All the BMW M3s Ranked from Worst to Best
2022 ж. 12 Ақп.
348 584 Рет қаралды
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BMW M3s ranked! Today I am ranking the BMW M3 models from worst to best, and I'm going to give you my opinion on every BMW M3 ranked from worst to best. Doug DeMuro gives his take on BMW M3 models ranked!
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Please do more of these ranking videos!!
911!
Nissan GT-R
Generations of Z cars
They're not relevant. Doug is really detached from reality at this point.
@KULON🔞 what the heck are you talking about souds ugly as hell
The 1st gen M2 is 100% the true successor to the E46 M3. It checked all the same perfect boxes.
And the original 1M/1-series is the true successor to the E30 in my eyes.
M2 looks a bit small and chubby, idk why. E46 had a nicer lower and sleeker hood so it doesn't look chubby with those dimensions.
Yes m2 is like new e46. I call it baby bmw and its so nice car. However new m2 looks ugly AF. Bmw politics about new cars is terrible and from 2021-2022 only 5 series Look good...
I'd say the M2 competition is the true successor, with a proper M engine and better than the OG M2 in every way except sound
@@homiefizzle5260 Agreed - the M2 Comp is way better than the N55 M2. The original M2 is basically an M235i with M handling (still a good car, but missing the powertrain that makes M cars special).
The “issues” with the e9x M3s can be easily resolved through preventative maintenance. And while it lacks the low end torque, hearing the v8 scream at 8250 RPM is truly an experience like no other.
im saving up right now for one, i've done all the research on preventative maintenance and I can't wait to straight pipe it lol!
I had E36, E46, and E90 now since 2017. Spent some money on it but god what a blast to drive. 10/10
The e90 was also the generation that had ghe 5.0L v10 as well right?
@@tt-ln4mc a lot of the guys in the community straight pipe haha. Look up ACM, 2pipe 4pipe mod as well. Cheap way to get a really nice exhaust note.
@@heyimpreston3640 the m5/m6 series. e60 M5 had the v10, also the e63/e64 M6.
E30, E46, E36 are top three in my book. And I think the E36 has a wonderful driving experience. It's such a 90's icon. The coupes are aging so well. In many ways it was better than the E30 it replaced.
e36 is way heavier and it was built around another philosophy, so they are just way different, and don't forget e30 is way more beatiful.
Totally agree with your picks!
Agreed. I own a E36 M3 and I think it's highly underrated.
In Europe the E36 M3 is totally different car. It is actually the one that is the most powerful compared to the best 3 series at the time in line- 328i made 142kw and M3 236kw of power. My father worked in BMW dealership at that time and I got to ride one on passenger seat when it was new and it was fast as hell for 90s
Yes. I am originally from England and that was the case.
Hagerty (youtube channel) recently posted a video about that
E46m3 is just a bigger, heavier and more comfortable - compared to Euro E36m3 E36>E46
it costs double the price of an American e36 tho, and way less reliable, the entirior sucks too, coming from an European
For the information to US viewers, LCI euro E36 M3s had like 320 hp, just a bit less than holy 46
Scotty Kilmer tomorrow: "Why owning an M3 is a terrible idea!"
They're all prone to VANOS failure, rod bearing failure etc.
Scotty Kilmer is a fraud
I mean, he's not wrong, but you have to make the value judgement for yourself.
Scotty Kilmer EVERY day.
@@DougDeMuro Shots fired
The saddest day of my life is when i had to leave my E46 M3 behind and move on.. it was a right hand drive "UK" model so there was literally no point of taking it with me.. and gutting it on a steering swap was just unthinkable because adored this car! I got it at ~70k miles and when i let it go it was ~310K Miles and believe me when i say that every single mile on this car was the absolute joy of my life, the sole reason i clocked so many miles on it was just because i loved driving it.. every single chore automatically became a joy. This car was my only car meaning that it was my daily driver. I never had an issue with the fact that it was a 2 door car as i never traveled with more than 1 person, maybe twice per year there would be a passenger in the back and the back is actually really comfy FYI. Everything i ever wanted and needed was this car and i can easily say that the best M3 of all time is and always will be the E46! And the best M5 is the E39. You dont have to like/agree those are the facts.
