I always thought that people chose the E36 because the OBDI computer is friendlier than the OBDII for racing purposes.

 

Ummmmm sedan vs coupe? Apples vs oranges?

 

But to be fair the sedan has no sunroof.
Wild Irish still coming up with the good answers.
Go Kentucky.

 

You'd need to weigh the E36 on those same scales to make a valid comparison. You're criticizing published weights of the E46 but using published weights of the E36 to make your point.

Also I'm not sure anyone ever argued the E46 is 200 lbs heavier. Maybe the M3 yeah, but not E36/M vs E46 non-M. I've always said the E46 non-M weighs about 60-80 lbs heavier than an E36 M3 similarly equipped with manuals.

Also that 330 w/ sunroof, possibly heavier wheels, larger brakes, axles, etc. should be more than 40 lbs heavier than a 323 with no sunroof and grandma wheels. Not sure what's going on there.

 

Also that 330 w/ sunroof, possibly heavier wheels, larger brakes, axles, etc. should be more than 40 lbs heavier than a 323 with no sunroof and grandma wheels. Not sure what's going on there.

Why are you talking when you don't know about the topic?

E46 sedan weighs 50 LB more than equal trim coupe
E36 sedan weighs 50 LB less than equal trim coupe

You'd need to weigh the E36 on those same scales to make a valid comparison

There are plenty of threads were people weighted there E36, number seems to be around 3200 LB which confirms the fact they weigh the same.

Last edited by Indiana; Today at 10:33 PM.

Euro models don't count, we are specifically talking about USA market.

 

Oh for the record, myth not busted here. The E46 is heavier than the E36. But that's not a knock on the E46. The E46 employs various weight saving materials vs the E36. Considering its larger and sturdier than the E36, the additional weight it does have over the E36 isn't bad at all.

 

so you haven't weighed an E36?

diff. numbers are published some with and some without weight driver+luggage,
clarification here
http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=919364

anyway, checked 2 sites and sedans E36 328i vs E46 328i have diff. of weight of 75 kgs 165 lbs
and do think this is correct as if i'm not mistaken EU weight (so with driver) is 75 kgs more as mentioned on these sites (as remembered for my E46 330i is 1505 kgs EU weight)

(just coïncidence here the 75 kgs for diff. in weight and also weight of driver!)

http://www.cars-data.com/en/bmw-328i-specs/5431
http://www.cars-data.com/en/bmw-328i-specs/5482

http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/b...com/cars/bmw-3-series-sedan-e36-1991.html#aeng_bmw-3-series-e36-sedan-1991-328i
http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/bmw-3-series-e46-1998.html#aeng_bmw-3-series-e46-1998-328i

 

Mango, reg. these BMW AG numbers, can you find them online?

 

http://www.linquist.net/system/files/E462000i.pdf
http://www.linquist.net/system/files/E462002i.pdf
http://www.bmwforum.gr/bmwmanuals/e36manual_98.pdf

 

curious what diff. with E30 is

found 2895 lbs 1313 kg (for North Am.) for E30 325i sedan
as Unloaded weight, ready for road, tank full
according to FMVSS 110

def. of Unloaded weight acc. to FMVSS 110:
"Unloaded vehicle weight" is defined as "the weight of a vehicle with maximum capacity of all fluids necessary for operation of the vehicle, but without cargo, occupants, or accessories that are ordinarily removed from the vehicle when they are not in use (49 CFR 571.3).

so that's without 75 kg driver

1313 + 75 = 1388 kgs

Weight with full tank and driver
E30 318i 2d. 1985 = 1161 kgs or 2560 lbs
E30 318i 4d. 1985 = 1186 kgs or 2615 lbs (1)
E30 318i 4d. 1986 = 1280 kgs or 2821 lbs
E30 325i 2d. 1987 = 1350 kgs or 2976 lbs
E30 325i 4d. 1987 = 1368 kgs or 3016 lbs (2)
E30 325i 4d. 1988 = 1388 kgs or 3060 lbs
E36 318i 4d. 1998 = 1340 kgs or 2954 lbs (1) (+154 kgs or +339 lbs)
E36 328i 4d. 1998 = 1420 kgs or 3131 lbs (2) (+52 kgs or +115 lbs)
E46 318i 4d. 2001 = 1360 kgs or 2998 lbs (1) (+20 kgs or +44 lbs)
E46 320i 4d. 2001 = 1440 kgs or 3175 lbs
E46 325i 4d. 2001 = 1470 kgs or 3241 lbs
E46 328i 4d. 2000 = 1450 kgs or 3197 lbs (2) (+30 kgs or +66 lbs)
E46 330i 4d. 2001 = 1505 kgs or 3318 lbs
E46 330i 4d. 2002 = 1490 kgs or 3285 lbs

(1) comparison 318i: E30 vs E36 and E36 vs E46
(2) comparison E30 325i vs E36 328i and E36 328i vs E46 328i

numbers are based on USA models, except the E46 318i

Sources

https://www.google.be/url?sa=t&sour...EQFjAB&sqi=2&usg=AFQjCNFlDssm9yFIAJVqQWZdCM2fLM_KYg&sig2=s7Gt39Ez_UELsvb5iZzlPA

http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/specifications2.html

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/inoper/Fre_ask_ques.htm

http://www.bmwforum.gr/bmwmanuals/e36manual_98.pdf

http://www.linquist.net/system/files/E462000i.pdf

http://www.linquist.net/system/files/E462002i.pdf

http://dn1.bmwsections.com/dl.php?l...DEsTExfMCwsZjc1MjM5MGUzZmEzZWVjYmU1NjNmMmZkZmFlYzFjY2M=/2001_manual_3_sedan.zip

http://www.autoevolution.com/cars/bmw-3-series-e46-1998.html#aeng_bmw-3-series-e46-1998-318i

