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BMW e30 vs e36 vs e46 vs e92 vs e80 M3 review



Sir_Dave

ClioSport Trader
What we looking at for a decent say 52/03 plate one? Sisters fellas mate bought an smg version and hates it, would have to be a manual version for me

Mine was £11.5k, but is a full spec individual with <90k mikes, full bmwsh and subframe done recently. Tbh, without the csl settings, the smg can be a bit sh1t in certain scenarios, but for the sake of £20, you'd be mad not too update it!!
 
  Impreza RB5 #054
What we looking at for a decent say 52/03 plate one? Sisters fellas mate bought an smg version and hates it, would have to be a manual version for me

The manual box in the M3 can be compared to the gearbox found in all early 90's Fiats. Dreadful.
Which is strange because the gearbox on my E36 328i Sport was lovely.

For me, the cons far out weigh the pro's on the E46 M3.
 
  200 cup
Broken! Cylinder 5 con rod bearing had enough at 128k
my e30 m3..295 bhp and my 200 cup...212 bhp
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Sir_Dave

ClioSport Trader
how does an e46 compare in a straight line to a 135i?

The 0-60/0-100 stats are nigh on the same, in gear the m135i feels quicker. Up to 4k the m135i feels quicker (turbod torque), but the way the m3 pulls from 5k-8k is far better. The m135i revs to 7k, but there doesnt seem to be any point going up there.

Keep an m3 above 5k and imho its quicker than the m135i, below it, its slower. The m3 is an intoxicating drive when on it, & it gets better the harder you push it, the m135i impresses to 7/10 then gets ragged/runs out of talent.

The m135i an an excellent family car, the m3 is an excellent drivers car. Imho.
 
  200 cup
May be better off in another thread but how did you get the 200 to 212bhp?
while replacing the 7 year old cam belt and aux belt...had some cat cams fitted by k-tec with their intake kit..and a remap / dyno. healthy gains in torque down low. steady power increase all the way up to 7500. increased rev range of maybe 300 rpm? much more responsive car. sounds great too. k-tec guys know their stuff.
thanks for the positive comments fellas.
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ForceIndia

ClioSport Club Member
  Gentlemans spec 200
while replacing the 7 year old cam belt and aux belt...had some cat cams fitted by k-tec with their intake kit..and a remap / dyno. healthy gains in torque down low. steady power increase all the way up to 7500. increased rev range of maybe 300 rpm? much more responsive car. sounds great too. k-tec guys know their stuff.
thanks for the positive comments fellas.
View attachment 143437
Er, what?
 
  200 cup
Needs full write up! What's the spec?
it's an 88 / 2.5 liter / 11:1 pistons / schrick cams 284-276 / dtm replica carbon manifold / 48mm throttle bodies / stage 3 head / bmw motorsport exhaust manifold / high flow center cats / eisenmann race exhaust / kms management / 8lb flywheel / sachs clutch / willwood dyna lite brake kit / h&r sport springs / koni dampers / toyo R1R tyres
295 bhp and 214 ft lbs with redline at 8100 rpm
 

497adam

ClioSport Club Member
  clio 172 phase 2
it's an 88 / 2.5 liter / 11:1 pistons / schrick cams 284-276 / dtm replica carbon manifold / 48mm throttle bodies / stage 3 head / bmw motorsport exhaust manifold / high flow center cats / eisenmann race exhaust / kms management / 8lb flywheel / sachs clutch / willwood dyna lite brake kit / h&r sport springs / koni dampers / toyo R1R tyres
295 bhp and 214 ft lbs with redline at 8100 rpm


Be great to see some more pics
 
  200 cup
Be great to see some more pics
only have a couple more on my phone. these arent the best pics...but they are when i had bbs rs's on there.
17 x 8.5" / 9.5" wheels. really transforms the look of the car...but do sacrifice handling as with most staggered set ups.
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so i chose to put the oem bbs's back on there..16 x 7.5. dont have to run stretched tyres anymore. the car handles MUCH better...and the oem wheels dont take 4 hours to clean and polish.
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Ali

  V6, Trackhawk, GTS
I don't know anything about the earlier M3's. However I've always thought the E36 shape was awful.

The E46 was a great car to drive, especially on the 18's with minor mods, it's a very very capable car. Sub 8mins BTG is a testament to that. The engine is marmite, I only liked it at pace. It sounds crap and you have to rev it to extract the maximum performance.

The E92 is glorious, better chassis, better motor and a better ///M car. Looks are subjective, but I'd say it's the best looking ///M3 of the lot.

The F82 is cracking car also, very different. I did a review before. It's better in some areas to the E92 and worse in others.
 

497adam

ClioSport Club Member
  clio 172 phase 2
Birds did a right hand conversion but used the regular 325 rack I think but it more turns lock to lock.
 
  Clio 200 cup
I've had a 2002 E46 M3 and a 2008 E92 M3 and i would have taken the 46 over the 92 anyday! Amazing car imo, though my E46 was far from standard.
 

-Rob

ClioSport Club Member
I can't think of any other car I'd rather have for the money than the E46 M3, it averages 35 on a long run and around 9-13 on a blast.

The E46 is the benchmark for drivers cars IMO.
 
I can't think of any other car I'd rather have for the money than the E46 M3, it averages 35 on a long run and around 9-13 on a blast.

The E46 is the benchmark for drivers cars IMO.

But aren't you forgetting a remapped oil burner might be ever so slightly faster in a drag race?
 

-Rob

ClioSport Club Member
But aren't you forgetting a remapped oil burner might be ever so slightly faster in a drag race?

Couldn't give less of a rats arse what a diesel can do. Id probably fall asleep behind the wheel driving one. My brother has a 325D and I can't see the attraction in owning one.

Hitting 8k rpm, heel and toeing, left foot braking and having the excitement of driving an all in one package such as the E46, is where it's at. With all these senseless cars being built, I'd rather hold onto a car that has the fundamentals right. I can't remember the last time I drove with the traction control on.

I wanted a V8 M3 but couldn't connect with the steering.. Everyone's different though.
 


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