n boost Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I have bought a e46 m3 and have had it for around 2 mths now. If anyone here owns one or has driven one(not just down the road) what did u think of it? I must say i am suprised at the whole package i.e comfort/luxury and performance and am saying this coming out of a single turbo 6 speed supra. It is not the fastest car in the world but the chassis is spot on and handling is great. The S54 engine loves to rev and is suprisingly quick for a N/a. The one thing you do learn is that modifiying is a very expensive game with these and you realise a supra is the way to go for bang per buck as a complete exhaust on the m3 is over 2K alone and will give you 15-20 bhp and after this you are stuck unless you spend big bucks. As an overall package the m3 is a great car but does have high maintanence costs, oil is around £90 alone and only available from BMW. So what are your opinions if you have one/driven one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 oil is only available from BMW. No way! Really? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n boost Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 No way! Really? Yes mate, i'm serious. e46 m3 uses Castrol tws oil which is made specially for BMW and not available anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesy Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 one of my best pals bought one a month ago - jet black, red leather - absolutely lovely machine, fast as you like!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 If I had the money I'd trade my supra in for one in a second. Comfort and toys with a bit of speed now and again would be perfect for me nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_p Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I do really like them, I had an '98 e36 320 coupe with the m-tec kit on it and even that was expensive on the upkeep so I completely know where your coming from. But the supra is much easier to get sideways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 HPF do a nice turbo kit for them http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/price/BMW/M3/HorsepowerFreaks/Turbos/Turbo_Kits/part/HPF_750 I'd have to have one of those on if I had one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaw Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I love the e46 m3 convertible, hope to get one with my car allowance one day. My uncle had one before he got something a 'bit' quicker, and gave me a drive, coming from the supra, the most impressive thing I found sadly, was the turning cirle! it did a full turn in a normal road with no reversing! it was quick enough, not particularly torquey, but I was quite impressed with the performance and handling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRD3000GT Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 ESS is your friend http://www.esstuning.com/default.asp?c=shop&cat=93&subcat=101&subcat2=143&id Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 It doesn't help that they don't make quoted power either. I was thinking about getting an E46 M3 this year but I've decided to swap my Supra for an E36 M3 instead, run it for a year then buy a 911. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
far Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Plus german cars are superior to jap cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 It doesn't help that they don't make quoted power either. I was thinking about getting an E46 M3 this year but I've decided to swap my Supra for an E36 M3 instead, run it for a year then buy a 911. Now that sounds like a good plan!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Now that sounds like a good plan!! I'd like this one, but not prepared to have that much money tied up on a lump of metal at this moment in time: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/images/292646-1.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_p Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Plus german cars are superior to jap cars oooooooooooo bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I'd like this one, but not prepared to have that much money tied up on a lump of metal at this moment in time: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/images/292646-1.jpg How much is that one Gaz? There was a nice black one with GT3 body kit for about 20k. Had 97k miles but who cares. The 996 has been known to have problems with a seal failure (RMS). I need to look into this in more detail to be honest. My missus wants an M3 but I want the 911..... You will probably pay more for the M3 in insurance and running costs!! H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 £20k, 74k, GT3 front bumper & skirts, lowered, GT3 wheels, xenons etc. Not concerned with RMS, it's litterly a few spots of oil on your driveway and can be fixed cheaply when you change the clutch, which given that'll I'll keep the 911 for four years (assuming life doesn't though a curve ball) will happen atleast once. My single biggest concern is the cost of new discs and pads and the frequency they may need changing. I'm actually more concerned about running the M3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 £20k, 74k, GT3 front bumper & skirts, lowered, GT3 wheels, xenons etc. Not concerned with RMS, it's litterly a few spots of oil on your driveway and can be fixed cheaply when you change the clutch, which given that'll I'll keep the 911 for four years (assuming life doesn't though a curve ball) will happen atleast once. My single biggest concern is the cost of new discs and pads and the frequency they may need changing. I'm actually more concerned about running the M3. Ooh, sounds like you know a bit Gaz. I'll pm you later as this thread has been hijacked..... H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazboy Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Ooh, sounds like you know a bit Gaz. I'll pm you later as this thread has been hijacked..... H. Stevieboy/kid/something is your man for 911's, I'll be PMing him myself soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
far Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 ...looks like the supra community is finally seeing the German sunshine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n boost Posted January 31, 2008 Author Share Posted January 31, 2008 I do really like them, I had an '98 e36 320 coupe with the m-tec kit on it and even that was expensive on the upkeep so I completely know where your coming from. But the supra is much easier to get sideways. Trust me on this an e46 m3 is piss easy to hang the botty out. In the wet 1500rpm and u can get it full on sideways and in the dry they hang just as well. Motorway is nice in them and plus i never miss top gear/eastenders etc as it has widescreen t.v/sat nav. Seats are fully electric and heated so no cold leathers to sit on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SILKYSMOOTH Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I have bought a e46 m3 and have had it for around 2 mths now. If anyone here owns one or has driven one(not just down the road) what did u think of it? I must say i am suprised at the whole package i.e comfort/luxury and performance and am saying this coming out of a single turbo 6 speed supra. It is not the fastest car in the world but the chassis is spot on and handling is great. The S54 engine loves to rev and is suprisingly quick for a N/a. The one thing you do learn is that modifiying is a very expensive game with these and you realise a supra is the way to go for bang per buck as a complete exhaust on the m3 is over 2K alone and will give you 15-20 bhp and after this you are stuck unless you spend big bucks. As an overall package the m3 is a great car but does have high maintanence costs, oil is around £90 alone and only available from BMW. So what are your opinions if you have one/driven one? The E46 BMW, IMO, is the best modern car ever manufactured, its solid and engineered to perfection. Nothing like the E36 Model which really just falls apart, the quality is so much better. IMO you should not do anything to the E46 M3, its built to perfection, leave it as it is, unless you want to go the turbo route but then that could cause you problems down the line. Servicing is very expensive from BMW. My last bimma was an E46 328i straight six (pics in My Garage) with a few mods and used to give e46 M3's a very suprising battle :-) IMO the best 'daily' car I have ever driven and all round class. These Germans know what they are doing. Actually there is one thing I don't like about the M3, and that is the exhaust, they sound like 'tin cans'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_blackman Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I loved my e36 318 is coupe was a late model 1999 T reg with full mtec goodies etc I did shit loads of miles in it and never broke down once That was expensive to maintain too! I've vowed to myself only to go back to a BMW for the e46 m3 I guess i'd need a job 1st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRASUZUKI Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Plus german cars are superior to jap cars In what way? Marketing is a lot better, it sucks loads of people in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyknox Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Plus german cars are superior to jap cars Do you drive a VW? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Do you drive a VW? Recent VW's have been piss poor to be honest. My company has just taken the Passat off it's list as they have had so many problems. My old Passat (New shape 55 plate) was a great car to drive but the boot used to open on it's own when the car was parked/locked. It was great to reveal my laptop and golf clubs to any thief that may be passing...... H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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