[baege]

Parked next to am e46 coupe yesterday shod in 18 inch rims. It was amazing how similar the 2 cars looked in dimensions and size. I wish I had the presence of mind to take a pic. But what I did notice is how much higher the 2 series roof and hood were (owing to the pedestrian protection regulations).

Other than that, they pretty much looked like twins...not bad company at all.

I really enjoy the compactness of the 2 series.

[BEM-S4]

Our 2 parked in the same garage spot...

[SteveInfante]

Very true except that you forgot to mention that the E46 is slower on all accounts.

[Sypher]

Yup.

2004 330Ci

Length: 4488 mm / 176.7 in
Width: 1757 mm / 69.2 in
Height: 1369 mm / 53.9 in
Wheelbase: 2725 mm / 107.3 in

F22

Length: 4432 mm or 174.49 inches
Width: 1774 mm or 69.84 inches
Height: 1418 mm or 55.83 inches
Wheelbase: 2690 mm or 105.91 inches

The F22 is just a couple of inches different from the E46 in all aspects in terms of exterior dimensions.

[F22_Matt]

E46 + E82 = F22

[ramy_who]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Our 2 parked in the same garage spot...

Wow. Yeah the similarity in this pic is mind-blowing

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by ramy_who

Wow. Yeah the similarity in this pic is mind-blowing

Same dealer (Thompson) a few weeks apart getting very similar wheels.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Sypher

Yup.

2004 330Ci

Length: 4488 mm / 176.7 in
Width: 1757 mm / 69.2 in
Height: 1369 mm / 53.9 in
Wheelbase: 2725 mm / 107.3 in

F22

Length: 4432 mm or 174.49 inches
Width: 1774 mm or 69.84 inches
Height: 1418 mm or 55.83 inches
Wheelbase: 2690 mm or 105.91 inches

The F22 is just a couple of inches different from the E46 in all aspects in terms of exterior dimensions.

BMW E21 3 Series 320i (USA) Size, Dimensions, Aerodynamics and Weight
Num. of Doors : 2
Wheelbase : 256.3 cm or 100.91 inches
Length : 435.5 cm or 171.46 inches
Width : 161 cm or 63.39 inches
Height : 138 cm or 54.33 inches


I was surprised to see that F22 is larger than my first 3 Series back in '77.

[emtrey]

Originally Posted by SteveInfante

Very true except that you forgot to mention that the E46 is slower on all accounts.

I had an e46 M-3 and I agree, the M235 is faster in all respects but had better steering.

I love the size of the M235. Its perfect. Having had a 135i, I look at the 235 as a quicker, more mature version of that car ( and much more FUN verison of my 2013 335i)

The 235/240 is a great car.

[SteveInfante]

Originally Posted by emtrey

I had an e46 M-3 and I agree, the M235 is faster in all respects but had better steering.

I love the size of the M235. Its perfect. Having had a 135i, I look at the 235 as a quicker, more mature version of that car ( and much more FUN verison of my 2013 335i)

The 235/240 is a great car.

My 228i is no slouch either according to a few E46 M3's that couldn't keep up in the mountains. Ha ha. #notstock

[Lucky13]

I had 4 E46’s three of which were M3’s. Steering, handling down slightly in the M235. E46 was a much stiffer ride but felt light maybe a slightly better handling car. M3 was no slouch at 4.8 0-60. Can’t say the new engine is better because its just so different, you could rev the living shit out of the E46 M3 with a manual which made it so fun. The negative is you had to rev the shit out of it to get the power. I like having the instant torque of the N55.

[808@702]

Ref the shit out of it...Samoan?

[808@702]

I was in the parking lot and saw the stalls marked as compact, so I had to turn around and then comepack... JUST JOKING!!!

[emtrey]

Originally Posted by Lucky13

I had 4 E46’s three of which were M3’s. Steering, handling down slightly in the M235. E46 was a much stiffer ride but felt light maybe a slightly better handling car. M3 was no slouch at 4.8 0-60. Can’t say the new engine is better because its just so different, you could rev the living shit out of the E46 M3 with a manual which made it so fun. The negative is you had to ref the shit out of it to get the power. I like having the instant torque of the N55.

Agree with the differences in engine response.
The E46 M-3 was fun to wind out but I was not a fan of the rasp.

The 235 is effortless in its power delivery in normal driving and can really kick it when asked to. For me, its hard to compare because my M3 was a 6 speed manual and the 235 has the 8AT which is a marvel mated to the turbo engine.

I think the 235's handling is diminished to me because of the steering. I never thought the M3 steering was as good as my wife's 1998 528 sport but the I just can't get comofrtable with electric steering's lack of road feel.

That's any electric steering that I have tried so far incl. new Porsches and the M2.

Better than 235 but not like hydraulic steering. Of course, I drove a car w/o power steering at all for 24 years so I am a spoiled.

Bottom line. I love my little pocket rocket. It is rapidly becoming my favorite of the all the BMW products I have owned ( I count my 2 Minis as BMWs in Mini clothing )

[morphomeman]

As I have noted several times on this forum, I kept my E46 for 13 years, waiting for BMW to make a car of similar dimensions. Then I waited a year for the kinks to be ironed out in the F22 before buying one in 2015. As many have noted, the steering on the F22 does not feel as direct as on the E46 (because it is not, but no other modern car's is either), but otherwise the F22 is as good and usually better in all respects. I love this car and I expect to keep it as long as I kept the E46, God willing.
But yes, the similarity in dimensions is uncanny. In cubic dimensions, the F22 is larger by a very small fraction, mainly because of the greater height (2.5 cm or 1 inch). Width and length differences pretty much even themselves out.

[Lucky13]

Originally Posted by 808@702

I was in the parking lot and saw the stalls marked as compact, so I had to turn around and then comepack... JUST JOKING!!!

? Is this supposed to be funny, you really added a lot to the forum.

[englishguy84]

If memory serves, the E46 was firmer even in base suspension vs. base 230i - can anyone who still has (or has more recently driven) an E46 confirm? But in terms of manuverability and balance - yes.

[Lucky13]

My last E46 M3 in 2004 had a sticker price of over $57K and didn’t even have nav but did have the 19” wheels. 14 years later you can get an M2 for less money. Only have 13,000 miles on my 2014 M235 and plan on keeping it a long time and wish I had kept one of my M3’s.

[K8_M235i]

I autocross with a guy that has an earlier (02 I think) e46 m3 and we always joke about how similar our two cars are.

They are spec'd almost identically, no moon roofs, no nav or back up cams, no luxury options, both 6mt, Lsd (obviously on the m3).

Whenever I go for a ride in his car I feel like I never left my car. The seating position feels the same and so does the visibility. It's pretty cool.

They are very evenly matched. I have more power, but he has wider R comp tires. I'm on slightly wider than stock super sports. Both stock otherwise.

Yesterday I was able to edge him out a tiny bit. 2 seconds faster on my two fastest laps

[SteveInfante]

Originally Posted by 808@702

I was in the parking lot and saw the stalls marked as compact, so I had to turn around and then comepack... JUST JOKING!!!

Ha ha. I thought it was funny. Islander humor gotta lub it.

[SlickShift]

I owed two E46s (one ordered new) and there's definitely a reason the second I got into the 2er it felt like home.

[BEM-S4]

I'm actually sending our F23 steering wheel off to Dallas Custom to be redone like our E46. Smooth leather top and bottom perforated sides. ///M color stitching because why not.