E46 M3 Variants?
 

Just had a drive in a mates M3 (2001 non SMG) and was a little disappointed to be honest, so I was wondering if there are any variants of this that are a little quicker. Certainly doesn't feel too quick for 338hp.

Wayne.

what? Are you saying it is but doesn't feel quick?

E46 M3
E46 M3 CSL
E46 M3 CS ( end of line runout model)

Basically yeah! A straight 6 3.2 with 343bhp is never going to 'feel' fast compared even to a fairly low powered scooby but in the mid-range they pull like fook.

Yeah, I test drove a new e92 m3 last month here in Japan, and to be honest, it didnt feel as fast as a turbo car, simply because the power delivery is so smooth, whereas in a turbo car, the power hits you hard when the boost kicks in... Its weird, but when you look at the speedo, you realise that they are actually pretty fast.

The one I drove was the 400bhp V8 one, and tbh I expected more....I guess they are just very refined. It was also a LHD, first time id driven a LHD, very user friendly:)

You need to rev an M3 to get the best out of it , I have an E46 and it needs to be between 6-8k rpm to make it go well , Mine is about on par with an RB320 as there is a local one that I have had a few run in's with mines a gnat's c0ck quicker.
Mines an SMG which I thik is better than a manual , its a bit like marmite , you love it or hate it

As above... power delivery much smoother so you don't get the slam in the back you get with a say an Impreza.

Variants are as above..
M3, M3 CSL and the M3 CS

CSL was the balls out hard edges one and the CS somewhere in between.

There was also a GTR E46 M3, which had a 4l v8. Only 10 produced for homologation purposes for some race series. I imagine they're all tucked up in collectors garages though.

I just part ex'd my 05 STi for a 2001 M3 and what been said is spot on the power is more smooth and you don't get the kick you do from a turbo but you get the power though the rev's(all the way to 8k)and i have noticed that if you turn the traction control off it does feel quicker also turn the sport mode on.Another thing i find is it handles just has good has my Sti which i didn't think it would BUT only in the dry i wouldn't try it in the wet.

The E46 M3 is a good all rounder but does not excel at anything, that said the car is very unsettled whilst trying to progress on a bumpy road but that said on a smooth road is awesome!

As said previously it needs to be revved to get it to shift, once the revs are in the sweet spot they dont have shift and are plenty quick enough.

Had a run with a couple back when my car was running around 320bhp and from 60 - *** I managed to pull a car length ahead.

Banny

No n/a (or supercharged) car "feels" as fast as a turbo car, simply because there is no lag and the turbo kicks in with a big punch. Which is why turbo cars "feel" quick because of inconsistant power delivery.

Take it round some twisties and appreciate the INSTANT throttle response from the throttle pedal the millisecond you mash it to the floor (DSC off...with it switched on, it dampens the response). DSC slows throttle plate movement as a pre-emptive measure to help prevent power oversteer/ lift-off understeer. Cable driven individual throttle bodies is one of the best traits of an old M-car (sadly no longer - they are all horrible fly by wire nowadays :mad: :( ).

Although you won't appreciate the nervous handling on bumpy old B-roads roads...especially if the lower wishbone bushes are knackered (most are tired- replace every 4yrs or 40K on M-cars for best ride/handling) Its a problem on all 3series tbh - too heavy and narrow with a fairly basic/conventional front suspension setup, but its more noticeable on the M3. Which is why 5 series have always handled better - splitting the lower wishbone into two seprate control arms and increasing the track width makes an appreciative difference with the handling (although they still suffer just as badly with poor roads killing the bushes).

You still have to bear in mind its a very heavy car. So being 300kg heavier than a classic Impreza it doesn't help things. And if its a M3 cabriolet, even worse (honestly, what was the point of a M3 cabriolet :cuckoo: ).

Additionally, for £4000 and 10hours labour you can bolt on a supercharger kit. :thumb:

Think it's a bit unfair to say the E46 M3 doesn't excel at anything. I used to own one and say that for the money you will not find a better built more refined car for the money. The turn on it was sublime as good as anything i have ever driven. When you get it right in an m3 on a road you know it really is a very good feeling hitting apex after apex. Require's a descent driver to get the most out of it but for 13000 grand or whatever you can pick them up for there is nothing realistically to touch them.

Lovely cars, always hanckered after one a few years ago.
There was a facelift in 2004 IIRC with Led rear lights etc & anything before mid 2002 look out for important engine recall. (I think it was a Nikasail sumit problem)

Last month came up against a 2005 M3 convertible.....he had no chance in any gear at any speed, though obviously above e.g. 140mph on a track he may make back lost ground. A straight drag, he tried hard from 2nd gear onwards but I pulled at least 4 car lengths by approx 70 mph. (Though the convertible is fractionally slower in a straight line than coupe.)

I always fancied one as the next step from my Saab Aero but I had a dice with a Cabriolet verion and expected it to muller me, it didnt, marginally quicker to a ton and I mean marginally, mine been remapped but I honestly thought with another 90 bhp I would be dog meat, strangely pleased yet dissapointed at the same time.

