[natedog7700]

Whats your favorite M3?

[GOLFFRR]

I really love my current M4 as well as the other 2 M4s I have had but the run of e92M3(I had 5 of them) especially the ones with the ESS SC and full Akra EVO have to be my favorite so far(my all time fav is my MCB M3 :drool).

[ASAP]

While I like every M3... I think the E46 m3 was the car that was faaaaar ahead of its time and competition...

[Quicksilv3r]

Owned E36, E46 and E90 M3s in the past and I can say I prefer the feel and style of the E46 the best.

[nomade30]

Where’s the option for the F87 M3?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by nomade30

Where’s the option for the F87 M3?

LOL. That is what a lot of reviewers said the M2 should have been called.

But I do like my F87 M3 better than my E46 M3.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by ASAP

While I like every M3... I think the E46 m3 was the car that was faaaaar ahead of its time and competition...

I think the e36m3 was most far ahead of its competition and time, and then I mean the 1995 facelift.
In 1995, 321HP was immense, certainly for a 1.460 kg car.
Looking at the competition at that time....
Audi had a S2 quattro coupe.... with 230hp (1.463 kg)
OF course audi also had the porsche build RS2 avant with 316HP (still less than the bmw) but it weighed 1600kg, was produced in very low numbers and had handling issues.
Mercedes had the C36AMG, but that had only 280HP (41hp less than the bmw)

In that time, competition had to come from porsche or ferrari (f355). But even the 993 carrera S had 285HP back in that era, so BMW was playing with some pretty high positioned cars back in the day. That is the Euro e36 M3 of course, the USA model was nothing special.

By the time the e46 M3 came along both Audi and Mercedes already caught up and had models in their range (RS4, C32AMG) with more power than the M3. The M3 was still the better handling car, but in the days of the e36M3, BMW had both a far better handling car but also with considerable more power than the competition. They were top dog back then.

Nowadays they're playing catch up, with C63AMGs and Alfa Guilia QV having way more power, even more (50HP more) than the special edition m4CS, and with the Guilia QV taking the nordschleife lap record in its class when it came out....
Lots has changed in the past 20 years.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I think the e36m3 was most far ahead of its competition and time, and then I mean the 1995 facelift.
In 1995, 321HP was immense, certainly for a 1.460 kg car.
Looking at the competition at that time....
Audi had a S2 quattro coupe.... with 230hp (1.463 kg)
OF course audi also had the porsche build RS2 avant with 316HP (still less than the bmw) but it weighed 1600kg, was produced in very low numbers and had handling issues.
Mercedes had the C36AMG, but that had only 280HP (41hp less than the bmw)

In that time, competition had to come from porsche or ferrari (f355). But even the 993 carrera S had 285HP back in that era, so BMW was playing with some pretty high positioned cars back in the day. That is the Euro e36 M3 of course, the USA model was nothing special.

By the time the e46 M3 came along both Audi and Mercedes already caught up and had models in their range (RS4, C32AMG) with more power than the M3. The M3 was still the better handling car, but in the days of the e36M3, BMW had both a far better handling car but also with considerable more power than the competition. They were top dog back then.

Nowadays they're playing catch up, with C63AMGs and Alfa Guilia QV having way more power, even more (50HP more) than the special edition m4CS, and with the Guilia QV taking the nordschleife lap record in its class when it came out....
Lots has changed in the past 20 years.

All depends on where you were. The US E36 M3 has 100 less horse power than the German version.

[uniqueMR]

E46

[N55darksoul]

E92 fo sure ...I owned one but the problem was the connecting rod bearing clearance issues making engines go boom. Sold mine because of it...In comparison from a reliability stand point the N55 engine is superior ...

Here is a thread detailing the problems and issues:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892838

[Mingwan]

E30 weight and handling, in an F8x body, with an E9x engine without the problems.

[CT335xi]

Although severely underpowered by today’s standards the e30 m3, really fun car to drive and had two of them. The biggest mistake I have ever made getting rid of my last e30 m3 . I did also have a 97 4dr 5 speed m3 which was also a great car too!!

[Bt12]

I voted E36. This was the car that made me fall in love with M cars. My buddy at the time, a spoiled brat, got this as a present. Dumb ass wrapped it around a tree a few weeks into ownership.. He was okay but I did get a ride home when he first bought it. I was uber impressed at the speed and power. To be honest a little scary in the passenger seat when I was a teenager, I still remember that feeling but have to replicate it.

[yco]

E46.. had for 2 years feeling regret for selling it..

