Question for current e90/92 M owners who also owned the e46 M

spmd11 · 10-18-2012, 10:41 PM

I'm considering purchasing an e46 M3. I have owned both an e90 M3 and an e93 M3, but not currently. All of you M owners out there who have owned both the e46M and the current M, did your e46 have the ability to oversteer on demand like the current M car? Or is there electronics involved in the new M that make a difference? Both cars have limited slip. I remember my two cars oversteering with ease and control with the touch of the M button.

spr · 10-18-2012, 11:29 PM

Had an e46 comp. Went e92 comp couldn't image downgrading by going back.

spmd11 · 10-18-2012, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spr

Had an e46 comp. Went e92 comp couldn't image downgrading by going back.

This would be just a fun car.. simpler "M".. inline six, lighter weight

ES_TRADER · 10-19-2012, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmd11

This would be just a fun car.. simpler "M".. inline six, lighter weight

Get e36M. Lighter, cheaper, handles better, inline 6, no valve adjustments, and almost as fast.

CanAutM3 · 10-19-2012, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

Get e36M. Lighter, cheaper, handles better, inline 6, no valve adjustments, and almost as fast.

Sorry, but the US model E36 just does not compare to the E46 in terms of speed. There is a 93hp difference...

For the rest of the world, they were much closer as the E46 was heavier with only a 22hp advantage over a 3.2L E36.

CanAutM3 · 10-19-2012, 05:47 AM

I've owned both. An E46 for almost seven years and now my E92 for four years and counting. Both are very enjoyable cars. The E46 has plenty of power to power oversteer at will. I found the E46 to be a little wilder in terms of handling and less predictable than the E92. When you power oversteer, the back end could sometimes snap in the other direction. You need to have quick hands, but it is manageable. I personaly loved the sound of the I6, with harmonics that changed as the revs increased.

yamamoto · 10-19-2012, 06:20 AM

E46 comp will oversteer comfortably. E90 feels more stable at higher speed and has less body roll

checkmate · 10-19-2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmd11

This would be just a fun car.. simpler "M".. inline six, lighter weight

I had an E46 M3 coupe and it was quite the machine. That inline six screaming at the top end is one for the books. The design still commands attention.

Its not as light as you would think compared to the E92 M3. Its ability to oversteer depends on how you play with the traction control. Its no Audi.

Get the E46 coupe and nothing else. I find it very hard to take M verts seriously. M3forum.net is a great resource for everything from a maintenance and modding perspective. Plenty of vendors out there for E46s. If you have any questions..feel free to fire me a PM.

Andy_H_E92_M3 · 10-19-2012, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmd11

All of you M owners out there who have owned both the e46M and the current M, did your e46 have the ability to oversteer on demand like the current M car?

Yes.

spmd11 · 10-19-2012, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I've owned both. An E46 for almost seven years and now my E92 for four years and counting. Both are very enjoyable cars. The E46 has plenty of power to power oversteer at will. I found the E46 to be a little wilder in terms of handling and less predictable than the E92. When you power oversteer, the back end could sometimes snap in the other direction. You need to have quick hands, but it is manageable. I personaly loved the sound of the I6, with harmonics that changed as the revs increased.

So, should I go for a low mileage pristine e46? Or a mid mileage 2008 e90/92?

MKE_M3 · 10-20-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ES_TRADER

Get e36M. Lighter, cheaper, handles better, inline 6, no valve adjustments, and almost as fast.

+1, My buddies e36 M3 with around 8k in mods was passing Corvettes, ISF's and what not up at Road America yesterday. I think he may be close to being able to hang with my car on the track. It was his first track day, so it may take a while for him to improve as a driver, then maybe he and I will be able to be in the same group and we'll find out

m3an · 10-20-2012, 10:13 AM

Oversteer at will? These m cars make peak torque at like 7-8 k. I have owned both but by your post it seems you should get vette or mustang for that

CanAutM3 · 10-21-2012, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spmd11

So, should I go for a low mileage pristine e46? Or a mid mileage 2008 e90/92?

As much as I loved my E46, I prefer my E92.

cpsquare8 · 10-21-2012, 07:44 PM

E46 will be a good car but you will be much happier with an E9X M3. Liked my e46, but have had 2 newer M3s, yes understeer but the newer cars have a V8 - just a good car IMHO

ec_E92 · 10-21-2012, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3an

Oversteer at will? These m cars make peak torque at like 7-8 k. I have owned both but by your post it seems you should get vette or mustang for that

Peak TQ is 3.9k and if you look at the graph it's pretty flat from 3.5 to 6.5k.

These M cars make peak HP at 7-8k

m3an · 10-21-2012, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ec_E92

Peak TQ is 3.9k and if you look at the graph it's pretty flat from 3.5 to 6.5k.

These M cars make peak HP at 7-8k

yeah I mean to quote the HP being high, but these cars in general just lack torque.

10-18-2012, 10:41 PM	#1
spmd11 Major 290 Rep 1,079 Posts Drives: 2020 X3MC Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (4)	Question for current e90/92 M owners who also owned the e46 M I'm considering purchasing an e46 M3. I have owned both an e90 M3 and an e93 M3, but not currently. All of you M owners out there who have owned both the e46M and the current M, did your e46 have the ability to oversteer on demand like the current M car? Or is there electronics involved in the new M that make a difference? Both cars have limited slip. I remember my two cars oversteering with ease and control with the touch of the M button. __________________ 2020 X3MC, 2018 Porsche Macan, 2019 X3 3.0i, 2016 981 Cayman S
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10-18-2012, 11:29 PM	#2
spr Major 93 Rep 1,089 Posts Drives: F80 M3; e92 ESS650+ M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	Had an e46 comp. Went e92 comp couldn't image downgrading by going back.
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10-19-2012, 05:47 AM	#6
CanAutM3 General 21117 Rep 20,741 Posts Drives: 2021 911 turbo Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Montreal iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 Audi RS6 [10.00] 2021 Porsche 911 turbo [10.00]	I've owned both. An E46 for almost seven years and now my E92 for four years and counting. Both are very enjoyable cars. The E46 has plenty of power to power oversteer at will. I found the E46 to be a little wilder in terms of handling and less predictable than the E92. When you power oversteer, the back end could sometimes snap in the other direction. You need to have quick hands, but it is manageable. I personaly loved the sound of the I6, with harmonics that changed as the revs increased.
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10-19-2012, 06:20 AM	#7
yamamoto Enlisted Member 7 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2015 F80 YMB/SO Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: OC iTrader: (0)	E46 comp will oversteer comfortably. E90 feels more stable at higher speed and has less body roll
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10-20-2012, 10:13 AM	#12
m3an Banned 39 Rep 1,590 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Florida iTrader: (2)	Oversteer at will? These m cars make peak torque at like 7-8 k. I have owned both but by your post it seems you should get vette or mustang for that
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10-21-2012, 07:44 PM	#14
cpsquare8 Private 0 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 135is Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	E46 will be a good car but you will be much happier with an E9X M3. Liked my e46, but have had 2 newer M3s, yes understeer but the newer cars have a V8 - just a good car IMHO
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