-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
E36 ///m3 - dissapointment to ///Ms
- Thread starter Jerez
- Start date
W
wikk3d88
Guest
Jerez said:
That's a little odd. In 1997 Car and Driver Magazine (not a local publication mind you) awarded the E36 M3 The "best handling car award"
For shits and giggles, a comparison of all the M3 generations
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/bmw-m3-all-four-generations-track-tested-feature
Jerez
Well-known member
wikk3d88 said:
At the time it may have been the best handling but collectively - that particularly M was a disappointment . It still remains the cheapest M money can buy and there's something to say for that.
Theo D said:
They didn't test it... The cars known as a flop in eu and states. No pics no feature, and ,perhaps those journalists are F......ts, but are the guys at EVO , top gear and BMW performance magazine F...ts as well. Should we include clarkson in this list too, cos these are his thoughts as well.
calypso
///Member
Well I would be alot sadder to see my 36 go rather then the 46. I would imagine the price gap to narrow as fewer good examples become available. Right now I can sell my 36 for just about the same price as what I bought my 46.
Anyways, they are both awesome cars at the top of the BMW food chain and always the benchmark for all the manuafacturers out there.
All proper M cars are special.
Anyways, they are both awesome cars at the top of the BMW food chain and always the benchmark for all the manuafacturers out there.
All proper M cars are special.
the e36 m3 was criticised for looking to close to any other e36 from day one. the journalists favoured the original right from the start. the e36 m3 will out handle the e30 and out do it in every way. the original e30 was also well known to bite owners even more so than the e36. the e36 m3s bad reputation all comes from looking to plain we will see how long it remains the cheapest
Jerez
Well-known member
kilrone said:
Too easy to make an ordinary coupe look like like an e36 M3.... You just can't do that so easily with the e30 , 46 & 92.Besides BMW SA decided to introduce that 4 door model called the Individual ( why the hell do BMW SA and VW do that) so there too, a copy of an M kit on a normal saloon.
SO,,As for it becoming an icon- I can't see that ever happening
Jerez
Well-known member
Doomsdaya said:
It may have been the best performing car at the time in SA because we didn't have the e30 M 3 or the Cossie developed 190e to compare it to, but internationally this model of M was disappointing .... I'm not saying that but motoring journalists ( ex Porsche cup champions reporting ) have reported this too- I believe it's hoosain that called them Fa....ots and said that their views must be disregarded cos try don't know what they are saying.
I also said, there's something to be said about it being the cheapest M money can buy today because its reputation is a poor one.
I hope I've helped make you understand my previous comment
S
SP33DYV
Guest
Jerez, the 190e was available in SA in very limited numbers. I remember seeing one in our neighbourhood as a kid, walking from school every afternoon. But I also remember seeing a lot more 325iS's at the same time period. And even more e36 M3's.
S50B32turbo
New member
Having driven all the m3's to reach SA, i could never imagine jumping out an e36 m3 and saying, 'Disappointing'.:nonono:
Chavoos
Active member
"The E36 M3 launched in the U.S. in 1995 with a 240-hp, 3.0-liter inline-six, developed specially for the American market (in fact, BMW wasn’t planning on selling the M3 here at all but was ultimately persuaded by an enthusiasts’ petition). This engine was replaced in 1996 with a 3.2-liter version, offering identical hp but 11 more lb-ft of torque at lower rpm."
" The U.S.-spec drivetrain is similar to that of the E36 325i",
Car and Driver
These quotes prove that the US version was in fact not an M3
From another Car and Driver article on the Euro-spec E36 M3 (same as SA version) :
" The Euro-spec E36 we drove hit 115.6 mph on Ascari’s long straight—to the E30’s 110—the mellifluous turbine underhood heard but barely felt. The E36 feels lower, wider, and much stiffer than its predecessor, with a suspension that is clamped tighter, so cornering limits climb. It’ll pitch sideways far more readily, though the steering is more insulated and a little less organic than the E30’s.
With three body styles and only a modest bump in base price over the E30, plus a slew of variants introduced throughout its life span, the E36 gets credit for being the first to spread the M3 religion far and wide."
The E36 M3 is the best bang for the buck in the SA used car market.
raise:
" The U.S.-spec drivetrain is similar to that of the E36 325i",
Car and Driver
These quotes prove that the US version was in fact not an M3
From another Car and Driver article on the Euro-spec E36 M3 (same as SA version) :
" The Euro-spec E36 we drove hit 115.6 mph on Ascari’s long straight—to the E30’s 110—the mellifluous turbine underhood heard but barely felt. The E36 feels lower, wider, and much stiffer than its predecessor, with a suspension that is clamped tighter, so cornering limits climb. It’ll pitch sideways far more readily, though the steering is more insulated and a little less organic than the E30’s.
With three body styles and only a modest bump in base price over the E30, plus a slew of variants introduced throughout its life span, the E36 gets credit for being the first to spread the M3 religion far and wide."
The E36 M3 is the best bang for the buck in the SA used car market.
raise:
Jerez
Well-known member
Chavoos said:"The E36 M3 launched in the U.S. in 1995 with a 240-hp, 3.0-liter inline-six, developed specially for the American market (in fact, BMW wasn’t planning on selling the M3 here at all but was ultimately persuaded by an enthusiasts’ petition). This engine was replaced in 1996 with a 3.2-liter version, offering identical hp but 11 more lb-ft of torque at lower rpm."
