E46 M3 vs. modified Z32 300zxTT

I've been doing alot of research and thinking and i just cant make up my mind. Im looking for a car that has the best of both worlds fast but can also be driven around on the weekends. something that will catch peoples eyes. The M3 has always been my dream car and everytime i see one it stil catches my eye, but i also love the look and also the potential of the z32. The way a figure it the m3 is goin to run me somewhere around 20-30 thousand for a decent used one which i would have to leave in stock form for awhile till it was paid off(which would'nt be a bad thing). But if i were to go with the z32 and put the same amount of money into it seeing that i am more the qualified to do all the labor it would be a beast. i cant make up my mind help me out it wouldnt really be a daily driver just mostly out on weekends and nights i feel like takin a ride. help me out thanks

As an E46 M3 owner I'll tell you to buy the M3 any day of the week.

It would be pretty hard to get a good condition E46 (01 - present) M3 w/ ~60,000 miles on it for less then $30,000. The resale value on BMWs is really high, so newer ones are tougher to buy used then a comperable Lexus, Audi, Benz, etc, which is great if you own one, but not so good if you want one.

The E36 M3 should be attainable for around $13,000 - $20,000. It doesn't have the power, interior, or styling of the E46, but there are alot of E36 owners who wouldn't trade their car in for the world. They are also a bit easier to modify then the E46.

The Z32 will be easier and much cheaper to get power out of, but they don't have the same charm and charisma that the BMW has. The M3 won't win in a drag race, but I bet you would like the car more in the long run.

that's a real tough choice, two very awesome cars. the M3 has all the "get up and go" that a typical sports car has but it's also very luxurious, handles great and is really good looking.

...but with the Z32 you can go a lot faster for considerably less money. a 96 Z32TT would go for $12k-$15K. that leaves a whole extra $15,000+ to make it fast with.

i'm not really sure which one i'd choose.

the z.

yea you are right dinan 30k is on the low side maybe it will run me alittle more i also have some good connections through dealerships so if they took a decent one in on trade i would be one of the first to know. but i have a question for u as an e46 owner ive heard alot about the 60,000 mile service being pretty expensive i can do all the work but ive heard that the parts are a pretty penny have u priced it or done it? as far as the e36 i used to love them but the e46 cought my eye and no offense to e36 owners but i dont think they compare unless u were able to get your hands on a european version i dunno its a very hard choice i would love to have both cars wish i could afford it.

also bp2 if i were to buy a z32 it wouldnt be a 96 i wouldnt want to deal with all the obd2 stuff. but thanks for your reply

also bp2 if i were to buy a z32 it wouldnt be a 96 i wouldnt want to deal with all the obd2 stuff. but thanks for your reply
i didn't think of that. well, that'll leave you with that much more money to mod with.

i would go with the zed.

I'm not sure on the 60,000 mile service because I am only around 40,000 miles, but yes, parts from BMW tend to be rather expensive compared to American or Japanese cars.

Something you may want to consider is waiting for the E90 M3 to come out in a year or so. Generally the resale prices for the previous generation drop when a new version is introduced, so you might see a drop in price for the E46. I think that there is already evidence that E46 non-M3s being easier to pick up.

Finally, have you driven both of the cars? Usually that makes it easier to pick one.

yea ive had a few people tell me to wait for the e90 to come out, it is a good idea but waiting a year is the hard part but if i were to go with the z it would probably be around a year for me to finish the build so that is another consideration and yes i have driven both cars i was more impressed with the e46 with them both in stock form but the z wouldnt be left stock. i think too much and can never make up my mind

If I were in your shoes I would measure up my priorities and see which car fits them the best. If drag racing and big power numbers are what you really want, go with the 300zx. The stock turbos make it alot easier to get power out of. The M3 is a far better all around car. Can you really see yourself with the 300zx in the long run? Good luck with your choice.

Interesting comparo here. I happen to like both cars a great deal. The Z is a great looking car imo, looks very much like a sports car should, the Bimmer is also attractive. The Bimmer is classier, and I believe it's faster and better handling, although with a couple of mods the Z could be right there. Personally I'd go with something like a G35, but out of the two the Z32 simply due to cost, it's much cheaper (for good reason) but it's still a great car.

i were to go with the z it would probably be around a year for me to finish the build

Perhaps it would help to know how much you are looking to modify the Z. If you are talking engine builds then you are getting into 500+rwhp.

The M3 is a far better all around car.

First, "better all around" is highly subjective to what one is looking for in a car. Even having driven a rather well modded E36 I don't believe the BMW has any significant lead over the Z, if any at all.

As for stock verus stock, the two are pretty close. The BMW takes a slight lead in standing acceleration (0-60 in 5.1 vs 5.5) being slightly lighter (25-100 lbs depending on year and trim level) and having a decent lead in horsepower (333 vs 300). It also maintains a good lead in braking. The Z pulls a bit more torque (283 vs 268) and has great mid-range power. As for handling, the skidpad numbers and slalom speeds vary so much inbetween the different reviews, with either car taking the lead depending on where you are reading, that it's suffice to say they are both exceptional cars in the corners. BMWs are famous for their quick feet but anyone who has driven a Z knows they aren't to be discounted.

As for upgrading, as stated the stock turbos on the Z are a great asset in this respect. A few simple bolt-on parts and a new ECU will put the Z in 400hp territory fairly easy. A full set of slotted rotors, pads, steel brake lines, and urethane bushings front to rear will run around $600 and take an already great car to a higher level of performance than you'll ever really make use of on the street.

As for catching the eyes of the masses, well that too is highly subjective but to me the BMW line has never looked very appealing. Even with some good lines over the hood and windshield and in two door configuration it always just looked like a styled sedan to me. On the Z side of it, I've been asked if it was a Lamborghini.

superhigh interesting that you would pick the g35 over both of these cars i would like to hear ur reasoning this could be another addition to the comparison here. aslo Broke i would be doing some pretty extensive engine work i plan on spending about the same amount on either car so that could leave me with between 15 and 20 k to put into the z32. as far as looks goes in my opinion both in stock form i would go with the e46 buts thats not the only consideration to me thats probably the last one on the list and also they make some very nice body kits for the z32 that will help in that aspect. thank you for your replies

ps- i believe someone could think it was a lamborghini some ppl just dont have a clue i was once asked if my old hyundai was a bmw thought that was pretty funny

superhigh interesting that you would pick the g35 over both of these cars i would like to hear ur reasoning this could be another addition to the comparison here. aslo Broke i would be doing some pretty extensive engine work i plan on spending about the same amount on either car so that could leave me with between 15 and 20 k to put into the z32. as far as looks goes in my opinion both in stock form i would go with the e46 buts thats not the only consideration to me thats probably the last one on the list and also they make some very nice body kits for the z32 that will help in that aspect. thank you for your replies

ps- i believe someone could think it was a lamborghini some ppl just dont have a clue i was once asked if my old hyundai was a bmw thought that was pretty funny

I like the G35 coupe (you know, it's the current Nissan Skyline in Japan) but for performance there's no reason to choose it over the 350z. It's the same car except for the G35 is more luxurious. If it were me picking from your current choices, I'd get a late 90's M3 and send it off to active autowerk and run some boost.