Sir speaking facts here 🔥🤝🏻
310k miles is insane. Gg bro
@@djkjthe3rd185 Yeah, and it left me on the road only once, due to a dynamo failure. I use to travel to work 5 days a week with a minimum distance of ~120 miles a day. But there where many times the number was ~300 miles a day. As i said, it was a joy. Best days of my life
U sir are a legend, as the e46. In my opinion e46 is king followed by the natural v8 e92. Just 1word /Goosebumps.
@@PaulPaul99.777 Yeah, the E92.. i have my ayes on it also!!! I 100% Agree with you!
I remember driving a new E30 M3 at a track day in St. Louis, late 80’s. It was amazing! It has the right combination of power, grip, handling and made everyone smile who drove or rode along. A few years later I drove an E36 M3 on the same track and it blew my mind. Did everything the original did only better. At the time it was classed in SSA with SCCA and we all knew it’d be the car to have. Sure enough Randy Pobst proved that so by winning the Runoffs!
Pobst is awesome...he can drive ANYTHING fast!
Before I even watch this I’m going to say the e46 m3 is best….. now I’ll watch it and see what Doug says. 👍👍
He was sorta spot on tbh
Ha I was thinking exactly the same thing
Same here 😁
e46 m3 - specifically the CSL with a manual transmission swapped back in.
That’s was I was wishing for as well
I owned and daily drove an e92 DCT (I couldn’t find a manual at the time but that transmission is phenomenal and feels nothing like a normal automatic like Doug’s comments about the smg) and Doug is spot on about the low end torque, however the torque at the high end was a ton of fun, especially on the highway… it begged you to keep pushing and nothing feels better than revving to almost 9000 rpm. I had zero issues during my 3 years and 35k miles but man was I so scared something catastrophic was going to happen 😂
I had the e92 with the DCT too. The car begged you to push it. It was a great car.
Yes I had one for 3 years, probably buying another one LCI this year. One of the best sounding cars ever made, sounds better with the DCT as well, more like a race car.
Will probably never sell my E92 M3 zcp 6spd
What do you drive now?
@@strangeclouds7 I’ve got an E93 IS, not an M car, but doesn’t have reliability problems. It’s very hard to tell when the turbos kick in.
Absolutely HILARIOUS that he comes out with this within a week of Jason Cammisa's doting on the E36 M3 on Hagerty. 🤣
My first thought as well!
Funnily enough, Cammisa diminishes the E30 as a somewhat futile effort given it’s just a 4-cylinder and only quicker to 60 by a whisker than the 325i. Meanwhile, he considers the detuned E36 as a blessing, as that car reestablished the M division in America, sold by the boatloads, and is much more reliable than the more powerful Euro version.
@@alstound I believe he never diminishes the E30 as a car but he does bring up the fact it was a commercial failure. He does think the second generation (E36) is a better car than the E30 because not only was it mechanically better, it actually sold 😁. His video on the NEW M3 is wonderful as he compares all the M3's before it and races some of them on the track along with a comparison between the E30 and the then-current race rival Mercedes ☺️.
And how much better was Jason’s video over this one?!
@@mz22wa I don't think think they're comparable since that was a journalism piece on a specific model and this is a typical "Ranked" KZhead video.
The E9X M3 should've been higher up on the list IMO, not biased at all... But I think the high revving (and relatively low torque) V8 is exactly what sets it apart from your typical torquey big-power V8. The S65 has so much character and the ITB's sound amazing, not many production V8's can rev up to 8400rpm, definitely not your run-of-the-mill V8.
It should have been on third place.
@@bjornar9026it’s way better than the E46 that’s for sure.
That E90 M3 still the wildest M3 out there
Agree
The first time seeing the M3 in the late 80s in Germany was just breathtaking. Especially seeing it go through the Bavarian countryside.
