The E36 M3, even in US spec, is one of the most legit M3s. Amazing chassis balance, good knowledge base, and their reasonable simplicity mean that they see so much track time. Remember when M stood for motorsport?
Vincent Li that goes with any car really. Things have gotten out of control in the past decade or so. Back then over 200 hp was a reasonably fast car, especially if it doesn’t weigh all that much. Now we’re getting into factory cars with over 600 hp and relatively normal family cars with over 300. Everything’s heavier though too.
@@mcearl8073 the only 200 hp cars that were somewhat fast were hondas so wtf u talking about lol. cars make more power now mostly cuz of turbos. in the 90s and 00s cars had bigger displacement engines. turbo a 7 litre amg engine and eat my dust with your shitty 4.4 turbo. no replacement for displacement.
I had a ‘95 M3 for 14 years with the whole kitchen sink of track preparation (cams, exhaust, intake, Brembos f&r, full Ground Control suspension, Recaros, BBS wheels, cage, etc) and it was a great car. It was a great track car and I really liked it better than my e46 M3. Purchasing a GT4 was the only thing that got me to sell it.
I absolutely love my e36 M3. Mine is a coupe. A few modifications, the best one being an M50 intake manifold and a decent home brewed tune. Second best mod was the Z3 quick ratio steering rack. They are so nice to drive, raw yet refined enough to be my daily driver for a 2 hour drive every day. Plus the look awesome and have perfectly ergonomic interiors.
I have both an e36 and an e46 (e36 is almost on its way to its new owner), non-M3s, same spec, engine power. The better car for a daily driver is the e46. Is quieter, a bit more comfortable and has some more modern amnesties, it also has a bit more torque down low. The e36 wins in the fun department. Because it's a bit less refined, you are more in contact with what the metal beneath you is doing, with the engine sound. I find the steering feel a bit better on the e36, is a bit more keen to step its tail out and the mechanical throttle is unbeatable. That is, actually, my biggest gripe with the e46 - that first implementation of DBW throttle, followed immediately by how lame the engine/starter motor sounds when cranking compared to the e36's 😂 Jokes aside, the e36, as a track car, has also a huge cost advantage of having LSDs available on the cheap. On the e46 gen. only the M3 came with an LSD, whereas there were LSDs even on 318i automatics on the e36 (that one came in 4.44 ratio!). If you can have only one car, probably the logical choice is the e46. If the car is intended only for fun stuff, then the e36 is the way to go.
People complain about the 40 less hp in the us spec cars but it has the same torque and a nearly identical 0-60 time as the euro spec E36s. I think it's mostly psychological, and I personally prefer the mid-range of the S52 to the mid-range of the S54 which needs more wringing out.
You're getting pretty good man, better than Matt at the One-Takes, IMO. You listen, which is really refreshing, most hosts, Matt included, have a listening problem. Keep it up.
Yep. Matt is smug, loud, talks over people, is often somewhat rude but is he's also knowledgeable and entertaining. Yeah this guy is nice but it's doubtful he will ever be as successful as Matt is
I had an S50 swap in my E30 gutted track rat. The donor S50 had 100k miles on it from the street. The car over the last 10+ years has over 22,000 dedicated track miles without any major failure. It really is an amazing engine. I track a full interior E46 M3 now because I wanted something I could drive to/from the track and not need a truck/trailer like my E30 required, and am definitely in the camp of people who think the S50/52 sounds better than the S54. I have a supercharged E92 M3 and even before it was supercharged, I had 0 interest in tracking my E92. The newest BMW I would use for dedicated track days is E46. The E36 is a great platform.
I was riding along in a gt3rs at Sonoma for a bonus session, and an e36 gapped the hell out of the Porsche and slipped away.... I have been a believer of e36s since.
I still would rather a Euro spec E36 over an E46...because touring car nostalgia. Part of my dream garage with the Volvo 850-R, Audi RS4, Alfa 155, and Ford Sierra Cosworth. Have the Alfa, now working on the Volvo.
For sure the Ford Escort Sierra Cosworth great nostalgic choice us Americans couldn't have. Dont forget a Mk1/2 Escort as well. I love those little bricks that could
@Art - hey buddy! IMO, the GTR yes was dominant in Asia (and it was, and is, a fantastic touring car), but it didnt impact the Euro or NA touring car scene as much as, say, Alfa's use of aero, or Audi with AWD, or Seat and using diesel, or the dominance of the Sierra, etc. @Joe - wagon of course, even though Volvo did better in 95 and 96 BTCC seasons with the sedan version.
I had the 850-R Wagon around 3 years ago. Look for them on the east coast, even though we get rust, there is actually a lot of them of here and not too expensive.
Absolutely love E36!! Have an E36 328i coupe in Europe, 205hp and 1400kg as a sunday cruiser. OEM alcantara interior, electric windows front and back. 4 years and 35,000km of ownership, I've had 1 window stop working and that's literally the only thing that ever broke on me. If you take care of these cars they're awesome, and if you don't live in a hot climate, the interiors really aren't bad to live with. Mine is 26 year old, interior has been apart multiple times, swapped in a low mileage Alcantara interior and there's literally not been any rattles for over 2 years now(20,000km). I've had the subframe mounts reinforced since I was swapping a whole poly bushing rear suspension in it with a new diff so that's not gonna bite me later. Sunroof was broken when I got it so I fixed that for peanuts(the clips are like 20$). Glovebox sag is something I accept, doesn't bother me. Reupholstered the headliner myself 3 years ago, have to redo it again sadly. Can honestly say without a doubt I will never ever sell that car, love it to bits. Absolutely the most fun car I've ever owned by far. The trick is to have one that's unmolested and has an interior that doesn't fall apart, and yes, you can still find those.
