2016 F80 M3 vs. 2001 E46 M3

Brasko · 12-02-2016, 08:23 PM

On the commute home the other day I drove past a German Motors shop that specializes in BMW's. They are only a few blocks away from me and on the route home so it's always worth rolling past and checking out what they have parked outside. On this day I was surprised to find a 2001 M3 in Laguna Seca Blue parked out front. It was a well loved E46 with a 6-speed manual transmission, leather heated seats, power sunroof, Xenon headlights, etc. Normal wear, 140k+ on the odometer and a for sale sign in the window. I had to pull over and snap a pic for comparison. You can really see the size difference between the model years in the photo. It's even more prominent in person.

BMW has sure come a long way in 15 years.

Sassicaia · 12-02-2016, 08:36 PM

holly crap! The E46 looks like a toy next to your F80.

Great find.

dr.mba · 12-02-2016, 08:43 PM

crazy... the F80 has the dimensions of an E39 whereas the F10 has grown bigger and resembles a 7er.

M

MRCUR · 12-02-2016, 08:45 PM

My two favorite M3 generations (so far). And a great color too.

Sassicaia · 12-02-2016, 08:47 PM

Id like to see the F80 next to previous generation M5s.

Jockey · 12-02-2016, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRCUR

My two favorite M3 generations (so far). And a great color too.

+1

yaymitch · 12-02-2016, 09:10 PM

Weird camera angle, the front wheel on the F80 looks gigantic...lol. Much bigger than the rear wheel.

doberzus · 12-02-2016, 09:16 PM

I really like that LSB F80 M5

ciaranob · 12-02-2016, 09:56 PM

Yeah the pic in panorama mode is tending to over-exaggerate the differences, basically distorting the front vs rear ofter the F80, but the current gen is obviously way bigger!

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaymitch

Weird camera angle, the front wheel on the F80 looks gigantic...lol. Much bigger than the rear wheel.

KevinM · 12-03-2016, 11:03 AM

Cool photo. The cars have grown of course. I agree that the camera angle is causing the F80 to look even larger. Check out the photo below - my F80 makes my E39 M5 look tiny, but in real life they are similar in size.

dantm3 · 12-03-2016, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brasko

On the commute home the other day I drove past a German Motors shop that specializes in BMW's. They are only a few blocks away from me and on the route home so it's always worth rolling past and checking out what they have parked outside. On this day I was surprised to find a 2001 M3 in Laguna Seca Blue parked out front. It was a well loved E46 with a 6-speed manual transmission, leather heated seats, power sunroof, Xenon headlights, etc. Normal wear, 140k+ on the odometer and a for sale sign in the window. I had to pull over and snap a pic for comparison. You can really see the size difference between the model years in the photo. It's even more prominent in person.

BMW has sure come a long way in 15 years.

That picture looks stretched or something.. did you do a panoramic with iPhone.. the rear of the f80 looks way smaller then the front

Brasko · 12-03-2016, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dantm3

That picture looks stretched or something.. did you do a panoramic with iPhone.. the rear of the f80 looks way smaller then the front

No panoramic. Just an iPhone pic. There is a car to my right that so I couldn't capture the both cars straight on.

Brasko · 12-03-2016, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Yeah the pic in panorama mode is tending to over-exaggerate the differences, basically distorting the front vs rear ofter the F80, but the current gen is obviously way bigger!

Not panoramic. Just an iPhone pic. cropped out the top to meet the forum's pixel dimension limits.

Never Convicted · 12-03-2016, 09:29 PM

That E46 doesn't even lift. Puny. Your F80 will...pomp...it...up!

e90-4aj · 12-03-2016, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRCUR

My two favorite M3 generations (so far). And a great color too.

+2- that's why I still have my e46 m3!!!

Audio Fan · 12-03-2016, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brasko

On the commute home the other day I drove past a German Motors shop that specializes in BMW's. They are only a few blocks away from me and on the route home so it's always worth rolling past and checking out what they have parked outside. On this day I was surprised to find a 2001 M3 in Laguna Seca Blue parked out front. It was a well loved E46 with a 6-speed manual transmission, leather heated seats, power sunroof, Xenon headlights, etc. Normal wear, 140k+ on the odometer and a for sale sign in the window. I had to pull over and snap a pic for comparison. You can really see the size difference between the model years in the photo. It's even more prominent in person.

