[W///]

Originally Posted by David70

Interesting opinions about the sound. I love the sound of the S54 and I have never heard a N/A 8000 rpm redline that didn't sound great, maybe because of the engineering that went into making it happen. No it doesn't sound like a V-8, V-6, or flat six and that is part of what makes it great.

There is nothing worse that a muffled (not saying all are) turbo engine where they pipe the sound through the stereo because Engineering/Marketing agree that the sound isn't what it should be.

So far, turbo's improve the performance and track numbers but we are missing something with the sound and performance characteristics (flat torque from idle then the engine dies off at lower rpm than the non turbo).

Depends on the car. Sounds great on the Z3+Z4M's. But the E46 M3 just has that really annoying rasp (to me) at certain RPM's.

Like I said, fixeable, so I'm not going to dock it points. But the cracked subframe and VANOS issues were enough to steer me away (for now).

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by W///

Depends on the car. Sounds great on the Z3+Z4M's. But the E46 M3 just has that really annoying rasp (to me) at certain RPM's.

Like I said, fixeable, so I'm not going to dock it points. But the cracked subframe and VANOS issues were enough to steer me away (for now).

glad someone mentioned it. the e46 was far from perfect. just like any gen m3. BUT they all hold their own in their respective ways.

[Labeef]

The only flaw in that car is the transmission.

[Robert]

3 series has gone downhill since E46

[850tgul]

I always said when it comes to sound on the E46 M3, you need to bifurcate it into two categories, intake and exhaust.
After owning one for a few years and trying a few different exhaust setups and hearing countless others I came to the conclusion that you can't make an S54 exhaust sound good. Just can't. HOWEVER, the intake noise the S54 can make is unparrelled imo. So I gave up trying to make the noise coming out the rear end sound better and focussed on tuning the noise coming out of the front end. Holy grail is the carbon CSL intake plenum, which is big bucks, but even a simple cone filter will make the S54 scream.

[Takumi587]

I absolutely love my E46 M3. Definitely debating on adding a 2016 M3 sedan to the stable. However, that depends on if the wife will allow it.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by W///

Depends on the car. Sounds great on the Z3+Z4M's. But the E46 M3 just has that really annoying rasp (to me) at certain RPM's.

Like I said, fixeable, so I'm not going to dock it points. But the cracked subframe and VANOS issues were enough to steer me away (for now).

The subframe and vanos are cheaper to lock down than the exhaust rasp
(assuming you don't wait for them to fail to address them)

[Obioban]

I just can't get enthused for other cars over the e46 M3-- especially with some choice mods. Every time I drive something else, I get annoyed I'm not in my M3.

Agreed the exhaust is crappy sounding-- I have derasped (chainsaw sound) and made it quieter than stock to address that.

But, the CSL intake sound is better sound than any other car makes. And, now, that's all I hear

I'll be lighter than a non AC/stereo CSL before the summer is up (with full interior and AC and stereo) and 60 HP more than the CSL to boot (still NA). Every time I drive any car that isn't my M3, I get annoyed I'm not driving my M3.

The e46's weak points are far overblown. With an afternoon of work and a couple hundred dollars in parts you can address all the weak points, permenantly. I've done it many, many times (for lots of people's cars, not on the same car repeatedly-- the fixes are permanent). I think people are dramatic about them because they choose to stick their head in the sand until something fails, and then be outraged that it's expensive. I'm 140,000 miles into ownership of my e46m, including ~10,000 track miles and 10 winters, and it has been the most reliable car I've owned (though it's now retired from winter driving duty).

The e46m is a wonderful, wonderful car. It has one of BMW's best exteriors, best interiors, and best engines. It's super easy to work on. Everything not related to driving is automated, everything related to driving isn't automated, making it a wonderful intersection of retro and modern technology. Aftermarket support is awesome, new discoveries are coming out every day, and there's DIYs for everything. It's not too big on the outside, yet the back seat is still useable. You can fit four 285 wide tires in the back seat and have the full trunk available for tools, tents, chairs, etc. It's gorgeous, yet doesn't look over stylized. It's the pinnacle of classic BWM values.

I will never sell mine. In 50 years I'll be the crochity old man original owner at the car show talking about how good cars were back when they were propelled by combustion and driven by people.

I really only have two complaints about the car:
1) stock exhaust sound (easy fix)
2) quad exhaust over a spare tire is dumb dumb DUMB. Which I also suffer with in my DD e39 M5 (sucks compared to the e46m). And my wife's e91, though it doesn't even get a quad exhaust out of the deal (also sucks compared to the e46m).

[Obioban]

I actually kind of want to build myself a second e46 M3, perhaps in a sedan body, because I miss the stock intake sound. Given the choice, I prefer the CSL intake note (which is why I have that), but the in cabin S54 sound stock is completely wonderful as well... and I miss it.

Plus, a sedan body e46m would let me stop DDing the e39m, which is just too large to really enjoy. I mean, it's almost as big as an f82!