Do some weight reduction! mine is 11xxKg - night and day difference, you won't believe how much stuff you can take out, sound deadning, carpets, all other crap, etc www.bildites.lv/images/b6xbbu4s/133698/thumbnail
I got a e36 325i manual that I put 3:46 rear gears in over the 2:93 and coil overs on, it is one nice riding car with spunk. there are other gear sets that can be had like 3.38 or the 3.23 that this car has most likely, there is also a 3.15 I dont think would do well with spirited dirving. the gear ratio can be used to give kwiker acceleration at a sacifice to speed. for my car 3:46 makes it kwik with at 87mph Im at 4k, when with the other set it would have me a bit over 100 but was a dog. power is not the only factor in the equation and these inline motors these cars have are rev happy, so gives something you can take advantage of.
Nice to see a 4 door E36 , I had an Estoril blue 4 door Evolution with the full 321 BHP that we got over here in the UK , Wish I had kept it !! Proper engine.
I had an e36. Everything that could break, broke. Subframes everything! But to this day I miss that car the most. The screaming straight 6 and a meat and potatoes sports chassis. Nothing you didn’t need as a driver. Somewhere along the line BMW changed this motto.
Never, I hope. It defeats the purpose of the car. There is something special about luxury and speed. But I know it is going to happen, and happen soon.
i used to have a 98' 328i heavily modified. active autowerke stage supercharger with meth injection, and every single bolt on you can think of. only had the 2.8l and was a heavy girl, but god dang she brought me the best driving pleasure of my life so far.
Your r888's are mounted backwards. Might of done it to save tire, but you can remove and install the directional tires so that your camber wear is on the outside and it is still correct tread pattern direction.
the front power seats, rear seats, spare wheel and steering wheel is about 220+ lbs of weight reduction if i remember correctly. Power Vader seat assembly's are like 70-80lbs each (manual like 65 ea), and the steering wheel setup is like 25lbs . Just doing those and adding 2 bucket seats and a 310-350mm steering wheel + hub you can feel the difference in the car's handling and acceleration . just got another e36 last week and I cant wait to tear into it.
Zach when my NA miata is "done" i will drive from Texas to let you review it. I love that E36. I had a 98 328i for a longtime and loved that car so much.
E36 has amazing pedals. Perfect for heeltoe. The response it fast, because the throttle is on cable. E36 has no stupid Clutch Delay Valve so the clutch grabs instantly. The floor in the subframe area doesn't fall apart as easily as in the E46. When driving E46 after E36 it feels like a heavy car, yet the sound deadening is comparable. E36 has better exterior door handles. Still, I sold my E36 and got E46 because I couldn't no longer live with the position behind the wheel. Legs to the left, hands to the right, steering wheel touching my legs and head touching the headliner. The ergonomy in E46 is perfect except for the window up/down buttons being so far apart.
There's something very cool about 4 door E36. They were the first (E36) BTCC cars here in the UK, albeit with a hot s14 type engine. (sorry I can't recall the exact engine code). This will be epic with the s54 but it's also great as it is.
I've always liked the E36 shape. And, I agree with Zack , I like the sedan over the coupe. A few years ago, there was a silver E36 M3 with a black interior for sale at $20K. I should have bought it. That's true Buyers remorse.
@@MyNameIsJustinKeenan No, The e36 us specs have more grunt and grumble than e36 euro specs. The Alpina bore creates better exhaust note from 2.5 to 3.0 with hydraulic lifters. Sorry! Those are facts. Euro e36 m3s specs sound Great, but have more of a buzz sound. The e46 m3 is the worst sounding m car, no matter what exhaust you choose. In canada we had 3.0 euro specs and 3.2 euro specs, so when the e46 m3 came out in 2001,we were not that impressed by it in terms of performance.😧 It was a Glammed up e36 Euro spec with the same 3.2 motor since 1996, which in the end was poorly built due to rod bearing and crank issues. Ess supercharged u.s spec m3s and turner motorsport u.s spec 3.4 strokers were better for maintenance and performance in the early 2000's. Uhhh... also. Most u.s spec m3s have out ran euro e36 m3s and e46 m3's in terms of lifespan. Soo...... In the end. What was the better built car ? I still see 1995 to 99 u.s specs on tracks and highways with 30000kms ,and e30s for that matter. I have owned all 3 models. 3.0 euro one of the 45 that came to Canada. 2000 to 2002 Sold it for double what I paid, 2003 to 2014 Bought a 1995 us spec turner motorsport 3.4 stroker and still had 12 grand left in my pocket. I went to university in England, My family is well off over there. 2007 to 2010 I was given my cousins 1996 m3 3.2 euro spec for daily use to and from school. Great car. I had driven a friends 3.2 euro in Canada in 2003 and didn't see much difference compared to a 3.4 stroker or 3.0 euro with maf box added. When I was using the 3.2 in England I got to use the top end a few times on the motorways. It has a bit more top end, that's it. That's about all I ever came up with in difference between u.s and euro 3.2s That's the truth, stock vs stock after 90mph euros gradudlly pull away. Uhhh.. Gradually is the key word.
