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      10-31-2016, 09:41 PM   #1
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M2 vs E46 330i

OK I know it's a silly comparison, but I've owned my E46 as my DD for 13 years now and I just love this car. I was all ready to order an M2 to replace it, but now I'm having second thoughts.

Has anyone gone from an E46 to an M2 and regretted it? Sure the added ooomph will be awesome, but will it deliver year after year like the E46 did? Will the novelty wear off and the limitations (like the miserable fuel range, auto-throttle-blipping, electric steering, turbo lag, etc) cut into the joy of ownership?

There's just something about beating the snot out of a car like an E46 that brings a smile that's different than you get with a modern, isolated machine with a giant turbo.
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      11-01-2016, 12:40 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by matto6 View Post
OK I know it's a silly comparison, but I've owned my E46 as my DD for 13 years now and I just love this car. I was all ready to order an M2 to replace it, but now I'm having second thoughts.

Has anyone gone from an E46 to an M2 and regretted it? Sure the added ooomph will be awesome, but will it deliver year after year like the E46 did? Will the novelty wear off and the limitations (like the miserable fuel range, auto-throttle-blipping, electric steering, turbo lag, etc) cut into the joy of ownership?

There's just something about beating the snot out of a car like an E46 that brings a smile that's different than you get with a modern, isolated machine with a giant turbo.
You haven't actually driven this car, have you? Because most of the description you provide is inaccurate. It's modern, but it isn't "isolated" and it doesn't have a "giant turbo."

I came from a Dinan E36 M3, with Vorschlag motor and tranny mounts and a Dinan suspension. That car was not "isolated". I've driven the M2 and mine is just leaving the production line over in Leipzig. It's not isolated. It is true that while the steering is sharp and precise, it doesn't have the feedback the E36 did, but it's no floater. Don't know what to tell you about mileage. Not real high on my personal list for this car--it's not great, but not awful. It develops lots of torque down low, and quickly. It's not real laggy, and has a wide sweet spot. Turbo is by no means "giant"--dunno where you got that from. Not sure if you track, but it will dust your 330i in every possible track situation, that's for sure.

I look forward to years of "joy" and tweaking with this one.
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      11-01-2016, 07:41 AM   #3
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I actually did drive one a few weeks ago, and it was after that drive that I was excited to order one.

But it was a short dealership test drive, and as the days have done by I've become less sure. I'd go drive one again but they're not easy to find.

Hence I'm fishing through he forums to hear the experiences of others who made a similar leap.
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      11-01-2016, 08:46 AM   #4
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Different car to the E46, one is 10+ years older than the other. I love my ZHP daily driver, the steering is heavier than the M2, feels more direct and less rubbery. But the ZHP has crap for mid range power, the interior is dated as hell, it's an old car.

From a size perspective judging from the driver's seat I'd say the M2 and E46 are pretty close. I love the low end torque of the I6 turbo engines for street driving, so effortless.
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      11-01-2016, 11:53 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by CosmosMpower View Post
I love my ZHP daily driver, the steering is heavier than the M2, feels more direct and less rubbery. But the ZHP has crap for mid range power, the interior is dated as hell, it's an old car.
But you still drive it daily! It's an awesome car right?

No temptation to drive the M2?
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      11-01-2016, 04:15 PM   #6
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But you still drive it daily! It's an awesome car right?

No temptation to drive the M2?
I drove the M2 to work this AM and back home then drove the ZHP back to work after lunch LOL.

M2 will be for shorter commutes to closer clients or if I need to take a call in the car, ZHP for long distances and bad weather.
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      11-02-2016, 02:09 PM   #7
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Not a direct answer to your question BUT...

