Is there a "Fast" or "Fastest" year for the E46 M3?

Please post dyno results and list:
1. Year
2. Mods
3. Anything else you'd like to mention

Thanks!

All the engines were produced the same ... there were software upgrades & computer upgrades throughout the years but no power difference.

;)

No, only faster drivers.

;)

I passed by your house, your dad gave me the laaaaaaaaaaazy eye:confused . hehe

I think the 2001 m3's were the fastest.

They all put down higher numbers and after the recal BMW changed the oil and a few things inside along with a software change.

the first m3 mags had the m3 doing 0-60 in 4.7-4.8.

the 2001 also I believe had a 3.64 rear end and the newer ones have a 3.61 or 3.62 I think.


The early m3's were also trapping 106-107 in the 1/4 mile and they dont come close now with all the updates they added to make the engine NOT BLOW UP

Heres an early 01 stock dyno

http://www.mysubprofile.com/mbworld/m3%20dyno.JPG

I think the 2001 m3's were the fastest.

They all put down higher numbers and after the recal BMW changed the oil and a few things inside along with a software change.

the first m3 mags had the m3 doing 0-60 in 4.7-4.8.

the 2001 also I believe had a 3.64 rear end and the newer ones have a 3.61 or 3.62 I think.


The early m3's were also trapping 106-107 in the 1/4 mile and they dont come close now with all the updates they added to make the engine NOT BLOW UP

All M3s should have been switched from the original oil 5W-30 to 10W-60 by now. Running the thinner oil will give you a HP increase, but it also does not provide sufficient lubrication for your engine (hence engine goes boom-boom-bye-bye).

Software changes haven't changed power output any that I know of.

All M3s come with a 3.64 differential from the factory

M3 0-60 times and 1/4 times are subjective to the driver & conditions. I've never seen any major correlation between model year and power output difference.

2002-2006 m3 do not come with 3.64 rear ends enless they switched it back now.At one point they did not have the 3.64s in them

find me a dyno close to 280whp on a stock 2002+ m3

they went less agressive with the software after the changes also

I am 100% sure that an early bone stock 01 will smoke any new m3 thats built now.There all dynoing 10-20 whp less now in stock form

all the car mags had the 01 m3 in the 4.6-4.8 range when it first came out.It is now in the high 4s low 5s 0-60 and trapping 3-4 mph less in the 1/4

2002-2006 m3 do not come with 3.64 rear ends enless they switched it back now.At one point they did not have the 3.64s in them

find me a dyno close to 280whp on a stock 2002+ m3

they went less agressive with the software after the changes also

I am 100% sure that an early bone stock 01 will smoke any new m3 thats built now.There all dynoing 10-20 whp less now in stock form

all the car mags had the 01 m3 in the 4.6-4.8 range when it first came out.It is now in the high 4s low 5s 0-60 and trapping 3-4 mph less in the 1/4

You sound pretty sure of yourself. Do you have any proof? :D

2002-2006 m3 do not come with 3.64 rear ends enless they switched it back now.At one point they did not have the 3.64s in them

find me a dyno close to 280whp on a stock 2002+ m3

they went less agressive with the software after the changes also

I am 100% sure that an early bone stock 01 will smoke any new m3 thats built now.There all dynoing 10-20 whp less now in stock form

all the car mags had the 01 m3 in the 4.6-4.8 range when it first came out.It is now in the high 4s low 5s 0-60 and trapping 3-4 mph less in the 1/4

Absolutely true. And the fastest color is Carbon Black. All Carbon Black cars of any year trap 3-4 mph faster than any of the other colors due to the lower coefficient of drag in the Carbon Black paint specifically designed by BMW engineers.

So if you have a 2001 Carbon Black you are the mac daddy of E46M3s.

JR my 01 was faster than my 04, no doubt about it! Did the ride I took you on make you want an e46 now? Remember my car has alot of stuff done to it , so it would cost another 10,000 to get where my car is. Headers, diff, suspension, wheels,... :ponder

I think its funny how most of you guys don't even know what rear end you have in your cars.

there were years that got 3.64s and years that got 3.62s

the 01 were the most strung out engines from the factory.There were posts years ago about people questioning that there cars felt slower after the updates.

JR my 01 was faster than my 04, no doubt about it! Did the ride I took you on make you want an e46 now? Remember my car has alot of stuff done to it , so it would cost another 10,000 to get where my car is. Headers, diff, suspension, wheels,... :ponder

Yes I want one!! you're car is a monster:evil2. My smile was ear to ear the whole entire ride:D

I wonder if all 01's will go boom without intervention via software or some other fix from BMW, or if it's just a random thing? I was staying away from 01-02 years to avoid issue. Now I got a taste for the 01.:buttrock Wonder which upgrades the dealer adds that retards performance...

Mike

I think its funny how most of you guys don't even know what rear end you have in your cars.

there were years that got 3.64s and years that got 3.62s

the 01 were the most strung out engines from the factory.There were posts years ago about people questioning that there cars felt slower after the updates.


Which years had that different diffs?