Lord Roo Lord Roo Lord Roo sounds like you've had a lot of experience with some great cars. Sadly, Canada never actually got any Euro E36 M3's other than the 45 that you mentioned you owned, if anyone had a Euro S50B32, they had brought it over from Germany, or had illegally imported an entire car in 2003 (or possibly legally through political rank). In terms of reliability yes, no question the US E36 M3 benefited greatly from the detuned engine, it's more reliable than the Euro S50 and S54. Also would agree that a Turner tuned car would be a near match for the Euro M3, (sadly, Turner recently got bought out by another company so they no longer do parts supply, just their racing AFAIK) a 3.4 stroker or supercharged as well. For me, the ITB's of the euro S50 are what make it sound better than the NA cars. That being said, I'd much sooner put an aftermarket ITB kit onto an NA S52 than I'd try and swap in a euro motor 😁
If you want to do a lot of mods to an E36 it's probably best to get any clean cheap chassis from a 318i to a 328i and S54 swap it. The swap is well documented now, you can buy wiring harnesses online for the swap and then build the rest of the chassis however you want with big brakes, suspension, etc. I think that's the way to go nowadays.
The S52 is a very potent engine. With an M50 manifold, cams, and bolt ons you can easily get over 300 hp to the engine. Not mentioning the fact that you can turbocharge it with just studs and headgasket and make over 500 hp on stock internals.
I have an m50 which makes 270whp. You can make Euro power, you just need to spend $. Like everything in life. Though my m50 is track only, it'd be a streetable number with an s52.
i love'd with s54 engine from E46M3. but i love'd with E36. i know that E46 better for daily but E36 way more better for me. i put S54 in my E36. :) now i had best car ever. :) cheers E36guys
I got a clean 325i boston green almost m tech chassis. came with a zf trans and lsd rear end. it is the key then almost not. when my car hit 25 years old this year the gaskets started to go out
I've had a track prepped supercharged e36 m3, na e36 and e46 m3. E36 is cheaper and more reliable. The e46 has some large expensive issues the can happen. That being said, the e46 m3 is my favorite when everything is running good, though it's a more high end expensive build. I still have a e46 m3 but have been wanting another e36 m3 to beat on at the track.
You guys got screwed on the E36 M3. Not just on the power, it's a non ITB pedestrian M50/52 330i/332i with M badges, theres nothing M3 about it besides that. The entire drivetrain is 328i spec. It has the 188mm diff instead of the big 210mm. It has the weak axels, it has a completely different motor. That being said, i love the M50 based motors. They take boost quite well, and if you're playing with boost it's a better starting point than the Euro motor as everything cost a lot less and has more aftermarket support. Euro S50 is fantastic if you keep it stock or turn it into an NA race car.
"Ah man I've done so much" *Its suspension and a steering wheel* Noticed that in a lot of videos. I get that suspension and tires make a massive difference on the track. But it just feels disappointing when "modified" means "Yeah I took off the wheels, unbolted the shocks from the strut towers, and put these coilovers on."
Most euro e36 have adjustable wheel columns actually. They are a great platform. Like, 240sx of europe. With stock engine and brakes, some good tires and suspension they are known to go 7:20 on the 'Ring!
I'm in the same boat, the Miata doesn't need any more power. Unless the driver is perfect, power adders are just a band-aid for imperfect driving. It pigeon holds itself in a way that you don't have to compete with other cars, just other Miatas. Need a little more power? Just get a newer Miata or an S2000.
All M3s are amazing all years.I personally like e92 m3 the most but I hear the v8s have issues with rod bearings or something.As for these cant you just swap in some euro parts for extra power or is it internals to?
300 horsepower "dream" LOL. A V6 Camry has that now. And I love how the guy has that laugh before he talks about his mods like he's going to list a bunch of stuff. Coilovers, front sway bar, and intake. Wow bro, that's insane!!!11!!1!!1!!!! Oh yeah the cage and steering wheel. What a crazy track build
With all this said, ( and I'm so far in the E36 M3 Camp too ) aside from the higher HP and tighter, fluid body lines, why DO most M3 people flock to the E46 era? I'm asking because I am considering either era as my first M3 purchase. Any honest comments are appreciated. Thanks guys! :)
E46 is more popular in the states because it has a real M3 motor, where as the US spec M3 does not. It's basically a bored and stroked 328i that has M3 badging, and people get upset when you say that, but its true. That does not mean it's a bad car. It's a fantastic car, it's fun to drive and handles well. It also handles boost quite well but it isn't a real M3 with an M3 powertrain. It's a sooped up 328i. The Euro motor has individual throttlebodies, a bespoke block and head with doube VANOS. The Euro S50 head is what the heads ion the V12 in the McLaren F1 supercar is based on. When it comes to E46 M3, North America got the same car with the same motor as everywhere else so you guys tend to leapfrog to that instead.
