rotoober

iTrader: (3)

I've always heard the navigation system (I-Link?) is a pita. Has BMW got this sorted yet?

chazzy

Where the hell did you hear the e90 330 had 333/hp?

You are right hte e46 M3 has 333 hp. Also you sure you want SMG? It is the lazy mans manual. Sure it has quicker shifting than with a clutch, but you can't launch. Best you can do is 2k rpm. On a 1/4 they are repeatedly .2-.4 secs slower than the 6mt e46 m3.

Also, the e90 330 has 260hp. It is a good match up fo rthe e36 m3. It has more power, but is heavier and worse gearing. Here is a thread about a e46 330 zhp (zhp was like the sport package) vs a e90 330.

I'd say get the e46 M3, or if you can afford it, wait for the e90 M3 (400hp V8).

SoontobeLS1'd

long live the E30 M3! once i'm out of school and working, i'm fully restoring one. i've been dreaming of those since the beginning.

if you're getting an E46, get the Performance Package.

chazzy

god, I would love an e30 M3. THose things are so sweet.

I think the performance package was only in the 05 (maybe 04). ;I don't think it really added much, except for aesthetics. (can't quite remember though....if you know otherwise, please correct me)

SoontobeLS1'd

you are right about the year, only 05. it's suspension, 19" wheels, and a pretty blue color. it's just the next best thing to the upcoming 06 M3. By the way, I've seen concept photos with 4 doors-NO!. Anyone seen official pictures? I haven't looked lately as I have a huge distraction in the garage right now.

StealthFox

iTrader: (2)

oh my the e30 m3 is my favorite M3, very good handling car

chazzy

Well they ran 4 doors in the e36 M3 model. Many people liked it, because it gave them a sporty car, with practicality (like maybe toting friends, and/or babies or what not). I myself like 2 door, but many people love the 4 door.


Oh yeah stealth, those are beauties. Many people call that the real M3. It seems every generation of bimmers (of the 3 series) they pack on pounds, get worse handling and more power.

turboR1

That is very true M3 seem to get worse each year.. well more luxury I guess. the e30 is a race car from the factory.. I would own one if it wasnt a 15+ year old car.. I have both a 500hp FD and a 98 4 door e36 m3 as my daily driver. The e36 is a great GREAT car. I love them both. And a turbo e36 m3 is nothing to joke around about. They can make serious power very easily with a small turbo.

If I ever get another daily driver I would love to turbo my M.. would make a great all around car.

chazzy

yeah, e30 M3 was a race car that could be driven on the street. The e36 m3 was a street car that could be driven on the track. The e46 m3, was just a fast street car that handled pretty well. The e90, god, It is pretty much an e39 M5. Probably just slightly lighter.

My next step on my m3, I am thinking now will be to turbo. I'm only wanting 350-400whp. Nothing more than that, but only bad thing is even a turbo kit for that much is like $6-8k.

turboR1

Yea I am going nuts everyday I wish my M was turbo.. It would be a great car.. I just cant afford to build another turbo car right now... I spent thousands to build my FD the way it is. I dont want another project turbo e36 right now..It would take forever to do it right,, fuel syst, computer, cust manifold all the piping and fitting,etc etc geez so much to do..and that all adds up $$$$... Yea i wish the turbo kits were cheaper... but you know you can piece together a kit for about 3k... its all the other supporting mods you need that add up.. we are looking at 10k at least to turbo our M's not including labor.

Yea I've loved the e30 M3 ever since it came out. I love it more and more every year. I wish something like that would come out again... My brother is thinking of building a turbo e30 m3, that would be sick

chazzy

yeah, some people piece together custom turbo kits. Me? I'm not that mechanically savvy. But I know TT (Technique Tuning) has a Stg 1 kit, that costs like 6-7k (can't remember exact number). it is said to have everything you need to do. There is a guy on Bf.c ///3oris, he put that on a bone stock e36 m3. Doens't even have an aftermarket exhaust system. he has 348whp.

