The old M3

[badass]

I prefer the E36 M3 evo... same engine as the E46,

Pretty sure the e46 M3 has another 20 BHP on the E36 M3 Evo's 320 BHP......

[99Flake]

The fact is alot of people invent the BMW stigma, through maybe jealousy, want to make themselves feel better.. or whatever it may be.

I used to work for BMW and I can tell you that it is not a made up stigma, I would say that a majority of the customers we had were arseholes, not all but most. They were inconsiderate and rude, most thought that they were better than you, couldn't read signs about not parking, wouldn't take 'no we are full today' for an answer and expected almost everything done under warranty.

As for the car itself, it is hugely capable but I would have to agree it does have a bad image, I generally found that the nice M power car drivers were the ones who had M5's or E30/36 M3's. Too many e46's bought for the image.

[stevie lee]

badass asked so heres the answer....
E46 M3 - 343 bhp / 256 kW @ 7900 rpm


the image that the M3 has to me is that of someone who's just got onto a managment career path and they want to impress both their boss and the ladies, but they have no imagination on how to do that so they think, "i need a flash car, i know i'll get an M3", because its the first thing that pops into their self-centred, GQ styled succesfull bloke image, that anyone outside of the south* doesn't understand. the fact that they are stressed out in their job and as a result causes them to be idiots when driving to their job..... (can't think on how to finish this sentence)

*the south = london.

I will pay you a fair wack of cash if it is made with anywhere near that mark

just quoting this, incase you change your post when the official details emerge, to save paying me money. from what my spy people are saying, it might be just a bit less than 550bhp,

[Ben_]

badass asked so heres the answer....
E46 M3 - 343 bhp / 256 kW @ 7900 rpm


the image that the M3 has to me is that of someone who's just got onto a managment career path and they want to impress both their boss and the ladies, but they have no imagination on how to do that so they think, "i need a flash car, i know i'll get an M3", because its the first thing that pops into their self-centred, GQ styled succesfull bloke image, that anyone outside of the south* doesn't understand. the fact that they are stressed out in their job and as a result causes them to be idiots when driving to their job..... (can't think on how to finish this sentence)

*the south = london.





just quoting this, incase you change your post when the official details emerge, to save paying me money. from what my spy people are saying, it might be just a bit less than 550bhp,

God I wish I could share some of northern stereotypes with you.

[stevie lee]

Ben_ cars my neighbours have - continental gt, 2 range rover sports, land cruiser, jag xf, old e-type, monaro vxr - so i apologise if my views on the 'quite ordinary generic choice of a fast posh car' have offended you, because my views have been altered based on what my neighbours have..

i just happen to think that being the same or having the same thing as everyone else is a bad thing and shows no imagination. It might bite you in your arse if one day, one of those people changes a tiny detail of 'whats in' and you don't change that particular thing aswell, then all of a sudden you find yourself not with the 'in' crowd anymore. so being different from the start, everyone will think of you as a bit odd at first then over time come to accept your wacky way of life and not care if you drive a mondeo or vectra.

Thats just what i've learned over the course of being up north - and also people jumping to conclusions about things before knowing the whole truth, annoy the crap out of me.

I have got nothing against the south, its just that its sufficently far away so I don't have to care.

and i only chose that stereotypical image because it's easy for me to remember due to my memory problems resulting from 2 quite bad accident involving fast cars...

rant over. insert smilies where appropriate


i've lost track of what this thread is about, can someone take it back on-topic please.




oh yeah the M3, depending on what type of person you are then the M3 will be appropriate for you, it's just that it is not an appropriate car if you are a rich kid trying to impress your mates, or if you work in management and its what everyone else has got parked in the car park - the big boss will have a look around see everyones got an M3 and think "everyone who works for me is unimaginative, oh look someones bought a jag, i'll give them the promotion instead".

the M3 i happen to think will suit the school run dad, he turns up at school with his kid, whos mates go "Wow you've got an M3!!" (drool) cue dad revving up and doing a doughnut or number 11's, thats what the cars meant to do - impress small children and the small child inside us all..

they're just my views on the M3, anyone care to start a 'M5 thread?'

