In the search for my next car (P-car leading the way obviously from where I'm posting), I just drove a beautiful low mileage '06 M3 vert. I had an E36 series M roadster in the past and was in love with it.

I hate to say it, but I was really disappointed in the steering, gearbox and clutch in the M3. The steering was a bit over assisted making it very numb. The clutch was one huge long spring with no tactile feel for the engagement point, and the gearbox felt like pushing a wet rope up hill.

This car was NOT a beater either. It was as low of a mileage car as I'd have thought possible. A real garage queen.

Has anyone else found the E46 series M line to feel like this or did I just drive a lemon?

I'm sure a few on this board own currently, or have recently owned and E46 series.

Don't get me wrong, this is a beautiful 4 seater car, but the feel was not what I recalled on my E36 M roadster from BMW.

 

Yep, that's the e46 m3 alright.

/m

 

I had an 01 E46 M3 and in addition to your comments, the car felt heavy even though it was not that heavy on paper. It did not give me the connected feeling to the road and it was stupid harsh as a DD and people who sat in the back seat felt it the most. I got rid of it after 6 months. On the other hand, I much prefered the 97 E36 M3 I owned after that. It was a 4-door and much more connected - but the shifter was also garbage - 911 all the way

 

Did you have an e36 ZM Roadster, or an e36 M3 convertible? The former is a very special car, the latter, quite the flexi-flier.

I've owned/tracked/raced several e36 M3s, and still like those cars a lot. A factory stock, and optioned out e46 coupe does not feel as good to me, even though it's much faster under practically any condition. A nicely set up (stiffer suspension, no sunroof, a little bit of weight pulled out) e46 M3 however feels fantastic. That said, I happily skipped over the e46 personally. I like the e90 much better, aside from price. I'm happily in a 996 for the mid to high 20s price range for the time being.

 

Porsche There Is No Substitute!

 

I loved M3's,until I drove one.

 

Gotta disagree.

We had an '03 M3 convertible with SMG for four years and I loved driving it. Even the much-criticized SMG gearbox seemed just right for that car.

The steering was over-boosted at low speeds, but at high speeds was just right. The car was over 3700 pounds but seemed to shrink as it got faster. The S54 engine was a great-high revving unit with plenty of power right up to the 8K redline. It had a great buzz-saw sound at high rpms.

I didn't have a 911 to compare it to, but I really enjoyed that car.

I also enjoy the new E92 coupe we traded it for!

Not a Porsche-bashing post here...just showing some love for the E46 M3.

YMMV

 

I test drove a couple of M3's and had the same experience. They were higher mileage cars, but higher mileage 996's didn't have the same disappointing feel. That's one of the reasons I ended up with the 996.

 

Update - I drove a few more examples of the M3 convertibles. I think the first one I drove was just underutilized. The gearbox must just have been too stiff. Other examples seemed much smoother. Unfortunately in the mid-Atlantic, most used M3s have aftermarket exhausts that sound like buzzsaws. I'll keep looking for some good examples, but they just are not living up to the feel of even the higher mileage 996's that I'm also driving around. So far the P-car is in the lead! Thanks for the in put. My older M3 was an MRoadster (e36) and it was a monster for it's time. I really miss that little car. That is one of my regrettable sales...

 

I test drove a M3 Convertable SMG 04. Turned around with in two miles,really loved the look but you must drive one before you buy.

 

i have a 996, and i work for a bmw dealer, i love the e46 m3's. i like my 966 much better. but i dont feel the m3's are lacking in any road feel or like a wet noodle at all

 

I too had an M Roadster. It was a beast of a car, especially from 0-90. It was a raw and visceral car. The 996 by contrast is very composed. However the power in a 996 starts to come on, where the M Roadster starts to drop off. To me 80-120 in a 996 is linear and really fast. It is different from a M Roadster, but it becomes very apparent that they are two different cars. In an ideal world I would have both.

 

Skip the M3, and buy my car.

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...seal-grey.html

 

I loved my e46 m3 for what it is, but it is "softer" than the 996 and the steering is very numb. The s54 is a crown jewel of an engine.

The Euro e46 m3 sounds much better because of the header design. The US got the short end of the stick because of cold-start emissions. My friend has the Euro headers and Dinan exhaust and it sounds very nice.

/m

 

I tend to agree plus I've seen a few 911's passed up by bimmers at Road America this past weekend for Oktoberfest. Street/Stock M3's are great all around road cars but not great sports cars like the 911. Apples and Oranges IMO.