I envy you so much! Now we look at those cool old cars like Lamborghini LM002 (the only one I've seen outside of vintage car shows) or even the 90s stuff like the original Mitsubishi 3000GT and they instantly make our day, make us happy like a little child. I can't imagine how it feels to see the same cars back when they were new! I remember the time when the Mercedes SLR was in production, I've never seen one in person, but I remember it felt so much more special than any of the modern supercars. I've seen an actual McLaren - the 720S, and I was like: "Yeah, cool, whatever... Oh, wait, gotta take a picture...". I think I was more happy when I found a Hyundai i30 N not far from my home. It's a much more common car (actually, just 120 sold in Russia, won't be surprised if there's more 720Ss in the country) but at least it's the one I can buy in the near future.
Did anyone else get lowkey sad when Doug talked about how the latest m3 is probably the last true m3, and that this special car has reached its end? Made me think a bit :(
It’s fine Doug’s not a true car guy
@@franklatin2411 wrong
Ehhh he’s so far from right. There is most likely going to be an electric M3 which will carry some of its DNA. Just like the V8 model didn’t match the straight six didn’t match the i4 turbo… it’s a natural evolution of power train
Yeah... made me kinda sad
BMW is apparently working on a new, more efficient, straight-six engine. Altough I could not find if it is a new engine or just an improvement of the current B58/S58. I think there will be one more M3/M4 generation with a petrol engine, maybe in some sort of hybrid configuration.
In the 90's I debated buying the E36 M3 vs a house. Took a drive with a BMW trained driver in one. We both agreed on the lack of power at that time (especially over the Euro model) that 321HP power plant with an additional gear (5 speed manual vs 6 speed) was a game changer. However; it was an incredible handling car. Later, I'd end up in a 2006 M3 ZCP 6MT. I loved that car and the practicality of it all. They even made a perfect rear seat protective cover for dogs that covered the entire rear seat area from the door panels to backs of the seats. Why was the SMG even part of the E46 story?
Can you still buy that dog cover?? I would LOVE that for mine
Oh Doug, I remember begging you to review a 4C years ago. I'm glad you finally did!
5 bots in 6 replies... welcome to my personal leaderboard! you are currently sitting at first xD
Can't really argue too much about your ranking. I would just flip the e30 for the e46. But I'm a bit biased because I use to own a e46 coupe 6MT and looooved every moment I had with it. Now, you have to follow this video up with a M5 ranking. This might be harder to compile than the M3 one.
Same, I have a top mount turbo on mine though
The G80 has really grown on me, I was not a fan of the new front fascia when it came out. But the more time that goes on, I find myself often on the BMW website decking one out. Manual transmission, Isle of Man Green, brown or orange interior. It is my current dream car if I'm completely honest. I will probably end up settling for a base model G20 330i or 330e when the prices come down because I cannot justify $100,000 for a car.
Same. Once I saw one in person I was like… are you joking? That is the sickest looking car I’ve ever seen. Granted, I was viewing it from behind with a slight profile so the front was hidden but that car looks mean in person. The front still hasn’t totally grown on me but it no longer bothers me. Everything else about the car is nearly perfect.
E36 has always been my favorite. E30 & E46 Japan/Eurospec are the top 3 undisputed. Alpina or Ac schnitzer version are unicorn & also more desirable to me.
"When the F80 came out it was larger (than the E90) and it had more power to compensate for that larger size but it just sort of went away from the M3 ethos". But the F80 was about 200 pounds *lighter* than the E90...
dude doug jzst says whatever comes to his mind without checking the facts. f80 is a big car? ok bro..
I agree with you. I’m biased as an F80 owner but you’re objectively right. The F80 is lighter than the E90 and it has double the torque.
It might be lighter - but it’s still bigger. Also, both of them are close to 2 tons, so arguing about weight is like two fat girls making fun of each other.
The problem is that he said what at the moment of launch people said. But then it growed on people. It was a Lot more modern, the previous gen was from 2007...
It’s also lighter than the G80. So it’s actually the lightest modern M3 really.
