E30 325i vs E46 M3

[rThor432]

I've seen a lot of E46's around $9000 in Autotrader. Down from a base price of $27,000ish in 1999.

[markseven]

If E30's were comparable to E46's the E30 would have maintained its value a **little** better ;)

[JGood]

As he said, this applies to stock-for-stock, modded-for-modded.

The entire point is, an e46 is a better platform to start with then an e36, which is better then an e30, etc...

Yes a fully built car will do better then a later generation car not modded to the same standards. And of course with unlimited money, you can do whatever you want to the chassis and suspension. The point is, on a realistic cost and development level, the later the chassis, the better (better being faster, not more fun), in all respects. With the driver and tires OUT of the equation, that is.

[madjurgen]

E46 > E36 > E30 > E21.

That applies to stock for stock, and modded for modded... hell a stock E46 should still rape a modded E30. A stock E36 probably would as well.

You guys are going a little too far here. Stock for stock that equation is absolutely true. But you guys are forgetting what money can buy you. For instance a fully adjustable, all mono-ball suspension, front and back. Also a full Mod level cage with seam-welding throughout. Slap that on an E30 along with some power and it will rape E36s and E46s all day long. Modded or not.

Bob Ball in his Dmod 2002 is consistently on the podium ahead of the ENTIRE IP field and ahead of ALL the other Dmod, Cmod E36s and E46s except for Watts, Stickley and a few others. Same thing for Akard in his monster E30. So let's not go as far as to say that stock E36s and E46s are better than 'properly' modded E30s.

[markseven]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...49400532&hl=en

Gotta love Mickey and Ralph. Micky is fast and Ralph screws around a lot :D Your buddy Matt seems to have a lot of natural talent - and a great car - I saw him out brake a lot of cars going into Turn 1 at WSIR earlier this month. Good stuff.

[JGood]

What about an e46 with a doughnut vs a highly modified e30?

stop it.

[JGood]

E46 > E36 > E30 > E21.

That applies to stock for stock, and modded for modded... hell a stock E46 should still rape a modded E30. A stock E36 probably would as well.

Thank you. I've been attempting to say this all along, I guess graphics make it simple.

[equate975]

E46 > E36 > E30 > E21.

That applies to stock for stock, and modded for modded... hell a stock E46 should still rape a modded E30. A stock E36 probably would as well.

What about an e46 with a doughnut vs a highly modified e30?

[Digitalwave]

E46 > E36 > E30 > E21.

That applies to stock for stock, and modded for modded... hell a stock E46 should still rape a modded E30. A stock E36 probably would as well.

[rThor432]

I drive an E46 325i and E36 M3 as daily drivers. If my E30 was roadworthy (aka motor IN the car) I would go hit some on-ramps in all three right now and give you a solid comparison. Either one will take a stock E30 without breaking a sweat.

The E30 is definitely more fun at the limit, but then again I havent taken the E46 or E36 to the limit.

I think your friend is afraid to push it.

My opinion..

[countrysquire]

truth... he is crazy to an extent, but he is also pushing a pricey car, so he won't be as "free" with it when he drives. thats a given.

I don't think that it's him that they are referring to...

[GaryE30]

The fact remains the e46 is a superior design and will always be faster given equal drivers and tires. You may be able to build a balls to the wall e30 that outperforms a stock e46 on the track, but the chassis and suspension setup is much better on the e46, and it is a better platform to start with for maximum performance. It's also better then the e36, and the e36 is better then the e30. BMW doesn't build shittier cars as time goes on. The uni-bodies are getting stiffer, suspension designs are getting better, and overall performance is increasing.

I just would have said this to start off. But I think the point has been made. E30 rocks... E46 rocks more. E30 is more fun.

[ivo316]

You are misreading my posts... I want to know how much greater an M3 is in comparison to a well modified E30. I don't know how that performance would be measured, so I want to know if anyone with a track e30 has gone toe to toe with the all mighty M and how well it fared against it.

And to answer your question, I mainly went with coilovers so that I could slam my bitch and throw some sportmax wheels on it and pull one of these

With me driving i guess 10 to 20% faster cornering, but there are lots of better drivers.

[JGood]

lol. E30 owners have more fun right?

Seriously think about it this way.
E30s are better for the track than E46's for the average enthusiast, because they are dispensable. You can drive it as HARD AS YOU CAN, and not really care. You can push the car to its limit, not just flirt with the limit. The riskier you are, the more fun you will have, and most people can't afford to be risky in an E46 M3.

my $.02

Oh, I agree 100%. There's a reason I drive e30's. I have driven several e46's, and countless e36's, and they don't leave me with a smile, I'll say that much.

The thing is, the older you go, the more fun they are. I'm getting a 320is to build an all out track car out of.


Stroked M20 + stripped e21 = :D

[silversleeper]

The uni-bodies are getting stiffer, suspension designs are getting better, and overall performance is increasing.

subframe failure suck though... that seems to be an issue that has gotten worse over the generations.