" The U.S.-spec drivetrain is similar to that of the E36 325i",
Car and Driver
These quotes prove that the US version was in fact not an M3
From another Car and Driver article on the Euro-spec E36 M3 (same as SA version) :
" The Euro-spec E36 we drove hit 115.6 mph on Ascari’s long straight—to the E30’s 110—the mellifluous turbine underhood heard but barely felt. The E36 feels lower, wider, and much stiffer than its predecessor, with a suspension that is clamped tighter, so cornering limits climb. It’ll pitch sideways far more readily, though the steering is more insulated and a little less organic than the E30’s.
With three body styles and only a modest bump in base price over the E30, plus a slew of variants introduced throughout its life span, the E36 gets credit for being the first to spread the M3 religion far and wide."
The E36 M3 is the best bang for the buck in the SA used car market.
On the wiki page you would also known that the e36 came in about 3 or 4 variations. The Gt ,lightweight and a few others, even though its said that its a good track car, many say so because its relatively uncomplicated and cheap to mod.the write ups are from the EU journalists comparing the EU cars.
Explain why this is so then: you can pick up a E30 from as little as £11k in fair condition. You can buy an E46 (2005) for £10k in pretty good condition but you can buy an e36 with under 100k on the clock starting from £3k. What do you guys think has made this M lose over £8k compared to is predecessor . It's obviously carrying some baggage
Jerez said:Chavoos said:"The E36 M3 launched in the U.S. in 1995 with a 240-hp, 3.0-liter inline-six, developed specially for the American market (in fact, BMW wasn’t planning on selling the M3 here at all but was ultimately persuaded by an enthusiasts’ petition). This engine was replaced in 1996 with a 3.2-liter version, offering identical hp but 11 more lb-ft of torque at lower rpm."
" The U.S.-spec drivetrain is similar to that of the E36 325i",
Car and Driver
These quotes prove that the US version was in fact not an M3
From another Car and Driver article on the Euro-spec E36 M3 (same as SA version) :
" The Euro-spec E36 we drove hit 115.6 mph on Ascari’s long straight—to the E30’s 110—the mellifluous turbine underhood heard but barely felt. The E36 feels lower, wider, and much stiffer than its predecessor, with a suspension that is clamped tighter, so cornering limits climb. It’ll pitch sideways far more readily, though the steering is more insulated and a little less organic than the E30’s.
With three body styles and only a modest bump in base price over the E30, plus a slew of variants introduced throughout its life span, the E36 gets credit for being the first to spread the M3 religion far and wide."
The E36 M3 is the best bang for the buck in the SA used car market.
On the wiki page you would also known that the e36 came in about 3 or 4 variations. The Gt ,lightweight and a few others, even though its said that its a good track car, many say so because its relatively uncomplicated and cheap to mod.the write ups are from the EU journalists comparing the EU cars.
Explain why this is so then: you can pick up a E30 from as little as £11k in fair condition. You can buy an E46 (2005) for £10k in pretty good condition but you can buy an e36 with under 100k on the clock starting from £3k. What do you guys think has made this M lose over £8k compared to is predecessor . It's obviously carrying some baggage
You'd be lucky to pick up an e30 325i sport ( 2.5ltr as there are no 2.7s in the EU ) for £4k
Andy1GP
///Member
I haven't owned an E36 M3 but since your opinion is that it was a "disappointment" as titled in your thread, I assume you've had some first hand experience to justify it.
From what I've experienced it's an absolutely brilliant car, maybe not BMW's finest moment but a far cry from a disappointment.
That's just my opinion
From what I've experienced it's an absolutely brilliant car, maybe not BMW's finest moment but a far cry from a disappointment.
That's just my opinion
Hi there all am a very new member to this group , joined to learn more about my e46 2003 m3
you cant compair a e30 m3 to a e36 m3 nor a e46 to a e92 m3 they all in completely different errors of modern racing.
I had two e36 m3's previously an its true enjoyment from the first day you drive her to the day you let go.
Always remember BMW M3 is one of the M - division cars BMW made and put alot of Technology and performance and class in this vehcle
Good Night
you cant compair a e30 m3 to a e36 m3 nor a e46 to a e92 m3 they all in completely different errors of modern racing.
I had two e36 m3's previously an its true enjoyment from the first day you drive her to the day you let go.
Always remember BMW M3 is one of the M - division cars BMW made and put alot of Technology and performance and class in this vehcle
Good Night
Jerez
Well-known member
Andy1GP said:I haven't owned an E36 M3 but since your opinion is that it was a "disappointment" as titled in your thread, I assume you've had some first hand experience to justify it.
From what I've experienced it's an absolutely brilliant car, maybe not BMW's finest moment but a far cry from a disappointment.
That's just my opinion
Andy: these are quotes from from Top brass journalists ( ex Porsche cup champs) who have done the write up. Personally, I've never had the pleasure of the e36 but thought about buying one. So I started reading. Found some articles and they all seem to have the same opinion which has now steered me away from one and consider a 325i sport e30.
Guys... These are not my words rather the words off the autocar article
Evo PDF attached
http://www.m3post.com/goodiesforyou/evo.pdf
