20 years later, is the BMW E46 M3 still competitiv...

What’s an M3 Like Now?

So after all it’s no shock that we have now one within the fleet. And like those seen on the Nürburgring, this 2004 model sits decrease because of Bilstein coil-overs, with the fronts topped with Vorshlag camber plates. Some Powerflex bushings have been fitted, together with 17×9.5-inch Apex wheels and Falken Azenis tires. Then add in some bits and setup recommendation from BimmerWorld. 

Nothing on the automotive has been prepped overly aggressively, because it nonetheless sees the overwhelming quantity of its use on the street. The result’s a automotive that properly emulates these Nürburgring haulers with a purposeful stance and fractionally upgraded efficiency however sacrifices little to none of its authentic consolation and drivability.

So after all, we wished to see how this legendary machine held up on observe after 20 years. Off to our official check observe, the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park.

The M3’s inside blends perform with kind: well-bolstered seats, meaty steering wheel and, on our automotive, some cool checker mats from CocoMats.com.

It must be famous that as our official check driver, I’ve mainly three approaches to working laps there: the one I absorb my very own automotive, the one I take with press loaners, and the one I take with one other workers member’s automotive. The M3 is owned by our editor, and its worth has been appreciating steadily. We gained’t point out what an engine rebuild would price. 

The aggressiveness of every of my approaches is barely much less based mostly on the awkwardness of getting an “I killed the automotive” dialog with my very own insurance coverage firm, a producer PR rep, or somebody I’ve to work with each single day, respectively. Nonetheless, as we’ve detailed prior to now, the distinction between these approaches is often measured in tenths of a second slightly than whole clicks on the watch.

All these disclaimers apart, the underside line is that the E46 M3 not solely drives like a complicated machine, however performs on observe like a completely trendy sports activities sedan. 

The E46 M3 simply drips with that company DNA. Perhaps it doesn’t have the super-sharpest steering really feel, but it surely makes up for it with high-resolution chassis dynamics unmatched in a automotive with such sensible makes use of. The M3 places your whole physique to work–hips, shoulders, inside ear–in telegraphing precisely what it’s doing on the street or between the apexes.

The M3 rewards revs. Even in inventory kind, as soon as the engine is warmed up, it’ll take 8000 rpm.

Our check automotive was outfitted with a set of 255mm-wide Falken RT615K+ tires, that are in all probability a bit of slender by trendy requirements on a automotive of this measurement and efficiency. Nonetheless, the dealing with stability felt practically useless impartial, with wonderful traits previous the turn-in level. 

That turn-in can really feel a bit of imprecise because of the barely gentle steering, however as quickly as all 4 tires begin to develop lateral hundreds, the entire automotive shifts into excessive def and simply comes alive. Mid-corner and nook exit, the place you need to use that high-winding engine and manufacturing facility limited-slip to completely set the tail the place you need it, are significantly gratifying.

The road-focused StopTech brake pads don’t really feel as much as the remainder of the automotive’s capabilities, however the knowledge traces appeared surprisingly good. Later, we discovered a problem with the automotive’s ABS unit, however once more, simply trying on the knowledge, we would not have caught it. 

The automotive’s inherently communicative method telegraphs any imperfections so clearly which you could make any vital driving changes in actual time. When confronted with lower than splendid ABS intervention, the remainder of the suggestions was so good that I might simply handle with out. 

Sufficient Speak, How Quick Is the M3?

For a comparability, we dropped the M3’s knowledge over an precise completely trendy efficiency sedan, the 276-horsepower Hyundai Elantra N. It’s one other automotive that pretty oozes ardour and makes for an distinctive observe companion for drivers of any ability degree. The Hyundai retails for about $35,000, whereas M3 coupes at present dither someplace round that determine.

Whereas the Hyundai barely outpaced the BMW–the fashionable sedan’s 1:22.08 simply barely beat out the M3’s 1:22.48–do not forget that these checks had been carried out greater than a yr aside. Had the M3’s proprietor not been watching, I wager I might have gotten a number of extra tenths out of it. 

The BMW needs to be balanced with palms, toes, eyes and mind, whereas the Hyundai can merely be flung with abandon. The Hyundai is extremely satisfying, and attending to 100% feels prefer it takes much less effort. Nonetheless, when you push the M3 towards the sting of its envelope, the expertise is properly definitely worth the slight extra exertion. 

The BMW’s revvier 3.2-liter inline-six must be aggressively wound up, whereas the Hyundai merely delivers turbocharged torque in all places: 289 lb.-ft. between 2100 and 4700 rpm, whereas the BMW peaks out with 262 lb.-ft. at 4900 rpm. 

1. The BMW M3 (purple hint) wanted to gradual a bit of sooner than the Hyundai (blue hint) for Flip 4, however the basic late apex and wonderful mid-corner and exit efficiency gave the M3 a bonus down the following straight. 2. From behind the wheel, our M3’s avenue pads didn’t really feel significantly aggressive, however the knowledge exhibits that the BMW slows for the turns in addition to the extra trendy Elantra N. 3. Acceleration most often is sort of equivalent, with the 276-horsepower Elantra–with its eight-speed DCT–protecting tempo with the extra highly effective, six-speed BMW. The BMW does fall off a bit in fourth, nonetheless.

The pace traces for each automobiles look practically equivalent aside from one spot: the quick right-hand kink of Flip 4. The BMW slows down early, will get again to throttle early, and is rewarded with a basic late-apex pace benefit down the following straight. The Hyundai kilos into the nook quicker, however the pure understeer tendency of the front-drive chassis scrubs a little bit of pace mid-corner and robs prime finish down the following straight.

It’s the basic comparability of outdated versus new. The brand new stuff has been polished to the purpose that it’s laborious to make a mistake, however it might probably additionally make it powerful to see incremental enchancment previous a sure level. The older stuff could also be much less subtle and demand extra exact execution to succeed, however when it does, it’s so, so satisfying. 

And that’s what the E46 M3 offers you: objectively and subjectively trendy efficiency, with a passionate hyperlink to the old-school methods.