BMW has sure come a long way in 15 years.

Nice post. What color is your F80?

ciaranob · 12-04-2016, 12:11 AM

Still some distortion there in respect the other poster's comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brasko

Not panoramic. Just an iPhone pic. cropped out the
top to meet the forum's pixel dimension limits.

Brasko · 12-08-2016, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio Fan

Nice post. What color is your F80?

Laguna Seca Blue

Audio Fan · 12-09-2016, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brasko

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio Fan

Nice post. What color is your F80?

Laguna Seca Blue

Rare breed. Looks great and modern with the 666s.

12-02-2016, 08:23 PM	#1
Brasko #LSBM3 1420 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Oregon / Florida iTrader: (4) Garage List 1984 BMW R65 [0.00] 2020 Ford F-150 XLT ... [0.00] 2003 Mitsubishi Evo ... [0.00] 2016 M3 Competition ... [10.00]	2016 F80 M3 vs. 2001 E46 M3 On the commute home the other day I drove past a German Motors shop that specializes in BMW's. They are only a few blocks away from me and on the route home so it's always worth rolling past and checking out what they have parked outside. On this day I was surprised to find a 2001 M3 in Laguna Seca Blue parked out front. It was a well loved E46 with a 6-speed manual transmission, leather heated seats, power sunroof, Xenon headlights, etc. Normal wear, 140k+ on the odometer and a for sale sign in the window. I had to pull over and snap a pic for comparison. You can really see the size difference between the model years in the photo. It's even more prominent in person. BMW has sure come a long way in 15 years. Attached Images __________________ /// M3
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12-02-2016, 08:36 PM	#2
Sassicaia Brigadier General 4452 Rep 3,308 Posts Drives: SMB F80 6MT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	holly crap! The E46 looks like a toy next to your F80. Great find.
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12-02-2016, 08:43 PM	#3
dr.mba Captain 275 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 2017 F. Grey M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	crazy... the F80 has the dimensions of an E39 whereas the F10 has grown bigger and resembles a 7er. M
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12-02-2016, 08:45 PM	#4
MRCUR Lieutenant Colonel 822 Rep 1,779 Posts Drives: 2018 Model 3 Performance Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	My two favorite M3 generations (so far). And a great color too.
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12-02-2016, 08:47 PM	#5
Sassicaia Brigadier General 4452 Rep 3,308 Posts Drives: SMB F80 6MT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	Id like to see the F80 next to previous generation M5s.
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12-02-2016, 09:10 PM	#7
yaymitch Major 868 Rep 1,246 Posts Drives: 2020 M2CS & 2022 RSQ8 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (2)	Weird camera angle, the front wheel on the F80 looks gigantic...lol. Much bigger than the rear wheel. __________________ 2020 BMW M2CS HS 6MT 2022 Audi RSQ8
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12-02-2016, 09:16 PM	#8
doberzus Captain 679 Rep 853 Posts Drives: 2019 Tesla M3P Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: ~4500 ft above sea level iTrader: (3)	I really like that LSB F80 M5 __________________ CURRENT: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance RECENT PAST: 2016 F80 Austin Yellow (6MT) / 2017 F80 Atlantis Metallic (DCT-ZCP) / 2017 Challenger Hellcat 8A / 2017 Focus RS/ 2017 Shelby GT350 / 2018 Audi TTRS / 2018 Raptor Crew Cab / 2020 X3M Comp
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12-03-2016, 11:03 AM	#10
KevinM Brigadier General 2936 Rep 3,285 Posts Drives: 2002 M5;2007 M Coupe;2020 M2C Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Tucson iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 M2 Competition [10.00] 2007 E86 M coupe [8.38] 2002 E39 M5 [9.00]	Cool photo. The cars have grown of course. I agree that the camera angle is causing the F80 to look even larger. Check out the photo below - my F80 makes my E39 M5 look tiny, but in real life they are similar in size. __________________ 2020 F87 M2C Hockenheim Silver/MT 2002 E39 M5 Sterling Gray/Caramel 2007 E86 Z4M Coupe Silver Gray/Black 2021 Kia Telluride (hauler)
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12-03-2016, 09:29 PM	#14
Never Convicted Lieutenant Colonel 1108 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charlotte NC iTrader: (0)	That E46 doesn't even lift. Puny. Your F80 will...pomp...it...up!
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