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

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by e46IX

I've owned several E46 M3's and E9x M3's.

I currently have a Z4MC and E92 M3 in my stable.

The E92 M3 is comfortable, good build quality and a nice soundtrack. Thats all.

There is no question the S54-powered car puts a smile on my face more. It has a much more satisfying power delivery and a much more robust engine as a whole. The S65 rotating assembly is made of glass

Huh

[14_deltaM3]

There’s no doubt the e46 is a great car, though I’m getting kind of fatigued with the hype on it. I’ve driver them hard, and frankly, they are heavier, less raw than the e36s that came before (and for those of us lucky to have had euro spec e36s, the engine isn’t such a big step up), and less exotic and robust than the e92s that came after. The engines aren’t comparable between the e46 and e92.

I’ll always love the looks of the e46, but I’m routinely scratching my head these days about how there seems to be this belief that it represented the high point of the breed. I think the negative reaction to the news of a v8 M3 back in 05, long before the e92 was driven by the press, particularly amongst the British press, started all this.

[e46IX]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

Huh

what doesn't make sense?

[Eja144]

Originally Posted by e46IX

what doesn't make sense?

I reckon your opinion doesn't make sense to a lot of us.

[Richbot]

I've driven a lot of S54 powered cars and never have I ever thought man I wish this car had more motor

What I've thought a lot about was man I wish the frontend worked at all

Fixable, obviously, but that's my main beef with the cars. My other problem with them is two door saloons are stupid

I think the Z4M roadster is the best of all of them because it isn't trying to be anything but hilarious fun

[W///]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I've driven a lot of S54 powered cars and never have I ever thought man I wish this car had more motor

What I've thought a lot about was man I wish the frontend worked at all

Fixable, obviously, but that's my main beef with the cars. My other problem with them is two door saloons are stupid

I think the Z4M roadster is the best of all of them because it isn't trying to be anything but hilarious fun

^Last sentence hits it on the nail. Also agree about S54 powered cars, it's one hell of an engine. I can't wait to put some kind of carbon intake on mine.

[TractionControlDelete]

Originally Posted by 414bhp

Everyone has an opinion, including me!

A friend and I took a rented E46 SMG and my E90 DCT on some of Malibu's finest roads several years ago. The E46 was the more rewarding canyon car of the two because it was more communicative and its power peaked lower in the rev range. Curiously, the E90 M3 seemed to me to least interesting in the canyons and best in the city or at the track. In the city, the E90 could really calm down and coddle. On the track, the S65 engine does its best work and the E90 chassis comes alive and communicates.

I wrote a blog piece on the two cars here.

In my eyes, the E46 is the quintessential M3. The E90, on the other hand, shines because it has the best M3 engine.

Really good blog. I read this article and particularly liked your review of the performance school 💪

[tdott]

This sums up how I feel about a stock e46 m3.

Video should start at 1:22:33 but doesn't seem to for some reason on the embedded player

[BimmerNugget]

I have a E90 M3 DCT, toying with the idea of scooping up an E46 M3 manual. The E46 is old but still looks so damn good. It definitely aged very well.

Question for those who own both cars, is the E46 M3 all hype?

Especially at today's prices ($20k - $25k for a clean example) an E46 M3 is almost high mileage E9X M3 prices....

Some low mileage E46 M3s are even selling for $35K which I think is insane.....

[DiegoM3sa]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

I have a E90 M3 DCT, toying with the idea of scooping up an E46 M3 manual. The E46 is old but still looks so damn good. It definitely aged very well.

Question for those who own both cars, is the E46 M3 all hype?

Especially at today's prices ($20k - $25k for a clean example) an E46 M3 is almost high mileage E9X M3 prices....

Some low mileage E46 M3s are even selling for $35K which I think is insane.....

I owned an E46 M3 that I planned on keeping forever before I bought my E92. I regret selling my E46 to this day… I appreciate the E92 for the engine but the E46 chassis was much more nimble and responsive. E9x is more powerful and better sounding obviously. Looks are subjective

[cnofar]

I owned an 2006 (E46) M3 coupe Competition Package for 6 years before moving onto F80 M3 and later E90 M3. The E46 is a great car overall. Just the right size in my opinion, sounds and drives great as to be expected. I enjoyed the "rasp-iness" of the exhaust, personally. With that said they are not cheap to maintain and have their own issues with higher mileage cars (control arm bushings, sub frame, rod bearings etc). I was happy to own one until the maintenance costs started climbing with significant mileage over 100K miles. With that said, I will admit I have a fondness for them still, however some of that may be nostalgia as that was my first BMW and first M3, so I'm sentimental towards it.

In answer to your question about the "hype" of an E46, well, I'd say you'd likely need to drive one to see if it fits your image of the what the car is. It's not going to sound like the E9x series, but it weights less which has it's own merits.

