Anyone move from an E46 M3 to F80 M3?

[Takumi587]

Debating whether to keep the E46 M3 while getting an F80 M3 or just selling the E46 because the F80 will not make me miss the old one at all. So, for those that made the transition to the new M3 do you feel nostalgic and wish you still had your previous M3 whether it be E46 or E92?

Mind you my E46 M3 is a 2005 convertible SMG. I would be getting an F80 M3 6-MT. I love the DCT and SMG but really want to shift gears myself again. Plus the tech in all the new cars like Bluetooth, backup camera and USB connectivity make it so much easier to go traveling around in.

[E92VIP]

I have had 3 335i, 1 e46 m3, and a 2015 m4 and just bought a 2017 m3 zcp. My e46 m3 was a maintenance nightmare. I ditched it (sold) after 4 months of owning it. The e46 was fun to drive. I would just get a daily driver like an SUV. My new 2017 zcp is the worst riding BMW I've ever owned. I can't stand it as a daily. About to pick up an Escalade. I traded in x5 for my 2017 zcp. That was a dumb idea.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by E92VIP

I have had 3 335i, 1 e46 m3, and a 2015 m4 and just bought a 2017 m3 zcp. My e46 m3 was a maintenance nightmare. I ditched it (sold) after 4 months of owning it. The e46 was fun to drive. I would just get a daily driver like an SUV. My new 2017 zcp is the worst riding BMW I've ever owned. I can't stand it as a daily. About to pick up an Escalade. I traded in x5 for my 2017 zcp. That was a dumb idea.

You are in a minority with that opinion.

[E92VIP]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

You are in a minority with that opinion.

He asked for opinions right. I have plenty of experience.

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by Takumi587

Debating whether to keep the E46 M3 while getting an F80 M3 or just selling the E46 because the F80 will not make me miss the old one at all.

Mind you my E46 M3 is a 2005 convertible SMG. I would be getting an F80 M3 6-MT.

Get rid of the E46. Vert + SMG = YUCK (and I love E46 M3's). However, keep in mind, the F80 is a much bigger car, so you should go test drive one if you haven't already. From the E46 M3 era, the E39 M5 is about the same size as the F80.

[katit]

Originally Posted by E92VIP

He asked for opinions right. I have plenty of experience.

Can you write what exactly you don't like about it?

I have non-ZCP m3 coming in and hope to get daily driver which can transform to a beast if needed

[Ian1973]

I also owned an E46 M3, though a vert, but a manual. I also owned an E92 335i between these M cars. The F80 is a better car in every way than either of them by a long shot, though I may prefer the look of the E46 a bit more. The E46 also drove different, it had a feeling you can't put into words. It felt like it was always up on it's toes ready for something. The F80 can be subdued and do all your daily driving stuff without even hiccuping. But put the hammer down and it is really exciting.

I have never had a car that threatens oversteer so much, any time, any where you can kick the back end out. That can be exciting or unnerving depending on who you are.

I personally think the only thing you should keep the E46 is if you want a no roof option.

[phoenx]

I got a competition pack f80 and an e46 m3 (smg non-zcp). The f80 is a great car but I find myself driving the e46 more. The torque on the f80 is addictive but so is the induction noise from the csl airbox on my e46.

[nicknaz]

I was hoping your E46M was a no moonroof cloth seats 6MT coupe so I could PM you to buy it but vert/SMG...

Definitely ditch that for an F80!

[Takumi587]

Originally Posted by E92VIP

I have had 3 335i, 1 e46 m3, and a 2015 m4 and just bought a 2017 m3 zcp. My e46 m3 was a maintenance nightmare. I ditched it (sold) after 4 months of owning it. The e46 was fun to drive. I would just get a daily driver like an SUV. My new 2017 zcp is the worst riding BMW I've ever owned. I can't stand it as a daily. About to pick up an Escalade. I traded in x5 for my 2017 zcp. That was a dumb idea.