I had a E46 M3 and would pass on both E36 and E46. Powerband is too far up top and my driving is realistically always below 3k rpms. Most people don't track these cars and the lack of TQ in the low end plus all the reliability issues and I had to get rid of it. They look nice and handle great till you own one and maybe just my luck I had way too many issues with it and didn't match my driving style.
Love my M3 (it's both my daily and my autox car) but they do have their share of common issues as they age. Not enough to make me get rid of it, though. I'll be keeping it for a good long while but I can see why they wouldn't be for everyone.
Mike, that's why you rev it out to have fun. There's a reason the E46 M3 revs to 8k. Although I will admit that this means the car doesn't fit everyones driving style. I typically rev it out past 5k pretty frequently and I absolutely love it.
A track prepped Lexus IS300\Altezza instead of this. IS300 has 2JZ plus 5 speed plus LSD. Winning combo. Altezza have the BEAMS engine can rev to 8K plus with a 6 speed.
I do not understand you guys that strip a luxury sports car. There is something very nice about a car that is comfortable and that can run fast. To each their own, but I don't get it. Maybe I am getting older and softer. Maybe I am salty that just when I was ready to pick up one of these the prices shot up and now some of you are ruining some of the limited supply. Anyways, on the Sam Smith Miata discussion, I think they need more power, especially torque. They are still great cars stock, though.
The E36 M3, even in US spec, is one of the most legit M3s. Amazing chassis balance, good knowledge base, and their reasonable simplicity mean that they see so much track time. Remember when M stood for motorsport?
Nailed it
Vanos tho
This whole US E36 hate thing is artificial. In the mid 90s everybody wanted this car and nobody complained about the power.
Vincent Li that goes with any car really. Things have gotten out of control in the past decade or so. Back then over 200 hp was a reasonably fast car, especially if it doesn’t weigh all that much. Now we’re getting into factory cars with over 600 hp and relatively normal family cars with over 300. Everything’s heavier though too.
@@mcearl8073 the only 200 hp cars that were somewhat fast were hondas so wtf u talking about lol. cars make more power now mostly cuz of turbos. in the 90s and 00s cars had bigger displacement engines. turbo a 7 litre amg engine and eat my dust with your shitty 4.4 turbo. no replacement for displacement.
I had a ‘95 M3 for 14 years with the whole kitchen sink of track preparation (cams, exhaust, intake, Brembos f&r, full Ground Control suspension, Recaros, BBS wheels, cage, etc) and it was a great car. It was a great track car and I really liked it better than my e46 M3. Purchasing a GT4 was the only thing that got me to sell it.
Damn Matt, you've lost a lot of weight man, and shrunken a chunk
Favourite car ever, e36 m3 sedan, and keeping the ambers on silver makes it even better, to the owner, you sir, have my respect.
Thanks! its meh baby
I absolutely love my e36 M3. Mine is a coupe. A few modifications, the best one being an M50 intake manifold and a decent home brewed tune. Second best mod was the Z3 quick ratio steering rack.
They are so nice to drive, raw yet refined enough to be my daily driver for a 2 hour drive every day. Plus the look awesome and have perfectly ergonomic interiors.
I think i've always preferred the driving experience of the e36 over the e46 even with a neutered s52
I have both an e36 and an e46 (e36 is almost on its way to its new owner), non-M3s, same spec, engine power.
The better car for a daily driver is the e46. Is quieter, a bit more comfortable and has some more modern amnesties, it also has a bit more torque down low.
The e36 wins in the fun department. Because it's a bit less refined, you are more in contact with what the metal beneath you is doing, with the engine sound. I find the steering feel a bit better on the e36, is a bit more keen to step its tail out and the mechanical throttle is unbeatable. That is, actually, my biggest gripe with the e46 - that first implementation of DBW throttle, followed immediately by how lame the engine/starter motor sounds when cranking compared to the e36's 😂
Jokes aside, the e36, as a track car, has also a huge cost advantage of having LSDs available on the cheap. On the e46 gen. only the M3 came with an LSD, whereas there were LSDs even on 318i automatics on the e36 (that one came in 4.44 ratio!).
If you can have only one car, probably the logical choice is the e46. If the car is intended only for fun stuff, then the e36 is the way to go.
Agree. Many agrees. Built S52's NA are fantastic.
@@mariuszanfir2298 as owner of 5 e36 cars I salute you for great summary of differences between these two cars.
People complain about the 40 less hp in the us spec cars but it has the same torque and a nearly identical 0-60 time as the euro spec E36s. I think it's mostly psychological, and I personally prefer the mid-range of the S52 to the mid-range of the S54 which needs more wringing out.
This person makes sense.
Build your car to have fun, not set records.
well said
Nah
Words of wisdom
I guess setting records isn’t having fun. Actually screw off kid 😂
But there are people who had fun setting records
You're getting pretty good man, better than Matt at the One-Takes, IMO. You listen, which is really refreshing, most hosts, Matt included, have a listening problem. Keep it up.
Definitely true
Yep. Matt is smug, loud, talks over people, is often somewhat rude but is he's also knowledgeable and entertaining. Yeah this guy is nice but it's doubtful he will ever be as successful as Matt is
Couldn't disagree more .
