M3 E36 Vs. M3 E46

[UPTsoccer4LIFE]

I've looked up the specs on both cars but i can't seem to find any difference in the specs or differences of maybe 10-15 HP whis isn't very significant in the mid 300 HP range. if there are no real differences in the in performance, what are the differences and if there are differences in the specs and i am simply wrong then either post the specs or a post a link where i can find the specs.

[johnyrengo]

Hmmmm I don't know where you're looking as far as the e36 goes, but i'm pretty sure it doesn't have over 300 horse, maybe more like 240. And with the e46 with about 333, I think there's quite a difference. The e36 does however has perfect 50/50 weight balance wheras the e46 doesn't.

[IR/IR04M3]

Federal E36Ms (95-99) had 240 hp, the E46M (2001-current) has 333, contrary to the above post BOTH have 50/50 weight distribution. The E46 has better performance by a decent margin in every category though the E36 arguably has better turn in and "feel" and the 95 in particular was more balance in terms of over/understeer, this is due to 235 rubber all around, the later E36s had more understeer dialed in with offset rubber and the E46 has even more. The E36 is far more tunable (the 95 the easiest since it was OBD I) HP gains on the S54 motor (E46) are few and expensive. The E46 (2002-) came with SMG II, GREAT for the track and the auto mode is also good for commuting, SMG I did come on the Euro E36 but not the federal version.

The E46 is 4.5 0-60 and 12.8 capable out of the box (manual clutch version, the SMG is a tick or two slower in a straight line), the E36 is a 5.5 0-60 high 13 car stock. On top of that the E46 is far more luxurious.

I owned a 95 E36 and I am on my second E46, they are both great cars.

Vandy

[MioCLK]

the U.S. versions e36 m3 had only 240hp, for both 3.0L / 3.2L but the Euro version started out with a 3.0L 286hp i think, then got a boost to 321hp and 3.2L

[BiMMa b0i M3]

the E36 M3's have 240hp with a 3.0L single VANOS engine

the E46 M3's have 333hp with a 3.2L double VANOS engine

pretty much no difference other than style, electronics, horsepower, and torque, and maybe balancing.

[[gff]kermit]

ok, its about the version u buy, the 3,2 can push 321hp, so not that big difference to the 46

[MioCLK]

Originally Posted by BiMMa b0i M3

the E36 M3's have 240hp with a 3.0L single VANOS engine

the E46 M3's have 333hp with a 3.2L double VANOS engine

pretty much no difference other than style, electronics, horsepower, and torque, and maybe balancing.

The E36 M3 started out with a 3.0L engine for both European and U.S. versions.
The Euro version had a horsepower rating of 286 and 240 for the U.S. version.
Starting from model year 1996, both versions were equipped with 3.2L engines, which the Euro version horsepower was rated at 321 with the U.S. version unchanged at 240.

[BiMMa b0i M3]

the euro may have been changed, but the chances of you importig a euro is not worth it, coz with that money invested in buying one in europe, and importing here in the states, you can get an E46 M3 iwth a Dinand S2 installed.

[BiMMa b0i M3]

Originally Posted by [gff]kermit

ok, its about the version u buy, the 3,2 can push 321hp, so not that big difference to the 46

I think that thread is mentioning the us spec, and not the euro spec. not that people can afford to have one imported, andothers think its a waste of money to get one imported, that is why they get a us one, and mod it up heavily.

[Porsche_lover]

I own an E36 and E46 and there is no question that the E46 is by FAR a better car, it drives more smooth, it handles WAY better, 0-100km/h is a second faster! Luxury etc the E46 is also much much better. If you want comfort etc go for an E46 if you want speed and playtoy convert the E36 into a monster of 480hp if you install vortech blower!

[[gff]kermit]

o shit, just forgot 2 remember that u guys live, or most of u live in the US, 4 me as german is a euro much better idea ah, but I'm 15 so I should forget that

[Paghmani]

[QUOTE=BiMMa b0i M3]the E36 M3's have 240hp with a 3.0L single VANOS engine

the E46 M3's have 333hp with a 3.2L double VANOS engine

pretty much no difference other than style, electronics, horsepower, and torque, and maybe balancing.[/quote]

Hi there im new .

A correction needed here if you dont mind.
The 95 us bound M3 boasted 3.0 liter 240hp expansion of the single throttle, dohc, six cylinder 325i engine. Euro customers with flared-nostril inline six with 6 individual throttles, greater flowing cylinder ports and stout 286hp. Next came the bumb to 3.2 liters for both markets and 321 hp for europe, US got 240 again though with more peak torque and fatter torque curve. The US edition had a far better low and mid-rpm power than the european. Bmw claims both US and Euro E36 M3's had the same acceleration up until about 80mph(Bimmer magazine issue 1, volume 1 april 1998) where the euro seperates to the big boys league. FYI The euro car had faster lap time than the twin turbo supra as noted in Car magazine even though the supra out accelerates the king of elegence.

Electronic difference is the climate control where 95 had fan nobs that would turn and the 96+ had digital climate control and minor other features.

[Big Block Bob]

The main difference is that the E46 engine blows up more often than the E36: http://members.roadfly.com/jason/m3engines.htm

[Sam I am]

Originally Posted by Big Block Bob

The main difference is that the E46 engine blows up more often than the E36: http://members.roadfly.com/jason/m3engines.htm

That's not true, it's only like 10% of the 2001 and 2002 year models that had strange failures, but they where also being raced.