[rackjuediger]

I really like the looks of the F80 M3, but I also love the way the E46 M3 is balanced. Im conflicted

[Not Sure]

v8 m3 is best m3

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by Not Sure

v8 m3 is best m3

Do not agree.

IMO, the V8 was too heavy for that car, and the high hp/lower tq made for an engine less fun than the in-line six variants. Just my opinion, and yes, I did own one.

[The HACK]

I've driven EVERY generation M3 on track but have never owned one. Each is "special" in their own way. That's why they earned the coveted "M" badge. But if I were to pick one that's truly unique, it would have to be the E30 M3. But that's primarily because it was the car I coveted when I was a teenager.

There are special reason to own each one.

If I can only have one out of all the M3s? E30 M3 for sure. It's the original. It the most limited in production number. It is truly the only car on this list that can be considered "special." It holds a special place in my heart as my first car love. You can't replace that.

IF I have to pay for one car to drive, and it can only be an M3? E46 M3. Unlike the other M3s that follow it, it can be driven like you stole it, it has respectable, usable space, it's small and light enough to be "toss-able" on track, and that S54 is probably going to be the GREATEST inline 6 engine ever built. I can live with daily driving the E46 M3 and take it to the track on the weekend and not worry about having to take out a second mortgage just to pay for the car, or the gas (it gets up to 26 mpg on the freeway!).

IF I'm paying for a track car? E36 M3. No question. They're affordable enough now where you can still pick one up to convert into a respectable NASA/BMW CCA race car, likely in a competitive field. They're common enough where you won't feel so bad converting one to a race car, and should something happen to it, sure, it'll hurt, but it won't hurt like crashing an E30 M3 hurt. And it still has what most considered one of the best steering racks BMW has ever built.

If I already have a track car, like a Lotus Elise/Exige, or have a car that I've already done extensive work to to make it track worthy like the E36 M3, I would take an F80 M3 as my M3 in the garage. Because you need something to balance out the rough riding, tires every 5,000 miles, shock rebuild every year, and 2 extra strength Tylenol before you start driving it because it's so effin' stiff that your back is going to hurt like a b*tch for weeks if you drive it for more than an hour track car, and god forbid should you ever want to go drive 5 hours to Laguna Seca or 8 hours to Thunderhill, you're NOT going to take the race car/track car. You take the F80 M3.

If I'm looking to "invest" in an M3 right now, buy it and park it for the foreseeable future, only to fire it up on the weekend and take it to the local track twice a year to feed it some speed? E9x M3. LAST of the naturally aspirated M3. The ONLY M3 to come with a V-8. Last of the semi-analog cars, last of the BMWs where you KNOW you're driving the car, not the "in Soviet Russia, the car drives YOU" BMWs. Those that own an E9x M3 in pristine condition and somewhat low mileage? In 10 years they're probably going to command 2-3X what they're worth NOW as more and more of us old timers reminisce about the days where you have to actually have some decent skills to drive an M3 FAST on track, rather than having the M3 make you look like an F1 driver out of the gate. Or have it drive you around the track for you.

[Biginboca]

This pole is biased. I heard a rumor that a lot of the guys voting in it actually own e9x cars, so I’m not surprised it’s in the lead.

I believe in an unbiased setting the e46 would take the lead!

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by DanG

All depends on where you were. The US E36 M3 has 100 less horse power than the German version.

Yes I wrote that in my post, the Euro e36 m3 (the 1995 version) was the car that had the most head start on its competition imo. Having 321Hp in 1995 was huge.
The e46 m3 is probably better car than the euro e36 m3 (I see it as a refinement of the euro e36 m3 as its tech is based on the same design). But the competition caught up/made quite a leap in the 5 years.

But I could never get used to the looks of the e36. To me the most beautiful 3 series is the e46 and then especially the pre facelift one (and I think all e46 m3's are based on that design?)

But the most special/mythical one is the e30 M3. Having race classes that require homologation models on the street is one of the best thing that happened to both racing and streetcars.
Sadly that type of regulation isnt used anymore in championchips (that I know of).
So many iconic, and inventive (and absurd and quirky) cars have been brought in the world because of this. And a lot in a very small timespan (15 years or so).
In that era so many branches/types of motorsport were thrilling, hard, touchable and speaking to the imagination. And having real race pedigree does so much to the importance a car plays in car history.

[aozer]

e46 is the most iconic

[Humdizzle]

although i think the e46 looks the best i gotta vote e92. actually selling my f30 335 for one as we speak. its just the perfect blend of luxury and refinement in my opinion. the f80 is nice too but to me an M car should be naturally aspirated.