BMW e36 v e46 M3, which is the better car? | FerrariChat

BMW e36 v e46 M3, which is the better car?

Discussion in 'Other German' started by Texas Forever, Apr 26, 2020.

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  1. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Apr 28, 2003
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    Texas!
    I think I asked this question a long time ago, but I can't find the thread.

    Which do you think is the better DRIVING car? I know the e46s are faster, but I don't go 170 mph. Said another way, which car is more fun at legal speeds?

    Thoughts?
     
  2. flat_plane_eddie

    flat_plane_eddie F1 Rookie
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    The American E36 M3 isn't really an M3 so my vote goes to the E46.
     
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  3. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Eh?


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  4. RaceMX-M3

    RaceMX-M3 Formula Junior
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    I didn't spend enough time driving the E36 to give thoughtful differences but owned the E46 for years and loved it. I had three of them.

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  5. Jorligan

    Jorligan Formula Junior
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    I had an E46 and an E92, E46 better than the E36 for the street, e92 M3 is better yet for the street but if you are going to track the car, I would go with the E36. Lighter and more fun to toss around.
     
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  6. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    A low mile E46M3 6spd it the best "M" BMW has ever made.
     
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  7. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I also worked on E36, E46, and E92. The E92 is down right painful and stupid in design. Many design things are almost as bad as a Ford. The 36 is easiest for diy. But the 46 is very doable and has much more intelligent systems than the 92+. When I worked on my 1st 46 I was shocked at how well done it was.
     
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  8. flat_plane_eddie

    flat_plane_eddie F1 Rookie
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    Care to elaborate more on the bad designs of the E92?
     
  9. 19633500GT

    19633500GT F1 World Champ
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    Got all four wheels of my E36 M3 off the ground on a nice bender, top of fourth gear.

    Driven a lot of BMW M cars, and I prefer the E36. The E46 is beyond fantastic, I just can't drive it anywhere as close to the limits as I could with the 36.
     
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  10. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
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    i have 2 e36 M3s so im biased. didnt love my e46. hated the clutch when it was in sport.
     
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  11. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Let's see 8 or 9 seals for the 6 cylinder valve cover. My V12 Ferrari isn't that complicated. Dumb electric water pump. I had 4 of those in 1 car 0-100000 miles. Finally stopped using the BMW boxed WP and put the cheapest POS I could find and that one stayed working. You almost never have a conventional pump fail and strand you. A conventional pump 99% of the time gives you plenty of warning. Can you imagine oil leaks from the top mount filter housing all of a sudden? How about failed filter base gasket and 2 bolts no problem and 1 bolt you have to take the intake manifold off! Why not just turn the bolt around and thread it the other way? I have nothing but praises for early BMW's. I absolutely despise late model BMWs. The only thing I hate working on worse is the mustang GT that I race. But it is good to hate your racecar so you can beat the living snot out of it on track.
     
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  12. m5shiv

    m5shiv Formula 3
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    I have 2 x e46 M3, since the E36 m3 USA doesn't come with a 321 hp Evo motor, it's not a valid choice for US owners.
     
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  13. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    I knew a guy in cali who raced the E36 with that motor in it. He got the motor from overseas and put it in his donor racecar. That car was fast and handled well. He put that thing just about anywhere on the track.
     
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  14. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Keep in mind I lean toward the “it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow” school. I have even been known, gasp, to drive a Miata. But, don’t worry, I put a paper bag over my head. I was The Who Dat man.


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  15. flat_plane_eddie

    flat_plane_eddie F1 Rookie
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    Sorry I'm confused since you said 6 cylinder valve cover above but your prior post said the E92 is poorly designed. Are you referring to the E92 above?
     
  16. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sorry to confuse you. E9X all suck.

    E92M3 was no gem. DCT failed on track often. I think they could never be kept cool? That s65 motor would eat itself at street speeds from an undiagnosed and never solved bearing issue. The aftermarket claimed a fix by changing main bearings...not an easy job but the fix was questionable. The run on that motor was 5+ years and bmw never, acknowledged or attempted a fix.
     
  17. m5shiv

    m5shiv Formula 3
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    E60 M5 suffers from same rod bearing issues
     
  18. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
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    no need to import a european motor. for 10K you can do this to your s52:
    87mm bore 11:5 compression
    custom grind cams
    BBTB
    PnP Head, stock valve springs, stock size ferrea valves.
    Obd I manifold
    SS Euro long tube headers and full catless Euro SS midsection and axleback.
    RK custom dyno tune 93 pump.
    Porsche HFM
    24lbs injectors
    CAI
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  19. flat_plane_eddie

    flat_plane_eddie F1 Rookie
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    OK thanks. I really like the E92 and know of its shortcomings regarding the rod bearings and actuators but just wanted to get more info.

    The S65 is a chopped down S85 but at least on the S65 they fixed the VANOS pump issues.
     
  20. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    A lot of money for 300HP and questionable reliability. Problem is you can build a perfect motor on paper. The reality is even harder and finding a competent builder for even simple motors is nearly a lost art. I went through 4 simple stock LS6 GM motor builds before I got a reliable one and that one still wasn't as good as the one that came with the car! We racers suffer from this all the time and are blamed for the failures because we are racing. The truth is street use disguises the builder's shortcomings. Whenever you can buy a crate motor from the factory that's what you want to do unless you are building for something else.
     
  21. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
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    thats a real build, local to me...10K is not much for that...going with a GM motor is sacrilegious to me.
     
  22. otoupalik

    otoupalik Formula Junior
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    I have owned multiple trim levels/styles of both the e36 and e46. The only one I still have is an e46 M3 cab. The e46 is truly more enjoyable in every way.
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