e36 m3 or e46 m3?

[mcgee9t2]

Go to a beemer dealership/somewhere that has a m3 for sale and test drive. see which you like.

no point weighing up the pros and cons of each untill youv test drove IMO. once you get behind the wheel you may think that you dont like one...

[Diamond Hell]

Just watch loads of videos and the e36 3.2 m3 is faster than the e46 m3 

Surely this is semantics?

If you want a properly informed set of opinions on the E36/46 M3s get on Northloop - there are a LOT of enthusiast owners on there who will give you a proper view.

If you want a proper back-road blasting car and you're not too worried about practicality, but from what you've said budget is a bit of an issue (especially for consumables) why not consider a Westfield?  From karting etc you're surely going to have a lot more and cheaper fun than an M3?

[tweed]

Thanks ill check that out. Yes a Westfield would be a lot more fun but I do want to be able to put a suitcase in the back and go to wells  most weekends.

Looks like I need to test drive a couple and make my mind up.
Still hoping I will like a e36 as I think they will only go up in value. But might fall in love with a e46

[Diamond Hell]

Westfields have a passenger seat for a suitcase, duh!

[Diamond Hell]

Jus' sayin' like.

 

[tweed]

Got two of my mates looking at two of my cars at 6 

might work some weekends and save for couple of months and get a e46. But going to test drive both first.

Im not spending money on one so stop showing me pictures like that 

[GOLF-MK3-GTI]

Common issues on the E43 are, Rear springs like to go on them, unless you get some uprated one's. also the alternator packs on them very often. The SMG and SMG II. I think the SMG has a clutch and the SMG II have a torque convertor. Cant remember which ones it is, but one is not good when doing a launch control.

Also i'm thinking of getting one too or an edition 30. I spoke to a BMW M3 owner, he said i've had both SMG and manual. SMG are sh!te, them were his words. he says kid if you want one, go for a Manual. you can play about with them alot better. also SMG pumps ate common to go too.

Also the E46 has big bills when coming for maintenance. after so many thousand miles, they need to go in and get all the valves checked and adjusted. a mate has bought one and it costed him near enough £900.00 to have that sorted.

Also the rear tyres need to have the same amount of thread, if one has 4mm and the other has 6mm it will handle like sh!t.

The E36 is good, but you get the sequential gearbox in these too, but they are sh!te. basically their an SMG box.

Do your research and take it on from there. These cars are cheap to buy, but maintenance kills you 

[tweed]

Cool cheers bud and I will onky get a manual. 

All cars sold now so gonna start looking very soon and test drive both typez

[coolio]

i had a e36 m3 for 6yrs and my mate had a e46 m3 which i drive occasionally ,the e46 drives and handles much better and maintainence is also higher on e46 ....

regarding on the valve clearance it need to be adjusted on every  inspection 2 service ....
like someone mentioned  look for one that have recenly have  tyres and brakes changed which will saves a few bucks also look for the one that just had an inspection 2 done which is the most expensive service ... 

[mwad gti]

regarding on the valve clearance it need to be adjusted on every  inspection 2 service ....
like someone mentioned  look for one that have recenly have  tyres and brakes changed which will saves a few bucks also look for the one that just had an inspection 2 done which is the most expensive service ...

Correct.  Expect close to £1k for an inspection 2 at the stealers