New Car : BMW M3 E46

[[TW]Fox]

I don't think I'll ever understand why people buy an M power car - set up properly by people who know far more about how to set a car up than us lot ever will - and then set about fitting aftermarket suspension etc. I get it for Gibbo as its a track toy but for a daily car why do you think you know better than BMW M?

It's an M car - it's set up to drive properly for the enthusiast.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

I agree, I can't imagine how it would be any better nor do I need any more

 

[pepsilol]

I don't think I'll ever understand why people buy an M power car - set up properly by people who know far more about how to set a car up than us lot ever will - and then set about fitting aftermarket suspension etc. I get it for Gibbo as its a track toy but for a daily car why do you think you know better than BMW M?

It's an M car - it's set up to drive properly for the enthusiast.

Because a factory setup is a compromised set up. It will factor in all sorts of roads and find a neutral point to satisfy all those criteria.

Some people would like a fast twitchy setup for back roads which is completely useless on the Mway but they wouldn't care as they never go on the mway.

Whereas M will set it up to be good for back roads and good for mway, hence compromised.

This is why the mod scene exists.

( Saying that, anyone modding these sorts of cars is usually a moron anyway and the mods are pointless and a hinderance)

 

[Muffin`]

Because a factory setup is a compromised set up. It will factor in all sorts of roads and find a neutral point to satisfy all those criteria.

What for like... the unpredictable roads of Europe found on average about 2 miles from your house ?

Modding an M car demands serious knowledge, money rand commitment, a 6 grand M3 will never see that, stay stock.

 

[fonzee]

Love it

He may change his cars a lot but he's no milanochris

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Who is milanochris?

 

[Tomcat825]

So buying a slightly more track focused suspension set up with poly bushes makes me a moron? Considering I'll be tracking it 5-6 times a year plus a trip to the ring in October, I don't see an issue with focusing slightly more towards track use than just road use (as mentioned above by pepsilol).

Oh and the Miltek Backbox? So I want to get a more enjoyable sound out of the car... but of course, because it's an M3, BMW's M Power division knew exactly what sound everyone wants out of the car.



Obviously modding an M3 isn't for everyone, but asking if the OP has any plans to mod it doesn't kill anyone and I don't think any different of the OP because he doesn't plan to! (Might I add again that I didn't plan to )
Each to their own... and each to their specific use of the car tbh.

 

[Muffin`]

So buying a slightly more track focused suspension set up with poly bushes makes me a moron? Considering I'll be tracking it 5-6 times a year plus a trip to the ring in October, I don't see an issue with focusing slightly more towards track use than just road use (as mentioned above by pepsilol).

Oh and the Miltek Backbox? So I want to get a more enjoyable sound out of the car... but of course, because it's an M3, BMW's M Power division knew exactly what sound everyone wants out of the car.



Obviously modding an M3 isn't for everyone, but asking if the OP has any plans to mod it doesn't kill anyone and I don't think any different of the OP because he doesn't plan to! (Might I add again that I didn't plan to )
Each to their own... and each to their specific use of the car tbh.

Have you driven a freshly bushed and sprung M3? How is polybushing better other than the lower cost?

 

[HummuH1]

I don't think I'll ever understand why people buy an M power car - set up properly by people who know far more about how to set a car up than us lot ever will - and then set about fitting aftermarket suspension etc. I get it for Gibbo as its a track toy but for a daily car why do you think you know better than BMW M?

It's an M car - it's set up to drive properly for the enthusiast.

I agree, I can't imagine how it would be any better nor do I need any more

It's a marmite thing but whilst the E46 M3 is one of the best production cars ever built, it's was not the perfect machine when it left the factory. As mentioned before, it's a well balanced compromise which is a challenge all manufacturers face.

Things like woefully inadequate brakes (even on the road), a tendency to eat RTAB's, rear springs snapping on a regular basis, top mounts going, window seals failing were all regular complaints since launch. That's not to mention the early recalls and subsequent sub-frame issues.

The E46 M3 can be massively improved upon. Try a bog standard car then try one that's had some proper brake and suspension upgrades and tell me it can't be bettered, it can by a long way.

That said, after spunking £000's on mods when I owned them if I was doing it again for mostly road use with occasional track-day, the only things I'd upgrade are brake hoses, brake fluid, brake pads, fully polybush and short-shifter on a manual. One you've done that, it becomes an even better A-roader.

 

[rjk]

Have you driven a freshly bushed and sprung M3? How is polybushing better other than the lower cost?

Gibbo rebushed his whole car with OEM for less than a Polybush kit.

 

[Muffin`]

Gibbo rebushed his whole car with OEM for less than a Polybush kit.

Indefensible then

 

[Housey]

Things like woefully inadequate brakes (even on the road), a tendency to eat RTAB's, rear springs snapping on a regular basis, top mounts going, window seals failing were all regular complaints since launch. That's not to mention the early recalls and subsequent sub-frame issues.

