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      04-23-2016, 06:12 PM   #1
cbmmm3
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M2 versus E46 M3

Would like to hear how the two compare against each other. Anyone able to do so ? Yes, I know the M2 will most likely be faster but curious about the Overall experience. thanks
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      04-23-2016, 08:48 PM   #2
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This is the comparison I'm interested in as well. The M2 is the first M-car I've been interested in since the E46 M3.
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      04-24-2016, 07:15 AM   #3
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Same here. I will be waitin for this guy to get his hands on an m2. He has a ton of e46 videos on you tube and seems to do a lot of diff bmw videos

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      04-24-2016, 08:54 AM   #4
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i will post up a vid in a few weeks
e46 m3 dinan s-2 vs bmw m2
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      04-24-2016, 11:41 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobdaxx View Post
Same here. I will be waitin for this guy to get his hands on an m2. He has a ton of e46 videos on you tube and seems to do a lot of diff bmw videos
Wow, that guy is a beast.
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      05-20-2016, 08:34 PM   #6
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well ?

twboy, anxiously awaiting your comparison please
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      05-21-2016, 12:16 AM   #7
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If THAT doesn't get your blood up, nothing will.... Great video!
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      05-21-2016, 02:14 AM   #8
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I was wondering how much faster the M2 would be, so I did some googling.

BM F87 M2 - 7:58 BMW official
BMW E46 M3 + 24s Sport Auto
E92 M3 +7s Sport Auto

Obviously they will be very different drives but performance wise the M2 is on another planet, especially on a track. Remember when the E46 M3 came out (assuming most of the ppl on the forum were alive then)? Did you ever think that you could buy a car 24s a lap faster for less than it cost? Man, what will things look like 2 generations of cars from now?
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      05-21-2016, 07:56 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovewagons View Post
I was wondering how much faster the M2 would be, so I did some googling.

BM F87 M2 - 7:58 BMW official
BMW E46 M3 + 24s Sport Auto
E92 M3 +7s Sport Auto

Obviously they will be very different drives but performance wise the M2 is on another planet, especially on a track. Remember when the E46 M3 came out (assuming most of the ppl on the forum were alive then)? Did you ever think that you could buy a car 24s a lap faster for less than it cost? Man, what will things look like 2 generations of cars from now?
It'll be faster obviously. Especially as manufacturers use more CF, electric turbos and mild hybrids.

Having said that, these lap times just do not matter to me. Just because they are faster doesn't necessarily mean they are more fun. Pretty much all M cars are already too fast to be fully enjoyed on the streets! I'm more interested when they reduce weight and increase that word we all hate... feel.
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      05-21-2016, 09:03 AM   #10
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Look forward to the comparison as well. I purchased an e46 M with the plan of driving it for 2 years until M2 slots open up and the dealers are willing to negotiate a bit rather than paying a mark-up out of the gate.

Now that I have spent some time behind the e46 however, I am not as interested in an upgrade. It has proven to be an enjoyable ride.
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      05-21-2016, 09:51 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abp689 View Post
Look forward to the comparison as well. I purchased an e46 M with the plan of driving it for 2 years until M2 slots open up and the dealers are willing to negotiate a bit rather than paying a mark-up out of the gate.

Now that I have spent some time behind the e46 however, I am not as interested in an upgrade. It has proven to be an enjoyable ride.
Same thing happened to me, but it was with the e36 M3. They just don't make cars like these anymore
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      05-21-2016, 01:37 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W/// View Post
Same thing happened to me, but it was with the e36 M3. They just don't make cars like these anymore
No they don't. What I want out of a car is a well balanced chassis, communicative steering, MT, LSD, RWD, the right amount of mechanical noise and just enough power where I have to row through the gears - and the e46 delivers. I'm sure the M2 is an improvement in most of these areas, but is it another $30k better?

Since I only commute 20 miles a day I can more easily tolerate the increased reliability issues inherent in a 15 year old car.
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      05-23-2016, 08:01 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovewagons
I was wondering how much faster the M2 would be, so I did some googling.

BM F87 M2 - 7:58 BMW official
BMW E46 M3 + 24s Sport Auto
E92 M3 +7s Sport Auto

Obviously they will be very different drives but performance wise the M2 is on another planet, especially on a track. Remember when the E46 M3 came out (assuming most of the ppl on the forum were alive then)? Did you ever think that you could buy a car 24s a lap faster for less than it cost? Man, what will things look like 2 generations of cars from now?