The rod bearing issue was just as big (or bigger) problem for the E46 model as it was for the E92. BMW actually recalled the engine for new bearings when I owned one. A big problem is US market customers not knowing how critical it is to heat up the oil before adding any revs above 3K. Both engines were tight tolerance race-based engines that absolutely needed to get up to temp, not just jumped on leaving the driveway as many are prone to do. There are rod bearing upgrade kits for these cars that will take the anxiety out of ownership for not a ton of money.
i recently just bought a 2006 M3 from the original owner with 221k miles on the original rod bearings. He was telling me he warmed it up before driving every single time and that really shows how we’ll warning these cars up works
Makes me think about what's gonna happen to these new C8 Z06s in 10 years.
And that’s why the E46 has lights on the tachometer that go away little by little as the engine heats up.
THIS! Same thing with the E60 M5. I’ve been driving one and I switch it to manual while it’s cold because the SMG (don’t get an SMG) revs it sooo high. I can’t wait for the myth that the S65/S85 are ticking time bombs to go away. Just get a manual one, heat it up, do proper maintenance, and they last.
Currently debating over whether to trust an oil analysis or just replace the bearings anyway on my 166k mile '04. There's a lot of fear mongering for sure, and the previous owner never redlined it, and I always let it warm up...
The thing he missed when speaking about the E46 was the steering. That car hands down has the best steering feel of any car I have ever owned or driven. It has weight that feels natural, it communicates what the front suspension is doing, and it's just extremely satisfying to use.
Try a 306 S16/GTi6 I'm sure it would minimally be just as good if not better but yeah, drove my buddys e46 and it was better than any other bmw I've driven
Unfortunately, I live in McWalmart Land and we don't get your cool French cars
@@sjhart14 shame, bet you'd see some cool things
E46 is just perfect
“The M3 is a great car, but if you had like infinite money and you were looking for a sports car you probably wouldn’t buy one” I don’t always agree with Doug, but when he’s on, it’s a bullseye! 🎯
What would one drive if they had infinite money and wanted a daily driveable, driver-focused, practical sport car?
Infinite money is not fair for this. Obviously you can pick all gold Rolls Royce and be done with it. BUT Infinite money, I will get second hand Red Imola 46, with complete restoration (Engine + Body work + Interior). And totally bring the car back to life
Where I live it's probably like this: "the m3 is a great car for people who just can afford the lease on one" 😂
The e36 is my dream car, I love how it looks, but I respect what his view on it is, he doesn't talk about the euro e36, but it still makes under 3 hundred horse power. Also, the e36 is often called the m3 that made the whole m3 series popular. I think when it came out the e36 was amazing, but the new m3s just got better and better. In history, the e36 is a great car, but now it just isn't all that. It set the pace for all the future m3s, but the future m3s had a faster pace. I still love the e36, I think the e36 starts to shine when people modify it, and the aftermarket support for the e36 I believe is better compared to all the other 3 series.
i have 3 bmw’s including e36 and it really does leave a lot to be desired it was also my dream car but part of me always liked the way the e46 looked and it’s interior was decent so i bought one as my daily and wished i never bought my e36
I happen to think that cars generally get better over time, so cannot imagine wanting an E30 in this day and age when the newer cars do everything better, plus are safer and less environmentally harmful. I have no doubt that an electric M will end up being better as well.
Actually from 95/96 onwards the euro spec e36 had over 320 bhp
I bought an E 36 on purpose. And a ragtop no less.
He actually does mention the euro had more power
Doug is the kinda guy who just uploads to whatever channel he’s logged into last
@God DeMuro I liked your comment in pity, hope you ratio me one day 😁👍
@God DeMuro, ok deadass I’m confused I made a joke about how this is a video you’d most likely find on More Doug DeMuro, and that in laziness it was posted here Are you legit pressed?
@God DeMuro ???
I'll stick to what I know, which is E36 and E46. I think you shortchange the driving experience of the E36. Car and Driver called it the best handling car under $100K in 1997. Also, it's widely acknowledged that the market success of the E36 M3 established the M brand in this country. "Best" is subjective but that fact should be considered as well. Happy to see the E46 at #2 and can't question since I've never driven a E30. Entertaining as usual!
