E9x M3 vs. E46 M3 Driving Experience (2021 Edition)

[PYE46M3]

Originally Posted by whack6

They are proving to be more reliable and well built long term than e46M as well, and currently are changing hands at prices that make the e46M value proposition essentially a joke, especially when you consider the additional neediness those cars have.

Except the driving experience of the E9X compared to a E46 is a joke.

[Epoustouflant]

Originally Posted by PYE46M3

Except the driving experience of the E9X compared to a E46 is a joke.

Rising tides raise all boats here - if well maintained E46s go up, the E9Xs are bound to follow suit once distinctions between crap and clean examples (no matter the mileage) are clearer in the market.

The E9X is an improvement in most aspects of the driving experience (performance, reliability, transmissions, suspension, etc) versus the E46 except for the 100-200 lbs difference.

[whack6]

Originally Posted by PYE46M3

Except the driving experience of the E9X compared to a E46 is a joke.

Driven both, e9x is superior IMO. But thanks for your comment.

[GeorgeA]

Originally Posted by whack6

Driven both, e9x is superior IMO. But thanks for your comment.

E46 is a great car to drive, feels natural and kind. With its slower steering and engine, but it’s not as much theater as the E92, which feels much more brutal and rewarding. E92 is still one of the best all time cars to drive (sports cars included). That guy clearly hasn’t driven the car properly.

[PYE46M3]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

That guy clearly hasn’t driven the car properly.

how do you drive a car that feels like a bloated 550i properly? pretty much everyone outside this forum would agree that E46 is more raw and connected driving experience.

[Epoustouflant]

Originally Posted by PYE46M3

how do you drive a car that feels like a bloated 550i properly? pretty much everyone outside this forum would agree that E46 is more raw and connected driving experience.

That's quite the hyperbole.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by Epoustouflant

That's quite the hyperbole.

Welcome to the internet. I have to imagine they wouldn't own both cars if they hated them that much.

Some people like cucumbers, some people like pickles.

And some of us just wanted the car that had 4 doors.

[Epoustouflant]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Welcome to the internet. I have to imagine they wouldn't own both cars if they hated them that much.

Some people like cucumbers, some people like pickles.

And some of us just wanted the car that had 4 doors.

Brings me back to the cIviC M3 days 😂

[whack6]

Originally Posted by PYE46M3

how do you drive a car that feels like a bloated 550i properly? pretty much everyone outside this forum would agree that E46 is more raw and connected driving experience.

take it to a racetrack and wring the piss out of it, that's how. thanks again for your very on topic contributions to this thread lol.

[TH868Civils]

Still reading.

[GeorgeA]

Originally Posted by PYE46M3

how do you drive a car that feels like a bloated 550i properly? pretty much everyone outside this forum would agree that E46 is more raw and connected driving experience.

I really don't even know how to respond to this statement, but let's break it down.

550i and the E92 feel NOTHING like each other - not sure where you even got that idea from.

E46 and E92 are about the same weight, but the E92 has better suspension, steering (E46 has a SLOW rack, E92 has a quick and crisp one), engine, gearbox, chassis and just about everything else. By better, I mean more connected at a higher performance level which requires a more experienced driver to reach those limits vs the E46, who's limits are easier to reach which might indulge less experienced drivers.

A huge amount of people outside of this forum who blurt out statements like that haven't driven either car at the limit and are basing things off of regular street driving (which is irrelevant).

Again, the E46 is a pleasure to drive, I loved my seat time on track and canyon BUT the E92 is a step up in every aspect, it is more involving, quicker and more raw.

[PYE46M3]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

I really don't even know how to respond to this statement, but let's break it down.

550i and the E92 feel NOTHING like each other - not sure where you even got that idea from.

E46 and E92 are about the same weight, but the E92 has better suspension, steering (E46 has a SLOW rack, E92 has a quick and crisp one), engine, gearbox, chassis and just about everything else. By better, I mean more connected at a higher performance level which requires a more experienced driver to reach those limits vs the E46, who's limits are easier to reach which might indulge less experienced drivers.

A huge amount of people outside of this forum who blurt out statements like that haven't driven either car at the limit and are basing things off of regular street driving (which is irrelevant).

Again, the E46 is a pleasure to drive, I loved my seat time on track and canyon BUT the E92 is a step up in every aspect, it is more involving, quicker and more raw.

Thanks for your input. I own both and driven both at the limit. E46 is a razor and E92 is a butter knife.

[PYE46M3]

Originally Posted by whack6

take it to a racetrack and wring the piss out of it, that's how. thanks again for your very on topic contributions to this thread lol.

hmmm you must have missed my on topic posts throughout this thread.

[GeorgeA]

Originally Posted by PYE46M3

Thanks for your input. I own both and driven both at the limit. E46 is a razor and E92 is a butter knife.

You've driven the E92 at the limit and came to the conclusion that it feels like a 550i?

Yea, right.

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

You've driven the E92 at the limit and came to the conclusion that it feels like a 550i?

Yea, right.

e9x m3 handles superior to the E46, there is literally science behind the suspension design showing it is superior.

[Cyberdemon]

Some people think cucumbers taste better pickled.

[PYE46M3]

Agree to disagree. It’s all good.

[kyrix1st]

E46 felt slower than my E36 3.2 euro being 150kg heavier and similarly powered (343ps vs. 321ps).

E92 feels leaps better in every area except low end torque and fuel economy.

All comparing stock of course.

[14_deltaM3]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

E46 felt slower than my E36 3.2 euro being 150kg heavier and similarly powered (343ps vs. 321ps).

E92 feels leaps better in every area except low end torque and fuel economy.

All comparing stock of course.

My ranking of the e46 went down after having sampled a euro spec e36.

I truly don’t really understand the widely held view that the e46 is this raw animal. It’s very refined and smooth and confident, much like the e92. The e36 feels lighter than even the figures demonstrate.

[Eja144]

The E46 blind fanboy-ism has ruined the platform for me. Why did this guy even start this thread? Not getting laid enough and wanted attention? Lol

[PYE46M3]

Originally Posted by Eja144

The E46 blind fanboy-ism has ruined the platform for me. Why did this guy even start this thread? Not getting laid enough and wanted attention? Lol

I didn't start the thread. it was a post I made in another thread and someone grabbed the post and made a new thread with it.


but you're right, 7+ years of E46 ownership is just blind fanboy-ism

[SYT_Shadow]

Both are great cars. I owned an E46M for 100k miles while I put 30k on my E92. Took both to the track, drove them side by side, etc.

I find that frequently you get comments about how raw an E46M is and how tame a E92 is from people who have an E46 modded to the moon and back.

My E46 was largely stock, as was my E92, and at the track the delta was the largest there has ever been in a BMW I've owned. A stock engined E92 is closer to my F80 CS than an E46 is to the E92.


Both are great cars and I'd be happy with either.