BMW E46 3 Series

[adz13091982]

Does anyone know of a 1:24 BMW E46 3 Series Kit?

[sjelic]

Quick Skins used to have racing kit E46, no civil version as a kit.

[MPWR]

No.

[sanzvictor]

Originally Posted by sjelic

Quick Skins used to have racing kit E46, no civil version as a kit.

Any good source for that Quick Skins kits?

[sjelic]

Originally Posted by sanzvictor

Any good source for that Quick Skins kits?

try to ask here, maybe they can help http://islandcollectibles.net/

[360spider]

Sadly there are no (not a single freaking one) kits of modern BMWs in plastic. I think e36 and Z3 were the last ones that were kitted. Shame really.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by 360spider

Shame really.

Probably so. But not so big a shame as the fact that lately Munich can bother to make anything worth kitting in plastic.

Even the new One is just another oversized, overweight, overpowered and overpriced 'luxury performance coupe'. Can't even bring myself to bother to test drive one.

[360spider]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Probably so. But not so big a shame as the fact that lately Munich can bother to make anything worth kitting in plastic.

Even the new One is just another oversized, overweight, overpowered and overpriced 'luxury performance coupe'. Can't even bring myself to bother to test drive one.

Well... have you driven any of the latest ///Ms? Both M Roadster and especialy M Coupe are fantastic, and look IMO incredible. M6 is simply astonishing, and I love the looks (obviously, my daily driver is 645Ci). I really like latest BMW design more then "classic" BMW design, and I think every M car of late is worth kitting in plastic.

[wadny]

I have the Quickskins kit, and it is an E36, not a 46. Nice kit, though. The best I've been able to do for an E46 (I drive a 330i) is a diecast kit of a 328 coupe that I picked up on eBay a while ago. It's not bad, and could be turned into a decent model with some work.

Larry

[MPWR]

Difference in taste, I guess. I just can't get into them, and it's definitely not for a lack of trying.

I spent Saturday helping a friend swap a new set of Bilsteins onto his M'ster (the only Z4 M Roadster in the US on Bilsteins, he'll tell anyone who will listen). It rocks- great power, terrific handling (better now)- and it's as heavy as my M3. Why?! (And it's just- ugly. )

BMW just can't be bothered to build a sportscar anymore. Everything is weighted down with lux crap- it's like for the last 10 years, BMW has tried as hard as it could to become Mercedes. Sure the power and handling is good for large cars- but why only large cars?

My wife is looking for a car, and we've recently concluded to our surprise and dismay that there's nothing BMW is making that we would consider owning. OK, maybe the Mini- if it were rear wheel drive.

Does your Six have a dipstick?

[360spider]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Difference in taste, I guess. I just can't get into them, and it's definitely not for a lack of trying.

I spent Saturday helping a friend swap a new set of Bilsteins onto his M'ster (the only Z4 M Roadster in the US on Bilsteins, he'll tell anyone who will listen). It rocks- great power, terrific handling (better now)- and it's as heavy as my M3. Why?! (And it's just- ugly. )

BMW just can't be bothered to build a sportscar anymore. Everything is weighted down with lux crap- it's like for the last 10 years, BMW has tried as hard as it could to become Mercedes. Sure the power and handling is good for large cars- but why only large cars?

My wife is looking for a car, and we've recently concluded to our surprise and dismay that there's nothing BMW is making that we would consider owning. OK, maybe the Mini- if it were rear wheel drive.

Does your Six have a dipstick?

Why does the weight matter? I hear it all the time, heavy, heavy. Cars get better mileage, more efficient engines, better handling, less emissions, and in addition to all that they are safer, faster, more luxurious, and... recyclable. So why does the weight matter? That "heavy" M roadster can do everything E30, E36, and E46 M3 can do - and more - better, faster, using less fuel. Weight here is irrelevant.

