A stock Coyote-powered Mustang GT makes a little more than 400 horsepower. It was an absolute hoot to charge about in but, crucially, it . Generally, the two-door M3s have the highest values. Another commonly discussed weak point of the E46 chassis are the rear trailing arm bushingstypically they should be replaced every 60,000 to 80,000 miles Clay explains. Compared to the E36, the S54 was a significantly stronger built engine, but it certainly had more issues. While the first M3 debuted at the Frankfurt auto show in 1985, it didn't arrive in the U.S. until 1987 for the 1988 model year. They weighed a little less than the regular M3 coupe, but the powertrain remained unchanged. (970) 464-5600. Lightened and refocused for the track, the Lightweight is the rarest and most desirable of the U.S. E36-generation M3. With the two-door coupe now an M4, the F80 generation M3 sedan wasnt the focus of competition modifications. King of the E92 generation is the 2010 M3 GTS coupe. The E36 interior isnt nearly as nice as what the brand put in the contemporary 5-series and 7-series. The most important thing to check is the cooling system. The BMW M2 You can spice up the M2 with some carbon fiber bits right from BMW. Required fields are marked *. Instead, we went with the $70,895 base model, which not. 2016 This is the first year for the Competition Package that brought with it a modest power bump, larger wheels and tires, and revised programming for electronic limited-slip differential. Like any BMW, these cars are great and relatively problem free IF they were taken care of by the previous owner. The engine is gushing with power in both base and Competition trims, delivering a fat, meaty torque curve throughout the rev range. The mid-engined Cayman hasnt been so thoroughly blessed: Porsche just recently gave consumers a track variant, the one-year-only Cayman GT4. I straight embarrassed people with that car and I knew it would make for an amazing race car., An oil cooler is a must, Grabow says. The fourth-gen M3 brought the V-8 engine to the M3. All in all, the E30 M3 is an extremely reliable engine and is built to be run hard, but maintenance and upkeep gets expensive given the cars are 30+ years old. Producing 414bhp, it loves to ride the redline and asks for more. I can't argue with any of the selections on that list but whatI would like to see isa list of cars that one would consider both a DD and track day capable? Enlarged to 4.4-liters and making 450-horsepower, the GTS cost nearly twice as much as a regular E90 M3. Most affordable M3! We included options for a wide range of budgets, too. Many of these cars are still under the factory warranty, and screwing with the engine will void that guarantee. Dont buy their product and dont get concerned about this issue. We also love the car's front-end grip and balance. Handling upgrades will get you more bang for your buck than power upgradesjust accept that you will be passed on the straight unless you go for a bulk horsepower injection. Just like the Miata, the Mustang and several other greats, the BMW M3 has been an enthusiast favorite for decades. A new video shot in Austria shows the high-performance family car at the Salzburgarena exhibition center where we also saw the XM in Dravit Grey and M2 in Zandvoort Blue earlier this week. The 3.0 CSL won its first European Car Touring Championship in 1973, followed by winning its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The system is largely reliable, but if you can avoid the dated displays, menus, and terrible user experience you should definitely do that. The package was primarily a cosmetic package that included 19-inch BBS wheels, larger brake rotors and calipers, stiffer suspension, and various interior trims. Be on the lookout for any indications of connecting-rod or main-bearing wear. The ZCP package in Europe was known as the M3 CSL and had a revised intake, camshafts, and a lightweight exhaust manifold, resulting in increased power to the tune of 355hp and 273tq. Built primarily for the street, rather than a homologation special, the second-gen (E36) M3 sold in much higher numbers than its predecessor. Rust isnt a problem for cars from the sunshine states, but snowbelt cars can be affected. As a matter of fact, we did exactly that in an article about the M3 vs 335i. 2011 BMW E90 M3 [10.00] 2013 BMW 328i [10.00] E9X >>>>> E46. BimmerWorld's James Clay recommends the E46-chassis cars. The E46 was coupe only. This particular generation had a delicious, buttery, high-revving S65 V8 engine. Avoid the Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) automated transmission. Dct for starters, but you can offset that with the manual. The G80 M3 aims at offering the best driver's performance. Its heavy but the AWD helps with pulling you out of a corner. What we don't like is the car's overall heft. Theyre fun, rewarding cars that are easy on consumables. Usually we can get two or three weekends out of the rotors. And dont overlook the fluids: Make sure that you have the whole powertrain on synthetic lubricants., Dario Orlando One of the best versions of the M3 came in the mid 2000s with the E92. $850 per actuators, so total repair cost is about $2.5k. The GT came with lightweight door skins and a swath of green leather in the center of its microsuede seats. That special V-8 thundered and pulled in a way that its predecessors could not match. Justin Johnson transformed his M3 Competition ZCP into a dedicated track car by learning from all the data he collected by road racing. All in all, 700whp+ on the S55 is extremely attainable. 2011 BMW produced 67 four-door versions of the GTS wearing the name M3 CRT. The M3 is BMWs most extreme compact sports coupe and sedan. Turbocharged engines are amenable to tuning through computer tweaks. Carbon ceramic brakes were a pricey option on the M3, but might be worth seeking but if you plan to take your M3 to the track. 