A significant portion of the lap times dropping is due to tire technology improvements in the last decade, however I agree. I was around when the E46 M3 came out and never would one think that cars would make such great jumps. The 8 minute Nurbugring time was a benchmark for years. Now it's under 7 for super cars.
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      08-09-2016, 03:49 AM   #14
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I absolutely love my M3 e46 but it's really old and rather unreliable.
I did testdrive a BMW M2 at a trackday event by BMW, the drive was on slow country roads tho, so didn't get to really "drive" it.
It was the DCT tho and I'd rather have the manual(I'm guessing), especially since the Volvo at home is an auto.
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      08-09-2016, 04:24 AM   #15
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The M2 might struggle against this one
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      08-09-2016, 06:11 AM   #16
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As soon as I get my M2 I shall find out! I am expecting the M2 to run rings around my M3.
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      08-09-2016, 10:35 AM   #17
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Here it is:

The M2 will be unquestionably quicker, faster, and brutish compared to an E46M. Did I mention nicer cabin and more technology? I believe it sounds better too.

Tough call.

Then you rip it to 8k with that S54 and logic goes out the window! Rasp or not, it is addicting. I still plan to own one sometime in the future, but as a second/third car - not a daily.
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      08-11-2016, 08:02 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovewagons View Post
I was wondering how much faster the M2 would be, so I did some googling.

BM F87 M2 - 7:58 BMW official
BMW E46 M3 + 24s Sport Auto
E92 M3 +7s Sport Auto

Obviously they will be very different drives but performance wise the M2 is on another planet, especially on a track. Remember when the E46 M3 came out (assuming most of the ppl on the forum were alive then)? Did you ever think that you could buy a car 24s a lap faster for less than it cost? Man, what will things look like 2 generations of cars from now?
To be fair, much of that difference is tire technology.

As in, the CSL did a 7:50 (8 seconds faster than the M2, 30+ seconds faster than the e46 M3). It was faster than the standard M3 for 3 reasons:
Tires (first gen PSC1s (later gen psc1's got faster), which had similar grip to PSSs of today)
300 lbs lighter
17 hp more (insignificant)

The Hp difference probably accounted for one of those 30+ seconds. :P

The e46 M3 shipped with pilot sport 1's or conti sport contact 1s in 225 up front-- the same compound, in a SMALLER width than the e36 M3, when it launched.

So, those times aren't really at all reflective of what a healthy e46 M3, that has had its tires replaced in the last couple years, is capable of. None of which is to say the M2 isn't faster than the e46 M3; it absolutely is. Just, no where near as faster as those ring times would indicate.
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Last edited by Obioban; 08-11-2016 at 08:37 AM..
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      08-11-2016, 08:23 AM   #19
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I would expect the benefits to break down as follows, given equal tires but otherwise stock:
Acceleration: M2
stopping distance: tie
fade resistance: M2
torque: M2
throttle response: M3
steering feel: M3
short term reliability: M2 (warranty/new car FTW)
long term reliability: M3 (turbos FTL)
Interior quality vs a nice e46: M3
interior quality vs a typical e46: M2
back seat space: M3
differential's ability to put power down: M2
superior powerband: depends on owner's taste
gauges: M3
ease of servicing/modding: M3
interior engine sound: M3
exterior exhaust note: M2
properly centered driver's seat: M3
stock vs stock lap times with professional driver: M2
real world tracked car lap times: driver/mod based
gadgets/gizmos/driver assists: M2
looks: M3 (subjective, technically... but I don't think anyone's going to disagree)
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Last edited by Obioban; 08-11-2016 at 08:51 AM..
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      08-11-2016, 05:29 PM   #20
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My e92 is faster and more capable than my old e46's, better chassis/power, more predictable, overall better performance, both on PSS's and yes, the same driver. I haven't driven an M2 but I suspect I'd be able push it even more than my e92 so yeah, stock for stock an M2 will trump an e46 with the same driver behind the wheel. Overall experience is such an emotional thing, hard to call. I love the e46 and e9x. Both are a blast, it just depends on the chemistry you have with the cars. Sorry, can't add the M2 in the mix...yet.
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      08-15-2016, 10:23 PM   #21
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Here's a comparo fom Canada's Globe and Mail.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle31339802/
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      08-16-2016, 02:06 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW View Post
Here's a comparo fom Canada's Globe and Mail.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle31339802/
Great comparo! As a former E46 owner and a future M2 owner, I enjoyed yet another perspective on what to expect. Thanks. -scr
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