I think its funny how most of you guys don't even know what rear end you have in your cars.

there were years that got 3.64s and years that got 3.62s

Proof? If they have different rear-ends, they should have different part numbers...


the 01 were the most strung out engines from the factory.There were posts years ago about people questioning that there cars felt slower after the updates.

Just because it "feels" slower, doesn't mean the car actually is.

ALL E46 M3's have a 3.62 gearset. The crownwheel is 47 tooth and the pineon is 13 tooth, giving you 3.615 if you calculate. No way you can have 3.64 on a type 210 differential as you cant add like a quarter of a tooth.

What I've heard is that later models have the M3 CSL headers stock as they flow better and the euro cars have some differences like 400 CPI cats instead of 500 CPI cats in the US.

Strangely though, in the EU the first generations made 0-124 MPH times of 18 sec, going to 16.7 nowadays which is the same as the CSL did when it came out.

Ya, I looked up the part numbers today before my earlier post and realized it was a 3.62 not a 3.64. Old age must have blurred the memory ever so slightly. But yes, all of them had the same gearset from the factory.

ALL E46 M3's have a 3.62 gearset. The crownwheel is 47 tooth and the pineon is 13 tooth, giving you 3.615 if you calculate. No way you can have 3.64 on a type 210 differential as you cant add like a quarter of a tooth.

What I've heard is that later models have the M3 CSL headers stock as they flow better and the euro cars have some differences like 400 CPI cats instead of 500 CPI cats in the US.

Strangely though, in the EU the first generations made 0-124 MPH times of 18 sec, going to 16.7 nowadays which is the same as the CSL did when it came out.


So is this proof that the later models are faster than the earlier models? In your last sentence, is the EU europe? a little confused, thanks!

JR, Don't be worried about certain years being faster! Find a clean car. The bearing recall is an issue to consider. My 01 dynoed 11rwhp more than my 04 with the same mods. It ran on 5w-30 redline oil which is a big factor. The thing that worries me when looking for an e46 m3 is that someone abused it or just did not do a good job of maintaining it. I know for a fact that some of the bearing recalls were not done at all and some not done right. This concerns me because you might find a high milage car that ends up needing a motor. I see alot of 01-02 cars with 70,000 + on them. That means the 6yr. 100k warranty is almost out. I looked in the etk there is only one part number for the diff and it applies to U.S. , Euro + csl . No supercession numbers are given which means they all have 3.62.

there were times on bmw.com that they had 3.62 final drive and times when they mentioned 3.64.I was going from memory also.

If you go on bmw right now they say the e46 has a 3.64 final drive

I also remember reading about the CSL getting a different final drive but it looks like its the same.

3.64 and 3.62 are always beeing confused because 3.64 is a ratio that is used in the E30 and E36 Type 188 diffs, while E36 M3 evo's share diff with the E46 M3 (both type 210) so can share the same 3.62 ratio like mine does.

basicly the E30/E36 type 188 uses 40 tooth crown and 11 tooth pineon giving you 3.64.

Just check realoem for the correct numbers.


So is this proof that the later models are faster than the earlier models? In your last sentence, is the EU europe? a little confused, thanks!


Yes but there is offcourse always a catch. They test a CSL with SMGII versus a manual E46 M3 giving the same times. While everyone knows SMGII is slower from a stop in a professional drivers's hands. And there are diffrences in testcars like some run on heavy 19 inch wheels and some run on stock 18 inch wheels. A M3 ZCP made 0-124 in 19.3 the other day so it all depends on the options on the car a bit, time, place, etc etc. It may look like they are becoming faster but factor in these and you'll see the diffrence really isn't much.

And to top it all off... let's not forget about production tolerances. The theory goes... for every 20 motors made, 10 are average, 5 are exceptional and 5 just barely make the cut. Tolerances in machinery sometimes just yield slightly better or worse engines.

Hey guys,
Interesting dialog on the 2001 M3. I have just finished reconstructing a 2001 M3. I had a 98 M3 that got destroyed by a girl talking on a cell phone. Maybe you guys could help me with some qustions. The interior noise of my 2001 M3 seems louder than my 98 and when I first start it up the power steering is noisy. I put a K&n and CAI and it smokes. Also how can I get pics up on this site. Thanks in advance.

Hey guys,
Interesting dialog on the 2001 M3. I have just finished reconstructing a 2001 M3. I had a 98 M3 that got destroyed by a girl talking on a cell phone. Maybe you guys could help me with some qustions. The interior noise of my 2001 M3 seems louder than my 98 and when I first start it up the power steering is noisy. I put a K&n and CAI and it smokes. Also how can I get pics up on this site. Thanks in advance.

this kinda dosn't make any sence.The e36 m3 is a totally differnent engine

in general....if u RIP a stock car with like 1000 miles in 0-60 and the 1/4 or even the mile...it will be faster then the same car 50,000 miles later, EVERY time with every car...its just how cars are...they get broken in, and then from there slowly deteriorate

i dont think the year argument works, it was always the same engine, same software, same diff, changes in the motor actually made it stronger if anything, making the engine a better engine by giving it longevity...

thats my .02