[W///]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

Now with the rumors of next gen M3 going hybrid. It really hit home the the E46 is going to become a classic, with climbing values. Manual, rare color, low miles, slicktop, coupe, will command big money.

You could argue that's true for pretty much every N/A M. I don't try to look too much into that stuff though.

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by W///

You could argue that's true for pretty much every N/A M. I don't try to look too much into that stuff though.

For me the E46 M3 is the sweet spot. The US got the neutered version of the E36 and the E92 is when the 3er started getting too big. But that is just my personal opinion. I am sure others have their favorites. Looking forward to when the Euro E36 M3's start to meet the 25yr import rule.

[W///]

Originally Posted by BlackJetE90

For me the E46 M3 is the sweet spot. The US got the neutered version of the E36 and the E92 is when the 3er started getting too big. But that is just my personal opinion. I am sure others have their favorites. Looking forward to when the Euro E36 M3's start to meet the 25yr import rule.

I can certainly see why, the E46 is a great car, I was just tired of having to deal with its issues. At that point, I just came from a 4 month ordeal to fix my subframe. Plus the S65 is just way too irresistible to me.

But pretty much every N/A BMW M (with good maintenance of course) is going to go up in value. E30 M3, E36 M3, E39 M5, Z3M, E28 M5 ect ect ect...

P.S. If the E36 was had the Euro motor, I probably would have skipped it if I'm 100% honest. The S52 is just such a bulletproof engine and it's so damn cheap compared to my E92 to maintain/fix.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by W///

I can certainly see why, the E46 is a great car, I was just tired of having to deal with its issues. At that point, I just came from a 4 month ordeal to fix my subframe. Plus the S65 is just way too irresistible to me.

But pretty much every N/A BMW M (with good maintenance of course) is going to go up in value. E30 M3, E36 M3, E39 M5, Z3M, E28 M5 ect ect ect...

P.S. If the E36 was had the Euro motor, I probably would have skipped it if I'm 100% honest. The S52 is just such a bulletproof engine and it's so damn cheap compared to my E92 to maintain/fix.

The E36 M3 will always be my favorite M3, it's just a beautiful car and 240hp is all you need on American roads. Even when I see one now in good condition (becoming RARE), I watch it roll down the street because I love the way it looks. Avus blue, the best color on a car ever!! Though, your color is the second best. ;D

[swagon]

More S54 awesomeness.

[PopsnBurbles]

I may get hurt for this but...

damn! the e46 still looks great. Possibly the best looking M3/M4 but sadly is the worst sounding (exhaust). Sorry guys, but I'm not too into the overly raspy metallic noise this thing makes.

More importantly, only the e46 M3 (and CSL by extension) can pull off the CSL trunk without looking like it's trying too hard. I'm not sure about the M4 as I've never seen an M4 with a CSL trunk in real life.

[W///]

Originally Posted by NickyC

The E36 M3 will always be my favorite M3, it's just a beautiful car and 240hp is all you need on American roads. Even when I see one now in good condition (becoming RARE), I watch it roll down the street because I love the way it looks. Avus blue, the best color on a car ever!! Though, your color is the second best. ;D

Ironically, it's probably my least favorite M3

However, for the price, it just cannot be beat. It handles amazing with the mods I have, is cheap to run and insure, will run 200k+ miles no problem if you take care of it, and still has plenty of power to scoot.

I don't plan on selling mine any time soon.

Originally Posted by PopsnBurbles

I may get hurt for this but...

damn! the e46 still looks great. Possibly the best looking M3/M4 but sadly is the worst sounding (exhaust). Sorry guys, but I'm not too into the overly raspy metallic noise this thing makes.

More importantly, only the e46 M3 (and CSL by extension) can pull off the CSL trunk without looking like it's trying too hard. I'm not sure about the M4 as I've never seen an M4 with a CSL trunk in real life.

You're not the only one. I get yelled at all the time for saying anything remotely negative about god's chariot. Having said that, I do love the intake noise the CSL makes, and the exhaust rasp can be toned down.

I hope eventually can do the same with the current M3/4.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by W///

Ironically, it's probably my least favorite M3

However, for the price, it just cannot be beat. It handles amazing with the mods I have, is cheap to run and insure, will run 200k+ miles no problem if you take care of it, and still has plenty of power to scoot.

I don't plan on selling mine any time soon.



