E46 M3 v E92 M3 ?

[JKay]

Hello all

Have done a search but couldnt find anything on this unless I have missed it?

Anyway, the new M3 is on paper a better car, ie better power etc etc

I'm curious tho out of those that have owned both the E46 and E92 M3, is the latter a much better car in terms of sheer driving pleasure and ownership?

Or is the E46 just as much fun and just as good a drive despite being not as good on paper (ie even tho its not as fast does it feel just as fast due to how its built etc)

Interested in any opinions

Cheers

[taffyracer]

I loved my E46M3, the only car I have kept for more than a year....great car, but the E92M3 is a step up in many ways, in terms of refinement, comfort and engineering the E92 is miles ahead. But this comes at a price, it is heavier and bigger and it feels it, it doesn't feel as chuckable and doesn't inspire the same sort of confidence around a track IMO, but the engine is a masterpiece and worth it for that alone. All in all it's a better all rounder and that is what M3's are designed to be really.

[JKay]

taffyracer said:

I loved my E46M3, the only car I have kept for more than a year....great car, but the E92M3 is a step up in many ways, in terms of refinement, comfort and engineering the E92 is miles ahead. But this comes at a price, it is heavier and bigger and it feels it, it doesn't feel as chuckable and doesn't inspire the same sort of confidence around a track IMO, but the engine is a masterpiece and worth it for that alone. All in all it's a better all rounder and that is what M3's are designed to be really.

So the E92 ///M feels heavier and bulkier eh? Would you say a lot heavier and not as chuckable?

CHeers

[cjm]

Is the fuel consumption of the E92 not a lot higher than the E46?

[okgo]

One is now 15k...

[waremark]

[quote=JKaySo the E92 ///M feels heavier and bulkier eh? Would you say a lot heavier and not as chuckable?
[/quote]
Not the opinion of various others. Amazing how subjective these things are.

Autocar did a direct comparison a while ago. They did find some things to prefer in the old car - if I remember steering feel, and driving position (many think the seat is too high in the new car) perhaps among other points. However their conclusion was that though the E46 stands up well, you really don't get something as good for £15k as you do for £55k (or in the case of my high spec cars up for sale on PH/about to be delivered for £16.5k/£58k respectively!). And I think that is an almost universal view.

[JKay]

cjm said:

Is the fuel consumption of the E92 not a lot higher than the E46?

Apparently its meant to be better than the E46 M3 in terms of fuel cons.

I find the different opinions interesting on how the weight feels (old car v new). THe E9x M3 is starting to grow on me looks wise, u see. Never liked it in the past but am liking it more and more now

[Neil.D]

JKay said:

cjm said:

Is the fuel consumption of the E92 not a lot higher than the E46?

Apparently its meant to be better than the E46 M3 in terms of fuel cons.

People on Mtorque are getting an average of 17 to 18 mpg from their E92's. About the same as an E60 M5. One of its biggest gripes.
The E46 can consistantly do 28mpg on a steady run I hear although I have never owned one.

Neil

[taffyracer]

Yep it's one of my main gripes, I average around 18, 23 on a run which ain't too bad but I used to get 28 all day long in the M3, 26 on average, does get a tad expensive in the fuel dept when you do lots of miles. The weight i would say is very noticeable, i never hesiated to take my E46 on track but with the E92 it didn't feel right to do so, I did but that extra weight is a big downside for a sports coupe such as this, they really should have made it at least the same as the E46 IMO. The seating position is too high but you get used to that, I looked at 997's and for an all round comfy car that has serious pace and practicality I don't think it can be beaten really, but wouldn't buy new!

[JKay]

Gosh didnt realise real world fuel cons figures for the E92 were that bad. I was only going by what I read somewhere.

Pity tho then that the new car feels somewhat heavy. Its making me umm and ahh whether or not to consider one.

I recently moved out to the far east, and theres no option to test drive one here. If you want one, you just have to order one. Wondering if I should just stick to the E46 M3 as I still love that car!

[baz1985]

E46 M3 CS manual would be my choice of regardless of bank balance.

MPG is hardly an issue at @£50k...unless you're living beyond your means.

[squeezebm]

Owned both, E92 in a different league to the E46 better in every way.

[taffyracer]

baz1985 said:

E46 M3 CS manual would be my choice of regardless of bank balance.

MPG is hardly an issue at @£50k...unless you're living beyond your means.