I had an S50 swap in my E30 gutted track rat. The donor S50 had 100k miles on it from the street. The car over the last 10+ years has over 22,000 dedicated track miles without any major failure. It really is an amazing engine. I track a full interior E46 M3 now because I wanted something I could drive to/from the track and not need a truck/trailer like my E30 required, and am definitely in the camp of people who think the S50/52 sounds better than the S54. I have a supercharged E92 M3 and even before it was supercharged, I had 0 interest in tracking my E92. The newest BMW I would use for dedicated track days is E46. The E36 is a great platform.
I was riding along in a gt3rs at Sonoma for a bonus session, and an e36 gapped the hell out of the Porsche and slipped away.... I have been a believer of e36s since.
Zack could you bring your E46 M3 on the channel? I’d love to see it
I second this!
I third this!
Matt had his Fox Body, you need to do your E46
Yes. When I figure out what the right rear clunk is.... I'm gone almost the entire month of Sept working, so this will have to happen in October. - ZK
TheSmokingTire Cool. When does the clunk appear, under hard acceleration or launching from a stop?
I still would rather a Euro spec E36 over an E46...because touring car nostalgia. Part of my dream garage with the Volvo 850-R, Audi RS4, Alfa 155, and Ford Sierra Cosworth. Have the Alfa, now working on the Volvo.
For sure the Ford Escort Sierra Cosworth great nostalgic choice us Americans couldn't have. Dont forget a Mk1/2 Escort as well. I love those little bricks that could
@Art - hey buddy! IMO, the GTR yes was dominant in Asia (and it was, and is, a fantastic touring car), but it didnt impact the Euro or NA touring car scene as much as, say, Alfa's use of aero, or Audi with AWD, or Seat and using diesel, or the dominance of the Sierra, etc.
@Joe - wagon of course, even though Volvo did better in 95 and 96 BTCC seasons with the sedan version.
Euro E36 (15years and counting); B5 RS4 (sold for a Hawkeye); Alfa 156 (current but not quite the same era). Can''t complain :>
@Latvietis96 I did not forget it that is why the E36 is what I want. The straight 6 is an M car to me and E30s are stupid expensive.
I had the 850-R Wagon around 3 years ago. Look for them on the east coast, even though we get rust, there is actually a lot of them of here and not too expensive.
Really like zach's one take. Keep up the hard work buddy
Absolutely love E36!! Have an E36 328i coupe in Europe, 205hp and 1400kg as a sunday cruiser. OEM alcantara interior, electric windows front and back. 4 years and 35,000km of ownership, I've had 1 window stop working and that's literally the only thing that ever broke on me. If you take care of these cars they're awesome, and if you don't live in a hot climate, the interiors really aren't bad to live with. Mine is 26 year old, interior has been apart multiple times, swapped in a low mileage Alcantara interior and there's literally not been any rattles for over 2 years now(20,000km).
I've had the subframe mounts reinforced since I was swapping a whole poly bushing rear suspension in it with a new diff so that's not gonna bite me later. Sunroof was broken when I got it so I fixed that for peanuts(the clips are like 20$). Glovebox sag is something I accept, doesn't bother me. Reupholstered the headliner myself 3 years ago, have to redo it again sadly.
Can honestly say without a doubt I will never ever sell that car, love it to bits. Absolutely the most fun car I've ever owned by far. The trick is to have one that's unmolested and has an interior that doesn't fall apart, and yes, you can still find those.
Do some weight reduction! mine is 11xxKg - night and day difference, you won't believe how much stuff you can take out, sound deadning, carpets, all other crap, etc
www.bildites.lv/images/b6xbbu4s/133698/thumbnail
@@r129r16pfl Hardcore!
I got a e36 325i manual that I put 3:46 rear gears in over the 2:93 and coil overs on, it is one nice riding car with spunk. there are other gear sets that can be had like 3.38 or the 3.23 that this car has most likely, there is also a 3.15 I dont think would do well with spirited dirving. the gear ratio can be used to give kwiker acceleration at a sacifice to speed. for my car 3:46 makes it kwik with at 87mph Im at 4k, when with the other set it would have me a bit over 100 but was a dog. power is not the only factor in the equation and these inline motors these cars have are rev happy, so gives something you can take advantage of.
One of the best mods on my 328 was going from the stock 2.93 to the 3.38 LSD from the Automatic M3
Nice to see a 4 door E36 , I had an Estoril blue 4 door Evolution with the full 321 BHP that we got over here in the UK , Wish I had kept it !! Proper engine.
I had an e36. Everything that could break, broke. Subframes everything! But to this day I miss that car the most. The screaming straight 6 and a meat and potatoes sports chassis. Nothing you didn’t need as a driver. Somewhere along the line BMW changed this motto.
Love the way zack lets people talk
When do you think we will start seeing stripped bare, hard tuned E60 M5's?
You giving me ideas 😂
Why not m6
Soon I hope. A stripped M5 drift taxi should happen yesterday. - ZK
Never, I hope. It defeats the purpose of the car. There is something special about luxury and speed. But I know it is going to happen, and happen soon.
All this trash talk about the US-market E36 M3 is totally unfounded
.
“My windows work” I wish I could say that about my e36 😂😂
Fr lol
They didn’t make many E36 M3 sedans. The will definitely be going up in value as time goes on.
i used to have a 98' 328i heavily modified. active autowerke stage supercharger with meth injection, and every single bolt on you can think of. only had the 2.8l and was a heavy girl, but god dang she brought me the best driving pleasure of my life so far.
