[Installsplus]

It's called evolution I owned a e46 m3 and I loved it in every-way. But unfortunately technology changes not a good comparison. It's a decade old for Pete sake. Why even bother. The car is always going to be a true M !!!

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by Diver

I agree, the E46 is iconic. But 13 years from now we might be driving around in golf carts.

I see them currently driven daily, they are called LEAF's

[KevinM]

Apples to oranges, both great cars. Time is the ultimate equalizer. There is no way a 10 year old M3 can, based on speed alone, beat a car like the M235i. I remember when I bought my M5 ten years ago. King of the hill in terms of speed. Now the M235i and every other hot hatch can go to 60 mph in < 5 sec! Does that diminish my love for the E39 M5? Not at all - it's the experience and feel that makes it so special (and it's still pretty quick all these years later!).

My M coupe has the S54 engine and it IS special, old-school though it may be. 8000 RPMs, the noise, all of it. Relatively speaking it is a torque-less wonder but what an engine.

I don't mind the turbos and the torque (in fact I love the healthy torque of the S62 in my M5!) and progress moves on. For me the best of both words is keeping my "classic" Ms and adding an F80 M3 or the upcoming M2. The 1M is a blast to drive, so I have no worries about the new Ms.

[ska///235i]

I must be alone, I love the e30m, my fav was the e36m, then the e9xm, love all the M coupes...never care for the e46m

[khanyam4]

Lookin forward to the m2.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

I must be alone, I love the e30m, my fav was the e36m, then the e9xm, love all the M coupes...never care for the e46m

You are not alone.
In terms of looks of the M3s my preference goes e36>e30>f80>e92>e46.

[bobski]

Originally Posted by norMcal

I know where the E46 M3 lost those 4 seconds. If that car has only ~4500 miles, then it probably still has the original tires on it, which by now are hockey pucks, due to age and heat cycles. The only fair comparison would be to have both cars on equivalent tires. Anybody that tracks their car knows how much of a difference a tire can make. For those that don't.......4 seconds a lap is not uncommon.

The e46 M3 is timeless and still my favorite BMW I have ever owned. Still miss her:

+1

I go to track events a lot and I hardly see M235i out there. Come out Come out wherever you guys are. Come out n play with us! Show us what this hype is all about. Just sayin.

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Does count, and shows the weakness in the aging M-Car.

I like to see it the other way around.
Not the weakness of the great E46 M3, a great car to this day.
But in fact how good the new car's really are, here shown by the 235i.
People go on about how the new cars are to fat, the steering blabla.
But, put an old M next to the new non M's, and you see the real deal.
Impressive stuff.
But in the end, it also makes me a bit sad, i've had a picture of that E46 M3 on my desk at work, in that exact colour - as my dream car to have in the future.
Now it's beeing humiliated by a "mediocre" 2 series, and not even an M.
Having said that, as a DD the 2 is far better, more modern and should also be cheaper to maintain, i guess the size is about the same as well.
I guess i can change my dream car above my desk now...

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by ron_jeremy

I like to see it the other way around.
Not the weakness of the great E46 M3, a great car to this day.
But in fact how good the new car's really are, here shown by the 235i.
People go on about how the new cars are to fat, the steering blabla.
But, put an old M next to the new non M's, and you see the real deal.
Impressive stuff.
But in the end, it also makes me a bit sad, i've had a picture of that E46 M3 on my desk at work, in that exact colour - as my dream car to have in the future.
Now it's beeing humiliated by a "mediocre" 2 series, and not even an M.
Having said that, as a DD the 2 is far better, more modern and should also be cheaper to maintain, i guess the size is about the same as well.
I guess i can change my dream car above my desk now...

I like both, the ///M Car as well as the Quasi ///M Car.

I'd keep the photo where is stands.

[m3rxn]

loved it

[paddyrx8]

Firstly the M235i is a great car to drive, nobody is arguing with that. But is just lacks the X factor of the E46 M3, which is my favourite BMW of all time.

I don't care about lap times, its how the car makes you feel and no other car I have driven comes close to the E46 M3 in that regard.

[cncmastr]

Still have my IB 06 M3. Despite it being slower, it's the pinnacle of M3 design.

