E30 Zone

as above a convertible was thinking of selling my e30 an concedring m3 e36 or e46

x4 zausts out of the back look twice as better than x2 so e46 .

I'd buy an E46 M3. I read an article in autocar recently and IIRC it said the E46 M3 are at their lowest and if you want an M3, buy one now.

I've driven the SMG E46 M3s a few times and it's a cracking car. The rev limiter whilst the engine is warming up is a great idea, the shift lights are great and the SMG is like lightning if you've turned up the change speed selector. Only downfall is the gear change is rotten if you're in auto mode or driving at lower revs around town using the manual change.

A great mix of handling and comfort.

All my opinions though.

My mate who owns the one I've driven took one of the new V8 M3s for a test drive with a view to buying it and trading in his E46 M3 on the day. He came home with the old M3 (and it wasn't a money decision). His wife was well chuffed !

the e46 is a better car, but theyre also noticably more expensive to run, especially if on the (almost mandatory ) optional 19in wheels, and seem to use more fuel than e36s too.

out and out performance there's little to nothing in it, e46 is fractionally quicker off the line, helped by much wider rear tyres and launch control on smg cars, but once rolling theyre very evenly matched, the e36 perhaps having a slight edge at the top end.

are e46s as low as they'll go?

not sure yet, they were made in massive numbers, and there's always going to be a limited market for an old, expensive to run and insure car. both e30 and e36 m3s have dropped to £3k for useable examples and i can see e46s getting not a million miles from that.

a couple of years ago an e36 m3 was a performance bargain, and e46s were quite pricey. these days decent e36s harder to find and values have started firming up, putting them very close to the bottom end of the e46s.

e36 is a chav bmw imo,

everyone will just think it a 320 wi M badges lol, like every other e36

have you seen most of the bellends that drive e46 m3s these days?

Had the pleasure of taking out a very together example of an e46 the other day for a few hours and I have to say it is one of the nicest cars I have ever driven. Really nice place to be inside and I don't think they have dated at all, could be released tomorrow and they wouldn't look out of place IMO whereas the e36 is really showing it's age.

Both nice cars to drive, but the e46 just takes it for me. Drive both and see what you prefer?

E46 M3 without doubt.

E46 M3 with SMGII would be my choice...in graphite with Imola red nappa interior.

harry_p wrote:.... both e30 and e36 m3s have dropped to £3k for useable examples...

E30 M3s are £3k? Which decade/planet are you on?!

Have dropped, past tense.

There was a point when they were just an old BMW with little value.

murphy's m3 cab.



it looks better with the coded hard top fitted

Rimzzzzz

e30mtech wrote:e36 is a chav bmw imo,

everyone will just think it a 320 wi M badges lol, like every other e36

need we say more...

E46 M3 All the way lovely cars if you buy a good example.....

I'm trying to see the downside of an E46 M3 on LPG...

e46

sajad09 wrote:

e30mtech wrote:e36 is a chav bmw imo,

everyone will just think it a 320 wi M badges lol, like every other e36

need we say more...

true, but IMO e46s are gay as fuck, driven by the kinda people that wear cheap short sleeve shirts, sunglasses all the time and bluetooth hands free kits. makes me shudder at the thought

magpie wrote:murphy's m3 cab.

M3 bump?

Topblag wrote:I'd buy an E46 M3. I read an article in autocar recently and IIRC it said the E46 M3 are at their lowest and if you want an M3, buy one now.

I've driven the SMG E46 M3s a few times and it's a cracking car. The rev limiter whilst the engine is warming up is a great idea, the shift lights are great and the SMG is like lightning if you've turned up the change speed selector. Only downfall is the gear change is rotten if you're in auto mode or driving at lower revs around town using the manual change.

A great mix of handling and comfort.

All my opinions though.

My mate who owns the one I've driven took one of the new V8 M3s for a test drive with a view to buying it and trading in his E46 M3 on the day. He came home with the old M3 (and it wasn't a money decision). His wife was well chuffed !

So your telling me, your friend thinks an E46 M3 is better than a E92 M3?

If so, you are a tit!

Err no. Having been in both and driven both I would have to agree. I prefer the e46.

Can someone ban this prick? If Barry said that I'm sure several people would be up in arms and this coont has bought nothing to the forum

maf260 wrote:

harry_p wrote:.... both e30 and e36 m3s have dropped to £3k for useable examples...

E30 M3s are £3k? Which decade/planet are you on?!

have dropped that low at some point in their life. i think it's fairly obvious theyre not down there at the moment.

back in the early 200s, when e36 m3s were still £10k+ you could pick up reasonably tidy, useable, e30 m3 for between 3 and 4k.

as someone who payed a chunk more than that for an e30m3 in 2006, which i still own, i do have some sort of an idea of current e30 m3 values.

harry_p wrote:

maf260 wrote:

harry_p wrote:.... both e30 and e36 m3s have dropped to £3k for useable examples...

E30 M3s are £3k? Which decade/planet are you on?!

have dropped that low at some point in their life. i think it's fairly obvious theyre not down there at the moment.

back in the early 200s, when e36 m3s were still £10k+ you could pick up reasonably tidy, useable, e30 m3 for between 3 and 4k.

as someone who payed a chunk more than that for an e30m3 in 2006, which i still own, i do have some sort of an idea of current e30 m3 values.

I beg to differ, here's on just been bought for about £3k E30 M3 that is


http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=252687

i wouldnt call that reasonably tidy

i'm sure some of the more regular m3 buyers and sellers on here have had some decent bargains over the years, even well ater mainstream values had started to climb.

contacts and right place right time!