P.S.
correct me if i made a mistake somewhere

 

curious what diff. with E30 is

found 2895 lbs 1313 kg (for North Am.) for E30 325i sedan
as Unloaded weight, ready for road, tank full
according to FMVSS 110

def. of Unloaded weight acc. to FMVSS 110:
"Unloaded vehicle weight" is defined as "the weight of a vehicle with maximum capacity of all fluids necessary for operation of the vehicle, but without cargo, occupants, or accessories that are ordinarily removed from the vehicle when they are not in use (49 CFR 571.3).

so that's without 75 kg driver

1313 + 75 = 1388 kgs

did same for two other E30s and...

Weight with full tank and driver
E30 318i 2d. 1985 = 1161 kgs or 2560 lbs
E30 325i 2d. 1987 = 1350 kgs or 2976 lbs
E30 325i 4d. 1987 = 1388 kgs or 3060 lbs
E36 328i 4d. 1998 = 1420 kgs or 3131 lbs
E46 328i 4d. 2000 = 1450 kgs or 3197 lbs
E46 330i 4d. 2002 = 1490 kgs or 3285 lbs

thought would be more difference between E30 325i and E36... tbh i'm not sure this is correct! so correct me if i'm wrong on this, 75 kgs more or less makes a big diff. on weight comparisons, above was the only definition i could find on FMVSS 110


Sources

https://www.google.be/url?sa=t&sour...EQFjAB&sqi=2&usg=AFQjCNFlDssm9yFIAJVqQWZdCM2fLM_KYg&sig2=s7Gt39Ez_UELsvb5iZzlPA

http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/specifications2.html

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/adaptive/inoper/Fre_ask_ques.htm

http://www.bmwforum.gr/bmwmanuals/e36manual_98.pdf

http://www.linquist.net/system/files/E462000i.pdf

http://www.linquist.net/system/files/E462002i.pdf

Thank you for posting the weights and contributing to the facts. It is pretty interesting that the E36 isn't that much heavier than the E30. Car making just gets progressively smarter and more efficient.

 

Begging all your pardons for going off topic, but I want to know how the cars in the original post were washed and waxed. My BMWs look good, but those cars look amazing.

 

You can't bust a myth without data to bust it. You need to weigh E36s as well. And, although annoying, to be scientific about it your sample size should be larger than one car.

There are also other reasons why people choose E36s for track cars. They're cheaper to buy, cheaper/easier to mod, and LSDs are drop in and readily available.

 

I have the respected 3rd party weight data for E36, will post it in the first post for reference.

5 years ago E36 was cheaper. but today in 2014 early years of E46 are about the same price and track people are getting into E46, it is easier to find one with no rust and in better condition.

 

you've not proving that point. you have to show the same equipped E36 on those exact same scales. those scales are for corner balancing, not gross weight. but even so you'd still have to show same equipped models. that sedan has no sunroof, no Xenons, no fogs and no Sport package to name just a few.
interesting photo found but this has not proven what you say it has. sorry

 

I agree, if you don't actually weigh both gens, similarly optioned, you aren't providing accuracy and thusly your assertion cannot be anything but suspect. One thing specific to e46s I haven't seen anyone post up about yet is that E46s have many more airbags and stereo speakers than e36. These details add weight. And those shop scales could be off. There could be stuff in the trunk. If the cars aren't 100% stock, the aftermarket parts could have different weights. Published weights could not be 100% either. So unless you get thorough about it you can't say for sure. And who really cares anyway.

 

And who really cares anyway.

Apparently, a few of us. :rofl:

 

OK so a few of you do care, good for you. Thanks for sounding off. So what are you going to do about it? All this discussion about weight. The car weighs what it weighs, i.e. it is what it is. Got no choice but to get over it. I don't care how much the dayum thang weighs. I care about how that weight is distributed. BMWs are heavy now, but they have good weight placement so it's all good.

My comment was mainly about the e36 vs e46 weight uproar. Again, it is what it is, or more to the point it was what it was. Arguing over superseded cars. Yawn.

 

sounding off?! talking about yourself? this thread is about weight comparisons!

if you think this thread isn't interesting, well there are plenty of other threads and forums

superseded? maybe you are superficial? can you really appreciate an E46 if you don't respect its predecessors E30s E36s?

regarding what to do about it?
copy paste:
i would like to remove A/C as i don't use it and replace battery with lightweight one
(weight saving of about 70 lbs)

done: removing LPG conversion + jack + spare wheel

regarding unsprung weight
running on summer 8.0 kg Goodyear Eff. Grip Perf. (not av. in US) and soon winter set 8,9 kg Mich. PA4
next week: lightweight wheels

you can save a lot more by removing sunroof, replacing seats etc:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=460350

 

who cares. we all have OLD cars.

 

No. My Uncle Fritz from Drumheller had old cars (a Model A and a Model T). Our cars are modern by comparison.

 

Added one more