How much better is E46 from E36 M3

TitanM3 · Tue, Jan-21-2003, 06:15:42 AM

I have my E46 M3 on order and am currently driving a 1997 Estoril blue/black leather E36 M3 with an ECIS cold air intake, b&b tri-flow exhaust, strutbar, HID xenons, E46 10-spoke M wheels etc..I am guessing it is about 260-270 Hp. I really love the car but it has 84K on it and I thought no better way to upgrade then to get a 2003 E46. I was out driving it tonight and it was screaming. My exhaust sounds awesome, it was responsive and quick out of the gate, and I was thinking that I am really going to miss this car! The E36 is what I first fell in love with when it came to the M3. Of course after seeing the E46 everything went that way.

My question is, am I going to miss my E36 at all? Are there any places where the E36 takes precedence over the E46 (I know styling and power goes to the E46!)?

Freds333HP · Tue, Jan-21-2003, 02:34:37 PM

Man, that's a brutally tough question!
The fact is, I've seen a few E36 M3 owners who, while they liked the extra power of the E46 M3, felt that the steering feel was too uncommunicative (as compared to the E36), and seemed a bit less nimble due to the extra weight.
I've also heard comments from other ex-E36 owners who felt the extra power and style more than made up for that lack.
I've driven both styles of M3, but only owned the E46 (I previously owned an E36 328i sport). From my point of view the E46 seems more polished in terms of interior appointments, and materials and to me the ride in the E46 is better. The power is intoxicating and from 2500RPM to redline there is no letup.

The E36 M3 was/is absolutely a great car and I'm sure you're going to miss it if you trade it in. But I'm guessing that once your new E46 M3 is broken-in, and you run that engine up to 7500 RPMs you'll realize that you've made a good choice.

laguna · Tue, Jan-21-2003, 05:12:18 PM

I had a 95 M3 with a borla exhaust, chip and low restriction air intake. I agree with the comment that to me it seemed to respond quicker to steering input. I don't know if the new M is heavier, I assume it is. The exhaust, IMHO sounded way better. I drove that puppy to 105,000 miles and loved it until the day I sold it to my mechanic. It too was my first BMW and hence i have another M.

Again as mentioned above the extra power is awesome, winding it out to 7800rpm and downshifting and feeling it pull even faster is orgasmic. I had the day off yesterday and drove it up Fort Mnt.
(north ga.) for the first time, it was one of my favorite roads in my old M and it handled great, it's so high your ears pops going up or down, 10 degree difference between top and bottom, great tight curves, long winding s's. I was trying some power slides but the gravel near the top made it too dangerous, it's a long way down. I had all the windows down like at driving school to hear the tires. Awesome, honestly with the extra power at my command I would have to give the nod to the new M.

You wont be disappointed.

laguna · Tue, Jan-21-2003, 05:15:03 PM

Obviously I meant upshifting.

MartinS · Tue, Jan-21-2003, 05:38:25 PM

my opinion: don't sell that car, and get him a friend

Quote:

Originally posted by TitanM3
I have my E46 M3 on order and am currently driving a 1997 Estoril blue/black leather E36 M3 with an ECIS cold air intake, b&b tri-flow exhaust, strutbar, HID xenons, E46 10-spoke M wheels etc..I am guessing it is about 260-270 Hp. I really love the car but it has 84K on it and I thought no better way to upgrade then to get a 2003 E46. I was out driving it tonight and it was screaming. My exhaust sounds awesome, it was responsive and quick out of the gate, and I was thinking that I am really going to miss this car! The E36 is what I first fell in love with when it came to the M3. Of course after seeing the E46 everything went that way.

My question is, am I going to miss my E36 at all? Are there any places where the E36 takes precedence over the E46 (I know styling and power goes to the E46!)?

rodneyr · Tue, Jan-21-2003, 07:53:41 PM

In simple terms the e46 is 95% different than the e36 ! Of course, the power on the e46 is awesome !

**MattMan** · Tue, Jan-21-2003, 08:40:29 PM

The E36 M3's engine is more tunable (i.e. supercharger). So a SC'ed E36 vs E46 M3 would be pretty close. I would say that NA type car feels better than FI which can feel alittle underwhelming.

I think by far the STYLING of the E46 is significantly better. I'd hoped that the engine was more tunable. It looks like it's maxed out already. If only they put in a V8 with a lower compression ratio, then we are talking no contest. That might come to fruition with the new M3..

Frank S · Wed, Jan-22-2003, 12:54:56 AM

Having just traded my 98 Artic Silver 5 speed with only 44K miles for an 03 Steel Gray SMG coupe, I've been going thru the same thoughts and feeling.

The new car's not even close to being broken in, so there is no direct comparison - but - the e46 is much more the pure GT car than the e36. I loved my e36 more than any car before it, but I would have never contemplated a cross country trip in it - whereas with the e46 - I wouldn't hesitate.

With more luxury and size obviously comes more weight, with the inherent tradeoffs, but also more poise, refinement, and thankfully sheer power. Driving at 2/3 of the cars potential during the break-in, I can feel the torque pulling the car much more quickly than the e36 - in my old car I had to work a bit to keep moving this quickly.

The styling of the e46 has more drama, more wow factor, whereas the e36 is a much more subtle car on the outside. I liked its subtlety, but like the e46s muscular look much better.

Miss it, yeah I do. Regret my decision - No Way.

