The E46 M3 is more fun to drive than the E92 M3

I had an E46from 2002-2008and an E92 from 2008-present.5months ago I repurchased my old E46 from my Dad- now I own both. The E46 has 74000 miles and the E92 has 26000 miles(100,000 miles total). Both are 6 speed and neither has iDrive etc.

The E46 is much more involving to drive, more visceral, stiffer clutch, stiffer gearbox, lighter, raw, and harder to drive properly. Driving it sends a shiver down my spine!

The E92 is faster, more comfortable, handles better and is easier to drive.

But of the two, there is no question the E46 is more FUN to drive. If I had to give up one of them, I am not sure which one it would be.....

Dan

I have a friend with both cars and he would absolutely agree with your assessment. He would say the E92 is the better car in almost all respects but the E46 is more raw and therefore more fun in his view. No as fast, not as comfortable, less frills but more involving.

For me, the comfort and refinement of the E92 in combination with its performance is important for a DD but there is no denying how great the E46 was/is.

I gotta disagree, my e92 m3 is defly more fun to drive, everytime I get into a e46 and I get back into my car, I'm so happy I did the trade, but that's just my opinion

.................................

lol here we go...

I agree with OP, i own an e46.. but will soon pick up an e90M.

Simply because I like the v8, and it's a bit more modern looking.

I don't want all that extra stuff either idrive etc.

I owned a e46 m3 and the only thing I miss about it, is the way it looks. It had so much more character. But the e92 is better in every way, so it's an okay trade off in my book.

The E36 M3 is more fun to drive than the E46 M3

CAPSGOD wrote

The E36 M3 is more fun to drive than the E46 M3

The E30 M3 is more fun to drive than the E36 M3.

That's how I felt when I first got my E92. This was my debut post with the forum regarding the same:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8822738

Now, after 5 months, I don't think I would go back. It's just so fast and the engine is incredible. I haven't even begun modding yet (waiting to see if I get a new one). If I could have BOTH, I would. I still love and miss my E46 M3.

The two are among the most coveted cars in history.

I had lots of fun in both my e46 and e92 M3. Having said that, I think the 997 C2S I had and also my 997 turbo is more fun to drive than either M3. Much more of a raw sporty feel in the P-cars.

PunjabiM3 wrote

I had lots of fun in both my e46 and e92 M3. Having said that, I think the 997 C2S I had and also my 997 turbo is more fun to drive than either M3. Much more of a raw sporty feel in the P-cars.

E46 M3 v. E92 M3 :: apples to apples

997TT v. M3 :: apples to watermelons

Of course 997 TT is gonna be better. Nice taste though. I hope to own one some day.

danielbreese wrote

I had an E46from 2002-2008and an E92 from 2008-present.5months ago I repurchased my old E46 from my Dad- now I own both. The E46 has 74000 miles and the E92 has 26000 miles(100,000 miles total). Both are 6 speed and neither has iDrive etc.

The E46 is much more involving to drive, more visceral, stiffer clutch, stiffer gearbox, lighter, raw, and harder to drive properly. Driving it sends a shiver down my spine!

The E92 is faster, more comfortable, handles better and is easier to drive.

But of the two, there is no question the E46 is more FUN to drive. If I had to give up one of them, I am not sure which one it would be.....

Dan

I had 2 E46 and 1 E90. I agree with everything you stated, except the E46 is more fun. I would still prefer the E46 for the track but the E90 as a DD. They both rock.

Krozi wrote

CAPSGOD wrote

The E36 M3 is more fun to drive than the E46 M3

The E30 M3 is more fun to drive than the E36 M3.

The R56 is wayyy more fun to drive than all of the above, period.

Seattle S65B40 wrote

E46 M3 v. E92 M3 :: apples to apples

997TT v. M3 :: apples to watermelons

Of course 997 TT is gonna be better. Nice taste though. I hope to own one some day.

+1 Can't really compare M3's to current model 911's.

richpuer wrote

The R56 is wayyy more fun to drive than all of the above, period.

the r56 isn't even as good to drive as the r53. Nor is it even close to being better than an e30 m3. I would say the e36 is a bit better at everything but autox as well.

If you want a car that is fun to drive go buy any semi trailing arm old school BMW they all have the same wonderful tail happy charm that none of the multi link cousins can match.

PunjabiM3 wrote

I had lots of fun in both my e46 and e92 M3. Having said that, I think the 997 C2S I had and also my 997 turbo is more fun to drive than either M3. Much more of a raw sporty feel in the P-cars.

Whilst we can't compare m3s to porsches id agree my c2s was more involving. But for DD purposes with greater in car tech (sat nav and minimal connectivity in the porshe) makes it a better choice and allows for weekend fun on some nice b-roads... Prefer the sound of the v8 too!

CAPSGOD wrote

The E36 M3 is more fun to drive than the E46 M3

+1

Krozi wrote

The E30 M3 is more fun to drive than the E36 M3.

+2

It depends on what you want. I never drove M E46, but I heard that it's less obedient to the corners than M E92.

This trend is almost guaranteed to continue with the F3X M3.

I drove 2 different E46 M3s for almost 5 years and I prefer the E92

I own both -NOW- and I drive both now and there is no question in my mind that the E46 is the better car.

I could go on and on about all the reasons why but everything the OP said is dead on. Obviously the E92 is newer with more power but its not much faster in the end. The E46 is a faster revving sportier car, its lower to the ground, has better lines, wider looking stance (I've got wider tires all around that amplifies this), and it doesnt have half a dozen of the annoying electronic gizmos that don't work properly that are on the E92 (press the up button on the steering wheel and the sat radio preset goes DOWN, having to press and hold the ignition button for the car and radio to turn off etc. etc.

The two things that the E92 has over the E46 is that it has no rattles, has other upgrades and gadgets that do work properly and feels like a new car.

I've been trying to get myself motivated to sell the E46 but I know for sure I will dread the decision if I do it...however I also know that sooner or later the repairs will start adding up.

I also get minor work done at a repair shop here that works primarily on M3's...they personally own E30, E36 and E46 M'3s....their opinion is the same...the E92 is a more cheaply made car that has little performance upgrades over the E46 and we both agree the body style is so so.

And last but not least....the E30 comes in 1st place in my book.