BMW E46 M3 vs 325ci - Do You Need The M Car?

[@Undercover_FE]

I’m not convinced in calling the M3 a 332i. There is too much that differentiates the s54 from the m54, the ITB, the sound (with mods), 100hp+ difference in peak hp, 1500rpm increased redline, an LSD, wider tires and flares, better cooling. I am also an owner of all of these models including 330. Good to find 325i love. They are great cars for the money and so customizable. I’m glad it was my first car.

[@KiwiCarLife]

My point with that was more along the lines of, the benefit is the engine. But in basically every other regard there's really not much difference. Or at least not enough difference to spend 4 times more. Fender flares yeahhh they look cool, better seats I guess? Cooler gauges? LSD is good I agree. But there's not much other than the engine that makes it an M3. Hence it's kinda like a normal 3 series with a fantastic engine. Hence 332ci. I know my opinion is controversial, but I'd rather have a 330ci M sport on coilovers with an LSD and a nice exhaust, with 30k spare rather than an M3. I only bought mine because I got it for $16k with a dying SMG.

[@Undercover_FE]

​@@KiwiCarLife You can claim any M car to be a 3XXi except the M1. I do not disagree with your potential value argument, which may be due to your limited market. In the US e46 M3 are more attainable for good examples and 330ci ZHP can be in the 20k. Mod the e46 M3 and change the rack, it's terrible. You will get it. There's a reason they are at every track.

[@spadgm]

Good comparo, I agree with all your points, I have owned the M3 and some of the lower spec models and I still had a heck of a lot of fun in the 325's etc! Value for money is a good thing, that is where I will be heading to with cars in the future! ( I still spend too much on cars atm haha)

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah, that's it for me, I want to feel like I'm getting a good deal (and admittedly I did with my M3) but if I was buying one retail for 40-50k, it's just too much for not enough.

[@MegaMadmax1000]

Love my E46 330, with a manual box it's pretty hard to beat price wise for a daily driver/fun car without compromising on comfort and usability

[@KiwiCarLife]

Absolutely man I’d so love a manual 330ci m sport

[@craigauty6756]

Love the value comments. Often overlooked how much car you can get for money sometimes

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yep for sure

[@Vikturus22]

I do love the E46 and I would have thought a better comparison would have been 330ci vs m3. I love the m3 but for nearly the same amount of money (if was factory manual) you could get an epic E39 M5

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah but manual 330ci's are hard to come by. Took what I could get. And yes an E39 M5 would be awesome!

[@fred3527]

I owed a new E36 325i (141kw) it was a fantastic engine, really loved it. I couldn't get enough of revving the engine out in 3rd gear. I replaced it with an E46 323i (125kw), but I thought the 2.5l engine performed exactly the same as the 141kw motor in the E36. I then went to the E46 330i (170kw) drove it for 10 years, loved it, would have married it if I could have and still regret selling it. I wanted the E46 M3, but the price was to steep and the 330i was more than enough car for the road. The 330i was the 1st non M3, 3 series to be capable of 250km/hr. It even had serious under body aero usually reserved for exotics. I think the M3 motor was in a whole another category compared to the 325i & 330i. You don't need all that power on the road, but boy would I have loved an E46 M3. I differ in opinion with you about the 4l V8. I drove one and to me it felt less powerful than the E46 M3. I was left very unimpressed. (Carwow raced all models of M3's against one another and the E46 beat the V8 which backed up my impressions). Bottom line, you won't be disappointed with the 2.5 or 3.0l motor discussed in the video. The M3 was and still is selling at too much of a price premium, but that is what happens with Halo cars from any brand. The in line 6, naturally aspirated BMW motors rock.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah I think you did the right thing sticking with the normal E46’s. Having driven every normal E46 plus two M3’s, it’s the cost that would hold me back from buying another. I got lucky because I picked up this M3 for dirt cheap as the SMG was broken, but I’d never buy one for 40-50k asking price. And that’s the thing that holds it back, yes the M3 is better, but I don’t think it’s “better enough” to warrant the significant price increase.

[@fred3527]

I think your 130i was probably as good as it gets with 195kw. Also a lot lighter than the M3. I don't think that the power/weight ratio was significantly different. I also love a great value for money proposition and who doesn't like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[@fred3527]

@@KiwiCarLife I agree.