I fortunately won't be daily driving the F80 M3 but inevitably I will drive it from time to time in LA streets & traffic. I read & watched a few reviews that the competition package made the ride softer and had a noticeable difference in steering at highway speeds. I was planning on getting the competition package so any more feedback about it would be great.

Originally Posted by Ian1973

I also owned an E46 M3, though a vert, but a manual. I also owned an E92 335i between these M cars. The F80 is a better car in every way than either of them by a long shot, though I may prefer the look of the E46 a bit more. The E46 also drove different, it had a feeling you can't put into words. It felt like it was always up on it's toes ready for something. The F80 can be subdued and do all your daily driving stuff without even hiccuping. But put the hammer down and it is really exciting.

I have never had a car that threatens oversteer so much, any time, any where you can kick the back end out. That can be exciting or unnerving depending on who you are.

I personally think the only thing you should keep the E46 is if you want a no roof option.

It is fun to take the top down in the E46 here in Southern California but I probably only do it once a month which is 12 times out of the year. The joy really is hearing the inline 6 roar. That's really what I think I will miss when moving to the new one.

Do you feel that the F80 M3 is too fast for the streets or highway that you really don't have any moment to explore the throttle unless highway is completely empty? Or simply you can only have the most fun at the track with it?

Originally Posted by phoenx

I got a competition pack f80 and an e46 m3 (smg non-zcp). The f80 is a great car but I find myself driving the e46 more. The torque on the f80 is addictive but so is the induction noise from the csl airbox on my e46.

Ahh so you still have your E46 M3. I would keep both if my wife would let me.

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I was hoping your E46M was a no moonroof cloth seats 6MT coupe so I could PM you to buy it but vert/SMG...

Definitely ditch that for an F80!

That right there is a rare E46 M3. If I could change the E46 M3 I have then I would have gone silver grey coupe, cinnamon interior, 6-MT, no moonroof and competition package. However, I do remember seeing my E46 M3 in the showroom, doing a test drive with the SMG and being blown away by it. I seriously thought I would never want to drive manual transmission again...SMG was fun the first couple years but it got old pretty fast just like all other technology. SMG or DCT is great in bumper to bumper traffic though. Luckily, I had my brother in laws 2005 Subaru WRX Sti to drive around every now and then. Got our cars around the same time.


Thanks for all the feedback everyone and please keep them coming. I am still in preliminary stages of getting an F80 M3 so all the feedback is seriously appreciated.

[bb1857]

I just picked my 17 M4 ZCP and have some pretty nasty roads around me especially when I go into downtown Baltimore. I came out of a 535 which definitely rode better as it should but the M4 is nowhere near uncomfortable. It hits road expansions a little harder but nothing that jars you even in sport or sport plus. Of course you are going to feel those road expansions a little more being that you have less sidewall but again it is NOT uncomfortable even a little. I drove the Z51 vette when I was deciding which car to go with and the ride quality of the M is hands down better and a more solid structure. I drove a 15 M4 but not for long and it seemed a little harsher than my current ZCP but that could just be placebo being that I own this one lol.

My son has an 07 E92 335 sitting on 19s and his car is harsher over the same road expansions but not a lot even though my car has less sidewall.

I daily drive mine and will do so for a while with frequent trips into Baltimore and DC which are both like war zones when it comes to roads and I didn't hesitate a bit about choosing ZCP. When it comes to the end of the day it is a high performance sports car so it shouldn't ride like a Camry. Good luck with your choice and I hope you come to enjoy it as much as about 99.8% do now!

[AhsanU]

I had my E46 M3 up until February of this year, and I still miss it. I originally traded it in for an F30 335i, and I subsequently traded that in for this upcoming F80 M3. Note: my E46 was an SMG and a coupé.

Given that your car is both an SMG and a convertible, I'd say you won't miss it too much. The fact that it's an SMG isn't too big of a deal, seeing as how you can change it into a 6MT very easily (it's a common thing these days since the value of the 6MT has gone up, people have resorted to buying SMG cars and just swapping it), but the convertible is the reason why I'd say let it go.

