E46 M3

[Tinbasherdan]

nankang ditch finders

Helping out at a friends garage and I had to take another friends 2.8 Capri for a shakedown run, was a track car and the motor was a little breathed on. Anyways for taking it to te garage he put some spare rims with nankangs on, and I swear for the 20 minute shakedown run I don't think there was a point where all four wheels were inline, it was like driving on tyres made from old Tupperware. Might as well have just covered them in diesel
Incidentally when I got my old 200 tdi discovery it also had nankangs on, roundabouts in the rain were entertaining

 

[ukracer]

Anyone on here had one? Thoughts, pros cons (other than Vanos issues, cracked subframe mounts and running costs...)?

My son has one....I will ask.

 

[Jim Davey]

My son has one....I will ask.

Thanks, plenty of car/bike people on here it seems.

 

[Jim Davey]

Just took one for a test drive, ive been putting it off because I knew I'd want one even more afterwards.

It was everything I hoped for

 

[HMB]

they are much fun

 

[Jim Davey]

Not quite as fast as I imagined, but more than fast enough.

 

[HMB]

It'll hit the limiter @155 but you can get that removed

 

[MattH]

Another option for about the same money is a 335i coupe e91. Twin turbo 3l with 306bhp and can be tuned safely to 380bhp. They changed it to a single turbo just before BMW bought out the new 6 cylinder twin turbo M3.
Only thing it's missing over an M3 is an LSD so it can be a little tail happy but that's just part of the fun.
I had one for a couple of years, never had an M3 but had lots of 3l e46's and the 335i just blows them away.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Just took one for a test drive, ive been putting it off because I knew I'd want one even more afterwards.

Ahhh...see....you've let it get under your skin - there's no hope for you now.

 

[Jim Davey]

I know, I'm already thinking what I can sell to make it happen.

 

[Jim Davey]

That's the one I went to look at, they had a cheaper one, with the SMG gearbox which I'm not keen on but haven't driven but it did have the CSL style 19" rims and they looked really good.
If I can get a black or gunmetal manual with those rims I'll be a happy bunny.

 

[arther dailey]

Nice, and gunmetal..well thats just the icing on the cake really..Arther

 

[HMB]

@Jim Davey im now wanting another

 

[ukracer]

Not quite as fast as I imagined, but more than fast enough.

Had it been mapped??

 

[Jim Davey]

No idea, it was on a test drive so I only got to cane it through first and second

It wasn't in sport mode if that makes much difference.

 

[ukracer]

No idea, it was on a test drive so I only got to cane it through first and second

It wasn't in sport mode if that makes much difference.

DOnt ask me lol. I just know my son went to a drift day his Friend had been given and took the gaffas M3 round the track. Reckoned it was no where near as quick as his own. He is doing an oil change in the morning I will ask him. 90 quid just for the Oil...crazy IMHO but he does not drink, smoke or do drugs so fair play.

 

[dannyp]

fussy not so littel petal that e46 engine is mid. they do need there fandango oil and its not worth useing the slightly cheeper oils ether when its costing enough may as well go the littel extra for the full fandango. few people i know who play hard with them have oil analasys done on ther oil ever now and again just to keep an eye on how the motor is fairing. if is done miles and been played hard with ( why else would you have an m ) and keep playing hard with it it's going to need a bit of a rebuild at some point

 

[dannyp]

thats sounds a bit negative, but it's not meant that way. IT's an M it's allowed to be demanding

 

[Jim Davey]

I don't mind getting my hands dirty if the car warrants it. An M3 would definitely be worth working on.

 

[Jim Davey]

I get all the arguments for turbos, and I've had fun in forced induction cars. But I love the purity and response of a sorted naturally aspirated engine, and the noise!
I'll be going everywhere in 2nd gear with the windows down heading for tunnels in the first month!