E46 M3 vs S550

[Autoguy]

Hello, I am not looking to start a war but would like to hear from people who have owned both cars. Which one do you like better and why?

The reason for asking is I am really having a hard time choosing between the two. I have owned BMWs before so I know the cost to keep it maintained are truly expensive but I have always felt that because of the way they drive they are worth it.

Is an s550 just as nice to drive?
How is the fuel economy compared?
Thanks, Brian.

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[SteveS]

If you're having a hard time choosing between those two options then you really don't want the S550...

However if it's a serious question then I can say that the E46 was a lovely car to drive and you could achieve reasonable fuel economy. Can't comment on the S550 yet...

 

[Grimace427]

This forum has an entire section for vs. threads. There might even be an E46 vs S550 thread already.

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=57

 

['Merica]

I was close to buying an E46 M3, but ended up with a 330i ZHP just for the 4 doors and I honestly like the styling much more than the M3. I then sold it and bought my S550, and don't miss the BMW at all. I was working on my E46 usually once every other weekend. Vanos, valve cover gasket, DISA, guibo, fuel pump, fuel filter...something was always wrong. While I loved the car and the amazing styling, the S550 has everything the E46 had and more.

 

[Nazgul]

A 330i zhp is no e46 m3. It's a great car but the zhp package is still a totally different feel.

Like the s550 the m3 is a true drivers car. I went with the 550 over the m3 because of, A. The extra power. B. the cost of repair. M cars suck to repair and maintain pure and simple.

The e46 m3 will go down as one of the best handling best driving sports coupes. It's truly a blast to drive. My gt feels very similar just bigger and with loads more torque. And that torque is amazing.

 

[SteveS]

Is this the E46 that went out of production seven or eight years ago we're talking about? If it's the current M3/M4 iteration then that's a different question.

 

[Nazgul]

Is this the E46 that went out of production seven or eight years ago we're talking about? If it's the current M3/M4 iteration then that's a different question.

Yes. E46 denotes it's generation. This is the early 2000s in line six we are taking about. The following generation went to a bonkers, high reving v8. Also a great car.

 

[mustang_guy]

E46 M3'S are a pile of junk. I can say it. I work for bmw. Infact bmw as a whole are piles of trash. out of all the dealers ive worked at I can say without certainty, they are the most unreliable cars ive delt with. If the bmws been made in the past 25 years, its junk.

 

[obgod3]

opcorn:

 

[Nazgul]

E46 M3'S are a pile of junk. I can say it. I work for bmw. Infact bmw as a whole are piles of trash. out of all the dealers ive worked at I can say without certainty, they are the most unreliable cars ive delt with. If the bmws been made in the past 25 years, its junk.

All but one of my bmw's have been good cars. My e36 328 was a pile and I attribute most of its woes to the prior owner who didn't maintain it well. If they aren't maintained, I agree they turn to crap (expensive crap) quickly.

As for the e46 m, the only issue I have saw was a leaky diff. Other than that it managed to avoid all the electronic gremlins everyone else has had.

Late 90s and early 00s ford's were pretty crappy too. I don't think I went longer than 3 months without a check engine light popping on in the Explorer.

 

[sm32589g]

I've owned a 2005 M3 pristine example of what a BMW is and should be. It was an absolute pleasure and joy to drive! Every time I drove it I felt like it was a privilege. The power...it was so fast and ran like a champ turned every corner with precision. It was a true driving tool. I am a HUGE BMW fanatic! I've driven nothing but BMW's since before my S550.

The reasons why I bought my S550 were simple. I wanted a car that had as much power as it does. As close to stock as possible. No power adders. I wanted a reliable car(there were no BMW dealerships near me either). Something sporty with a nice interior.

I will tell you that I am SO glad I bought the S550. After giving it just a few mods(exhaust and suspension...which were $600 each) it was a clear winner over a BMW. I will always love BMW and want one just for their engineering beauty. But the S550 handles just as good in corners as the e46 just feels heavier until you put sways in. But the power and the sound........it is.......INTOXICATING! I love daily driving my S550. With the BMW I felt as though it should stay in the garage. And really it should. M's weren't meant to be daily's. Don't get me wrong they will go the distance. You will NOT be disappointed if buying an S550! But always appreciate a beautiful BMW when you see one. Then you'll accidentally hit the floor and go wooooot.

 

[BluByeU]

E46 M3'S are a pile of junk. I can say it. I work for bmw. Infact bmw as a whole are piles of trash. out of all the dealers ive worked at I can say without certainty, they are the most unreliable cars ive delt with. If the bmws been made in the past 25 years, its junk.

For once in your life man just say what the heck is on your mind! LOL...as someone stated earlier great cars, The Ultimate Driving Machine but my God the amount of maint $ required to maintain those things are ridiculous. Never owned any generation of the M3, did own the 135i for two years but it was ALWAYS something that needed to be upgraded, replaced, repaired

 

[mustang_guy]

All but one of my bmw's have been good cars. My e36 328 was a pile and I attribute most of its woes to the prior owner who didn't maintain it well. If they aren't maintained, I agree they turn to crap (expensive crap) quickly.

As for the e46 m, the only issue I have saw was a leaky diff. Other than that it managed to avoid all the electronic gremlins everyone else has had.

Late 90s and early 00s ford's were pretty crappy too. I don't think I went longer than 3 months without a check engine light popping on in the Explorer.

you are a minority not the standard for bmw and their endless problems. I like how you feel you can argue with someone that deals with them for a living. I assure you, none of the techs have anything positive to say to the reliability of these cars. Myself included. I didn't have any issues with my 98 cobra nor my 04 cobra. The Gt's and v6s as a whole have been a pretty low problem car. What happened with other fords doesn't matter to me. I couldn't care less what happens with explorers. Its pretty common for mustangs to be a low problem car. That is the majority. We aren't talking fords though. So lets focus, bmws are piles of trash.

 

[Simon]

E46 M3'S are a pile of junk. I can say it. I work for bmw. Infact bmw as a whole are piles of trash. out of all the dealers ive worked at I can say without certainty, they are the most unreliable cars ive delt with. If the bmws been made in the past 25 years, its junk.

I agree with you 100%. Although I do not work for them and never owned one, I have been around them. Beemers turn into expensive trouble, and in my opinion are not worth the money or hassle. I have driven one, and although it's a good handling car, I would go S550 all the way, not only it's new, has a warranty, and not as expensive to fix, but also it's better looking for me, and HP is on Mustang's side (435 in a GT and 333 in a US spec e46 M3). Basically mid 20k V6 is close to comparable to that 50/60k M3 (when it was new) when it comes to HP. But after all it's your choice OP.

 

[mustang_guy]

For once in your life man just say what the heck is on your mind! LOL...as someone stated earlier great cars, The Ultimate Driving Machine but my God the amount of maint $ required to maintain those things are ridiculous. Never owned any generation of the M3, did own the 135i for two years but it was ALWAYS something that needed to be upgraded, replaced, repaired

Whats great about unreliable and ridiculous maintenance schedules? Ive built 1000hp cars that don't require that kind of maintenance. Its not maintenance, its unreliability.

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