Having driven the E46 M3 SMG for a few years now it is definitely growing on me too. I think the BMW engineers had a particular use in mind when designing that gear box. In my experience there is a perfectly timed SMG gear change in the same way there is a perfect manual shift between gears. As you go up the gears you pull the shifter whilst keeping the revs on. Wait about half a second, then blip off the throttle and back on again. The 'blip' is about 1/3 of a second. You have to experiment a lot to get it perfect but when you do it is really engaging, faster than a manual shift, and thoroughly satisfying. It is quite a nuanced experience. Clearly designed for when you are driving fast. But with practice it works well driving around town too. I rarely use the auto setting. I prefer to use the 'manual' shift with the SMG.
Absolutely nothing wrong with this ranking. 👍🏻 They all have their issues (price, look, reliability etc.), and all have good sides.
finally a non fanboy comment
@@littlepeugeot8341 Funny enough, I am a BMW fanboy and own several incl. an E46 M3. However, I just prefer to have a more realistic view at this topic.
@@munich.motorwerks that's even better 👌
Interesting timing after Jason Cammisa’s E36 M3 video 🤔
And Jason makes the case for it being the best! Need to see these two arguing over it 🤣
Please keep doing these ranking videos. Your content is the best
Love watching this back to back with Jason camisas take on the E36 M3 lol everyone's entitled to their own opinions and it's giving us all great content
E46 naturally aspirated straight six is the best sounding of all of them. No contest 🔥
Nah sorry. I love BMW I6s but the E46 just sounds like a wailing brute. E90 is easily the best. From the factory E46 might be number 2 or 3 (tied with E36), but F80 with an equal length mid pipe is better IMO
Never heard the V8 M3?
“wailing brute” is an interesting way to describe it😂 and a bizarre use of semantics but that’s just my opinion, the e46 sounds Mechanically engaging similar to the porsche Carrera gt, the E90 is my second favourite.
E92 one of the best sounding V8s
agreed. thats why i put that engine in my e36. now that's a perfect m3
I love the F80, I’d rank it above the e90 and E36, but below the E46 and tied with the G80 with the E30 at #1
I’m biased but the versatility and value is hard to beat. can keep up with 911s for half the price and drive home in comfort mode with all 4 wheels in the back seat
That doesn't make any sense, how can the E46, G80, and E30 all be tied for #1
Doug talking about the SMG is the exact reason why I love the late 00's to early 10's automated manuals.
Personally, the F80 M3 (that generation of 3 series as a whole) is the most beautiful car in automotive history.
I reckon the M4 is even better. Absolutely stunning car!
I’m glad to see someone else feels the same way as me. From front to back, inside and out, the F80 is flawless cosmetically. Especially the LCI’s. I legitimately can’t think of a single car that looks better, let alone another sedan
Those are seriously big words. F80 may be the most beautiful BMW in the past 15 years, and that is by far, no competition. But to say it is the most beautiful ever? It isn't even the most beautiful BMW ever. E30, E34, E9 3.0 CSI, 507,... The list goes on. But it is beautiful, no doubt. This comes from a 22 year old lol
I think though you should have considered the fact that the new M3 will be the first one to come in a wagon form - something the fans have wanted for a looong time. As you mentioned, with Merc going hybrid, the M3 wagon might just be the best all-around car on the market.
not in the us tho
Not with that grill that's for sure
I just wish the wagon was coming to America!
BMW probably doesn't think that North American customers don't like wagons or high performance wagons, so they'll probably not sell it there. Same thing they did with the E61 M5. That aside, I wonder how they'll make a cohesive and beautifully designed M3 wagon with that big grille.
Where is this wagon being sold? I have not heard about any availability here in the US
As a F80 M3 owner I am biased. I don’t think it deserves the top spot, but on looks alone it should be above the G80.