Your r888's are mounted backwards. Might of done it to save tire, but you can remove and install the directional tires so that your camber wear is on the outside and it is still correct tread pattern direction.
the front power seats, rear seats, spare wheel and steering wheel is about 220+ lbs of weight reduction if i remember correctly. Power Vader seat assembly's are like 70-80lbs each (manual like 65 ea), and the steering wheel setup is like 25lbs . Just doing those and adding 2 bucket seats and a 310-350mm steering wheel + hub you can feel the difference in the car's handling and acceleration .
just got another e36 last week and I cant wait to tear into it.
i like this vid, simple car , looks cheap but nimble because an 'extra caring' from the owner. i can't wait for another one! thanks!
Dude smokes spirits .....must be a real one
Zach when my NA miata is "done" i will drive from Texas to let you review it. I love that E36. I had a 98 328i for a longtime and loved that car so much.
E36 has amazing pedals. Perfect for heeltoe. The response it fast, because the throttle is on cable. E36 has no stupid Clutch Delay Valve so the clutch grabs instantly. The floor in the subframe area doesn't fall apart as easily as in the E46. When driving E46 after E36 it feels like a heavy car, yet the sound deadening is comparable. E36 has better exterior door handles.
Still, I sold my E36 and got E46 because I couldn't no longer live with the position behind the wheel. Legs to the left, hands to the right, steering wheel touching my legs and head touching the headliner. The ergonomy in E46 is perfect except for the window up/down buttons being so far apart.
There's something very cool about 4 door E36. They were the first (E36) BTCC cars here in the UK, albeit with a hot s14 type engine. (sorry I can't recall the exact engine code). This will be epic with the s54 but it's also great as it is.
Gotta love the best car ever made the e36 chassis
Modified e36s are life, just need the right ones!
E36 with just a few mods = a masterpiece.
Now quickly do a 1jz swap in this car and its a complete animal that will hurt e46 m3 owners feelings. E36 MASTER RACE.
I've always liked the E36 shape. And, I agree with Zack , I like the sedan over the coupe. A few years ago, there was a silver E36 M3 with a black interior for sale at $20K. I should have bought it. That's true Buyers remorse.
Can you do a one take of your E46?
Possibly an un-popular opinion but the S52 in the e36 sounds much better than the s54 in the e46.
Thats one thing everyone should agree on.
Go listen to a Euro S50 now, they sound better than both.
@@MyNameIsJustinKeenan No,
The e36 us specs have more grunt and grumble than e36 euro specs.
The Alpina bore creates better exhaust note from 2.5 to 3.0 with hydraulic lifters.
Sorry!
Those are facts.
Euro e36 m3s specs sound Great, but have more of a buzz sound.
The e46 m3 is the worst sounding m car, no matter what exhaust you choose.
In canada we had 3.0 euro specs and 3.2 euro specs, so when the e46 m3 came out in 2001,we were not that impressed by it in terms of performance.😧
It was a Glammed up e36 Euro spec with the same 3.2 motor since 1996, which in the end was poorly built due to rod bearing and crank issues.
Ess supercharged u.s spec m3s and turner motorsport u.s spec 3.4 strokers were better for maintenance and performance in the early 2000's.
Uhhh... also.
Most u.s spec m3s have out ran euro e36 m3s and e46 m3's in terms of lifespan.
Soo......
In the end.
What was the better built car ?
I still see 1995 to 99 u.s specs on tracks and highways with 30000kms ,and e30s for that matter.
I have owned all 3 models.
3.0 euro one of the 45 that came to Canada. 2000 to 2002
Sold it for double what I paid, 2003 to 2014
Bought a 1995 us spec turner motorsport 3.4 stroker and still had 12 grand left in my pocket.
I went to university in England, My family is well off over there.
2007 to 2010
I was given my cousins 1996 m3 3.2 euro spec for daily use to and from school.
Great car.
I had driven a friends 3.2 euro in Canada in 2003 and didn't see much difference compared to a 3.4 stroker or 3.0 euro with maf box added.
When I was using the 3.2 in England I got to use the top end a few times on the motorways.
It has a bit more top end, that's it.
That's about all I ever came up with in difference between u.s and euro 3.2s
That's the truth, stock vs stock after 90mph euros gradudlly pull away.
Uhhh.. Gradually is the key word.
Lord Roo Lord Roo Lord Roo sounds like you've had a lot of experience with some great cars. Sadly, Canada never actually got any Euro E36 M3's other than the 45 that you mentioned you owned, if anyone had a Euro S50B32, they had brought it over from Germany, or had illegally imported an entire car in 2003 (or possibly legally through political rank).
In terms of reliability yes, no question the US E36 M3 benefited greatly from the detuned engine, it's more reliable than the Euro S50 and S54. Also would agree that a Turner tuned car would be a near match for the Euro M3, (sadly, Turner recently got bought out by another company so they no longer do parts supply, just their racing AFAIK) a 3.4 stroker or supercharged as well.
For me, the ITB's of the euro S50 are what make it sound better than the NA cars. That being said, I'd much sooner put an aftermarket ITB kit onto an NA S52 than I'd try and swap in a euro motor 😁
@@MyNameIsJustinKeenan really ??