Not really. The brakes are fine for road use, some would argue fine for track use too and this has since, some 14 years later turned into M3 brakes a woeful which is not true. The rear springs are an issue but didn't really show themselves for a while and window seals and top mounts were not discussed much if at all when launched. The recalls were, not least a faulty batch stateside that blew engines around end of 2001 and the then major bottom end recall on 2003 back cars. Back in the day most of us argued about wheels, SMG and who went 3 mile over their running in service interval and how BMW were a bunch of hunts, I think that's how it's spelt.

 

[Housey]

Gibbo rebushed his whole car with OEM for less than a Polybush kit.

Polybush is one of those words that seems to be column A1 on any modders spreadsheet, moving performance air filter for extra 200bhp to A2

 

[Akagi]

I don't think I'll ever understand why people buy an M power car - set up properly by people who know far more about how to set a car up than us lot ever will - and then set about fitting aftermarket suspension etc. I get it for Gibbo as its a track toy but for a daily car why do you think you know better than BMW M?

It's an M car - it's set up to drive properly for the enthusiast.

BMW have to balance the quality of components they use and sew it up into a complete package which can be sold at a certain price and will be suitable for many different markets. I doubt a £50K car has £5K worth of suspension on it for example, so I wouldn't be surprised if a £5K kit designed specifically for the car would be better.

Obviously it would likely be a different story if someone were to stick £800 coilovers on and lower it a little.

 

[4T5]

Preferred your Z.

Gone off the E46 a bit recently. Don't get me wrong, its an awesome car. But they're just common as muck.

That rear diffuser looks a bit halfords IMHO as well.

I think BMW got the styling of the car spot on, no need to change a thing.

I agree, Lovely car but it seems all the Herberts are buying them now where as the Z is still a nice car to see & looks special to me.

 

[Housey]

BMW have to balance the quality of components they use and sew it up into a complete package which can be sold at a certain price and will be suitable for many different markets. I doubt a £50K car has £5K worth of suspension on it for example, so I wouldn't be surprised if a £5K kit designed specifically for the car would be better.

Obviously it would likely be a different story if someone were to stick £800 coilovers on and lower it a little.

Which is what 99% will do sadly but will talk in minute detail about how much better it is than stock when in fact their stock is 12 year old knackered suspension.

 

[Akagi]

Which is what 99% will do sadly but will talk in minute detail about how much better it is than stock when in fact their stock is 12 year old knackered suspension.

I suppose replacing knackered M-Power suspension with a relatively cheap suspension kit (£800~ region) isn't so bad though, and may feel better in a number of ways. New OEM suspension would be better, but I have no idea how much it would cost to replace the suspension with all new OEM parts.

 

[Housey]

I suppose replacing knackered M-Power suspension with a relatively cheap suspension kit (£800~ region) isn't so bad though, and may feel better in a number of ways. New OEM suspension would be better, but I have no idea how much it would cost to replace the suspension with all new OEM parts.

It's like buying a lovely diamond and chipping away at it and plugging the holes with filler though. looks right until you dig deeper.

 

[Akagi]

To be perfectly honest, if I bought an E46 330CI Sport or something, and discovered that it had newish £700 Bilsteins fitted, I wouldn't be too bothered by it if it rode well. But that is because I am clueless.

 

[HummuH1]

Not really. The brakes are fine for road use, some would argue fine for track use too and this has since, some 14 years later turned into M3 brakes a woeful which is not true. The rear springs are an issue but didn't really show themselves for a while and window seals and top mounts were not discussed much if at all when launched. The recalls were, not least a faulty batch stateside that blew engines around end of 2001 and the then major bottom end recall on 2003 back cars. Back in the day most of us argued about wheels, SMG and who went 3 mile over their running in service interval and how BMW were a bunch of hunts, I think that's how it's spelt.

I know you know your stuff, but the brakes are not up to the standard of the rest of the car. 15 minutes of A road blasting and the OEM set-up would start to fade and die quickly unless you backed off, you remember that? On a track it kicks in fast.

That's not acceptable IMO on a car where everything else is damn near bang on. It's not even the single piston calipers, they were actually good, it was just they way the whole system dealt with heat in OEM form, in my opinion.

All I know is on all my M3's I kept the standard set up bar ATE Superblue, Goodrich hoses and PF pads. Fade was still there, but took much longer to get to the point where you weren't sure if you had brakes.

It's one of the reasons why the AP/Alcon (or other random BBK's) upgrade became pretty much the first mod any enthusiast did if they were even contemplating going near a track. Not only did they improve brake performance but they also improved the heat handling, particularly as the above upgrades with, suitable fluid and pads, were done at the same time.

As you can tell, I was not a fan of the brakes.