E36 vs. E46 Differences

[Nate D]

I am an overnight fan of the BMW 3 series. I just spent a weekend tracking my friend's '99 328i 4 door sport at Mid-Ohio and have to start my search. I would like to know the primary differences in the E36 vs. E46 cars. I would like a nice daily driver that I could track at future driver education events and need to know what major differences I should consider. My primary concerns are suspension, brakes, driveline, traction control right now. Please help me out as I am new to these cars. They are a lot different than the Mustangs I have owned.

-Nate

 

[B M W]

Both handle well. As far as tracking and suspension the e36 (in my opinion) is a better car. Primarily because it weighs less and still maintains the majority of the same technology. Are you looking into the M3 versions? The e46 M3 I wouldnt have a doubt couldout handle the e36 M3. But there are mods to change that....

Oh yeah

e36 3 series
1992-1998
e36 M3
1995-1999
e46 3 series
1999-present
e46 M3
2001-present

If you are looking into modifying the engine your best years would be 1995. 1995 was the last year of the OBDI engine managment system which was much easier to modify. Sinc eyou are going to track the car I would stay away from 1992-1994 as they didnt have a reinforcement plate in th erear subframa which allows many cars that are abused on tracks to crack their rear subframe. Problem was fixed in 1995. Anything 1996+ would be harder to mod the engine slightly.

So if you were to get a e36 M3 the 1995 would be your best bet. If you wanted to get a newer e36 then get the 328. The 328 OBDII has a lot of potential as far as mods go. My friend has brought his to 224 rwhp, but his e36 328 can outhandle my e36 M3 anydya of the week courtesy of pss coilovers, UUC Swaybars, 255 width tires, newer rsm's, and also lower control arms.

 

[William330]

Note that the performance of standard e46 3-series nearly
matches that of the e36M3 (for 0-60 times). I think the
difference was less than half a second.

 

[nadroj]

Note that the performance of standard e46 3-series nearly
matches that of the e36M3 (for 0-60 times). I think the
difference was less than half a second.

....the standard e46 3 is not close to half a second to the e36 m3... its more like 1 sec or more in 0-60. plus half a second is a lot of time when going to 60. The only car that is even close to the e36 m3 (besides the m3) is the 330i zhp..

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

....the standard e46 3 is not close to half a second to the e36 m3... its more like 1 sec or more in 0-60. plus half a second is a lot of time when going to 60. The only car that is even close to the e36 m3 (besides the m3) is the 330i zhp..

Even close? The 330i ZHP would easily take a stock E36 M3 on a track... I never knew the E36 M3 did 0-60 in 5.9 seconds...

To the original poster... the difference between E46 and E36 is almost night and day, the E46 is practically the current 3 series as the E90 has only debuted this summer...

 

[William330]

nadroj, do you have a link?

I posted the specs comparison here awhile ago, and they were
close enough that there was essentially no difference.

And the 330 zhp has what, 10 more HP than a standard e46?

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

nadroj, do you have a link?

I posted the specs comparison here awhile ago, and they were
close enough that there was essentially no difference.

And the 330 zhp has what, 10 more HP than a standard e46?

The 330i ZHP (235hp and 222 torque) has 10 more hp and 8 more ft-lbs of torque, not to mention upgraded suspension, and an updated 6 speed manual which manages to get .5 a second to 60 quicker than the regular 330i manual...

The ZHP performs significantly better than the standard 330i, and advertising it as 10 more hp does not do it justice...

 

[Nate D]

Thanks

Thanks for the info everybody. It sounds as if I might consider either a 95 M3 or a 98 328 with the sport package. Was the M3 available in a 4 door in 95? Have to be able to carry around the kids.

 

[Andre]

Don't forget the ZHP has a different rear-end gearing. That helps the acceleration quite a bit.

 

[William330]

Did some Googling...

1996 BMW M3
Engine: 3.2L 240 hp
Torque (lb-ft): 236 @ 3,800 RPM
0 to 60 MPH: ???

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/s...ke=BMW&model=M3&trimid=-1&src=VIP&tab=2&sub=1



2003 BMW 330ci
Engine: 3.0L 225 hp
Torque (lb-ft): 214 @ 3,500 RPM
0 to 60 MPH: 6.4 seconds

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/S...003&make=BMW&model=3-Series&trimid=-1&src=vip


And for kicks, a 'regular' 1996 3-series:

Engine: 2.8L 190 hp
Torque (lb-ft): 207 @ 3,950 RPM
0 to 60 MPH: ???

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=66153


That last article linked has a great history of the 3-series,
staring from 1977 up to 2004.

 

[B M W]

An e36 M3 does a 0-60 in about 5.4-5.6
An e36 328iS does a 0-60 in about 6.5-6.7

There's no doubt that the e36's are faster than the e46's The main reaosn being the e46's are so heavy. Ive seen many 328s with some mods take e46 330s.

The e36 M3 kills ZHP 330s. The M3 has a fe wmor ehorsepower, some more torque (i think), and weighs less. Although the ZHP probably has shorter gears.