That's a bks answer, economy was mentioned as being a gripe and the OP asked if it was as bad as he's heard, the fact is it is and it is a gripe of most, 18mpg is not good by any shot of the imagination and has absolutely no bearing on whether or not you he she or it can afford it, I doubt there are many that can afford a 50k car but can't afford a few extra quid in fuel, doesn't stop it being a gripe that i fill up 4 x a week! Is it worth it...for me yes it is, but it doesn't stop the fuel economy from being crap!

Edited by taffyracer on Thursday 15th May 19:58

Edited by taffyracer on Thursday 15th May 20:13

[Harsh]

i've not owned/driven an E92, and to be honest, i probably wont.....i just don't think it looks that great, or even that different from a standard E92 3 series/Mitsubishi Charisma.

however apart from just griping, i do have a point to make.

i owned 2 E36 M3's before i bought my E46.

the comments made here about the difference between the E46 and the E92 echo my comments about the previous change.

The new car is heavier, more solid and a better all round car.
It's quicker point to point thanks to the driver aids.
However there is much to like about the outgoing model. It has a raw more connected feel.
It doesn't try to do everything for you..at then end of the day it is a drivers car and it's there to be driven.

the better you are the more you will get out of it. But get it wrong or treat it with anything other than respect and it will bite back..........Hard


i guess the fact is that all new cars will be better, heavier and less involving than the outgoing models.

i would not be surprised if we're not sayng similar things in 6 years time when the next generation M3 comes out.......V10 600bhp anyone? a far cry from the nimble E30 M3 20 years ago.has the M3 lost it's direction?

[phatmanace]

Harsh said:

i would not be surprised if we're not sayng similar things in 6 years time when the next generation M3 comes out.......V10 600bhp anyone? a far cry from the nimble E30 M3 20 years ago.has the M3 lost it's direction?

hmm - I doubt it. I think that in 6 years time, we'll all be driving around in 1.4L hybrids - anything over 2.5L and the tax and petrol will be prohibitive!

That's Why I'm looking to buy my E46 in a couple of months time - I think if I leave it a few more years, you won't be able to drive a car like that.

Cheers
-A

[noble3r]

I just got my E92 M3 and have also owned a E46 M3,

In my opinion the E92 is more directed towards the GT market. Its bascially the manual version of M5/M6. The engine is by far the dominant part of the car. The interior is not vastly different to other 3 series but still a nice place to be. The car is almost to fast for our roads. 4th gear will take you to 140mph :-) you are forever braking for slower traffic etc and this is where the weight of the car tells.

05/06 E46 M3's are still fetching 33/35K so I believe the extra outlay for the E92 is well worth it.

As 'EVO' said to match the cars practicality and performance you would need to spend twice as much money.

[Jespin]

noble3r said:

05/06 E46 M3's are still fetching 33/35K so I believe the extra outlay for the E92 is well worth it.

Don't think that they are mate, there's plenty of 05/06 plates for around £25-28k and they're not exactly flying off the shelves.

Must admit the £47k E92 M3s seem a bit of a bargain to me though at 6 months old.

[JKay]

Jespin said:

Must admit the £47k E92 M3s seem a bit of a bargain to me though at 6 months old.

Agreed. I am hoping that in about 6-12 months time, they will have dropped even further, at which point they can be imported to where I live (Far East). At the moment, a new one here will cost me circa £110k.

If I am lucky, I will be able to have one for around £85k when they can be imported as "Used" cars

[Pugsey]

Harsh said:

i guess the fact is that all new cars will be better, heavier and less involving than the outgoing models.

i would not be surprised if we're not sayng similar things in 6 years time when the next generation M3 comes out.......V10 600bhp anyone? a far cry from the nimble E30 M3 20 years ago.has the M3 lost it's direction?

No. Try the 135iMsport. My g/f has just got one and I have to say I'm deeply impressed. So much so I posted about it a few weeks back. Damn near as quick as my old E46 M3, a fantastic chassis and because it's not ridiculously over wheeled or tired superbly nimble and fun, fun fun.

[JKay]

Pugsey said:

No. Try the 135iMsport. My g/f has just got one and I have to say I'm deeply impressed. So much so I posted about it a few weeks back. Damn near as quick as my old E46 M3, a fantastic chassis and because it's not ridiculously over wheeled or tired superbly nimble and fun, fun fun.

DOes it feel refined tho, or does it feel on the edge like an M car does?