1 Shelby GT350/GT350R Bring out the M2, M3/M4, and the M5! We'll update this article when we hear from owners about their experiences. There is some validity but Ill take hold opinion till I look into it further. For being a V8, the S65 had a massive lack of torque. Questionable front end design. What didnt return were the coupe and convertible as BMW rebranded those as M4s to match their 4-series compatriots. Then add a 911 Carrera S engineand subtract the 911 price premium. The E46 M3s S54 engine can experience connecting rod bearing failures, so change the oil more often than the onboard computer demands. The US-spec M3 made only 240 hp as opposed to as much as 321 hp in other markets, but its six-cylinder engine was a marked step up from the E30 M3's four-pot. Like all of the other M3s (with the exception of the F80) tuning is somewhat limited without adding a supercharger or turbocharger since the car is naturally aspirated from the factory. Great for the Dad with kids. It takes expensive 10W-60 weight, too. Well save the rest for the tuning section below. The M3 has better suspension, cooling, an LSD, big brakes, and the S65 is nothing to scoff at. I was on a waitlist and got one of the very first cars in my area, so I decided to bring it to one of my races, he recalls. Lots of it, if you explore the car's upper rev range often. A lot of SMG owners have opted to do a manual conversion to improve reliability and save on potential repair costs from SMG failure. One must-have option are the M carbon bucket seats. wont add any significant power to the car. In this guide, well discuss a few of, Read More BMW S65 M3 Bolt-On Performance ModsContinue. The engine was massage with increased compression, a revised air intake, and tweaked engine management software. Current: 2016 M3 Individual Grigio Telesto Pearl, Sakhir Orange/Black Full Leather w/ CF trim, 6MT, ZCP, CCB, Executive, Lighting, Alex@Alpine coded, 20/15mm BMS spacers, MRG titanium studs, KW Clubsport, Vorsteiner GTS Diffuser, MSR Intake, BBS FI-R, MPE, etc. Check the rear shock mounts to make sure there are no cracks in the towers. Track-ready cooling system. If you do experience crank hub failure, the total cost with parts and labor to fix it is only about $2k. Used cars instead of established classics. You need to add 911, Boxster, Camaro and Corvette. In a world of 700-horsepower pony cars and twin-turbocharged whatevers, the Subaru BRZ and its badge-engineered cousins sold via Toyota and Scion dealerships are a bit of a throwback: rear-wheel drive and only 200 horsepower. If you also need to replace your cylinder head, you are looking at $10-15k. Both six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch (DCT) automatic transmissions were available. bimmerworld.com Look for modifications made for track use. Overall, if you are buying an E46 opt for the manual transmission and for the coupe, not convertible. 330whp and 260wtq. While powerful, the engine suffers from rod bearing issues. In 1996, BMW bumped displacement to 3.2 liters to increase torque, but the 240-hp number remained unchanged. The new gearbox is more smooth than the old DCT, one could argue it lacks the aggression of the old box. This hurts oil pressure, and were seeing bearing failures from naturally aspirated track guys. There are some fascinating closing dates on this article however I dont know if I see all of them middle to heart. Make sure to have some stashed in the trunk in case you ever get low. BMW tested the V8, Read More The 3 Most Common BMW S54 Engine ProblemsContinue, BMW forever left the world of naturally-aspirated performance motors in M-series cars in 2013 with the launch of the S55. Like the previous car, an M4 coupe and convertible means the M3 is sedan only for the G80. 1988 The M3 "Evolution II" appeared in Europe with revised spoilers and bigger wheels and tires. However, maintenance costs will be somewhat higher than an equivalent built e36 M3. Unfortunately, this six lacks the smoothness of the E36's engine.. While this does occur once in a blue moon on highly modded cars, the issue is a bunch of BS, mostly drummed up by a company called TPG Tuning who made an upgraded crank hub that is actually worse than the OEM one. Best Road Cars Ever Developed by BMW's M Division; BMW M3 30th Anniversary; BMW M3 30th Anniversary; Rare, brash, expensive when new, . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site is dedicated to all things BMW Tuning related. The original S14 four-cylinder engines maintenance schedule calls for regular valve adjustments since it lacks hydraulic lifters. You will really suffer with braking on track. Purpose-built for the M3, the 4.0-liter V-8 offers up 414 horsepower and an 8400-rpm redline. They shed heat better, fade less, last longer, and are built to take abuse. Clay says suspension upgrades are the best bang for your buck on these cars, specifically shocks and springs. For others that it isnt, making additional power in these cars is pretty easy and inexpensive. via YouTube: Hoonigan AutoFocus BMW has an incredible track record of producing cars that are not only well-engineered and luxurious but surprisingly sporty as well. A well sorted e46 M3 track/race car is fast and reliable. We found a 1996 model for $4,995 for sale in Ohio. The first M3 to come exclusively as a four-door sedan. This thread is awesome, read it for info on every possible E36 M3 mod: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=308718, E46 M3 Engine: S54 3.2L I6Horsepower/Torque: 333hp / 262lb-ft0-60mph: 4.8 seconds1/4 Mile:13.0 seconds at 104mphTop Speed: 170mph (limited to 155mph)Curb Weight: Coupe = 3,399 lbs., Convertible = 3,797 lbs.Production: 56,133 coupes and 29,633 convertibles, globally. They're light, have great steering and an awesome gearbox, and a bullet-proof engine. A solid turbo setup can get you to the 400whp mark and beyond, but the cost for a proper setup, with the 2.5L conversion is about $25k. With 414 horsepower from the NA V8 its no slouch, even by todays standards. In my opinion, the E36 M3 falls to the bottom of the M3 list. 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