BMW does build sportscars. Not barebone racecars, but sportscars. Yes, they are luxurious (depends on your tastes), very complicated and full of gizmos. That is what market wants, and if BMW didn't build these cars they would be long gone.

And who does really build a "real" sportscar? You can say that Ferrari can't be bothered to build a sportscar anymore - all the cars they designed and built lately are overweight overpowered luxurious money making pieces of machinery. They are nothing compared to the 62 GTO, hell they not even close to F40. Not a single mainstream/big car manufacturer builds a sportscar anymore if I follow your logic.

And yes, Six has a dipstick - why? I actually had to go to the garage and pop the hood open to check - I have not used a dipstick in like 10 years. I seriously don't understand why would somebody want to change their own oil on a $85K car.

[ericmaxman]

Originally Posted by 360spider

Sadly there are no (not a single freaking one) kits of modern BMWs in plastic. I think e36 and Z3 were the last ones that were kitted. Shame really.

Darn. I do wished that someone out the would make the M3, M5 or just any recent (2005 onwards) kits. Seriously, I like them.

[jano11]

Originally Posted by 360spider

Why does the weight matter? I hear it all the time, heavy, heavy. Cars get better mileage, more efficient engines, better handling, less emissions, and in addition to all that they are safer, faster, more luxurious, and... recyclable. So why does the weight matter? That "heavy" M roadster can do everything E30, E36, and E46 M3 can do - and more - better, faster, using less fuel. Weight here is irrelevant.

Can't agree with that.
If a car is lighter, than it needs a smaller engine, less fuel, so less emissions to do exactly the same thing as a heavy one.

The only reason to make a car full of useless gadgets (any car in the luxury class has them nowadays) is to be able to earn more money. and I for one don't need more than a car that has good kinetic performance, a radio and maybe air conditioning.

Take the F40 and the Porsche 959, I know which one of them is a real car, and which one is a truckload of gizmos.

[360spider]

Originally Posted by jano11

Can't agree with that.
If a car is lighter, than it needs a smaller engine, less fuel, so less emissions to do exactly the same thing as a heavy one.

True, but that is IF everything else is being equal. Engine technology has changed so much than heavier cars with bigger engines can actually do stuff lighter cars with smaller engines used to do, more efficiently, etc. Facts don't lie, just look at the figures for above mentioned vehicles.

[voyageur]

Allright fellas,

1. the weight is your enemy
2. the weight is your enemy
3. the weight is your enemy

...but: all of the above only applies if you want to go into the twisties. If you are interested in straight line performance (read: Autobahn/Interstate) only, weight and wind resistance really don't matter because they can be overcome with enough premium fuel fed ponies.

I agree that new "heavy" cars can do everything the old "lightweight" cars can. But, that's if you look at the numbers only. It is a fact that weight translates into higher centrifugal force. This in turn means, that the cornering force needs to be equally higher to compensate the centrifugal force and keep you on the black strip of tarmac in between the weeds.

From my experience I can tell you that it is a lot easier (and thus a lot more fun) to throw a lightweight car into and around bends and corners. You can't beat physics and it really does make a difference if your car is a couple of hundred pounds lighter. Example? Take two cars, one weighing about double than the other, but with a similar power-to-weight ratio. Run them on the same road/track under the same conditions and you'll feel the difference.
depending on the layout of the road/track the outcome will most likely be as follows:

1. only (tight) bends and corners = lighter car will likely be quicker
2. many corners, few strights = lighter car will likely be quicker
3. equal amount of corners and straights = hmmm.... depends
4. many straights, few corners = heavier, more powerful car might be quicker
5. many straights, no corners = heavier, more powerful car will likely be quicker

Conclusion:
The twistier the road is - the easier it will be to outrun a heavyweight car with a light and nimble one

Am I talking from experience? Just ask sportracer02, dasWiesel or Mikezibit which manufacturers I worked for as a testdriver.

Cheers
SEB

PS: It is not in my interest to fuel a discussion, just wanted to state some facts