I am on my second 235, a convertible. Dad has a 330ci 2006 with 30k miles that's his nice weather toy. I have driven his car off and on for years, and he's driven my 235 vert multiple times in the month I have had it. They are often parked side by side in the same garage. While I cannot comment on reliability for 10 years, we agree that the 2-series is superior in every other possible way. Well, to be fair, the paint job on the E46 is better since that was before the echo-minded planet savers got everyone to switch to environmentally friendly paint. But paint job aside there's not one reason I'd take the older car.
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      11-29-2016, 02:49 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
Not a direct answer to your question BUT...

I am on my second 235, a convertible. Dad has a 330ci 2006 with 30k miles that's his nice weather toy. I have driven his car off and on for years, and he's driven my 235 vert multiple times in the month I have had it. They are often parked side by side in the same garage. While I cannot comment on reliability for 10 years, we agree that the 2-series is superior in every other possible way. Well, to be fair, the paint job on the E46 is better since that was before the echo-minded planet savers got everyone to switch to environmentally friendly paint. But paint job aside there's not one reason I'd take the older car.
I can think of one: only got $13k to spend!

It's been forever since I have driven a 330i, and I have never driven an M2, but how much better is it? Certainly not 4x as good (as the price would indicate) but how much better, do you estimate? I recently sold my 15-year old Tacoma with 200k on the clock for $10,000, and was test driving a new replacement, which stickered at $40k. It certainly wasn't 4x the truck, I can tell you that. Ended up going with a low mileage 7-year old Tacoma in the mid 20's. Seemed like the best bang for the buck.
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      11-29-2016, 04:56 PM   #9
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I can think of one: only got $13k to spend!

It's been forever since I have driven a 330i, and I have never driven an M2, but how much better is it? Certainly not 4x as good (as the price would indicate) but how much better, do you estimate? I recently sold my 15-year old Tacoma with 200k on the clock for $10,000, and was test driving a new replacement, which stickered at $40k. It certainly wasn't 4x the truck, I can tell you that. Ended up going with a low mileage 7-year old Tacoma in the mid 20's. Seemed like the best bang for the buck.
With that calculus, let alone budget, a new car is not really for you now, is it?

Hard to imagine any new car is going to be "X times better" than the 330i, or how you would go about figuring what "X" is.

Case in point: I had a tweaked E36 M3. Loved it. Market value was maybe 18 grand, tops. M2 costs a bit more than three times that much. Is the M2 three times better? I don't even know how to begin to answer that question. Overall, it's better--handling, power, etc.--and I have the money, and the M3 had a bunch of miles on it. Maybe "better" depends as much on budget as anything else.
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      11-29-2016, 05:07 PM   #10
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I went from an E46 330 to an E82 135is to an M2. Then I picked up an E36 M3 to compliment the M2. On the street you can drive the snot out of the M3. Can't do that in the M2 unless you know a way to avoid jail.

But I do love the M2 and the M3. Both are great fun on both the street and track. Different pros and cons to each. My take would be to keep the e46 and get the M2. The resale value of your e46 is so low it's not worth chasing a few thousand dollars. Then your dilemma is solved. If after a few months of living with both you decide one way or the other you can sell one of the cars.
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      11-29-2016, 10:17 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Pyrat 2 View Post
I went from an E46 330 to an E82 135is to an M2. Then I picked up an E36 M3 to compliment the M2. On the street you can drive the snot out of the M3. Can't do that in the M2 unless you know a way to avoid jail.

But I do love the M2 and the M3. Both are great fun on both the street and track. Different pros and cons to each. My take would be to keep the e46 and get the M2. The resale value of your e46 is so low it's not worth chasing a few thousand dollars. Then your dilemma is solved. If after a few months of living with both you decide one way or the other you can sell one of the cars.
I like your car choices!

But I desperately needed an AWD to get out of my new driveway in winter (bought a new house), and I insist on manual transmission, so my options were limited. I ended up buying an e90 2006 BMW 325xiT wagon! I can't store 3 cars so 1 will have to go. Plus everything is about to fail on the e46 so it's shit-or-get-off the pot time -- I either put money into it, or I dump it and get an M2.

