m3

>>14760463
Fun to drive moneypit

>>14760470
got more details?

>>14760463
Watch out for subframe cracks and vanos issues. otherwise good cars

>>14760989
Will a pre-purchase inspection check for these?

I'm planning on having a mechanic look over it but are there any areas that he might miss if i don't tell him to look there?

Also, do they feel light? I hear they feel lighter than they are, but also feel planted.

>>14761004
Any mechanic who is worth his salt knows to check the subframe on an E46.

They handle well. I wouldn't say "feels light" just has responsive handling and corners pretty flat.

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>>14760989
What he said, subframe can crack/break at the rear axle mounting points. There's a way to fix /prevent this, but you would have to remove the axle and weld on strengthening plates. Incidentially, I did just that with my drifter yesterday. Its a day of work for two. Pic related.
Also watch out for rust on the wheel arches an door frames.

>>14761033
Thanks. Do you ever get anything like snap oversteer, or does it stay controllable?

>>14761039
Snap oversteer is a product of shit driving skill.

>>14761038
>Its a day of work for two.
That doesn't sound too bad. What about the VANOS and cooling system replacement?

>>14761272
and owning a mr2

some cars just fucking suck and do it out of nowhere

>>14761283
Vanos is a 2 hour 60$ diy if you know how to do it. Much more expensive at the dealer
idk about the cooling system costs but everything can be diy'd as well

>>14761288
don't forget miatas.

those pieces of shit kill their owners every week

>>14760463
OP, if you don't do a lot of miles, the running costs aren't too bad. However, have at least 2-3k aside for maintenance and general wear and tear. It's not the easiest car to live with.

What's your budget. There are a lot of other cars that I can personally vouch for as being easier to live with and just as satisfying.

>>14760463
Used to won a 320Ci. Had to sell it because the rear brake lines rotted out, and you need to remove the fuel tank to replace them

>>14761288
>>14761342
>BMW fags actually think this
Kek. Thanks once again for proving you're all retards

>>14761429
Their limited comprehensive skills won't ever let them understand how retarded they are

Relaxing to drive, easy to fix, some parts are expensive. Watch out for M3 rear subframe and vanos as well as pretty much all rubber hoses and sensors. Do your scheduled maintenance and you'll be good.

>>14760463
op i have driven an e46, e92, and an f80 m3. personally my favorite was the e92 but the e46 was quite nice. the shifters throw feels awful but the powerband is very linear. the chassis does have that light yet planted feel to it but at times you do notice its weight.

>>14761490
Your favourite is the e92...May I ask why?

>>14761493
in my opinion it looks the best, sounds the best and handles very well. the s65 is a fucking god machine, literally my favorite engine. torque is EVERYWHERE, and that sound... its similar to a small block chevy at high rpm but with a refined tone to it and an 8000 redline is the greatest feeling. with a dct it shifts retarded fast as well.

>>14761503
https://youtu.be/Ji-oqm-s0mg

Personally, I felt it was a great car that was just let down by it's weight. Had it been a bit lighter, it would have been the "Ultimate Driving Machine".

>>14761507
i agree, it is a bit overweight. factory brakes are kind of small too which i thought was strange but they work well enough with the m floating discs

>>14761526
>>14761507
That video really shows a number of things. The M3 is in need of weight reduction like >>14761507 said.

But also, for a 280HP Cayman to beat the 420+HP modded M3, it just really shows you how important weight and aerodynamics really is.

Of course shifting and driver skill plays an important role, but in that video, it was clear that weight and aerodynamics played a huge role in the Cayman outrunning the more powerful M3

>>14761556
porsche will always outclass bmw

>>14761562
That's true, but when you've got over 150 HP more than the Porsche, to still lose in a straight line drag race says a lot.

>>14761556
>>14761566
>>14761507
Porsche: 2,900lbs, 280hp: 10.4lb/hp
BMW: 3,600lbs, 420hp: 8.6lb/hp
it's fair to say this was all drivers fault

>>14761650
The Cayman S 3.4 actually puts out between 300-310HP

Anon, you need to take aerodynamics into account as well as the fact that the weight of the engine is over the driving wheels on the Porsche.

>>14761665
is the video car a cayman s or cayman? I just used the power figure the previous poster said.

>>14761650


The E92 M3 wet weight (with fuel and oil) is actually 3726lbs

The Cayman S of that year was 2876lbs wet.

>>14761677
It's a Cayman S, the video states that at the start. It's stock. The M3 however has been modded.

>>14760985
Mainly sensors and valve issues plus they drink gas like any sporty Bmw if you can afford the car though you can afford maintenance don't listen to people that mention VANOS yeah it's expensive as fuck but it's not going to be fucking up all the time like some people would try and tell you but it WILL fuck up sooner or later once not multiple times if it hasn't been replaced I would rather have a z4m or z3m coupe over the e46 oh also early models have subframe issues and connecting rod bearing failures make sure if you buy an 02-03 it was fixed don't buy those years if they weren't fixed

Thanks for the replies, OP here and i just woke up.

I would get the cayman if i had the money, they're still like 70 grand here, compared to 20-30 for a e46.

Glad to hear it does sound like a drivers car though, that's what i wanted.

>>14761650
>>14761665

also, when porsche rates a cars hp they are usually pretty close to actual wheel hp

>>14762872
Yea, porsche is notorious for under-reporting car capability.

They said the 918 was capable of 2.8 seconds....at which point journalists started clocking 2.2, 2.3

Been like that for ages, they always play down their car's capability.

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>>14761750
>drink gas

Got 8.1l/100km over 300kms of varied driving yesterday. Could've been worse

>>14761038
Do you stitch weld it on or fully weld?

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>>14760463
One of the best cars I've ever sat in. My dad's been flipping cars his whole life and I've always been there since I was a wee lad, so I've got the experience to back this statement up, if anyone tells you that the E46 M3 isn't one of the top ten cars ever made then they're full of shit. It's well balanced, handles like a dream, and just gives you this feeling of... Glory.

It's only a money pit if you don't handle your codes as they pop up. It's the type of car where if you let one system go the rest follow within a couple of months. Other than that, a bit of preventative maintenance doesn't hurt, but the nocar newfags on here like to exaggerate because their Chebby owning dad says that imports are bad. It's not unreliable, it's a high performance car that requires an owner that's a genuine enthusiast.

E39's are also based as fuck, the M5 is also easily a top ten car. BMW will never be this good ever again, and that's why I'm never buying a BMW newer than this glorious, perfect generation. There's no fucking point. Fuck the suits at BMW who ruined a perfect brand.

>>14763509
thanks for the info, any more details about stuff to look out for during my test drive?

any obscure facts i might not know?