You're not the only one. I get yelled at all the time for saying anything remotely negative about god's chariot. Having said that, I do love the intake noise the CSL makes, and the exhaust rasp can be toned down.

I hope eventually can do the same with the current M3/4.

don't hold your breath. it was never really fixed imo, but no one cares to remember this exhaust when all people do is talk about the f8x exhaust.the e46 m3 is probably the favorite among enthusiasts and yet it had a horrible exhaust note and various other issues.

[rahrah]

I miss my CSL, I so should of kept it and values here in the UK are rocketing up now. The best car I've ever owned. As soon as you got in; you knew you were in something special.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by Tommy_hf

Despite the output of the M4's engine, there's nothing like the normally aspirated ITB'ed inline six with that alpha N MAF-less intake.

Had het niet beter kunnen zeggen.

What this guys says. Sure the modern M engines have massive torque, available at very low rpm's over a very broad spectrum of the revband.

But that good old old school sensation? Where the car pulls harder and harder the more it revs?

This is where more power and torque doesn't equal better. M engine were so unique as they felt like downtuned race engines. How many manufacturers but itb's on a production engine? Only a few.

[ZilberGrau ZHP]

Lets just all remember the excellence of the E46 (M3, CSL, ZHP) - perfect size- perfect interior (but the seats always looked better than they felt- my 435GC has pretty much perfect seats) and looks that have aged EXTREMELY well without being over the top as so many are now. The SMG just messed up the M3 for me. I have had manuals for 30 years and would love to pick up a nice E46 M3 Auto (lots of traffic here in Texas and dont want to shift in traffic jams.) - but NOT the SMG version of the auto.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...ed-Pictures***

[M3 Number 86]

I LOVE rasp....I HATE SMG.

Love / Hate relationship with the CSL

[W///]

Originally Posted by rjd598

don't hold your breath. it was never really fixed imo, but no one cares to remember this exhaust when all people do is talk about the f8x exhaust.the e46 m3 is probably the favorite among enthusiasts and yet it had a horrible exhaust note and various other issues.

I think it's certainly possible. The second variant sounds better, although I'd have to hear the car under full load:

[Cuz5150]

Love the E46 M3. The reason i have gone out of my way to purchase 2 of them.
One as a DD and one for the weekend. I just wish i bmw made the CSL parts easier to obtain$. I would love to have the CSL intake on my Vert with the top down.......Pure Sex Noise......

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Golden Arrow

The E46 is the standard by which all 3ers will be judged in the future. The world needs more cars like the CSL.

The world needs more cars like the CSL...

Agree... Hopefully the M2 CSL comes to fruition.

However, as far as being the M3 by which all 3ers are judged... It's the E30 M3.

[sycd]

Wow this sounds bad, so bad. The f8x is getting a bad rep exhaust-wise but this is so much worse.

[Roby_Croatia]

im also an e46 fan

e92, new series 4 are tooooo big

they try to do compromise with series 2...

here is my 330cd

[bigsid05]

Lol it is amazing how time changes perception. I remember when the E46 M3 was introduced- it was widely panned in forums like these as a fat pig with an awful chainsaw rasp of an exhaust.

[W///]

Originally Posted by sycd

Wow this sounds bad, so bad. The f8x is getting a bad rep exhaust-wise but this is so much worse.

I think they are right on par. But IMHO, that can and will be fixed eventually.

Both of them don't sound THAT bad in real life, but far from the sexiest thing BMW has ever made, that's for sure.

[David70]

Interesting opinions about the sound. I love the sound of the S54 and I have never heard a N/A 8000 rpm redline that didn't sound great, maybe because of the engineering that went into making it happen. No it doesn't sound like a V-8, V-6, or flat six and that is part of what makes it great.

There is nothing worse that a muffled (not saying all are) turbo engine where they pipe the sound through the stereo because Engineering/Marketing agree that the sound isn't what it should be.

So far, turbo's improve the performance and track numbers but we are missing something with the sound and performance characteristics (flat torque from idle then the engine dies off at lower rpm than the non turbo).

[ZilberGrau ZHP]

Originally Posted by bigsid05

Lol it is amazing how time changes perception. I remember when the E46 M3 was introduced- it was widely panned in forums like these as a fat pig with an awful chainsaw rasp of an exhaust.

Yes it was!

[AbuArije5]

interesting thread i remember when the e46 m3 first came out i was like wow this is one of the best looking m3 ever made