E46 and E9* M3 comparisons...
 

I have currently got a low mileage, good condition example of an E46 M3... and I think it's fantastic. Quick, handles well, sounds nice, comfy and doesn't cost the earth to run.

Recently, I have been thinking about trading up to an E90/E92 M3.

His anyone on here had experience of both cars?? Is the newer model THAT much better that it justifies the extra expense over the E46.


Cheers,
Grant

A colleague of mine is into his M3s... he's had them all from an E30 to an E92.

I asked him a few months ago (when we had the favourite 5 cars thread running in here) what his favourite ever car was....his reply was his E46 M3!

As he said a perfect blend of raw brilliant engineering and comfort ... his E30 was iconic but too hardcore, his E92 is too polished and almost too perfect! It is also expensive to buy and he said he wished he'd kept his E46!

If you think it's fantatsic and it's cheapish to run keep it and salt your money away until you find something else you absolutely must have :thumb:

E92 is quite a sharp car dynamically, nice place to be and certainly quick. Just unfortunately a little soulless, especially compared to a used 997 Gen II.

E46 is not as fast and is quite brutish IMHO, not as sharp to drive and doesn't feel as planted. However it is more characterful and has a rawer edge that I'm sure will appeal more to some people.

Unfortunately both leave me a little cold, but I'd take a mint low mileage E46 over the E92. And save a few thousand quid while I was at it!

I have had both and thought the E46 was a better handling car over the E92 I had , the engine and DCT gearbox in the E92 is amazing , could do with some more grunt though .

If you could get more power out of the E46 it would be my choice , I was looking into supercharging my E92 , but I sold it and bought a GTR in the end , which is silly fast good fun !

I waved goodbye to my manual E46 last night and I'm picking up my (E90/E92) Saloon on Saturday. Can never remember which code is for the coupe and which is the saloon.

I used to hate M3's but when my friend was selling his E46 in mint condition with low mileage for a good price I thought I'd give it a punt. For a day to day car I loved it, not stupid fast but quick enough to keep most things honest, nice interior, enough toys and with a set of CSL wheels and lowered slightly it looked great. Plus I could beat it up every time I used it and I wass never concerned about something blowing up, lol. I kept it 2 years and was very sad to see it go. I think good examples will be well sought after in years to come.

The only reason I changed was I really needed a four door due to having my little girl and nothing else ticked the boxes. Had to have a bit of poke, had to be 4 door, had to be manual and had to be RWD. I'll report back once I've had a few weeks of ownership.

With my sensible hat on I'd say the cost to change is too large but with early Coupes dropping close to £20k its a lot of money for not a lot more performance.

What are e46 like to run as dailys? As im thinking off retiring my type r as a daily for something else?

I am seriously considering an e46 m3 as my next car. Test drove a manual hardtop in silver whilst I was looking for a subaru, and when it came to choosing one, I pondered for a fair few days, I chose the subaru, but only by a nats fart!! The m3 felt great, was very comfortable and a lot of fun! There's a part of me that still regrets it to this day.

I hated my M3,couldn't sell it fast enough and get back in a STi.