Turner is gone ??
Whaaaaat, Zack has his own intro graphics now? Moving on up!
If you want to do a lot of mods to an E36 it's probably best to get any clean cheap chassis from a 318i to a 328i and S54 swap it. The swap is well documented now, you can buy wiring harnesses online for the swap and then build the rest of the chassis however you want with big brakes, suspension, etc. I think that's the way to go nowadays.
The S52 is a very potent engine. With an M50 manifold, cams, and bolt ons you can easily get over 300 hp to the engine. Not mentioning the fact that you can turbocharge it with just studs and headgasket and make over 500 hp on stock internals.
S54 is a bad mod. You have to re-seat the valves every 30,000 miles.
I have an m50 which makes 270whp. You can make Euro power, you just need to spend $. Like everything in life.
Though my m50 is track only, it'd be a streetable number with an s52.
Super smooth traction I guess
i love'd with s54 engine from E46M3. but i love'd with E36. i know that E46 better for daily but E36 way more better for me. i put S54 in my E36. :) now i had best car ever. :) cheers E36guys
I have a 328is e36 and i make same color arctic silver and 5 speed manual 187whp and 191whrtq
the audio sounds soo damn full! boomin.
This guy is awesome 😎
Reppin the American spirits I see. Smart man
The key to e36s is to buy a very clean 328. Almost the same as an M.
I got a clean 325i boston green almost m tech chassis. came with a zf trans and lsd rear end. it is the key then almost not. when my car hit 25 years old this year the gaskets started to go out
THIS! Had one. Regret selling it :(
In America that is... Europe got the true M3 E36...
Not the same
Jono oh no shit. That’s why I said almost. The us m3 is a glorified 328
Proper seat mounts center the recaro seat ... mine has vac billet mounts with recaro pole positions. No issues.
We need a follow up with Klaps E46 M3
I've had a track prepped supercharged e36 m3, na e36 and e46 m3. E36 is cheaper and more reliable. The e46 has some large expensive issues the can happen. That being said, the e46 m3 is my favorite when everything is running good, though it's a more high end expensive build. I still have a e46 m3 but have been wanting another e36 m3 to beat on at the track.
My 95 m3 has a adjustable steering wheel ;)
The Mkah Motorsports door panel delete and rear seat delete would be perfect for what he's looking for
This need 1 million up votes
I know little. How hard would it be to just take the seats out himself? The door is a touch more critical so id not even try
Andrew Silver it takes almost 3 minutes
Both the doors and the seats are surprisingly easy in these cars. When you take the door panels off you'd be surprised how simple/thin they are!
Keep it up Zack!
Dude, hell yeah.
You guys got screwed on the E36 M3. Not just on the power, it's a non ITB pedestrian M50/52 330i/332i with M badges, theres nothing M3 about it besides that. The entire drivetrain is 328i spec. It has the 188mm diff instead of the big 210mm. It has the weak axels, it has a completely different motor. That being said, i love the M50 based motors. They take boost quite well, and if you're playing with boost it's a better starting point than the Euro motor as everything cost a lot less and has more aftermarket support. Euro S50 is fantastic if you keep it stock or turn it into an NA race car.
*slowly pans across american spirits”
More one off cars!!!
What do you mean by one off
Andrew Silver: unique, custom performance builds.
Just missing the 'Soper' or 'Winkelhock' stickers in the rear windows.
Black rims are dope
"Ah man I've done so much"
*Its suspension and a steering wheel*
Noticed that in a lot of videos. I get that suspension and tires make a massive difference on the track. But it just feels disappointing when "modified" means "Yeah I took off the wheels, unbolted the shocks from the strut towers, and put these coilovers on."
So what did you do to your car?
+Fey Fox what does this have to do with the meaning of his comment? He is absolutely right.
Yellow American Spirits!
Depends on your needs. This guy is going for a track ride rather than a street ride
I daily my totally striped out e36
www.bildites.lv/images/b6xbbu4s/133698/thumbnail
the Euro spec E36 M3 got 286 HP. and the Euro E36 M3 CSL ( Europe only ) 320HP
the euros are slow as balls by modern standards too.
Applause 👏👏👏
Most euro e36 have adjustable wheel columns actually. They are a great platform. Like, 240sx of europe. With stock engine and brakes, some good tires and suspension they are known to go 7:20 on the 'Ring!
+ hard core weight reduction, euro m3 stock = 3300lbs, 'Ring m3 fully striped - 2400lbs = massive difference
E36 is the most Slavic drift car in the world.
Suspension looks tight.
I'm in the same boat, the Miata doesn't need any more power. Unless the driver is perfect, power adders are just a band-aid for imperfect driving. It pigeon holds itself in a way that you don't have to compete with other cars, just other Miatas. Need a little more power? Just get a newer Miata or an S2000.
I always thought the 2003 M3 looked awesome.
if you're gonna do an e36 to compare you should be driving a mint clean one
I got E36 M3 instead cause it comes in 4 door. A buddy has 350k in his!
