I did a quick "search" and didn't find anything although I'm sure that this topic has been beaten to death. For shear driving enjoyment how does the '95 to '99 M3 compare to the '01 to '04? I'm considering holding out until I find the right E46 (at the right price) vs. getting an E36 right now (to match my wife's).

i currently own both.. i have a 1998 M3 coupe, and a 2001 M3 coupe.

while i really love the E46, i am VERY reluctant to get rid of the E36. the E46 is a completely different animal, in that it stomps the e36 in sheer power, is more refined as a daily driver, and is a more user friendly car (provided you are using the traction control, and are in non-sport mode)

the E36 is a bit more fun to drive, however.

it's WAY more tossable, and the lack of power (mine is around 255hp) isnt really all that noticable in terms of acceleration. my suspension in the E36 is a bit more beefed up, with dinan spings and koni adjustables, which makes for a better cornering experience. i'd say drive both. if youre looking for a really fun toy, get the E36, but if you want more of a daily driver, the E46 M3 is the way to go.

when it finally comes time to let my E36 go, i will be very upset.. i wish i could keep them both, but my wife hates my E36, due to the stiff suspension and loud UUC exhaust. part of the agreement to let me get the E46, was for me to get rid of the 1998.

Funny thing that. I had a '98 M3/4 that I sold and picked up a 2000 M5 last year. I am in sales and needed a larger daily driver than the M3. Or so I thought. Now I'm actually second guessing myself and almost wishing I hadn't done it because in so many ways the M3 was a lot more fun to drive. Sure, the M5 is sweet - very luxurious, has nav, steering wheel controls, really nice leather, tons of power and tq, but is such a big heavy pig I so miss how crisply the M3 went around turns like it was directly attached to my brain. Now, I am not the typical driver maybe as I do have a road race car and sometimes take my street cars to the track too. Interestingly enough, the 400hp M5 ran nearly identical lap times around Laguna that my M3 did - both are bone stock, well - M3 had shark tuning. The M5 picked it's own route around the course - had to fight it, such a pig, but very fast down the straights. The M3 didn't have so much in the straights but was like dancing with Madonna in the curves, and braking was far better - M5 is just too heavy of a car to really be a good sports sedan. More of a ultra-performance super-tourer. So now I miss the M3 and am wondering why I paid $30K more (incl tax and lic) for this M5. :-/

YMMV.
Scott

I just picked up my E46, and I really love the car, but I'll agree with the comments above that the E36 could be considered a more fun car to drive on a pair of twisties just because it feels so much more nimble.

FWIW, I haven't owned and E36, but I've driven a fair number, so take my comments for what they are worth ;) Regardless, I don't think you can make a bad choice.

One of the other things I considered was the modding that I "had" to do to the E36 - lights, TME, RSM, etc to get it to the point where I would have been "happy"

Thanks. I'll be flying to my new '96 M3 next Friday and immediately turning around for the long drive home. It's estoril blue, by the way, (2-door, 5-speed). :drink1:

estoril is badass.

Come on over to the e36 forum...its a bit more fast paced than this one. :stickoutt

-Richard

Supercharge an E36...

I also have an e36 m3 w/ dinan springs and koni SAs. I have never driven an E46 m3, but i've driven two 996/911s, both on very familiar roads, the 2nd one last Monday -- a 40th anniversay edition w/ sports suspension and 345hp.

My m3 is/was much more balanced in the corners at speed
(i was driving at 7/10ths i'd say). It tracks from turn-in to apex to exit w/ absolute poise and tons of feedback. The 911s required more correction. The e36 also feels faster than it is because of its low-end torque delivery.

Sorry. I know you asked about e46s. I just wanted to make the point that the e36 m3 is still a very, very well engineered car. It does have plenty of niggling issues, but in terms of raw driving enjoyment, it actually gives me no reason to lust for an NA 911. Turbo 911, maybe, but not NA.

i currently own both.. i have a 1998 M3 coupe, and a 2001 M3 coupe.

while i really love the E46, i am VERY reluctant to get rid of the E36. the E46 is a completely different animal, in that it stomps the e36 in sheer power, is more refined as a daily driver, and is a more user friendly car (provided you are using the traction control, and are in non-sport mode)

the E36 is a bit more fun to drive, however.

it's WAY more tossable, and the lack of power (mine is around 255hp) isnt really all that noticable in terms of acceleration. my suspension in the E36 is a bit more beefed up, with dinan spings and koni adjustables, which makes for a better cornering experience. i'd say drive both. if youre looking for a really fun toy, get the E36, but if you want more of a daily driver, the E46 M3 is the way to go.

when it finally comes time to let my E36 go, i will be very upset.. i wish i could keep them both, but my wife hates my E36, due to the stiff suspension and loud UUC exhaust. part of the agreement to let me get the E46, was for me to get rid of the 1998.

Add a Dinan stage II suspension to your E46 and you will be surprised how tossable the M3 gets. No comparison, I'll take my E46 over my E36 any day.

Add a Dinan stage II suspension to your E46 and you will be surprised how tossable the M3 gets. No comparison, I'll take my E46 over my E36 any day.

I agree. I had mine in the twisties with the Dinan suspension and the car never understeered. It was fun drifting around those corners, chicanes, and decreasing radius curves with positive and negative cambers.