Test drove a M3 coupe today. It's a SMG with basically no options.
I've heard so much about the M3 that I decided to drive one for myself.

SMG - works really well. SMG shifts are 2x faster than Tip. SMG is superior than tip but it is a little rough when shifting.

Room - Rear seat has decent room unlike Porsche. Trunk is decent size. Practical.

Engine noise - No mean sounding exhaust. When punched, it makes a high pitch mechanical whine. Not very good sounding.

Suspension - Bounces on the road, even freeway at high speed. Does not feel stable or confident. However, it does corner well at 40-50 mph. My old Rx7 felt more stable...

Brake - Good performance but not as good as 911.

Interior - Lots of plastic that looks like plastic. Posche interior has plastic that is painted and feels like aluminum. Great seats w support that's better than 911. Level of interior plastic quality is that of the 99-2001 996. Much more to be desired and basic carry over from 3 series. I'd opt for trim upgrade.

All in all, M3 has conventional looks with sports car performance that NEEDS modification to make it better. It's the german Corvette that is practical and easy on the wallet. Would not recommend the convertible as it wights a lot more than a coupe.

 

It really depends upon which mode you are in. In S6 the shifts are crazy jarring...in S2 or even they arent nearly as fast. (S6 can only be activated after turning the Sport button on)
Was it sort of a metallic sound or kinda "zingy". If so thats the Rasp that everyone hates with the stock exhaust. There are a few options for aftermarket exhaust which remove it and make a world of difference.
Its definitely something of a pig that begs for coilovers. Although my e36 isnt as fast as the e46 I feel I could out-handle one (especially on my coilovers)

Definitely agree on the no-convertible sentiment.

Havent been to the MSection of this site much but liked your review and had some thoughts to add.

 

Damn rough ride...

try a 6 speed like mine w. the comp pkg..compared to a non-modded 996 ( I had 2 996's one of them modded and one non modded) this thing is much better as a stock car as well it handles better the front end of a 996 is bobbing all over the road at high speeds.

The exhaust has the wine due to the fact that this is like an NSX or 360 motor it is a race built motor and has a very high redline.

Comparing the SMG to a TIP is not valid the TIP is an automatic and the SMG is a sequential manual w. a clutch, as well it is very rough. The M3 needs to be driven DSC off, Sport switch on and it is as good a stock sports car as I have ever owned.

I would not own any Porsche short of a GT3 or GT2 over this car disregarding the looks factor, I happen to like the M3 looks anyway.

With regard to the interior what Porsche do you have my 996's look cheap as **** inside and a 80k car with a plastic dash is an insult and M3 is a 47k base car and it shares many items w. the base 3 series.

With regard to E36 outhandling this car not a chance my E36 was modded by Active in Miami and even w.coilovers this car stock handles better and brakes better as well I have the CSL brakes they come w. comp pkg...

Just my 2 cents dont bash me I still love a P car but the M3 is a real machine out of the box and needs no mods if you know how to drive it to the max as I do everyday.

 

Not to bash...I agree with everything said except for 2 points:

A) the exhaust noise is due to the section 1 pipe...for some reason the factory decided to include 1 resonator on the section 1 piece, simply replacing that with something as found on www.rebmw.com (Rasp-X Pipe) which utilizes 2 resonators will completely remove the metallic sound.

B) Having had a 2002 E46 M3 6speed to drive at the same time as my 95 m3 on coilovers, I can truely tell you my car is abundantly flatter and more responsive in turns. Granted, I dont know what mods active did (their quality is slipping, FYI) but my www.ground-control.com coilovers are really well made and with a 450/525 setup there is little my car cant tackle.

I totally agree that SMG is not TIP...I actually thought that until I drove an SMG and my test drive certainly changed my mind.

 

Thanks for the input guys. My friend bought the M3 that I test drove so I'll let him know about the rasp pipe.

I compared SMG & Tip bc most SMG driver are those that don't want hassle of the clutching which as tip drivers in my opion. SMG is so easy to drive that an automatic driver can drive it without stalling.