SoontobeLS1'd

yeah, the 4 door actually handles slightly better. i don't like the look, thogh. it doesn't say M to me. I would have to wn two Ms. An all-OEM E30 and a uber-modified E36.

chazzy

ack, I hate hearing that crap about 4 door handling better. it has never been proven, 2 door owners advocate against it, while 4 door take it to the grave as their claim to fame. I think the 2 door is better, because that is the basis BMW used for the M3 LTW (which was designed solely for the track). But oh well, I'm tired of arguing that.

But yeah, pristine looking e30's are just so damn sweet.

StealthFox

iTrader: (2)

i dont give a **** how much power the new e90 m3 will have its pig, has way too much weight, terrible balance, and can't handle for ****, and i'd shootmyself before handing my hard earned money to BMW for this bullshit excuse of a 'sporty' car they're trying to sell, it has a ******* v8 for christ sakes...v8's belong in trucks not sports cars.

the e90 is one of the most beautiful sporting cars to the trained eye(aka enthusiast) and one of the most ugly to the other 99.99 percent of the population :P oh well you cant always judge a book by the cover.

i think thats kind of what happened to me with the evo and sti, while they look like **** poor econoboxes after learning about their spectacular performance a few years ago my eyes somehow morphed them into great looking cars! i wonder how i ever thought they looked so shitty

StealthFox

iTrader: (2)

thats so true the e36 is a very potent automobile(looks a bit bland though) and those things are a world different from e46's...now if only BMW could combine the luxury of the e90/e46 and get the performance and nimbleness of the e30/36s into one package...hmm

too bad we dont get the CSL or GTR e46's in the states

i've heard this alot and this never did make sense to me, the e36 coupe is smaller and i believe ligther...the simple laws of physics seem to go against this claim...whats the arguement they use? its chassis is more rigid or something like that?

also what bimmer do you have? an e36 m coupe?

SoontobeLS1'd

i can't state that "fact" from experience, and as a coupe enthusiast...i'm inclined to agree with you. i've just read a few articles about the issue with the saloon coming out on top. i don't cruise bimmer forums, so i've never heard of this little spat between the two groups. Either way, I will never buy a M3 saloon...I'll take one for free, though.

SoontobeLS1'd

The CSL would've been cool. The street GTR was a horribly overpriced M3 with a V8.

Actually the weight between the two is very very close...c'mon, BMW engineering!

turboR1

the difference in weight between the 4 door and 2 door is only about 20 lbs.. they are actually the same size so the 2 door is not smaller.. The 4 door does have a stiffer susp.. stock to stock..

Maybe thats why they say it handles better... who knows?

chazzy

quoted by BMW, the e36 2 and 4 door have same length and weight. Suspension is exact same. Only model that had different suspension was the Vert, because they added the X-brace to make up for lack of b or c pillars & a roof.

people argue the 4 door is stiffer, because the B pillar is thicker, but the 2 door put other effects into place to make up for it (forgot what htey were, seen them listed before). The reason cars are same lengths, given different # of doors, is because the 2 door has pretty damn long door, while the 4 doors are rather short.

turboR1

Thanks chazzy,, Now we know..

chazzy

oh no problem. I also hope I'm not coming off as a dick anytime during this. I mainly know about e36 cars (but enough knowledge about other models, to at least hold a conversation about).

StealthFox

iTrader: (2)

thanks a lot for clearing that up, but for sure if i ever got an e36 id go for the saloon, they are so much more cooler than coupes, plus you dont have to take the hit of bad handling on the e36 because they're so simular

chazzy

different strokes for different folks I guess.

StealthFox

iTrader: (2)

heh, typically i take 2 door hatches over roadsters, coupes, etc but i figure for such simular specs and performance, why not get a 4 door just to be able to brag that your saloon beat their 2 seaters in the twisties

chazzy

LoL, that is why some guys like it. 4 doors are still nice. My buddy has a 96 328 (same exact body) 4 door before he got his 99 m3 2 door. 4 door makes it easier to deal with backseat, but I hardly ever have more than one passenger, so I'm never worried.