All M3s are amazing all years.I personally like e92 m3 the most but I hear the v8s have issues with rod bearings or something.As for these cant you just swap in some euro parts for extra power or is it internals to?
cellphone carcontent just LS swap
300 horsepower "dream" LOL. A V6 Camry has that now. And I love how the guy has that laugh before he talks about his mods like he's going to list a bunch of stuff. Coilovers, front sway bar, and intake. Wow bro, that's insane!!!11!!1!!1!!!! Oh yeah the cage and steering wheel. What a crazy track build
He's got some stuff done, check the description
And what exactly do you drive lol?
@@andeleputo89 oh just an old Mustang with a few mods ;)
With all this said, ( and I'm so far in the E36 M3 Camp too ) aside from the higher HP and tighter, fluid body lines, why DO most M3 people flock to the E46 era? I'm asking because I am considering either era as my first M3 purchase. Any honest comments are appreciated. Thanks guys! :)
E46 is more popular in the states because it has a real M3 motor, where as the US spec M3 does not. It's basically a bored and stroked 328i that has M3 badging, and people get upset when you say that, but its true. That does not mean it's a bad car. It's a fantastic car, it's fun to drive and handles well. It also handles boost quite well but it isn't a real M3 with an M3 powertrain. It's a sooped up 328i. The Euro motor has individual throttlebodies, a bespoke block and head with doube VANOS. The Euro S50 head is what the heads ion the V12 in the McLaren F1 supercar is based on. When it comes to E46 M3, North America got the same car with the same motor as everywhere else so you guys tend to leapfrog to that instead.
breathairians .... (recovering hippie here so i know)
Where can I find 80% e36 for sale?!
The reason why you’re not in the center of the steering wheel is because of your aftermarket seat. You didn’t install it correctly.
E36 looks so nice for their time but I just love the look of the E46 look a little more
I had a E46 M3 and would pass on both E36 and E46. Powerband is too far up top and my driving is realistically always below 3k rpms. Most people don't track these cars and the lack of TQ in the low end plus all the reliability issues and I had to get rid of it. They look nice and handle great till you own one and maybe just my luck I had way too many issues with it and didn't match my driving style.
Love my M3 (it's both my daily and my autox car) but they do have their share of common issues as they age. Not enough to make me get rid of it, though. I'll be keeping it for a good long while but I can see why they wouldn't be for everyone.
Mike K you serious? Go to a track sometime, BMWs everywhere
Mike K - Alpina is the right car for You.
MAubele Agreed everywhere and tracked hard. Not just auto x but road-course.
Mike, that's why you rev it out to have fun. There's a reason the E46 M3 revs to 8k. Although I will admit that this means the car doesn't fit everyones driving style. I typically rev it out past 5k pretty frequently and I absolutely love it.
I got excited by the listed 255/35/17 R888R's... but they don't exist :(. Please fix that in the description.
WangChung probably a 255/40
MAubele it is. He says that in the video.
255-40-17
I spy those chopped fingers 😎
One on the new Audi Q8 world be good mate.
my 500$ e28 with a fake s50 swap is just fine for me. e30s and 36s are going up in price. 3000lbs and 215whp with good torque. needs a turbo lol.
But the euro version 321hp is perferct
how much is that used? lol. my engine was 1200$.
@@kirilzangagolev3401 need's weight reduction
MURICAN SPIRIT
These BMW go for $5000
U can tell difference if its 3 series or M3
Did he say “Jellyness” ??
...let's contain those jangling belts next time...
Where was this filmed at?
but now you cant put the kids in the back. poor sedan. not a sedan anymore. TEAR.....
Agreed. Not a fan of putting cages/bars in sedans. Even if they rarely use the back seats.
Matt you've lost some weight😂
My e36 325i has 400k on it
A track prepped Lexus IS300\Altezza instead of this.
IS300 has 2JZ plus 5 speed plus LSD. Winning combo. Altezza have the BEAMS engine can rev to 8K plus with a 6 speed.
Bmw butt hurt. ugly body style
I would too if they were available where i live
If I picked lexus over e36 it would be IS200
Much more reliable too!
loogue 2JZ more potent motor
BOXY!
What road is this?
E 36 ✊
240hp..... that's great that in handles well and all but unless it's like 2000lb that seems like it would feel pretty slow...
Agree, e36 different animal when you do a proper weight reduction, form the factory they are to chubby
They are slow, but were quick for their time.
@@MAubele They are fast still, what other cheap car can do a 7:20min BTG?
@@r129r16pfl maybe ones that have been turbocharged are fast.
@@meanman6992 no turbo for a track day car!
Matt takes the cool cars and sticks you with the turds eh?
...but what about that Miata in the background? Upcoming One Take?
thats my car hehe
I don't think they need more power either. It's only Americans that think that because its not made for their roads.
The internet allows you to install the supercharger 👍
Seam welding the shell if he is going to strip it. Takes time, low material cost and helps stiffen the shell.
I do not understand you guys that strip a luxury sports car. There is something very nice about a car that is comfortable and that can run fast. To each their own, but I don't get it. Maybe I am getting older and softer. Maybe I am salty that just when I was ready to pick up one of these the prices shot up and now some of you are ruining some of the limited supply. Anyways, on the Sam Smith Miata discussion, I think they need more power, especially torque. They are still great cars stock, though.
Who the fuck is this Guy. Bring Matt back
Continuity error at 2:30 take off. There's only one person in the car.
They film the fly-by shots before the actual One Take. If you look carefully, every flyby in every video just has the owner driving.