I really do wish I had my E46 M3 still though. I definitely would've swapped the transmission, stripped the interior, and do everything I could to make it a special car - but given that yours is a vert, I really don't think it's worthy of being in the same garage as your F80. If you're looking for something to have fun in on the weekends, you can look into stripping out an E36 M3 and making it a real track weapon.

[E92VIP]

Originally Posted by katit

Can you write what exactly you don't like about it?

I have non-ZCP m3 coming in and hope to get daily driver which can transform to a beast if needed

First. I have to dodge the small yellow reflectors when switching lanes because it sounds like I am hitting a brick every time I run over them. Maybe hard tires? Maybe the wheels are to big? F$$k if I Know. Second, I get a weird vibration under hard acceleration in the steering wheel. Third. The road noise from the hard tires and big wheels is unbelievable. I have owned a 2015 m4. It was lowered on H&R super sport springs. It did not ride like this one.

[bb1857]

Originally Posted by E92VIP

First. I have to dodge the small yellow reflectors when switching lanes because it sounds like I am hitting a brick every time I run over them. Maybe hard tires? Maybe the wheels are to big? F$$k if I Know. Second, I get a weird vibration under hard acceleration in the steering wheel. Third. The road noise from the hard tires and big wheels is unbelievable. I have owned a 2015 m4. It was lowered on H&R super sport springs. It did not ride like this one.

First - you bought a performance car with very low profile summer performance tires that are designed to maximize grip so they have a lot of contact patch. The MPSS tire is far from hard but the 20s are certainly going to transmit more road imperfections a bit more as any car with such a low profile tire will do.

Second - you added lowering springs that are VERY low AND you added pretty big spacers that may not be exactly perfectly balanced hence the vibration. if you are blaming the car for mods that you did you are looking in the wrong place for blame.

If the car rides so bad maybe you need something a bit more comfortable. The ZCP car was never designed to make you feel like your riding on clouds and yes road imperfections will transmit into the car and seats. I can promise you adding lowering springs was NEVER going to help you're already supposedly horrible ride. I think you may be the one single person on here who has this opinion which is fine but bashing the car every chance you get makes little to no sense to me.

I hope you find something that makes the car more suitable for you or a replacement that you enjoy.

[E92VIP]

Originally Posted by bb1857

First - you bought a performance car with very low profile summer performance tires that are designed to maximize grip so they have a lot of contact patch. The MPSS tire is far from hard but the 20s are certainly going to transmit more road imperfections a bit more as any car with such a low profile tire will do.

Second - you added lowering springs that are VERY low AND you added pretty big spacers that may not be exactly perfectly balanced hence the vibration. if you are blaming the car for mods that you did you are looking in the wrong place for blame.

If the car rides so bad maybe you need something a bit more comfortable. The ZCP car was never designed to make you feel like your riding on clouds and yes road imperfections will transmit into the car and seats. I can promise you adding lowering springs was NEVER going to help you're already supposedly horrible ride. I think you may be the one single person on here who has this opinion which is fine but bashing the car every chance you get makes little to no sense to me.

I hope you find something that makes the car more suitable for you or a replacement that you enjoy.

He asked for my opinion right. Hey I am paying for my 80k car. I can bash it all I want. The car rode like this before the springs. I do blame the spacers for the vibration. I had to modify the car because it look like shit stock. Lol

[bb1857]

Originally Posted by E92VIP

He asked for my opinion right. Hey I am paying for my 80k car. I can bash it all I want.

Ok congratulations. Bash away...and no he didn't ask for "your" opinion. You decided to interject your opinion.

Ha so you decided to buy an $80k car without test driving it and knowing that it looked like "shit"...thats the definition of an intelligent decision...then come onto forums and interject your bad decision/opinion. SMH

[E92VIP]

Originally Posted by bb1857

Ok congratulations. Bash away...and no he didn't ask for "your" opinion. You decided to interject your opinion.