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@fred3527 yeah the 130i was great

[@keno88]

The M3 vs a Barra Turbo would be an interesting comparison especially a FG variant.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Maybe in terms of speed? But not a lot else. The falcon is a boat by comparison

[@keno88]

@@KiwiCarLife one day you’ll learn to appreciate space Liam 😅 in saying that an F6 is more collectible these days and are decent on the track. Check out DRIF6 when you get a chance 😉

[@skyward3107]

I daily drive a 2003.5 330Ci 6 speed manual coupe and my weekender is a 2002 M3 manual coupe. Agreed with other comments here, in no way is it a “332Ci”. The driving experience of the M3 is so much more visceral. I absolutely love my 330 for how easy and comfortable it is to get me around town but it is in a different league entirely driving-experience wise. You will never get the same enjoyment out of an M54 as you will out of an S54, period.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Having driven both I really don’t think so, the engine is the only part about the “drive” thats better. Yeah it looks cooler and has better seats and gauges etc. but the gearbox feels the same, the steering feels the same, the brakes feel the same, with literally just coilovers and good tyres the handling would be the same - it’s just the engine. And I mean what an engine it is! But, it’s still a 6 cylinder. It’s a bit faster, and a bit more special sounding. But compared with say an N52 330i and S65 M3, the difference is monumental compared with an M54 and S54.

[@rjj00]

I agree. All of these comments are from people who haven't driven both 😂

[@rjj00]

​@@KiwiCarLifeI agree, all of these comments must be from people who haven't driven both cars side by side

[@skyward3107]

@@KiwiCarLife Sorry, but that's just not right. The entire suspension and brakes setup is completely different. Not to mention that the S54 gets an extra 65Nm of torque haha. I loved the video though but try and hold on to the M3, they are such special cars. I sold my first one a few years ago and moved onto a 330 and honestly it was one of the biggest regrets ever for me. The M54 pales in comparison. Still a fun car but it just is not on the same level

[@michaelwalton3631]

I have the 325ci manual but convertible. It does sound rather nice with the roof down and loves the twisty nz back roads where it lives in 2nd and 3rd gear and 4-6k rpm.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yep absolutely man!

[@fred3527]

The 2.5, 3.0, 3.2 & 4.0L versions of BMW's you have reviewed, I sampled or owned in a different country so the spec of the cars where slightly different. While I was always impressed by the performance of all those motors, the one thing that still stands out in my mind was the feel and braking performance of the brakes on my standard E46 330i. The wheels were different (off BMW Z9), non sport seats and the brakes weren't high lighted as special. I suspected that they were off the older E36 M3, but never looked into it. Having such confidence inspiring brakes is nearly as enjoyable as a great engine for me. After the 330i I purchased a F10 335d and was taken by the enormous brakes it came with that were so much larger than on smaller engined 5 Series. Much to my disappointment the feel and performance was extremely mediocre and no where close to the 330i.

[@KiwiCarLife]

I think pad compound has a lot to do with that, maybe try buy the same brand pads you had in your 330i? A newer 5 series is naturally going to be a little more devoid of feedback too. It’s just how modern cars are unfortunately

[@mc1703]

Nice i have the 325ci

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@mc1703 good stuff!

[@myflourishingfam]

Excellent

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@myflourishingfam yesssss

[@Rider_Tom]

Noticed the weird marks on the driver side door at 1:49, my e46 had an identical mark from the previous owner! No idea how it would happen.

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@Rider_Tom how odd!

[@YouTubeCommentator.]

Is the M3 intake stock? It sounds very good

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yep bone stock! They do make quite a lovely noise aye!

[@saphirerose5031]

Why do I want a bmw now.

[@perpetualgrin5804]

Who would want a car that doesn't warrant capital letters ?

[@KiwiCarLife]

I would recommend, but make sure you get one with an I6. You’ll love it. I was converted!

[@saphirerose5031]

@@KiwiCarLife I think as long as it's manual the great.

[@nvl2691]

So, to all the people who drive an S54 and feel like the M54 isn't that far behind. SERVICE YOUR VANOS. There's an abyss between a healthy S54 and a healthy M54.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yes, but a $30,000 abyss?

[@Esdru221]

Nah, the M3 definitely is something else

[@KiwiCarLife]

It’s very cool, but still don’t think it’s worth 4 times as much

[@notJohnRambo]

Châssis are different. M3 never understeers. 3.xx do.

[@KiwiCarLife]

@@notJohnRambo oh believe me I could make an m3 understeer haha

[@JuicyJLee]

Wish it was M3 Vs 330i

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah I know would have been cool to get

[@SPQRTempus]

Is the M3 a fantastic car? Absolutely yes. Is it value for money? Hell no. But value isn't the reason you buy a M3.

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah I’d have to agree tbh. Same problem with the S2000. Epic car, but for people’s asking prices at the moment imo it’s a terrible buy

[@thatguyben3128]

_i would say worth every cent…but I’m a Honda guy 😁_

[@KiwiCarLife]

Yeah true the high revs are super fun aye!

[@brianvickery6202]

Not keen in the rear subframe issues these models have tho

[@KiwiCarLife]

It’s pretty inexpensive to fix though

[@Moueez]

Accord cl9 is still faster then 325ci even 328ci

[@KiwiCarLife]

Can’t be it makes less power and torque and has longer gears. My CL7 Euro R kept up with an auto 330ci but probably wouldn’t hold off a manual one. There’s no way a stock CL9 would come close to a 330