Just curious if you have driven both and made comparative notes on the differences and similarities. I own one of the 45 Canadian Eurospecs but have yet test drove an E46 M3. Thanks in advance to all responses. Cheers Eh:)!

Speedwise the E36 M3 evo and E46 M3 are about equally fast.

Stock though, you have to rev a S54 a bit higher around town. Also the E46 M3 suspention is somewhat stiffer and the steering is slightly better.

stock for stock, same driver/day/racetrack E46 is a fair amount faster, it understeers less etc, but with minor tweaks, E36 can match or beat them

Speedwise the E36 M3 evo and E46 M3 are about equally fast.

Stock though, you have to rev a S54 a bit higher around town. Also the E46 M3 suspention is somewhat stiffer and the steering is slightly better.

Why do you have to rev the S54 higher? It has a lower diff ratio (3.64 vs 3.23 for the E36).

I've got alot of seattime behind both. E36 is a bit more intimate, E46 is more comfortable. E46 has a little more power but a little more weight too so pound for pound they are pretty close in performance. The E36 will feel torquier around town because its about 250lbs lighter, plus the electronic drive by wire system on the S54 numbs the driving feel a bit. Once you start modding the difference will become more apparent in favor of the E46. With suspension upgrades it will feel more like an E36 but with much better interior quality and stiffer chassis.

Of course the E46 carries a price premium so it's a tradeoff but it really is a great successor to the E36 in many ways. If I had to leave them both stock, id stick with an E36. If you have about $10k to spare to upgrade the E46, then hands down the newer car wins... but that's what makes the E36 such a great value. It still "holds its own" to this day, 13 years later.

Why do you have to rev the S54 higher? It has a lower diff ratio (3.64 vs 3.23 for the E36).

E46's usually have 18 or 19" wheels which changes the ratio comparison to an E36.

Most of you guys compared a S50B32 to the E46...a pretty close set of numbers, weights, and such.. the tire diameter is partially compensated by the diff on the E46.

To the OP question, the E46 will outperform his S50B30 in its stock form. However, putting in more diff would go a LONG way to equalizing the two, and if he had a 3.2 euro, it might put the 3.2 ahead with just a diff swap.

(course you would have to then say it wasn't stock to stock comparison!)

the e46 is most likely a better car.

but i would keep your current car its much more rare and IMO cooler then some run of the mill e46 m3.

the main thing i like about the e36 is u dont have traction control , elecroninc thottles ect making the driving experiance more pure. The only thing i like better in the E46 is the metallic exhaust rasp. It would be nice to replicate this in the E36 eurospec.

the main thing i like about the e36 is u dont have traction control , elecroninc thottles ect making the driving experiance more pure. The only thing i like better in the E46 is the metallic exhaust rasp. It would be nice to replicate this in the E36 eurospec.


The only thing on the e46 m3 I do not like ;)

Also reliability wise I believe the S54 engine on the E46m3 was basically an improved version derived from the S50b32.

Aside from the people that know me, anyone know how bmw ended up making more power out of the s54, with more emissions regs, than the s50b32?

the head was further improved for better flow, and software improvements allowed better tuning

the head was further improved for better flow, and software improvements allowed better tuning

true but that was in order to make up for emissions regs. power loss.

Anyone know acceleration numbers for a stock M3 Evo?

Alright well I guess the people that I know can answer now...

Anyone know acceleration numbers for a stock M3 Evo?


5.5s to 100kph (62mph), 0-1000 m :24.7 s.

There is a 1 degree difference I believe in the intake angle of the air channel in the head.

The intake horns are perhaps better shaped, they are quite different than the S50B32

There is higher compression.

There is a higher redline.

There is a slight bore increase.

I do not believe that the lighter valve train with the semi rocker arm rollers would provide more power per-say.... but, might change the curve, acting in a fashion to broaden the shape, ie increase area under the curve.

Am I getting hotter?

There is a 1 degree difference I believe in the intake angle of the air channel in the head.

The intake horns are perhaps better shaped, they are quite different than the S50B32

There is higher compression.

There is a higher redline.

There is a slight bore increase.

I do not believe that the lighter valve train with the semi rocker arm rollers would provide more power per-say.... but, might change the curve, acting in a fashion to broaden the shape, ie increase area under the curve.

Am I getting hotter?

Again all true and they got the s54 even closer to what they wanted the motor to be at. However still 10hp short (however way more "reliable" and higher rev). Cmon Alex you know this!! Think simpler.

There are many things I don't know about the S54.... a ton of them. I've never worked on the, raced them, or built them.

On my list of things I don't know, (and keep in mind, this is a euro forum, I was trying to stay pertinent to things euro) are...

TB diameter, cam spec, valve size, header/exhaust openings on the head etc.....

At its heart, the engine is an airpump, anything that will enhance airflow in and out will help it make more power.....

Alex.

common, the f'ing pullies! You knew this.

I plead semantics on this....

I'd say that S54 is wasting less power in that category than the S50B32, not making more!

Hehehehehehehehe

I shoulda been a lawyer!

Jon, get to work and adapt a Z4 electric steering column for me to use in racing!

I plead semantics on this....

I'd say that S54 is wasting less power in that category than the S50B32, not making more!

Hehehehehehehehe

I shoulda been a lawyer!

Jon, get to work and adapt a Z4 electric steering column for me to use in racing!

its been done, next project?

5.5s to 100kph (62mph), 0-1000 m :24.7 s.


Yeah, I've read that too, but a decent US-spec car runs a 5.5 0-60. How the evo, with about 75 more bhp be identical?...

Shorter gear ratios maybe?

Shorter gear ratios maybe?

No, same gear ratios.

Both cars run out of 1st and 2nd gear quickly since the gearing is so short anyways that with similar amounts of torque and the same weight, the real difference shows over 50-60mph where the Euro can breathe to its advantage.

Most US E36 M3's can hang with E46 M3's on the 1-2 shift and they have even more horsepower.

Yeah, I've read that too, but a decent US-spec car runs a 5.5 0-60. How the evo, with about 75 more bhp be identical?...


the 5.5 seconds was to 100km/h which is 62.5mph. It would probably be a couple of tenths quicker if the stop watch stopped at 60.

the 5.5 seconds was to 100km/h which is 62.5mph. It would probably be a couple of tenths quicker if the stop watch stopped at 60.
Yeah!

I've actually driven my friend's E46 M3 convertible for a while before I got my Eurospec and I must say the E46 M3 is fun car to drive, but you always got these Sport buttons and ASC buttons to push before you drive.

On the street its pretty even with the Eurospec, really depends who gets a better launch. And this was with my Stock E36 Eurospec vs E46 M3 con. /w PSS9, Tubi exhaust, gruupe M intake and he had big wheels.

But as a daily driver between the two, I'd think the E46 would be a better choice as the Eurospec has a heavier clutch and you always have to keep the rev's up high to have a smooth ride.