Tue, Jan-21-2003, 06:15:42 AM	#1
TitanM3 EVO BMW Join Date: Jan 2003 Age: 33 Posts: 432 Reputation: 0 Location: Mesa/Az	How much better is E46 from E36 M3 I have my E46 M3 on order and am currently driving a 1997 Estoril blue/black leather E36 M3 with an ECIS cold air intake, b&b tri-flow exhaust, strutbar, HID xenons, E46 10-spoke M wheels etc..I am guessing it is about 260-270 Hp. I really love the car but it has 84K on it and I thought no better way to upgrade then to get a 2003 E46. I was out driving it tonight and it was screaming. My exhaust sounds awesome, it was responsive and quick out of the gate, and I was thinking that I am really going to miss this car! The E36 is what I first fell in love with when it came to the M3. Of course after seeing the E46 everything went that way. My question is, am I going to miss my E36 at all? Are there any places where the E36 takes precedence over the E46 (I know styling and power goes to the E46!)? __________________ Thank you God for all you have done for me. SOLD2003 M3 : Titanium/Black, Eisenmann 83mm Ti, Eisenmann Section 1&2 Ti. midpipes, Brembo Gran Turismo Brake Kit Bilstein PSS9's, Dinan CAI + Air Mass Meter, Dinan Stage 3 software, Dinan Strut Brace, 19" ACS Type III 2-piece wheels powder coated black, 3 piece ACS front-lip spoiler.

Tue, Jan-21-2003, 02:34:37 PM	#2
Freds333HP M3 Pilot Join Date: Oct 2002 Age: 50 Posts: 396 Reputation: 0 Location: Delaware	Man, that's a brutally tough question! The fact is, I've seen a few E36 M3 owners who, while they liked the extra power of the E46 M3, felt that the steering feel was too uncommunicative (as compared to the E36), and seemed a bit less nimble due to the extra weight. I've also heard comments from other ex-E36 owners who felt the extra power and style more than made up for that lack. I've driven both styles of M3, but only owned the E46 (I previously owned an E36 328i sport). From my point of view the E46 seems more polished in terms of interior appointments, and materials and to me the ride in the E46 is better. The power is intoxicating and from 2500RPM to redline there is no letup. The E36 M3 was/is absolutely a great car and I'm sure you're going to miss it if you trade it in. But I'm guessing that once your new E46 M3 is broken-in, and you run that engine up to 7500 RPMs you'll realize that you've made a good choice. __________________ Benford's Law of Controversy: "The passion in any argument is inversely proportional to the amount of real information advanced" 2003 M3 Coupe Topaz Blue

Tue, Jan-21-2003, 07:53:41 PM	#6
rodneyr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 229 Reputation: 0 Location: Connecticut	E36 & E46 In simple terms the e46 is 95% different than the e36 ! Of course, the power on the e46 is awesome ! __________________ 2001 Porsche 911 TT Sold 2002 M3 Coupe LSB 6-speed

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Tue, Jan-21-2003, 05:12:18 PM	#3
laguna Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 24 Reputation: 0 Location: Georgia	I had a 95 M3 with a borla exhaust, chip and low restriction air intake. I agree with the comment that to me it seemed to respond quicker to steering input. I don't know if the new M is heavier, I assume it is. The exhaust, IMHO sounded way better. I drove that puppy to 105,000 miles and loved it until the day I sold it to my mechanic. It too was my first BMW and hence i have another M. Again as mentioned above the extra power is awesome, winding it out to 7800rpm and downshifting and feeling it pull even faster is orgasmic. I had the day off yesterday and drove it up Fort Mnt. (north ga.) for the first time, it was one of my favorite roads in my old M and it handled great, it's so high your ears pops going up or down, 10 degree difference between top and bottom, great tight curves, long winding s's. I was trying some power slides but the gravel near the top made it too dangerous, it's a long way down. I had all the windows down like at driving school to hear the tires. Awesome, honestly with the extra power at my command I would have to give the nod to the new M. You wont be disappointed.

Tue, Jan-21-2003, 05:15:03 PM	#4
laguna Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 24 Reputation: 0 Location: Georgia	Obviously I meant upshifting.

Tue, Jan-21-2003, 08:40:29 PM	#7
MattMan Modded Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,912 In the garage: '09 BMW X5 '04 BMW M3 Reputation: 573 Location: Chicago	The E36 M3's engine is more tunable (i.e. supercharger). So a SC'ed E36 vs E46 M3 would be pretty close. I would say that NA type car feels better than FI which can feel alittle underwhelming. I think by far the STYLING of the E46 is significantly better. I'd hoped that the engine was more tunable. It looks like it's maxed out already. If only they put in a V8 with a lower compression ratio, then we are talking no contest. That might come to fruition with the new M3..

Wed, Jan-22-2003, 12:54:56 AM	#8
Frank S CSL-o-phile Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 67 Reputation: 0 Location: Philadelphia PA	Having just traded my 98 Artic Silver 5 speed with only 44K miles for an 03 Steel Gray SMG coupe, I've been going thru the same thoughts and feeling. The new car's not even close to being broken in, so there is no direct comparison - but - the e46 is much more the pure GT car than the e36. I loved my e36 more than any car before it, but I would have never contemplated a cross country trip in it - whereas with the e46 - I wouldn't hesitate. With more luxury and size obviously comes more weight, with the inherent tradeoffs, but also more poise, refinement, and thankfully sheer power. Driving at 2/3 of the cars potential during the break-in, I can feel the torque pulling the car much more quickly than the e36 - in my old car I had to work a bit to keep moving this quickly. The styling of the e46 has more drama, more wow factor, whereas the e36 is a much more subtle car on the outside. I liked its subtlety, but like the e46s muscular look much better. Miss it, yeah I do. Regret my decision - No Way.