The Ultimate BMW M3 Review (E30-F80) by Car Throttle

[ghost34]

The animal has evolved and compared to its ancestors, it's now sophisticated. Maybe a tick too sophisticated, maybe more GT than sport coupe but I want it that way. Have your cake and eat it too. I always wanted an e46 but by the time I got around to having the cash for it, it was 2008 and the e92 was out, so I bought one. I had it for very short period but loved the time I got to drive it. I still liked the e46 better and least in my head. I recently drove the last 3 generations and the e46 was still fun to me but the ride quality was unbearable for my 41 year old a$$. I guess father time saw fit to grace me with some sophistication. I love that every generation was the measuring stick, let's hope they keep the magic

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by OneRib

No I just watched the end again. He said he bought an E36.

So did I. Funny, I'd swear my life on it he said E46. Maybe he changed his mind in the meantime.

But yes, he does say E36.

[r3dbimmer89]

Originally Posted by BTWoody

E92 S55 simply because of the V8 and because there will probably be no other V8 powered M3. As much as I would love to say E30 because of how much of a legendary icon it is, the S55 engine beats me. I miss the sound

Not to be a d*** here but you mean the S65 as the S65=V8...S55=TT Inline 6 in the F8X.

My hierarchy is:
E46
E9X
F8x
E30
E36

The E36 is my least favorite M car as there was not enough differentiation between it and the AG model, although, it's still an awesome car. The E46 is still the king ....still looks and drives amazing after almost 15 years of its initial release.

[ChipXpert]

E30 M3.
You had to won one to understand.
With the Jim Conforti chip, Bilstein suspension upgrade, K&N and Borla exhaust the car was more fun than anything I have ever driven.
A little more than 200HP in 2700 pounds.
It drove like it was on rails and could easily reach 150MPH.
Was it a beast? No, it was a boy racer's dream.


There is a reason the E30 M3 was one of BMW's winningest cars to date.
But, like I said, if you never owned one, you just wouldn't understand.

[RazBimmer]

Great machines, great brand..

[F22_Raptor]

e92: Like a sledge hammer its powerful, heavy and thunderous.

e46: The surgeon's scalpel, precise, sharp and light.

f80: The swiss army knife, it can do many thing and is the best all rounder.

e30: The typewriter: very successful machine, great at what it does, innovative for its time but is becoming dated.

e36: The flip phone, its a step forward but wasn't quite there yet.

Well, that's enough metaphors for the day.

[MParallel]

Are you US guys looking at the E36 from a US perspective or Euro?

You see that once again the E36 comes out as the most underrated model.

It was a big leap (whether good or bad) from the E30. No homologation special, but a very fast and subdued car. And the first I6 of course.

Of course looking at it from US or rest-of-world perspective, makes a big difference.

[F22_Raptor]

Yeah driving a car that you know is the watered down version detracts from the driving experience.

[Crashnbrn5]

Originally Posted by MParallel

Are you US guys looking at the E36 from a US perspective or Euro?

You see that once again the E36 comes out as the most underrated model.

It was a big leap (whether good or bad) from the E30. No homologation special, but a very fast and subdued car. And the first I6 of course.

Of course looking at it from US or rest-of-world perspective, makes a big difference.

The euro spec had 20-30 more horses also I think, so it was very capable in that perspective.

[rmedeir1]

Originally Posted by MThree_driver

My order:

E46
F80
E90
E36
E30

I absolutely love my f80 and it can easily be turned into a complete monster and super car killer..but the e46 is a special and raw sports car.

Originally Posted by nonagon

Not mine.

+2 +3 +4 +5...My F82 sounds great with MPE and GSC controller. I dont get other's negative perception of the sound.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by Crashnbrn5

The euro spec had 20-30 more horses also I think, so it was very capable in that perspective.

Ha, make that 81 for the 3.2 model.


Since the weather is extremely nice for late December and sun is out, I just took a quit spin in my car. Oh man, after driving the 328i for most of the time, that thing is a blast.

The reviewer says the E36 needs to be kept above 5k to have that M3 feel.

Well that is exactly what I like so much about it. Drive it while keeping it below 3k and you'd wonder what all the fuss is about. I thought so when I took my first testdrive in it. If doesn't feel that more powerfull than my 328i, albeit more agressive sound and sharper throttle response.

Then shift down and floor it and it just pulls and pulls.

And once again, love the SMG. It just goes with the racing character of it.


I'll sell my house before I seel my M.

[BTWoody]

Originally Posted by r3dbimmer89

Not to be a d*** here but you mean the S65 as the S65=V8...S55=TT Inline 6 in the F8X.

My hierarchy is:
E46
E9X
F8x
E30
E36

The E36 is my least favorite M car as there was not enough differentiation between it and the AG model, although, it's still an awesome car. The E46 is still the king ....still looks and drives amazing after almost 15 years of its initial release.

Yea sorry it is S65, getting confused with S55

[Bugzy2]

E92 is a sleek and sexy beast...

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by F22_Raptor

e92: Like a sledge hammer its powerful, heavy and thunderous.

e46: The surgeon's scalpel, precise, sharp and light.

f80: The swiss army knife, it can do many thing and is the best all rounder.

e30: The typewriter: very successful machine, great at what it does, innovative for its time but is becoming dated.

e36: The flip phone, its a step forward but wasn't quite there yet.

Well, that's enough metaphors for the day.

the opinions in this thread about the E30 are hilarious. totally clueless. doesn't surprise me at all...if you've ever driven an e30 you will understand how none of the M3s that followed could capture it's magic...none.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

the opinions in this thread about the E30 are hilarious. totally clueless. doesn't surprise me at all...if you've ever driven an e30 you will understand how none of the M3s that followed could capture it's magic...none.

The reviewer just drove it and came to basically the same conclusion.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by MParallel

So did I. Funny, I'd swear my life on it he said E46. Maybe he changed his mind in the meantime.

But yes, he does say E36.

I think you just heard what he should have done.

[bradleyland]

For my money, the E92 is everything the E46 was, but more. The E46 was the car of my early 20's, which gave it tremendous nostalgic value as I made it to a point that I could afford a car like the M3. Then I went and drove one back to back while contemplating my M3 purchase.

The two cars share quite a bit in terms of character, IMO, but the E92 just cranks everything up just a bit more. Much like the reviewer, my opinion is that the E92's engine puts it over the top. The S54 laid down the template that the S65 took to the pinnacle.

[EL Jeffe 5]

Awesome video
I take that E46

[raysspl]

Oddball review, but good for popcorn

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by rmedeir1

+2 +3 +4 +5...My F82 sounds great with MPE and GSC controller. I dont get other's negative perception of the sound.

Well, post a vid then. So that others can hear what you hear and make a judgement.

[nicksm3]

Originally Posted by MParallel

So did I. Funny, I'd swear my life on it he said E46. Maybe he changed his mind in the meantime.

But yes, he does say E36.

You picked up an e36 M recently? I just put a deposit on one.

[F22_Raptor]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

the opinions in this thread about the E30 are hilarious. totally clueless. doesn't surprise me at all...if you've ever driven an e30 you will understand how none of the M3s that followed could capture it's magic...none.

Perhaps my metaphor for the e30 came off as negative but it wasnt supposed to be. The typewriter is one of the all time great machines, it was ground breaking technology. The e30 is becoming more antiquated and will always be remembered as an all time great.