Might be that they only have 262 lbs ft of torque, mine has, once remapped I am told 288 lbs ft, so that may explain why they dont feel that impressive, its big torque that you really feel.

As Ian mentioned the M3 only really come's on song once past 6 grand you really need to rev the knacker's off the thing which i think a lot of M3 driver's don't do. Mine was driven with very little in the way of mechanical sympathy but that's what a 3 year manufacturer's warrenty is for. lol
The problem is that if you can really get caught napping in the m3 if you're in the wrong gear before you know it a scooby will pull 3 or 4 car length's whilst you're changing down a gear.

im on my second e46 m3, having owned various powerful jap/german stuff inbetween. my opinion is that pound for pound, the e46 m3 is the best allrounder you can buy for sensible money. looks lovely, sounds lovely (especially with full milltek with 100 cell race cats like mine;-) ) and goes lovely.
combined with heated seats,tv, smg,reasonable fuel consumption, great service at dealer(sorry, but its true at mine), you cant go wrong.

dont forget to check which one has SMG and which one has SMG II, cant remember which models had which, but I think the first version of SMG had its flaws, which were improved in SMG II

What is reasonable fuel consumption? (genuine question, not dreaming)

[QUOTE=djmisio85;8092790]dont forget to check which one has SMG and which one has SMG II, cant remember which models had which, but I think the first version of SMG had its flaws, which were improved in SMG II[/QUOT

SMG 1 if you like was available on the e36 3.2 evo models. SMG II was the improved syatem fitted to the E46 models.
The SMG II is a lot better performing but then the previous version but it also has it's problems.
Mine had developed a intermitant fault where the car would not go into gear it was in and out of bmw for weeks twice they sent in back telling me it was fixed for it to go back to them on a low loader that afternoon !!
It turned out to be the hydrolic pump for the smg system 1500 plus vat for the part alone !!! plus labour came in at just under 2 grand and the car was out of warrenty.
I would stay clear of the SMG as some of the cars are now getting on for 8 years old and go with the manual if i was having another one.

Yes the SMG 1 was on the older E36 model , the E46 has SMG 11 which is much better , I love SMG , its about 50/50 from reading the forums on who does or doesn't.

I get between 20 mpg driving it very hard , to 35 mpg on a run , it averages about 27/28 mpg day to day which for a car of this spec is very good

My Impreza rally car runs on race fuel at £3.29 a litre , and does a mile a litre on the stages:eek: :D :D

I get 24mpg average out of mine. aprox 8mpg better than my scooby was and a little quicker as well.

Mark

Ian, is that a serious figure of 35mpg? I know you don't BS but it does seem a little high.

I was considering an M3 but would have had to LPG it due to the fuel consumption to make it a worthwhile daily driver. The one I drove was averaging 25mpg and that was all motorway work at that.

What made the decision for my was the lack of the spare wheel well. I dont want to lose the boot space this time like I did with the scoob and its enormous LPG tank.

Looks like an easy LPG conversion though. Just finished the Mrs's 320ci which runs great on the stuff but does have rather complicated inlet manifold to contend with.

Anyway,

Thanks for the replies.

In a CSL I get 11-14mpg around town and can stretch 26-28mpg on a motorway run at 80mph, and b road blast it will drop to 10-12 mpg

yes I did a run one day and was going at a steady 60mph , gentle on the gas and it returned about 35mpg , driving like a vicar , it was a horrible place to be and dont intend going there again :D
I'm more inclined to be doing 20mpg nowadays !

Mine has averaged 25mpg over last 30k miles

I have never but been impressed with the E46 M3. Totally different car to the E36.. They pull like a train once you rev them and as said previously you need to be above 5.5K to get the best out of them. They are quick below, you just don't realise it, and above 5.5K you get a second kick from them. You get the sense you can drive them hard all day long and they won't break, unlike most jap stuff I have had thats feels like they are running at there limit, and have invariably broken. - IMO they are super reliable performance motoring, that are now great value, and offer a a good all round package. If they had ever done a 4 door variety I would have bought one years ago, and the latest shape is currently our my reach.

I was really disappointed by the steering feel on turn in on the M3. The front end grip was a matter of faith. Why can an Evo manage to have much better steering feel and amazing confidence on turn in despite driving the front wheels and not chasing every camber or bouncing off the road with undulations?

How often did you turn the DSC off John?

40000 miles done in mine now, and it's now needing its 3rd set of tyres, which seem to be scarce in the country.

From day one, its averaged 28mpg per the computer (usually about 4mpg out when you actually work it out), on several instances i have had 34mpg out of it on long runs, with cruise control sat at 70mph.

Cant fault it, however i have a big decision to make, its 3 years old in December! Does it go or stay, if it stays do i warranty it, if it goes, what do i replace it with?

I have never had a problem with the handling on mine, It just grips like a normal sportscar, admitidly it does'nt pamper you like 4wd will in the wet but you just have to know whats going on. PS2's make a fair bit of difference to the handling or maybe its because i have a convertible and it just handles better :D

Thats good on petrol (for you :D ) best my 535D does is 29 town , and 33 on a run, But not slow ;)