Anyone move from an E46 M3 to F80 M3?

[katit]

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.

It was me. I did ask about his opinion. But now reading what is done to already ZCP car - yes, I do believe it rides bad.

But.. Again. Mine won't be so I don't plan on touching anything and it will be non-ZCP 18 inch. How bad that can be? I'm pretty sure it will be just perfect

[Carl L]

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!

Ha, this ^.

If it matched your above description and was unmodified you'd be in for some stiff competition to buy it from me. So many E46 M3s have been ruined it's sad, still miss mine.

OP- F80 is a great car and I'd recommend one (plus going ZCP because why not?).

[robbys3m3]

I dd my f80, but both my e46s are smg and I know I'm in the minority, but with the tranny tuned I still really enjoy them. I don't look at is as much as better or worse than dct...just older tech and enjoy it for what it is, quirks and all. Also in the minority, but assuming you don't mind paying the insurance and keeping up with e46 maintenance, yours being a vert would make me consider keeping it more as 2nd car to enjoy on date nights etc, as it has such a different feel to the f80. Luckily or unluckily depending on which way you are leaning, an smg vert is the least desirable combo around here and I assume most of the used market, so that would make me just hold it unless a great offer came through and enjoy if that's not a major stress for you. I like my newer M's, but I get most giddy getting into my e46s.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by docmfg

I have a 2003 Laguna Seca Blue E46 .... as a manual it is still fun to drive whereas the F82 needs extra attention when getting on it out of a turn.

I think that's a pretty key thing... the older M cars I think are easier to driver harder because there was much less power, and the F80 has enough power to make you think before hitting the gas.

During my commute I forgot I was in MDM mode and inadvertently slid my F80 through a right hand turn when I gave it a lot of throttle to turn in front of cross traffic.. whoops!

[KevinM]

I don't have an E46 M3 but my Z4M coupe has the same S54 engine, considered the ultimate expression of the classic NA BMW inline 6. Such a great engine. I'd keep your E46 just for that, although I'm not an SMG/DCT or convertible fan. The S54 is gutless compared to the S55 but at 8K RPM it is amazing and the car is not so overpowered that you can't get to 8K RPM once in a while without going to jail! Plus, the car is already fully depreciated and I doubt you'll get much for it.

I guess it boils down to if you will ever drive it once your F80 MT arrives. On a nice day, top down, S54 at 8K RPM, you will be in retro heaven. And the next day you'll climb into your new F80 and go to work with all the torque and creature comforts that you can want.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by robbys3m3

I dd my f80, but both my e46s are smg and I know I'm in the minority, but with the tranny tuned I still really enjoy them. I don't look at is as much as better or worse than dct...just older tech and enjoy it for what it is, quirks and all.

I had two E46 M3's, last one being a vert with SMG. You are not alone, I liked the SMG too. I know it gets a lot of hate for being rough and unrefined, but that is part of the charm. The SMG was raw, that thing slammed hard through gears on full acceleration. Similar to how Lamborghini decided to put a single clutch gearbox in the Aventador, so you actually feel the shifts.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by KevinM

I don't have an E46 M3 but my Z4M coupe has the same S54 engine, considered the ultimate expression of the classic NA BMW inline 6. Such a great engine.

I guess it boils down to if you will ever drive it once your F80 MT arrives. On a nice day, top down, S54 at 8K RPM, you will be in retro heaven. And the next day you'll climb into your new F80 and go to work with all the torque and creature comforts that you can want.

I recently drove an AP1 s2k (top down, sunny SoCal day, 9k rpm, best manual gearbox ever etc etc) and unfortunately all I could think was "wow that is a lot of noise for not a lot of forward motion"

I guess if "feel" is ranked higher than "acceleration" it works.

My opinion changes for track. I would be interested in stripping out e46m , z4m, s2k and using for track beater purposes

[Ian1973]

Originally Posted by Takumi587

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?

Yes the F8x is almost too much for the street. A couple of seconds at full throttle and you are breaking any and all speed limits. You can take most turns at speeds above the national speed limit. THe thing threatens to oversteer at any moment. But I wouldn't change it. lol

[VeloF1]

I've owned the last 3 generations and drove them all thoroughly. If I was to have only one--it's the M4. If my garage was bigger and spousal unit more understanding--I'd keep them all. Yet, at end of the day, the M4 would be preferred. Sure, there's some nostalgia with the earlier models-yet it's outweighed by the later model M4.

[DC-T]

I love convertibles. And I would have never traded in for a non drop car...

[Nachbar]

Originally Posted by DC-T

I love convertibles. And I would have never traded in for a non drop car...

I did.. but then I bought a vert again as a second car.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by VeloF1

I've owned the last 3 generations and drove them all thoroughly. If I was to have only one--it's the M4. If my garage was bigger and spousal unit more understanding--I'd keep them all. Yet, at end of the day, the M4 would be preferred. Sure, there's some nostalgia with the earlier models-yet it's outweighed by the later model M4.

I totally agree. I really loved my 2006 E46 M3 with 6MT and was really not sure about getting rid of it when I got my M4. After one day in my 6MT M4, I have never looked back. The M4 is just so much better in so many ways.

[dongerkim]

I actually sortve went backwards recently into a E46 M3.

My past few cars in order have been, 2006 S2000>2016 F80 6MT> Now my current car is a 2003 E46 M3 6MT now i have a 2018 F80 6MT i will be picking up in a couple of weeks in Munich.

Needless to say, i will be keeping the e46 m3, and if i had a choice, I would’ve kept the s2000 too.

The only car i don’t regret selling was my first F80... I should’ve gone full leather the first time around lol

[Takumi587]

Just as an update to the thread I finally got my hands on an F80 M3. I waited for the 2018 because I knew I wanted the ZCP, touchscreen and updated headlight refresh. I thought I was going to get a manual transmission M3 but the DCT just felt much more suited for the car. It’s way way better than my E46 SMG.

I kept the E46 M3 but really don’t have the itch to drive it as much as this one right now...

[Ian1973]

Even being able to drop the top?

Congrats.

[Super Spartan]

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.

I have had the M4 2017 Non ZCP and now the M4 ZCP both convertibles and they drive / ride perfectly and I could use them as a daily driver for years. Put it in comfort, and the thing is like a luxury car.

From what you said, seems to me your car is broken.

[Em-power]

i've owned 2 E36 M3's, 2 E46 M3's, vert and coupe - both manual. E60 M5 and the most recent Z4M coupe. only had my F80 a week, but i can tell you right away i hardly ever think about my older 3 series, only one that still pops up once in awhile is the E60 M5.