The last "real ///M?"

[brizzom]

As much as I love the S65, I gotta go with the last NA I6

[Brucewonder]

Purist or not, every new generation is going to be better than the previous model.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by 1sikbmr

lol@ person who chose 1m

And which one of the other choices would you consider has the most similar characteristics to the E30 M3? What, you no lol'ing no more?

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

And which one of the other choices would you consider has the most similar characteristics to the E30 M3? What, you no lol'ing no more?

uh the e30 M3 is the only real M car but after that is the e46 then e9x... still lol'ing hard brah

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by 1sikbmr

uh the e30 M3 is the only real M car but after that is the e46 then e9x... still lol'ing hard brah

Brah? Now that's funny! You actually think the E9x is more similar to the E30 than the 1M? Explain. BMW engineers themselves would disagree with you. Keep in mind, I'm not asking you which one you think is better, but rather, which one has more similar characteristics to the E30?

[Seattle S65B40]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

Brah? Now that's funny! You actually think the E9x is more similar to the E30 than the 1M? Explain. BMW engineers themselves would disagree with you. Keep in mind, I'm not asking you which one you think is better, but rather, which one has more similar characteristics to the E30?

1M is a turbo and that alone sets it apart from real M cars. The E46 M3 was closer to E30 M3 than 1M.

[Titanium Silver]

They are all ///M cars... More than any of us chumps can claim.

[Davin]

Originally Posted by amglol

for now, i'd say that the e9x stays closer to the tradition of the m3 series than the planned turbo 6... a high revving na powerplant is what it's been all about.

that being said, progress is progress, and i won't dismiss the next generation until it's been tried, tested, and tortured. driving pleasure and performance is what makes an m3 ultimately, so i'll reserve judgement...

Well Said

[emthreeboy]

Last real ///M no doubt is the E9X M3! NA POWER baby!!!!

[TK-421]

E46


The CSL is what an M car really should be (despite the fact that it's SMG exclusive). Also, the E46 had a Competition Package that was actually worth buying because it actually made the car faster. The E9X ZCP should have a different name because, in comparison, it's nothing short of a joke.

[CAPSGOD]

Originally Posted by 1sikbmr

uh the e30 M3 is the only real M car but after that is the e46 then e9x... still lol'ing hard brah

hey broski 2 Heinekens

[indohan]

Just to clarify... What's your definition of "REAL"?
Is it raw power? Or last N/A ///M? Or it's authentic ///M and not some knock off from China?

[PINHEAD]

E46 M3 CSL

[Elie335i]

1M because it HAZ the N54 POWER

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by Kiemyster

Its nice to see that im not the only one who feels so deeply about the E9X series.

Oh, we all feel deeply. I don't think any of us would have coughed up this kind of money if the E9x wasn't everything it is. I think if the E9x's weighed what the E46's did, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. The E9x M3 is simply the greatest all-around car of all time but some other iterations have just been a little purer in purpose.

[hlmiii]

Originally Posted by PhillyNate

The E9x M3 is simply the greatest all-around car of all time but some other iterations have just been a little purer in purpose.

W.o.r.d.

I didn't vote for the E9x, the line above is the best and only defensible summation.

[speedfan]

I dont have e46 m3 & e9x m3, so I'm neutral & not bias. I voted e46 m3. However, I think the e92 m3 looks better than the e46 m3.

I really like the e92 m3, & I might get it.
But from my point of view, the e9x m3 isn't as pure as the e46 m3 for the reason being:
- v8 (not as balanced as inline-6)
- Heavy
can't think of anything else at this time.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by TK-421

The CSL is what an M car really should be (despite the fact that it's SMG exclusive). Also, the E46 had a Competition Package that was actually worth buying because it actually made the car faster. The E9X ZCP should have a different name because, in comparison, it's nothing short of a joke.

Glad there is someone else on here who feels this way. The sad thing is that my resale will probably be affected by not getting it. I saw it as a total waste of money. Total cash grab by BMW to use the E46's package name.

I'm surprised nobody has acknowledged that we are dancing around the fact that the F3x M3 turbo engine is a compromise. M has always felt this way about turbos but now that everyone is obsessed with fuel economy they had to give in. Don't say "herp derp but the torque".. please. M could built a NA engine with more torque if they felt it was necessary. If you've driven an E9x M3 you will see that the torque is just fine. The lack of torque is masked by gearing anyway.

E9x M3 is the end of an era plain and simple. We now enter the world of compromise. I admit that the F3x will be quicker no doubt. Still.

Originally Posted by speedfan

But from my point of view, the e9x m3 isn't as pure as the e46 m3 for the reason being:
- v8 (not as balanced as inline-6)
- Heavy
can't think of anything else at this time.

Not this crap again. Can someone explain to me what "not as balanced" means??? Ridiculous. Said like a true forum goer that has not driven the car. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the S54 and the E46 will be more flickable. But so is the E36. And the E30 moreso.

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by CAPSGOD

hey broski 2 Heinekens

[speedfan]

Originally Posted by stefan

Glad there is someone else on here who feels this way. The sad thing is that my resale will probably be affected by not getting it. I saw it as a total waste of money. Total cash grab by BMW to use the E46's package name.

I'm surprised nobody has acknowledged that we are dancing around the fact that the F3x M3 turbo engine is a compromise. M has always felt this way about turbos but now that everyone is obsessed with fuel economy they had to give in. Don't say "herp derp but the torque".. please. M could built a NA engine with more torque if they felt it was necessary. If you've driven an E9x M3 you will see that the torque is just fine. The lack of torque is masked by gearing anyway.

E9x M3 is the end of an era plain and simple. We now enter the world of compromise. I admit that the F3x will be quicker no doubt. Still.


Not this crap again. Can someone explain to me what "not as balanced" means??? Ridiculous. Said like a true forum goer that has not driven the car. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the S54 and the E46 will be more flickable. But so is the E36. And the E30 moreso.

the inline-6/straight 6 piston movement order is: 1 - 6 | 2 - 5 | 3 - 4.
So, it is perfectly balanced from end to end.
It's also efficient in terms of pumping out good horsepower & torque, & not as expensive to build than the better boxer flat-6. Yes, flame me, but Porsche's flat-6 is a better engine.

a v8 is 2 inline-4 mated together. it cant achieve piston movement like inline-6. It has end-to-end vibration, & so the builder usually uses another shaft to counter/reduce the vibration.

so, in terms of perfectly balanced engine, no vibration from end-to-end, it's inline-6, v12 (2 inline6 mated), & flat-6.

I'm not an engineer, so please educate me if i'm wrong.

[mdosu]

holy crap, you joined in Jan 2011 and you already have 1000 posts?

[hlmiii]

Discussion of particular hardware always gets into personal preferences. That's why this type of discussion never goes anywhere other than "I like X" at its core. Sometimes it's followed with an "and I am right."


The fundamental outlook and approach is the real basis for the M tradition and the products it develops. The excitement of running a car towards its limits in any situation is what is common to all of the models, regardless of whether any of them fits the personal interests of an individual driver.

Rather than an arbitrary template based upon numbers of cylinders, electronics, weight, etc. the following is a better and more comprehensive definition -

... because of its clarity. It was designed and bred with and for the passion of driving. This is the existential definition of an M car.

- Autoblog
http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/07/05/bm...-drive-review/