I'll be honest I'm leaning toward the E46.
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      12-12-2016, 09:28 PM   #12
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I drove a 2005 330Ci ZHP for 7 years as my DD. I put over 140,000 miles on her, and loved it. I've had a 2017 M2 as my DD for the last 3 months, and hit 3k miles last week. While in some ways the cars are similar-- size, ride, involving driving experience-- the M2 is far more advanced, and so much more capable. I got slightly better gas mileage in the 330. Both cars are surprisingly pleasant and practical, given their performance.
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      12-12-2016, 09:33 PM   #13
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I drove a 2005 330Ci ZHP for 7 years as my DD. I put over 140,000 miles on her, and loved it. I've had a 2017 M2 as my DD for the last 3 months, and hit 3k miles last week. While in some ways the cars are similar-- size, ride, involving driving experience-- the M2 is far more advanced, and so much more capable. I got slightly better gas mileage in the 330. Both cars are surprisingly pleasant and practical, given their performance.
Interesting. What kind of daily drive do you have?

One if the things I like about my 330i is that it's sporty-ish yet still makes a very comfortable daily driver and highway cruiser. Do you find yourself missing the 330 when you're in the mood for a more relaxed drive?
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      12-13-2016, 09:54 PM   #14
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Interesting. What kind of daily drive do you have?

One if the things I like about my 330i is that it's sporty-ish yet still makes a very comfortable daily driver and highway cruiser. Do you find yourself missing the 330 when you're in the mood for a more relaxed drive?
Right now I have a 15 min suburban commute. In comfort mode the M2 is docile and very pleasant, certainly to the point that the only reason I miss my 330 is because I had such a great bond with the car. I bought the 330 when I was stationed in Germany, and I had a couple routes I would take for the 20 km drive to work-- one that took twisty roads through the country, and another that took the autobahn. Routinely hit 155 mph, legally. Still, the twisty roads were more fun.

Anyway, the M2 is a fantastic daily driver-- I look for reasons to drive absolutely anywhere. I have 3 kids, the youngest is 19 months, and she rides quite comfortably in her car seat as well.

You're looking at going from one amazing car to another. Life is short. Enjoy them both : )
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      12-21-2016, 07:41 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CosmosMpower View Post
Different car to the E46, one is 10+ years older than the other. I love my ZHP daily driver, the steering is heavier than the M2, feels more direct and less rubbery. But the ZHP has crap for mid range power, the interior is dated as hell, it's an old car.

From a size perspective judging from the driver's seat I'd say the M2 and E46 are pretty close. I love the low end torque of the I6 turbo engines for street driving, so effortless.
Oddly enough, i parked my X1 next to an E46 3 series at work today and they are nearly the identical length.

BMW E30 M3 - 171.1 inches
BMW 1M - 172.2 inches
BMW E36 M3- 174.5 inches
BMW E84 X1 - 175.4 inches
BMW M2 - 176.2 inches
BMW E46 M3 - 176.9 inches
BMW E90 M3 - 180.4 inches

And now for the 5 series models ..


BMW F80 M3 - 183.9 inches
BMW F80 M4 - 184.6 inches.
BMW E34 M5 - 185.8 inches
BMW E39 M5 - 188.4 inches
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      12-21-2016, 11:18 PM   #16
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Interesting to see how smaller the M2 is than the E90 M3. I thought they were about the same size.

Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster View Post
Oddly enough, i parked my X1 next to an E46 3 series at work today and they are nearly the identical length.

BMW E30 M3 - 171.1 inches
BMW 1M - 172.2 inches
BMW E36 M3- 174.5 inches
BMW E84 X1 - 175.4 inches
BMW M2 - 176.2 inches
BMW E46 M3 - 176.9 inches
BMW E90 M3 - 180.4 inches

And now for the 5 series models ..


BMW F80 M3 - 183.9 inches
BMW F80 M4 - 184.6 inches.
BMW E34 M5 - 185.8 inches
BMW E39 M5 - 188.4 inches
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