The Legendary E46 BMW M3: I Can't Be The Only One Who Thinks This...

CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!

Today I revisit the mighty BMW E46 M3. Having owned one in the past, and reviewed several, it is a car that has always disappointed - but have I been too harsh on it? Let's find out today with this nicely cared for example

Not had enough? Check out JAYEMM & FRIENDS! My new channel

***********OUR CHANNEL PARTNERS***********

LILLIAN STANLEY FINANCE
Call the special JayEmm Hotline on 08007720588

Dodo Juice - Award Winning Detailing Products
Get 10% off Dodo Juice's British Made Detailing Products with code: JAYEMM10

Car Profile Art - Automotive Artwork by a Genuine McLaren Formula One Engineer

FIRE SAFETY STICK - GET A DISCOUNT WITH MY LINK
The World's Lightest and Most Compact Fire Extinguisher

***********************************************************************************

Equipment Used:
Panasonic S1H Camera
Panasonic S5
Sennheiser AVX-ME2 Audio Kit
Insta360 Action Cameras - GET A FREE ACCESSORY

[JayEmmOnCars]

CarVertical: The History Checking Service
Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount!

[Sid]

This era of BMW was great, the styling was pretty much bang on.

[shammi]

Nowhere near an M3, but I have a low mileage pre facelift E46 330i Touring in Silver. It has all the extras (black leather, cruise control, heated seats, parking sensors). Perfect second car, it can do anything and is fun to drive and sounds great. Not the fastest car by any measure, but still powerful enough to enjoy. Will never sell it.

[OdyTypeR]

Overrated? Absolutely.
Still amazing? Alsolutely.

[MontgomeryPisswhistle]

E46 330d coupe owner, here. 10 years and over 100K miles of ownership and I love the car as much as rhe day I bought it. Im never selling.

[larryjimbob]

Visually it's still a beautiful looking take note! 😢😔

[I-gs]

Drove one of these on my favourite twisty road and was blown away - stunning car.
Then I drove a 997 Carrera on the same road and realised the BMW couldn’t hide its humble family car origins.
Still want one - that classic BMW’ness is just so right.

[Richjtj]

Bronze Bola reps on a 46 M3 should be illegal.

[mrivantchernegovski]

I had a E46 M3 that got stolen and insurance payed out so i got a real cheap E36 M3 4 door in bland silver with a blown motor, happen to have a Nissan RB25DET aqnd a R33 box lying around so it got jammed in the E36 with a bigger turbo and Haltech ECU, now i got a reliable non vanos RB that pumps 290 kw at the rears all day every day, its happy to do traffic no worries or out on the back roads ripping it up at night, Its actually a better chassis that handles way more than my old S13 Silvia, great channel that i watch here in New Zealand

[mooyay]

I've owned mine for 5 years now, spent over 3 years getting it back up to scratch. I've spent well over £10k on it to get it up to spec. A year ago it all finally come together and drove it on track. All the money, pain and stress was well worth it. It's incredible.

No matter where I go, it attracts everyone from all different age groups. The amount of people I've met through this car and hobby is incredible.

[andrewpercival]

As an owner of a coupe manual E46 M3 for many years and i have no intention of selling i can admit that it's by no means a perfect car in standard form but...and it's a big but....just owning one puts a smile on my face and they sound and look great, they are high maintenance but any performance car of this era you can pretty much say the same and the odd big bill will arise but general maintenance really isn't that bad, when i first got mine i found it abit underwhelming at slow speed and wondered what the fuss was about, these are cars to be driven fast and they really come alive, keep it over 3000 revs and it's a stunner, not a perfect car but a special one imo.

[williamfence]

Had an E36 version years ago and you're right about always needed something . Found a local specialist who's colleague once joked that he was glad I was in the workshop again as he needed a bit more money for a holiday. Running right it was lovely.

[mcgherkinstudios]

At least the owner has done the right thing here. The best noise in an E46 comes from the front, and the worst comes from the back.

Sadly most E46 owners seem to have not got the message and drive around everywhere sounding like a pissed off wasp in a tin can.

[hatespeach]

Got a e46 330ci Coupe in silver... Just makes me miss my 1986 totally standard 2.8i original wedge shaped supra... Two fingers on the steering any speed turns instantly... Super smooth ride No body roll... Blip the throttle and tug the steering resulted in an instant wheel spinning 180 turn from a standstill or just hold the throttle for doughnuts... Had it 12 years everything always worked....

[FLZZz]

I own a e46 m3. Do i agree with every problem you put forward? Yes. Do i think its over rated? No.
Of your three complaints steering is a big one for me also. My previous car was a mk7.5 golf gti with electric steering which had more feeling through the steering than the stock hydraulic rack in the m3. Luckily it can be noticeably improved by switching to a standard non m3 steering rack (no longer progressive). Still feels numb but way faster and no longer dead on center.
And I also agree strongly with you about the stock suspension. it is pointlessly harsh, and overall not well controlled. I don't know of any aftermarket alternatives that make the car softer. Mine has KW v3 coil overs on it, which has made the ride at least more controlled.
Ultimately these are not deal breakers for me or the cost of maintenance but i completely understand why any one of them would be for some one.
to me its always special to drive. and when I get to drive it hard i have a smile ear to ear. maybe that will change in a few years.

[simonjones]

Every time I get in my e46 m3
I love it! 12 years of ownership!
I always click the sport button and click traction control off before moving, maybe that’s where you’re going wrong! ;) I wish I hade that interior colour though ✨

[matteightytwo]

Totally agree and this has been my view for 20 years.

I was a 36 fanboy, my uncle had a modified one growing up, wide arches and all. I remember the article in EVO, I remember the front cover, and I was in awe... I was now a 46 fanboy, it had the same wide arches we put on my uncles 36

Then I drove one. Maybe I was used to "harder" cars but it felt very ordinary. Good, but not special. The engine is a sensation but it felt over hyped

The 36 was smaller, more wieldy, more compact, underrated

[rare]

In many respects it is overrated, but that doesn’t take from so many of the aspects that fuelled that legacy. It’s a timeless wonderful piece of design (E46 in general). In terms of proportions, subtlety, it’s handsome, it’s just right. Nothing is overdone. It’s in stark contrast to current BMW designs. Then the interior is a masterclass in ‘just right’. The quality was a massive step over the e36, everything felt good. I’ve owned multiple 330Ci’s and I think they are a beautiful car, great noise, feel like a mini GT car in terms of weight and ability to cruise at good speed quite effortlessly.

[lloydgriffiths]

I think for many people (but speaking for myself at the moment), like a lot of cars, it’s a recipe of nostalgia + looks.

When I was a wee boy, 5/6 years old I remember my dad coming down the driveway in a then fairly new E46 3 series, not an M or even a 6 cylinder but just a really tastily spec’d saloon. And that memory is imprinted in my brain. That, plus the looks and intake noise of the of the M model and getting more into cars as I got older, meant that despite knowing its flaws, it is my dream car. Despite being overrated in the driving department and not even being much of a “high end” car, it just is one of the cars I’ve lusted for the most.

I did hear they rectified the handling with the CS model but they’re unbelievably rare.

[targaR]

I honestly felt the same way. Drove an E46 M3 and the E92 335i back to back. The 335i felt more like what I thought an M3 should be. Still love the way the E46 looks...