E36 ///m3 - dissapointment to ///Ms

[Jerez]

In a recent Autocar article the journalist featured the best M3s of all time. He describes the E30 as having an intimate connection with the driver, then skips to the csl, saying " we've skipped the e36 range entirely , but that only goes to show how good the e46 was and how relatively dissapointing the e36 seemed in the wake of the original e30"

 

[OppositeLockMT]

I strongly disagree with them, the E36 was raw but refined (relatively) - a step forward from the E30. They might have been thinking of the E36 with the S50 instead of the S52.

 

[Jerez]

Just quoting.... That said,it is the cheapest M money can buy today

 

[calypso]

I still prefer the e36 over the 46 for straight driving. Just feels so much sharper. 46 however is a better overall car.

 

[Sankekur]

I strongly disagree with them, the E36 was raw but refined (relatively) - a step forward from the E30. They might have been thinking of the E36 with the S50 instead of the S52.

I think you have that the wrong way round, the guys in the US got the S52 which was basically a slightly better M52 engine.

But there are reasons for them not wanting to consider the e36 as a proper M3 apart from the brilliant engine. In fairness there has actually only been one true M3 after the e30 M3.

 

[///Shaun]

IMO as good as the E30 M3 looks , I feel the E36 M3 was a far better car in terms of design , handling and power delivery. I still remember when the E36 M3 first came into SA and how many people lost their lives in this monster.
E36M3 will always be a legend thats discussed at South African braai's etc. It marked a new beginning of what to expect from the benchmark.

raise:

 

[Thunder]

IMO as good as the E30 M3 looks , I feel the E36 M3 was a far better car in terms of design , handling and power delivery. I still remember when the E36 M3 first came into SA and how many people lost their lives in this monster.
E36M3 will always be a legend thats discussed at South African braai's etc. It marked a new beginning of what to expect from the benchmark.

raise:

I totaly agree with you.

But for me the E46 M3 just does it, might not handle as nice like some you say but i love the look. Just have a meaner look to it than the E36.

Done while speeding from the cops

 

[calypso]

Yeah well the big issue with the E36 M3 was that little was done to style it differently from the other e36's. But I love the sharp lines of the e36 M3 coupe. Least they fixed the cloning issue with the 46.

 

[thireshan]

IMO as good as the E30 M3 looks , I feel the E36 M3 was a far better car in terms of design , handling and power delivery. I still remember when the E36 M3 first came into SA and how many people lost their lives in this monster.
E36M3 will always be a legend thats discussed at South African braai's etc. It marked a new beginning of what to expect from the benchmark.

raise:

I totaly agree with you.

But for me the E46 M3 just does it, might not handle as nice like some you say but i love the look. Just have a meaner look to it than the E36.

Done while speeding from the cops

owning a E36 M3 and E46 M3 i felt the handling was way better in the E46 M3 and the power delivery and all round balance of the car was far superior.

@Shaun cant argue with you there that the E36 M3 will be the benchmark for us here in S.A,it opened up the doors for us here when it came to M Power :thumbs:

 

[///Shaun]

Kind of a related topic here to ///M

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=38683

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i felt the handling was way better in the E46 M3 and the power delivery and all round balance of the car was far superior.

@Shaun cant argue with you there that the E36 M3 will be the benchmark for us here in S.A,it opened up the doors for us here when it came to M Power :thumbs:

100% agreed. E46M improved a lot of handling aspects when compared to the E36. Technology was introduced something the E36 should have had IMO but will not take away the glory days from the E36. It was a superior car in the BM range in that era.

 

[herr bmw]

personally,i like the looks of the e36 m3,never been in one so wouldnt know how it drives or handles.

over time cars get better,so in theory,the e46 should be better,and the e92 even more better,but people will always look back to the original,as that was where it always started
example,deon joubert,recons the 1m is as close to his 325is that he raced in the 80s

another example the vw gti,the only model so far to better the first gti has been the mk5 and then the mk6,but ask anybody what model they would love to have and it would most probably be the original.

personally,would love a mk1 gti in my drive,just like a e36 m3(was the first m3 on our shores)but this is the way i see it

 

[ClassicB]

This speaks volumes for me:-

 

[wikk3d88]

First time ive ever heard such harsh criticism for the E36 M3. odd.

 

[herr bmw]

This speaks volumes for me:-

:bravo::bravo:

 

[Fordkoppie]

In fairness there has actually only been one true M3 after the e30 M3.

I concur. e46 CSL FTW!
I really liked the e36 M3, but it is way behind the e46 M3 in every thinkable aspect. Some might think it handles better than the e46, but in fact you are just under the illusion of feeling more alive when you are on the verge of dying. It really is a handfull close to the limit and the transition between "hey watch me now" and "oh F*ck" happens within a split second and without warning. It is not the greatest widowmaker of all time for no reason.
So yeah - it is likable, but not great.

 

[wikk3d88]

In fairness there has actually only been one true M3 after the e30 M3.

I concur. e46 CSL FTW!
I really liked the e36 M3, but it is way behind the e46 M3 in every thinkable aspect. Some might think it handles better than the e46, but in fact you are just under the illusion of feeling more alive when you are on the verge of dying. It really is a handfull close to the limit and the transition between "hey watch me now" and "oh F*ck" happens within a split second and without warning. It is not the greatest widowmaker of all time for no reason.
So yeah - it is likable, but not great.

The E46 had more technology packed into it, ofcourse that would make it handle better and easier to drive. If that same tech had been available for the E36, they would have used it. You can't honestly compare a newer model to older model, there are bound to be shortfalls. What they learned from the E36 went into the development of the E46.

 

[ClassicB]

M3CSL cant realistically be compared to the E36 M3. They are both from different generations, with completely different technology.

CSL will win everytime, in all departments!

 

[wikk3d88]

It's like trying to say the E30 316i was shyt because the E90 320i is better (both entry level 3 series, for the sake of comparison)

 

[OppositeLockMT]

I strongly disagree with them, the E36 was raw but refined (relatively) - a step forward from the E30. They might have been thinking of the E36 with the S50 instead of the S52.

I think you have that the wrong way round, the guys in the US got the S52 which was basically a slightly better M52 engine.

But there are reasons for them not wanting to consider the e36 as a proper M3 apart from the brilliant engine. In fairness there has actually only been one true M3 after the e30 M3.

I might have. The US M3 only had 230HP (167kW?) so it must have just been a slightly uprated version of the M52.

 

[Sankekur]

lol and so the pissing contest starts...

No one was comparing the CSL to the e36 M3, the point was made that the CSL is the only M3 that truly follows in the legacy of the e30 M3 which is to have parts fitted and changes made specifically to make it faster around a track.

I strongly disagree with them, the E36 was raw but refined (relatively) - a step forward from the E30. They might have been thinking of the E36 with the S50 instead of the S52.

I think you have that the wrong way round, the guys in the US got the S52 which was basically a slightly better M52 engine.

But there are reasons for them not wanting to consider the e36 as a proper M3 apart from the brilliant engine. In fairness there has actually only been one true M3 after the e30 M3.

I might have. The US M3 only had 230HP (167kW?) so it must have just been a slightly uprated version of the M52.

Think it was 179kW. Couldn't really call it an M3 was closer to an e36 330iS or something like that. If I am not mistaken you could also get it with an auto box :facepalm: