I dont know if its just me ... but after driiving the E46 M3. e36 M3 I mmust say....

E30 M3 is a true RAW sports car... I like it the most

e46

 

i agree with NyCxZeRo, e46

 

E30 all the way, E46 is faster but I just love how pure the E30 feels.

Ask me which one I would want to drive everyday it would be the E46 though lol

 

hmmm.....my friends brother had the E30 M3. It was cool looking at the time, but it was only like 180HP or something like that. I personally like the E46 the most. That's why I bought one. I still give the E30 props though since its my older brother. :clap:

 

About time somebody asked this question...and the answer is a resounding YES. It's the closest thing to a road legal race car to have come out of BMW M since the original M1. Each and every S14 engine was hand assembled by the company's finest technicians.

It's just such an absolutely fantastic machine to drive. By far, by FAR the best M3 ever built.

If I ever get the chance to buy or build/restore an E30 M3 into full Sport Evolution III spec (240 hp out of the 2.5L block), I'll write a check right on the spot. I'd rather have one mint condition E30 Sport Evo than five E46 M3s.

Second best M3 of all time is the 1995 E36 M3 Coupe Sport Lightweight. Only 85 were imported to the US. I'd just as much love to get my hands on one of those.

 

About time somebody asked this question...and the answer is a resounding YES. It's the closest thing to a road legal race car to have come out of BMW M since the original M1. Each and every S14 engine was hand assembled by the company's finest technicians.

It's just such an absolutely fantastic machine to drive. By far, by FAR the best M3 ever built.

If I ever get the chance to buy or build/restore an E30 M3 into full Sport Evolution spec (240 hp out of the 2.5L block), I'll write a check right on the spot. I'd rather have one mint condition E30 Sport Evo than five E46 M3s.

I knew we agreed on alot of things for some reason lol!

I am actually in the process of scouting out E30 M's now

 

I knew we agreed on alot of things for some reason lol!

I am actually in the process of scouting out E30 M's now

I scour Ebay and Autotrader from time to time just to see what's out there. Nothing promising has turned up yet.

I should probably just hang out at S14.net and wait for somebody to sell.

 

e30 m3 period. i have a 2.5 block sitting in my garage that i was thinking of selling for around 500.00 but not anymore, i plan on keeping it untill i find my e30 and just race prep it. no cheaping out a penny either.


but like stated above, the e30 m3s i ve been in (stock/race) wouldn't want them to be my daily driver.

 

About time somebody asked this question...and the answer is a resounding YES.

I'm with akhbhaat.

Those who say it's underpowered obviously have never driven one. With only 2700lb and close to 200hp, the regular E30 M3's power to weight ratio isn't far off from the E46 M3. The Evo cars actually have better power-weight ratios.

Back then the M3 was more special than it is now. The E30 M3 was actually considered a limited production homologation model rather than a road car, not to mention the even rarer special Evo models. With 46:54 front-rear weight distribution, close ratio dog leg gearbox (Euro) and no DBW/CDV/DSC...it's the most balanced, most alive M3 of the 3 generations.

The E46 M3 is a good car, but it's nothing more than a overweighted, mass-produced boulevard express with more marketing than motorsport in its name "M3". IMO the CSL should have been the regular M3.

 

The E46 M3 is a good car, but it's nothing more than a overweighted, mass-produced boulevard express with more marketing than motorsport in its name "M3". IMO the CSL should have been the regular M3.

To put it lightly. Couldn't agree more - including the part about the CSL.

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2820781808476240903&q=m3



e30 m3 all the way

 

I agree, the E30 M3 is the best. :bow:

 

if u drive an e30 M3...u got taste

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2820781808476240903&q=m3



e30 m3 all the way

Great video! Even though I love the 2002 and some of the other BMWs the E30 M3 was the car that made me follow BWM

 

hmmm.....my friends brother had the E30 M3. It was cool looking at the time, but it was only like 180HP or something like that. I personally like the E46 the most. That's why I bought one. I still give the E30 props though since its my older brother. :clap:

not 180... it was 240...

 

not 180... it was 240...

Depends on what version it was could be either

 

if i cant get a M3 E30 .. im planning on buying a good conditon E30 and droping a 2.5L int it... from the E36... I bet that car with the proper suspension, and engine work will school most cars and be fun as hell to drive!

 

Absolutely...the e30 m3 is the best m3. And with the Evolution 3 package I believe the 2.5 is pushing 265 horsepower. The e46 m3 comes real close to topping the e30 m3 but the e30 still holds the crown.

 

http://www.buysell.com/root/0/48806840/resultdetail.aspx

Im going to buy this guys what do you think?

or should I buy this

http://www.buysell.com/root/detail/...il/BC/1985_Import_Cars/2144/-1/46740700/_1985_BMW_318I_220000kms_2dr_Coupe.aspx

both about the same KMS....


im planning to drop diff engine and mod it out for track car use

which one should i buy ?

 

the e30 is definetly raw but id take an e46 any day over it...the e46 has looks and speed and thats something i look for

 

I already posted this once in another thread but I figured it would fit here...

Simply put, the E30 M3 was the first and only authentic M3 with BMW's true Motorsport intentions put into the car...not crap that sells like sat-nav. Anyway, here is what I wrote...

The E46 M3 is a great car, no doubt, but if I were actually going to get a performance coupe, I'd probably pass up the E46 M3. We all know it's an awesome car with all of the luxuries and more of a modern BMW...but that's exactly why I'd pass it up...it's a little heavy. (Yes, I realize that sounds hypocritical considering I drive a 330Ci with 225 raging horses of stock fury...but just hear me out...)

I love the E46 M3 - It looks awesome, it's well balance, it has a very respectable motor (S54), the interior is amazing...I couldn't complain about it if I wanted to...with the exception of subtle understeer and it's a little over weight...

Anyway, if you want to know my thoughts on the E46 M3, go ahead and read on...if not, just stop reading right here.

BMW designs all of their cars to do two things: carry on a legacy established that puts the driver first, and most importantly - to sell cars. They build cars...that's what they do. If their cars won't sell well, they go out of business. Simple. The M3 itself has gone through an evolution where it still holds some of its earlier traits but has lost some of the best ones - the ones that made the M3 an M3. The E30, first off, was the original...like Porsche says, "There is no substitute"...for the E30 M3, they could not be more correct. The E30 was the true driver's car...it was very light, had ample power (at that day in age), was sporty, responsive, very comfortable to drive at the edge, and most of all - it was built for the track. That was a great car...true to what BMW "wanted" to do.

Things started changing, though...the E30 M3 was succeeded by the E36 M3 and this is when things "started" to change. The E30 was a very light weight car...the E36, relative to the E30 M3, was not. Not only was this new car stuffed with a new, heavier engine, but it was also available with lots of luxuries. They did this to attract more buyers...more buyers, more money, better business. As I see it, the Lightweight (LTW) E36 M3 SHOULD have been the E36 M3...I still love the E36 M3 and I think it's an amazing car...I'd LOVE to find one and make it a track monster...because when you get that car down to its bare essentials, it's one hell of a car. Anyway, the M3 became more and more popular...and then something happened...it was offered in a damn convertible...WHY!?! Oh, that is because half of the non-performance oriented buyers that want the M3 name/power/handling also wanted a heavier, less torsionally rigid car that they could open the top up...I see no problem with this...why would BMW say no to money! All they were really doing was losing sight of what the M3 was built for...and in my honest opinion, to label an automatic E36 M3 convertible an M3 is more of a novelty...yes, it has the engine, suspension, body work, and basically the same feel, but when you get down to why the M3 was first built, that car goes against everything the E30 M3 stood for. Anyway, that's how I see it so far...

Then came the E46...oh man, what a beautiful car...they carried it over so well from the E36 (not exactly what people said at the time, but in retrospect, it's much easier to see now). The 323/328 and then the early 325/330 were great...(pre-facelift IMO...the facelift is another discussion for me ). We waited a few years...we hear rumors about this M3 being a track monster (which in most applications - it is) and how this was going to go back to how the E30 was...well, there they were again...all of those options...those heavy seats, the sunroof, the Harmon Kardon stereo, the heavy 19's...all of that stuff that sells...GREAT...BMW is going to sell these out the ass. Does this bring us back to the E30 M3? No...but who really cares...it's going to sell well and that's what BMW wants, right? Right. What do I think the M3 SHOULD have been the whole time? The CSL...if they had cut all of the stuff out of the car and produced the road-going US spec version as the CSL - I would be in heaven as we speak. :drool:

Do I love all 3 models, the E30, E36, E46...OF COURSE I DO! I love all cars...anything mechanical...do I think that the E30's legacy has been carried on? Well, yes, to an extent...the LTW and the CSL are prime examples of a raw M3...do I think that the M3 name has become somewhat of a novelty? Kinda...but who cares, they look hot...they go pretty fast...yes, I like the cars. Would I take any of them? In a heart-beat.

Now, I am kinda hoping the E90 will go back to the old M3 ways...but that's pointless for me to do...I might as well just wait for the E90 CSL spec M3 to come out so I can go change my shorts...

I guess what I wrote can some off as slightly confusing...so I will try to make it simple. The E30 M3 laid down a legacy which is nearly impossible for any company to stick to...the M3 wasn't a highly produced car like it is now. It was a niche market with a small target buyer...things change, the cars changed, the philosophy changed...but we wouldn't have the E36 LTW/E46 CSL (the ones that have stayed true to their past) if we didn't have watered down versions...and that's just fine by me.

I guess a good comparison would be with Porsche and their Boxster/Cayenne/Cayman ideas in the past decade, or so. They need to sell cars like that (which are perfectly good cars...great cars...just not what Porshce stands for) to build AWESOME cars like the GT3 and Carrera GT. With out the small cars...how will they support large, more thuroughbred cars...

Anyway, don't get mad at me for what I wrote...it's just an opinion...it's just the way I feel about it...you respect my opinion, you can expect the same exact thing from me...

Looks like I got a little carried away... The M5 is an awesome car to drive. Cars that big shouldn't feel they way it does...it drives very responsively and makes you feel like Schumacher (which always isn't the best thing) when you are behind the wheel...the easiest way I can put it...confidence inspiring. The SMG 3 really doesn't impress me anymore as much as it did at first...downshifts are amazing - very, very fast...and I understand the car was really built around the drivetrain but there's nothing like a good old 6 speed transmission. Guess I am a diehard for it...like you said, you have heard mixed reviews...that's the case with anything you will encounter in life...I too have mixed feelings about everything...cars are no exception...I guess as long as the pros outweigh the cons, than everything is alright...and believe me, like I said, there is VERY little that I can pick out on the car that I have any thing to say...

Anyway, guys, thanks for the welcome and I am glad you like the pictures...


Glad to be here...


-David A

Last thing...E30 M3 Evosport (3) FTW...:drool: :thumbup:

 

IMO the e30 is the only true M3...nothing against e36 or e46 but the e30 will probably always be the best.

and im pretty sure US version (w/cat) was 190hp and other markets (no cat) were 200hp for the basic e30 m3

i have heard that the s14 was actually the engine BMW was using for formula 2 racing and when the e30 was ready for release they didnt have an engine for it so they tossed in the s14...not sure if its true but it makes a nice story.

 

I already posted this once in another thread but I figured it would fit here...

...

Glad to be here...


-David A

Good points, but you don't seem to understand why the changes took place.

1.Different production purposes. The E30 M3 was developed to homologate the regular E30 for Group A racing with no marketing concerns. It was not intended to be a series production model. After that, BMW stopped the DTM program, and developed the then new E36 M3 as a production model, which raced under FIA rules that only required a very small amount of production cars for homologation (E36 M3 GT, M3R).

2. Different approaches. The E30 M3 was made in a time when BMW Motorsport did both road and race cars. BMW M was founded in 1995, it took over the road car development/production and had nothing to do with real racing. BMW Motorsport has since then been focusing on the racing programs. The M3 LTW we love was actually brought by the Exlusive Edition program (ran by Individual) with helps from PTG for club racing, and if you dared to touch the club racer kit in the trunk, your warranty was automatically avoided. The M people got the CSL right (minus the SMG), but apparently they did the CSL because the heavy critism on the regular M3 - they had to show the public what they were capable of. Too bad they weren't interested in selling them.

The E36 M3 was IMO well designed/engineered. More so than the E46 M3. It successfully appealed to a much wider audience, and kept its size and weight (only 3150lbs) down at the same time. Even in inferior US-spec, it was named C&D's "best handling car at any price" beating cars like the NSX, 993 C2 and F355. The fact that the E46 still utilizes most technologies from the E36 proves how good the latter was/is. Even the mighty S54 in a brand new M3 is actually not too different from the 10-year old S50B32. The E36 is probably the most developed, most raced chassis of all BMWs. Today the E36 is still the pick for club racing and can run circles around E46s within the same class.

Also IMO, an E90 M3 CSL isn't exactly "going back to the old M3 ways." The E90 has gone too far, it's the size of an E34 (park it next to an E30, you will be amazed). A modern day E30 M3 is as far as I can see, a 1-series in coupe form, with a high-revving 2.5L 250hp+ inline-4 or 6, and a curb weight less than 3000lbs. Once the MZ4 upgrades to V8, put the S54 in the little car. I'm down for one of those.

 

A lot of BMW purists and enthusiasts in geneeral will conclude the E30 M3 is the benchmark which M3's have been trying to acheive. I have not personally driven one, but a friend of mine has one in mediocre condition. he's planning on fixing it up and selling it.

The worst is the E36. It's essentially a euro spec 3-series sedan.

 

The worst is the E36. It's essentially a euro spec 3-series sedan.

I hope you have something to back up that statement.