[535DMSport]

Originally Posted by norMcal

I know where the E46 M3 lost those 4 seconds. If that car has only ~4500 miles, then it probably still has the original tires on it, which by now are hockey pucks, due to age and heat cycles. The only fair comparison would be to have both cars on equivalent tires. Anybody that tracks their car knows how much of a difference a tire can make. For those that don't.......4 seconds a lap is not uncommon.

The e46 M3 is timeless and still my favorite BMW I have ever owned. Still miss her:

Awesome ride!

Should have never sold her.

[Yeineken]

I love that people fall for the ///Marketing. Can we get a comparison of the 235is v 335is/135is?

[Pauleebe]

I will always have a softspot for the E46 chassis.

Not surprised that a 12 year old car is beat out by a successor of the same cost though.

[golf_234]

People need to stop comparing the two. Why are you comparing the M235 to the E46 M3? You should be comparing it to the ZHP. The M235 is not even an M car. The E46 was great in its time. The M235 is also great in its time. Most people have sentimental attachment to their E46s that isn't developed yet with the brand new cars. The M235 is a very, very well orchestrated car in its time, as was the E46 M3. Really not much to not love about either of them. What I really don't get is that, I really would expect most E46 lovers to be absolutely enthralled with the 2. It is almost a spot on answer to those enthusiasts. I absolutely love what they are doing with it. It is near perfect , even within its time, as was the E46. The M2 is definitely going to be something to remember.
I mean really look at this design:





Beautiful. If you really break it down, it is hard to find much to change on it. It is actually pretty similar to the E46 in a lot of ways, just modernized to today's standards. I mean if you went to the dealership today and the e46 was on the lot, well first of all they wouldn't even be allowed to make it as regulations. have changed, and a lot of it would be fairly dated. When you look at the front of the car, it actually shares a lot of resemblance with the ZHP coupe, all things considered. Sometimes with the E46 fanatics I am left wondering, what is it you even really want? For them to make an exact clone of the E46 again? You do realize it would not even meet today's design standards, right? I mean I have had 3 E46s, loved them all, but if you really like them that much, snag up a couple as collector's items and stop bashing the new design which, in the 2 series case, is really quite remarkable. I mean , looking at the photo above, this car has the same instant classic appeal , in my opinion, that the E46 had, which is very difficult to instill.

[Alpine F31]

Originally Posted by MDIVISION

.....when you lift the hood, the E46 M3's engine is pure sex. Now they just give you a big plastic cover. No comparison

No doubt!

[golf_234]

Originally Posted by Alpine F31

No doubt!

I'll give you guys this one. But this would be a more accurate comparison. Still pretty impressive.

[DOCTOR 3VIL]

Originally Posted by Deep_Blue

The M235i is a good car. The E46 M3 is iconic. I doubt that we'll be comparing anything to the M235i in 13 years.

this

[Imola.ZHP]

OMG people!

This doesn't serve to show that one is "so much" better than the other, it just shows the evolution in BMW cars, period!

The most frustrating thing about being a BMW fan, for me, is seeing other owners feel the need to (or attempt to) belittle or compare each other's cars all the time. WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM!

Let's belittle and compare how great our cars are compared to non-bimmers. PLEASE!

[golf_234]

Originally Posted by DOCTOR 3VIL

this

Originally Posted by Deep_Blue

The M235i is a good car. The E46 M3 is iconic. I doubt that we'll be comparing anything to the M235i in 13 years.

Dumb comments and invalid comparison. The M2 has not been released yet which would be the more accurate comparison. Your comment should read: "The M235i is a good car. The ZHP is iconic. I doubt that we'll be comparing anything to the M235i in 13 years"

Are we comparing anything to the ZHP still? People are just freaking out because the normal pedestrian cars are now faster or tied with the E46 M3. Get over it. Don't get me wrong I love E46s, I have had many of them, I am just not going to agree with these pointless comparisons.

[golf_234]

Originally Posted by Imola.ZHP

OMG people!

This doesn't serve to show that one is "so much" better than the other, it just shows the evolution in BMW cars, period!

The most frustrating thing about being a BMW fan, for me, is seeing other owners feel the need to (or attempt to) belittle or compare each other's cars all the time. WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM!

Let's belittle and compare how great our cars are compared to non-bimmers. PLEASE!

Finally someone who gets it. Beautiful car, btw.