On interior quality, I am comparing an 02 996 and 02 M3. I think 99-01 996 interior are no match to M3.

 

Interesting post. I just got rid of my '99 996. Very disappointing car. Crappy interior - center consol door broke right away - worse thing is RMS which mine finally had at 40K, but the absolulte worst was oil in my coolant expansion tank! After several visits to the dealer who sold it to me, who by the way stood by the sale (purchased 12/31/04), they finally took it to the Porsche dealer who told them it would need a new motor. HA! $13-15k for the motor plus installation, etc., etc. I had enough.

Although I was entitled to a new motor due to the warranty I had with the dealer (30 days) since I noticed a problem right after the purchase (oil in cooler) -- lucky for me, they wanted me to consider one of their other 996's (00 and 01), I drove an M3 coupe and an M3 Convertible, and hands down, no problem, I was sold! What a car! Quality, performance, you name it. Sorry Porsche guys, that was my second one, although my first water cooled, and never again (until I can afford a GT2 or GT3). I bought the M3 convertible.

"There is no Substitute" Oh yeah there is -- there's something BETTER!

 

I am sold...the M3 is better then any Porsche except a GT3/2 or TT..the 996/7 is not for me...as well I had a 2000 996 Coupe and a 2003 Coupe other then the fact that I had full leather in the 2002..the 99-2004 996 interiors are not that different. As far as everything else being equal there is nothing like a BMW. The Porsche is a great car however they have gotten soft IMHO and the GT3/2 are the only "drivers" cars left in the line...not withstanding the CGT...

 

very good info on the rasp-delete.
i was unaware of it.

 

S6 can only be activated w/DSC off. The Sport button doesn't play a role in selecting S6.

Greg A

 

My 02. cents


E46 m3

SMG not bad, shifts better than Ferrari F1.
6 Speed, still one of the best gearboxes out there.

Engine BMW's inline 6 is one of the best ( if not the best ) inline engines in the world. Period.

Suspension, although a little to compliant on the road it is still not bad... Out of the box will outhandle alot of cars at 2x its price.

Exhaust , alot to be desired, but what do you want from a high reving six, its not a small block.. Its more like a finely tuned machine than a harley. If you want loud and obnoxious look elsewhere. If you want precision your in the right place.

Interior, You have ROOM for 4 adults , trunk Yes it has one and you can fit something in it. What a concept.

Economy , I get 23+ mpg on freeways and about 15-17mpg city.


Its a great car that you can live with EVERYDAY..

 

Our M3 in Speed GT a few years ago.

 

I knew DSC had to be disengaged..but I was nearly positive Sport also needed to be on. Granted ours was a 6-speed, and I only got behind the wheel of my friend's SMG once...maybe I am mistaken.

 

That is a real smart comment. The day BMW's are better cars then Porsche is the day that pigs grow wings. Sure, they are a nice car, but nowhere on the class, performance, pretty much anything but old men who want comfort, as a Porsche. Everyone has there own opinion, but to say a "Beemer" is better than a Porsche is like saying a Timex is better than a Rolex.

 

Having just gotten rid of my 996 and not wanting another, this was based on the crapola the company built and how they don't stand behind it -- unlike BMW. I still like the cars but until they improve on what they build like with the RMS issues every 10-15k and OIL IN THE COOLANT, they can stick it! Like I said, I could have purchased another (albeit used), but until I can buy new and a GT3 or Turbo at that, it's not worth it, of course unless you can afford a new motor ($13k-15k). Can you tell I'm p*ssed at them?

 

Please tell this to early E46 M3 owners who were consistently accused by BMW of abusing their cars and causing engine failures. It took many months of fighting and an increasing number of failures before BMW finally admitted that the engines had issues and that they would cover the repairs under warranty and also extend the warranty.

This admission by BMW resulted in at least three separate service campaigns to fix the same problem.

Also, ask board member Hamann7 how BMW supported him when his M5's engine failed...

Greg A