I've noticed the trend that in every review I read about the E46 M3, the testers' comments always seem to invariably return back to the issue of the M3 being a high horsepower, rear wheel drive car with unyielding tires. In other words, that the traction control light is going off, that the car handles horribly in the wet, etc, etc. In your opinions, is this true?

I remember when I bought my VR6 GTI, most reviews said things like, "you need to concentrate to keep this car on the road", "be careful, or you'll find yourself in the rough", and it was all crap because the car was incredibly 'user friendly'.

The reason I ask is because I am trying to decide whether the M3 is up to the task of being a daily driver, as well as being taken on rain covered autobahns and snow ladden passes in the Alps... Or whether I should put my money towards a certain all wheel drive, V8 powered car...

i've been driving all the ///M cars that i've own as a daily drive/autox/track car!! well.........except snow, of course. ;)

btw, i was born in HK. and as far as i remember, i don't think all of the weather condition in HK through out the year that would worry you at all for a ///M car?!! well, may be just a good dry/wet tire.

Heh heh, no we have 2 seasons in HK... none include snow :p I'm moving to France and am looking at cars to own there, hence the traction concern :)

Unless you are trying to make your car lose control the E46 M3 will hold its grip even at high speed in tight turns on wet and uneven surfaces. The DSC light does go on somtimes too easily, even around town on dry pavement but its there to help you out and its not that big of a deal really.

An Audi S4 is much better as an all weather car especially in thick snow and ice conditions but where I take my cars I will never make use of an wheel drive car so the M3 is perfect.

Brian

Yes, but an S4 is just so... dull... :x

What I want to know is if any of you owners who use your Ms as daily drivers (especially if you have the factory 19s) have had any problems when the roads get a little wet. By the way these test drives have been putting it, I ought to be seeing an M3 decorating every tree I pass... Put bluntly: Is the car really as worthless in the wet as they are saying it is? Or is that just because they are driving the nuts off the cars, even though the roads are wet?

Also, anyone know if 17s will fit around the calipers if I were to go with snow tires?

Its all about being smooth, now go test drive a low rpm tq monster like the viper camaro vette ....etc

Then you will see how good the m3 handles in wet conditions

Unfortunately, they don't have any of the above in Hong Kong to test out. Although I've experienced a normal C5 before, and seen a Z06 auto-xed, so I see your point...

I'm about ready to say f-it and get the M3 already. :p

I have an M3 on 19s and I have no problems in the wet. I've driven through rain storms where there was more than an inch of standing water on the road with no problems. Other cars were reduced to 10-15 mph for feel of hydroplaning (I guess) but the M3 kept going... I reached my personal limit of driving through the rain before the car did. The car showed no signs of bad driveability through corners or straight line stability.

That being said... I have no snow here.

My M3 is great in the rain.

By the way, what is snow?

Kevlar - Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to hear!

Itsnotme - Snow? Great stuff... if you're a fan of the uncontrolled style of drifiting rear wheel drive cars ;) :p

Anyway, someone let me know if 17"ers fit over the calipers, or if chains fit on the 19s and I'll be a happy camper.

i have 19" OEM wheels. and have no problem at all in wet w/ the stock ContiSport.

just don't forget, there's only 4 little sqaure that connect the car to the road. therefore, at the end, it's down to more like what kinda tires you are using at what kinda surface. like you don't drive the car w/ R-compound tire in heavy rain.

btw, get a good set of snow tire and you are good to go. i won't put snow chain on a sport car like the ///Ms.

roadsleeper-
Yes, certain 17" wheels will fit the E46 M3. (check out some other posts in this section, and in the wheel/tire section- good stuff, useful information).

Oh, also, BMW makes 17" wheels for the E46 M3. They are basically the 330i M/Split spoke wheels (Style 68?). The only difference is the rears that have the correct offset to fit the E46 M3.

Good luck! (Go for the M3! :D )

-R

I've had three E36 M3's and a '01 M3 and have never had trackability problems with proper tires. Granted I owned two quattros prior to the M cars and they were awesome on wet pavement, but both of the quattros needed all-season tires or snows to make them go fast in the snow. My '01 M3 with snows (17") was incredible in snow up to six inches deep.
Between the traction control and the dynamic stability control, there was no reason to have a quattro. The ground clearance is the only think that will slow you down.
At the track in the rain a highly modified S4 can probably pull me thru the corners. Other than that, I'd take the E46 M3 unless Audi could figure out how to bag the S4 and bring us the the RS4.
:ketten:

Awesome, thanks for all the replies everyone! Hopefully this will be my next car! :)

What's the RS4? Do you know that the new S4 has a V8? I'm so slappin some fat turbos on that V8 :)

Originally posted by zenon
What's the RS4? Do you know that the new S4 has a V8? I'm so slappin some fat turbos on that V8 :)

The RS4 is the new Audi S4 V8 with fat turbos :)

With a fat price tag too :dunno

Brian

Originally posted by dallasbboy
The RS4 is the new Audi S4 V8 with fat turbos :)



It's what everyone thinks and hopes the new RS4 will have under the hood. Since the new S4 has the 4.2l V8, it's more than likely to be the case. The old RS4 was a limited edition version of the B5 chassis A/S4 with the twin turbo V6 with larger turbochargers putting out 380hp. Unfortunately the new RS4 is going to be a limited production only car, so they won't retain their value and (imo) aura as the RS2 and RS4 have.

That's another reason I don't really want the new S4, if they're going to charge me say $45'000 for a basic S4, I'm going to be pissed if the RS4 is going to start at $55'000. I'd rather wait for my extra 100 hp and my goodies bag, thank you very much.

I had an '02 M3c that was no problem in the wet but which was terrible in the snow, especially with a bad road (ie my "driveway"). I didn't try it too many times before I traded it in on an X5, which is much more sure-footed under those conditions. (Plus I got my 325ic in the deal too, and I'll be able to keep the convertible off the salty roads.)

I had an '02 M3c that was no problem in the wet but which was terrible in the snow, especially with a bad road (ie my "driveway"). I didn't try it too many times before I traded it in on an X5, which is much more sure-footed under those conditions. (Plus I got my 325ic in the deal too, and I'll be able to keep the convertible off the salty roads.)

I am sure there are other reasons, but personally I would deal with it in the snow. I wouldn't go trading it in just because it couldn't make it down a snow covered driveway. I would look to remedy the problem. But hey, I am not in the same situation, I just hop in the Minivan when it gets bad.