BMW M3 - E36 Question....
- Thread starter Virdi
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I think the easiest way to tell without popping the bonnet, is the Evo's clear turn indicators, and the side skirts which arc in the middle rather that protruding slighty at each end.
Got a pic here somewhere....
edit: here we go
Got a pic here somewhere....
edit: here we go
Last edited:
a further piece of evo trivia for you - if you look closely at the double vanos unit somewhere near the front, you will notice a badge of the company that made this particular unit - Rolls Royce of all people.....
...probably why the darn things were the engines weakest link
...probably why the darn things were the engines weakest link
hahaha never noticed that. did a lot of work on a couple of them years back when an uncle of mine had one and so did a cousin (i think).
the m3 cabrio has a lower subframe brace that can go directly onto the coupe. cant remember if anyone got round to fitting it though. lightweight flywheels make a big differnce on those too.
had tons of fun back then
the m3 cabrio has a lower subframe brace that can go directly onto the coupe. cant remember if anyone got round to fitting it though. lightweight flywheels make a big differnce on those too.
had tons of fun back then
I've got an Evo and love it loads, proper good car to drive, reliable and no traction control--Yippee!
Only early 96 Evo's had Aluminium doors, very rare.
Later Evo's have a different style wheel - 10 spoke design
Evo's had 6 speed transmission, 3.0 5 speed
Different steering wheel
Not too sure about the Evo's having M5 brakes, I've read this too but every one I've seen has single piston calipers, unlike the M5 4 pots....
Mine is Techno Violet with Sliver "Vader" seats.
Most Evo's get around 310 bhp, unlike their quoted 321bhp, bit of a BMW marketing ploy 100/litre, I'm told they used a special "map" for the ECU to produce those figures for release.
I've had mine rolling roaded 4 times now and all have been around 325 bhp, so it is achievable.
Got the cab X-brace as well!
Highly recommended car, but take time to look for a good one. Faster than most Jap stuff and more subtle as well.
Only early 96 Evo's had Aluminium doors, very rare.
Later Evo's have a different style wheel - 10 spoke design
Evo's had 6 speed transmission, 3.0 5 speed
Different steering wheel
Not too sure about the Evo's having M5 brakes, I've read this too but every one I've seen has single piston calipers, unlike the M5 4 pots....
Mine is Techno Violet with Sliver "Vader" seats.
Most Evo's get around 310 bhp, unlike their quoted 321bhp, bit of a BMW marketing ploy 100/litre, I'm told they used a special "map" for the ECU to produce those figures for release.
I've had mine rolling roaded 4 times now and all have been around 325 bhp, so it is achievable.
Got the cab X-brace as well!
Highly recommended car, but take time to look for a good one. Faster than most Jap stuff and more subtle as well.
Easiest way to tell the difference is the 3.0 has a 5 speed box and the Evo has a 6 speed - it's downfall may I add.
I looked around for months for a decent M3 and decided on the 3.0. It's marginally slower although whenever I came up against an E46, it struggled to beat me - only past 100mph does the E46's torque come into play.
The single VANOS unit is 1000000x more reliable than the dual in the Evo, also the 3.0 has better alloys
Both amazing cars, most fun you will ever have, the diff is amazing, the second the back end steps out you have perfect control and know exactly what it is doing.
Oh and power..... remember when Jeremy drove the aston martin from 0-140 in 4th... I could do that in my M3 (although only to about 120). Torque is no issue
I looked around for months for a decent M3 and decided on the 3.0. It's marginally slower although whenever I came up against an E46, it struggled to beat me - only past 100mph does the E46's torque come into play.
The single VANOS unit is 1000000x more reliable than the dual in the Evo, also the 3.0 has better alloys
Both amazing cars, most fun you will ever have, the diff is amazing, the second the back end steps out you have perfect control and know exactly what it is doing.
Oh and power..... remember when Jeremy drove the aston martin from 0-140 in 4th... I could do that in my M3 (although only to about 120). Torque is no issue
Soldato
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- 10 Mar 2006
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cloudy said:
Tell that to my old Renault 19...
And that is the difference. Cars like the Aston can do it from 1000rpm with ease, most cars need heaps of clutch and as you said its pointless.Jez said:Every car ive owned has been capable of pulling off in top on flat groundObviously it takes ages and is utterly pointless, but they could do it.
As has been said only early evos had the ali doors (mine did), they made the 3.0 GT M3 (all in green with a different spoiler) as an end of line get rid of what we have left deal and to make it more desirable, the ali doors gave it less weight. The left over doors were used in the first lot of Evos
also the single vanos 3.0 has only one throttle body where the 3.2 dual vanos has one on each 6 cylinders. Also the 6 speed box in the evo is a give away.
The 3.0 didn't get the "Vadar" style seats and I think ther were some differences in the centre console vent (one big one instead of 2)
The evos never really hit there quoted bhp where the 3.0 did and sometimes even produced more. The evo with its 6 speed box was faster and had a better top end but it was all much of a muchness
People tended to go for the 3.0 due to the fear of vanos failure which was a little bit exagerated but a genuine concern (mine had a change out before I bought her). Regular oil changes and vanos filter changes helped
Easiest way to check from the outside is the reg
although there is so many 316 with m3 kit on them I was glad to get an e46 also as my mate found out on mine along with other m3 owners pikies like to strip bits off your m3 for their 1k piece of crap to "m3 it up" gits
Amazing performance with no waiting for vtec or turbo lag, an astounding chassie with top notch feed back. Far better to drive performance wise than the e46 M3 but not as comfy (if that matters) showing its age and to common and prone to "losing" bits off of it
A true classic
also the single vanos 3.0 has only one throttle body where the 3.2 dual vanos has one on each 6 cylinders. Also the 6 speed box in the evo is a give away.
The 3.0 didn't get the "Vadar" style seats and I think ther were some differences in the centre console vent (one big one instead of 2)
The evos never really hit there quoted bhp where the 3.0 did and sometimes even produced more. The evo with its 6 speed box was faster and had a better top end but it was all much of a muchness
People tended to go for the 3.0 due to the fear of vanos failure which was a little bit exagerated but a genuine concern (mine had a change out before I bought her). Regular oil changes and vanos filter changes helped
Easiest way to check from the outside is the reg
although there is so many 316 with m3 kit on them I was glad to get an e46 also as my mate found out on mine along with other m3 owners pikies like to strip bits off your m3 for their 1k piece of crap to "m3 it up" gitsAmazing performance with no waiting for vtec or turbo lag, an astounding chassie with top notch feed back. Far better to drive performance wise than the e46 M3 but not as comfy (if that matters) showing its age and to common and prone to "losing" bits off of it
A true classic