Read the thread before you inject your opinion on a car you don't even own The guy said write exactly what you don't like. This whole thread was started asking if anyone as moved from an e46 to an f80. We'll buddy I have!

[bb1857]

Originally Posted by E92VIP

Read the tread before you inject your opinion on a car you don't even own The guy said write exactly what you don't like. this whole tread was started asking if anyone as moveed from an e46 to an f80. We'll buddy I have!

Well if you want get into details which it seems you are trying you are wrong. He didn't ask for what people didn't like....he asked if anyone "felt nostalgic" about selling their e46 and moving to an f80. He didn't ask "what you don't like" but you decided that was your opening to bash the car that you made a bad decision on. So no I don't own an M3 and no he didn't ask the question you answered. Have a great day.

[E92VIP]

Originally Posted by bb1857

Well if you want get into details which it seems you are trying you are wrong. He didn't ask for what people didn't like....he asked if anyone "felt nostalgic" about selling their e46 and moving to an f80. He didn't ask "what you don't like" but you decided that was your opening to bash the car that you made a bad decision on. So no I don't own an M3 and no he didn't ask the question you answered. Have a great day.

You are wrong! I am right! Trump for President!

[E92VIP]

Originally Posted by bb1857

Ok congratulations. Bash away...and no he didn't ask for "your" opinion. You decided to interject your opinion.

Ha so you decided to buy an $80k car without test driving it and knowing that it looked like "shit"...thats the definition of an intelligent decision...then come onto forums and interject your bad decision/opinion. SMH

I am going to sale the car in a few months. I honestly don't care that much. The car still rides like shit. My opinion.

[docmfg]

I have a 2003 Laguna Seca Blue E46 with manual on GC coilovers. It now has over 151,000 miles on its original clutch. I used it as a daily driver commuting over 70 miles a day in LA for over 6 years. I hated spending 3-4 hours in gears 1-3 on a daily commute. I bought a C63 and loved commuting in that due to the automatic but still kept the E46. I now have a 2016 M4 with DCT and love it(best of both worlds). My friend had an SMG E46 and too me it felt like crap vs the new DCT. I still use the E46 as a daily from time to time as my commute is now much better. The car has been bullet proof. Other than regular maintenance it has needed diff reseal. I have done the subframe reinforcement, the sunroof no longer works, normal interior lining issues on a car that will be 16 yrs old soon and still on the original Vanos. I need to get the Vanos fix down eventually but as a manual it is still fun to drive whereas the F82 needs extra attention when getting on it out of a turn. I have EDC, OEM 19's and the car feels more comfortable than the E46(on coilovers) on street roads. The only complaints I have about the f82 is mine does have some interior buzzing/rattles that I have gotten used too and don't hear it when I have the music turned up. The dealer has tried to fix it but minimal improvement. The stitching on the driver side bolster is weaker than that on the e46 or my wife's 535 as it shows early fraying(at 4months) and I don't even wear jeans in the car and am careful with how I ingress/egress. BMW will not warrant it. My e46 to me is a keeper and consider it a collector's car due to the color and 6spd but don't get me wrong the new tech and power on the F8x platform is great.

[BuzzE46]

I have an M3 E46, I love it. I agree theres something about the car that makes you smile, it has a lot of soul and is raw and visceral. I love it. I have an SMG 06 zcp coupe. full exhaust, catless headers, x pipe, and tune. I love it. I recently drove the M4 back to back. I'm not used to the torque, so the back end kicked out a lot. Wasn't a fan of the electronic steering, but then drove it again it grew on me. There two different cars. The M3 E46 wins in feeling, feedback and size. the M4 I drove has enormous power, my friend had a jb4 on map 5 and it was a rush in low end that I never felt before. either way its a WIN WIN in my eyes. You wont be disappointed. Id say go for it. the interior is awesome too lol. I love them all. every generation is special. If you had a coupe for the E46, id say keep it.