For me I had to move on past an E46 as I had children and needed car seats. The F8x and E9x series has sedans so that was perfect for me.

[sbo76]

i have a 2001 e46 manual - It is fully race prepped (weight reduction, suspension, full roll cage, etc) and a 2009 DCT M3. You cannot go wrong here! I have thought about selling the e92 to replace with an e46 due to the price appreciation however i just can't do it. There honestly is no wrong answer here!

[JIMN9NE]

I have both a ZCP 06' E46 M3 and a E90 M3. I drive both quite a bit and like most people will say the E46 is more of a 'raw' experience and just feels more of an event every time your behind the wheel of it. I've had mine for 6 years and its been great with hardly any issues however I would be lying to you if I said I don't constantly worry about things going wrong with it since I am north of 100k miles. If I was looking for another M3 today it wouldn't be another E46 just because I think they are way overpriced now.

My advice is if you buy the E46, stay away from the forums because you will think you'll need to spend more money maintaining it than you actually need too

[PYE46M3]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

Some low mileage E46 M3s are even selling for $35K which I think is insane.....

35 grand for a coupe 6spd is nothing nowadays. It will get you into a dime a dozen early model year car. There was a time when that kind of money would get you into a cream of the crop sub 50k competition package car.

If you think 35 grand is a lot of money to spend on an E46, then it probably is not the kind of car you want to pursue since its a much more high maintenance platform than the E9x. You'll quickly spend 6+ grand on subframe reinfrocement, vanos bulletproofing and rod bearings alone. expect another 3 grand on regular wear and tear items and you're already deep in the 40s

[nrubenstein]

So, I sold the E46 this past spring. Still sad about it, but we have too damned many cars.

I actually prefer driving it to the E90. The only reason why the E90 won out is that I needed four doors.

The big things that you want to do to an S54 are headers and an Epic tune. It totally changes how it feels.

[BimmerNugget]

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

So, I sold the E46 this past spring. Still sad about it, but we have too damned many cars.

I actually prefer driving it to the E90. The only reason why the E90 won out is that I needed four doors.

The big things that you want to do to an S54 are headers and an Epic tune. It totally changes how it feels.

WOW!! More pics of your garage please

[mtpktz]

Originally Posted by BimmerNugget

WOW!! More pics of your garage please

+1 - awesome garage.

[wyatth]

E46Ms are great. I think they're more fragile overall so they can be a love/hate affair, but they're a hoot in their own right when sorted out.
I miss mine often, but that doesn't take anything away from the E90, just different cars that beat each other out in different ways. I find the E46 more engaging, old school feeling, which can be fun at any speed. The E90 is more capable and more livable, but only exciting when you're on it (which can be a good thing if it's a dual duty car). I wouldn't mind owning another E46 alongside the E90 someday. Mine was a Dinan S3 with RACs, Brembos, TC Klines, 6MT with SSK and UCP, CSL goodies, etc. I only moved on because I needed 4 doors. Here it is beating up Jive's E92 ZCP in the hills a long time ago.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I've driven a lot of S54 powered cars and never have I ever thought man I wish this car had more motor

What I've thought a lot about was man I wish the frontend worked at all

Fixable, obviously, but that's my main beef with the cars. My other problem with them is two door saloons are stupid

I think the Z4M roadster is the best of all of them because it isn't trying to be anything but hilarious fun

Funny, I deliberately chose a Z4MR because I wanted the S54 but in a lighter, two door convertible package. I still can't believe it was even made an option. So happy with my choice, its a riot.

Now I want to add an E90 M3 sedan because again, four door with Ferrari like engine and a 6 speed? Yes please.

I like the uniqueness of these packages.

[imserious]

The E46m3 is an iconic M3. In some respects peak of what the M3 is supposed to be and still the best looking.

That said the e92 is the second best looking M3 to me and the s65 with m performance exhaust and manual gearbox is nearly an untouchable experience. It has much higher limits and on full tilt is an animal- very controllable and a beast.

The new M3s are just m5s in disguise. Brutally fast, but not the same formula. The M2s are the new m3s and thankfully are very attractive packages.

[jp1984]

I think it a lot of the E46 love comes from 1. a very pleasing silhouette 2. a very subtle but classy design in and out 3. Obviously, it has arguably the coolest NA straight 6 ever. (from BMW anyway)

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by jp1984

I think it a lot of the E46 love comes from 1. a very pleasing silhouette 2. a very subtle but classy design in and out 3. Obviously, it has arguably the coolest NA straight 6 ever. (from BMW anyway)

It's also a small car by today's standards, which really is impactful to the driving experience. Nearly the same length and height as the e36, wider because of the factory wide body the e36 got short changed.

And, yeah-- the best version of the engine BMW is most known for (the I6).