

Thanks! :thumbsup:

and as for M3 those space was shaved off and M3 uses run flat tires.
Actually, those aren't run flat tires on the M3.

your weird
Be careful, Kevin feeds off of those types of comments. You have probably just become his new best friend.

bcuster - you are my best friend!!! GROUP HUG!!!!