[Ben_]

You make me laugh, giving it the big one about where you live..I could say that the guy across the way in my Gated private estate in London has a Lambo, and next to him has two cerbs,and next to him has a proper range rover, not the jumped up new money equivilent.. But it would get me nowhere.

You saying that the guy who bought the range sport has imagination? That would explain why every other car I see while going to work is a black one with a cheap private plate.

And the Bentley, oh please they sold more of those last year than bmw probably did of m3s.

Forums are about opinion, yours is just ridiculous. Your hating because everyone else does, and in that you are the one showing no imagination.

I Have never owned a bmw for the record, but I like to give everything a fair trial.

[staffsMike]

oo oo can i join in.. my neighbours have a Dodge Viper and opposite them have an AM DB9

Personally I don't like BMW's, having driven a couple now they most certainly are not ultimate driving machines and the options lists are just rediculous.

Now that said, the M-cars I have nothing but respect for. They really are awesome imo. Sound fantastic, performance is crazy for a saloon/estate, solidly built and look.. nice enough. I couldn't care less of the image they give you, I mean my car looks like a mini van but I don't car, because the feeling I get from driving it (how I imagine an M3 to be) is worth every penny

[stevie lee]

im not saying my neighbours have imagination, just that the cars they have have affected the way i think about cars..

and i never said i hate the car, i just said its an appropriate car depending on who you are and what you do.

i haven't got an opinion on whether i would buy one, because i haven't been up close to it yet..

[hitman67]

My neighbours have a Toyota Avensis and a Peugeot Partner Van... So there

Agree with Mike on this one, would never own a BMW Myself as having had Audis for many years and playing with other's Beemer's mine always seemed the better car. Always remember one drizzly afternoon when I took on my mates 328Ci in my A3 1.8T (225bhp), His was quicker in a straight line but as soon as we hit the twisty's my Quattro kicked in and he never saw me again, keeping the nose pointing forwards was a challenge but the A3 just stuck to the road like glue!

And Mike, Why have an M when there's a Sx or an RSx that'll show it the way:

[Ben_]

a3 with 225 bhp that wasnt an s3?

What you do to that?

[dave87]

Usually a remap?

I would have though a turbo'd 1.8 could reach 225 bhp (and did in the TT?)

[staffsMike]

And Mike, Why have an M when there's a Sx or an RSx that'll show it the way:

I'll let you know when I can afford either

I do like the fast audi's and M cars, and I'd even consider some sort of AMG merc. although there is so many I have no idea what is what anymore.

I have to say though, I do prefer my rally slags, so the Impreza STi would always be top of my list I know the quality is leagues away but I love them that bit more anyway.


The 1.8 20v T in 180bhp guise maps to around 225bhp and the 225bhp maps quite easily to 270bhp with a £400 chip ..we had a leon cupra R for a while

[Ben_]

I was aware that they map well yes.

I thought that the 225 was the s3 though.

I also had a cupra loan car for about 6 weeks,not quite as much fun as the v6 clio though I found

[staffsMike]

v6 clio though I found

[Ben_]

Indeed, an very very cool little car.

About as practical as chocolate kettle though. It is no more

I actually am trying to get one said m3s in the CSL guise.

[hitman67]

I thought that the 225 was the s3 though.

I was a Chav when I was younger I'll admit it.

It left the factory with (IIRC) 150bhp, but was sent back by the owner before me and had:

- Full S3 Bodykit and Badges *cringes*
- Remap to S3 Performance levels.

Was actually a stunning car, and about £200 dearer to insure than an S3 because it was a "modded" car and not a standard one, but I got it for about £1000 cheaper than any S3 around at the time so that worked out for the better.

God it taught me how to drive though!