Of the big m3 the g8x just does everything better
@@trentmeister6001 Doesn`t matter. It`s so ugly It makes the first gen E65 look like a gem.
@@sigen7053 you got that bandwagon type taste. No communicating with people like you.
@@trentmeister6001 the G8X does everything better on paper but it’s the same essential recipe as an F80 (TT I6 in a car that’s too big) and given that the F80 looks so good, I have a hard time understanding how anyone could pick up a G8X over an F8X unless they really needed AWD. You’re sacrificing owning one of the best looking cars ever made to own one of the worst because someone with more skills than 95% of owners can go a little bit faster in the G8X. It may be “better” but if it’s my money I’m not shelling out an extra $20,000 - $40,000 for performance that can be matched in an F8X with a few thousand in mods
@@EthanYorke dude my boys (f8x) that are stage 2 full e85 can’t even keep up with my car with a race chip😂. They Couldn’t even keep up with it during break in period stock from a dig. F8x are just slow now. G8x is the modern GTR killer. And it’s only guys like you who say it doesn’t look sick. Bandwagoners.
I remember Doug on the smoking tire podcast and I’d love to know what changed his mind about the e30, from the podcast saying it was simply underpowered, similar to the e36 now holding it at number one on this list, I definitely agree but what changed his mind.
I think he still thinks it is underpowered. This list is not about the absolute best in terms of performance. It is more of a subjective list in the order he would own them in terms of collector factor. For example: saying the E36 is too common as a negative point to the car shows that. The car is not less capable or more capable depending of how many of them were produced yet for the E36 too many is a negative point and he clearly states that it does not feels special or rare enough. I feel this list is not about the car themselves but about how he feels about the desire to own them.
Doug. Love your channel. Keep it going!!
The E46 M3 Has been my dream car since i was a child. Im glad to own an E46 coupe but its not exactly what i want...
E46 is junk af that’s why
@@jorgenunez2310 Nah it's great
@@jorgenunez2310 Definitely not
Same here, the value explosion doesn't exactly help to get closer to fullfilling our dream...
@@karuzo4116 its around 15-to 25 grand here in Germany.
Hey Doug ! Thanks for you videos We all noticed you really like the e46 M3 (both from this video and your test). What about the Z4M Coupe ? It combines the analog fun of the e46 and a shorter chassis. I'm surprised you have not tested it yet ! I hope you can find one (in Phoenix Yellow ?) and review it for us all !
I have an E36 and an E46 M3. Have driven or been in every gen except the latest gen and I personally prefer the E46 for that rev happy S54. The E36 is great for how nimble and raw feeling it is.
I was honestly waiting to see the E30 pop up on your list, it’s a car that gives euphoria to every enthusiast every time they see it. Great ranking video 👌
Hi Doug, great video. You should check out the E30 333i. We did not get the E30 M3 in South Africa, so BMW SA shoehorned a 733i engine into the engine bay. There were actually quite a few cars like this in the 70s and 80s in SA. Ford Sierra XR8, Alfa GTV6 3.0, Chev Firenza V8. You can make a video about this.
I remember the excitement in the motoring press here in the UK when the e36 M3 was about to come out. It was fixing the 2 issues that were seen with the e30, lack of rhd and a 4 cylinder engine. I also remember the disappointment when it arrived, falling short of the expectation, the extra size and weight nullifying a lot of the extra hp and the handling (according to the tests i read compared to the e30). The later Evo version (i remember them being referred to as this rather than lci that has come to be known with later models) seemingly improved these, and were years later considered the one to get.
Really good video! Would be good to see something similar for the M5 as well
I understand and love the logic Doug. Please do more of this again
From experience of owning an E90 M3 DCT compared to my friends E46, the E90 is the more reliable car. Every single issue the E90M has the E46 has as well. Except the E46 chassis needs to be reinforced, it's old generation of high pressure vanos is unreliable and constantly has issues compared to low pressure units in the S65 which are much more reliable and it's automatic SMG is extremely unreliable compared to the very durable DCT. Many cars these days have more than 7 gears. But none actually use 7 gears to accelrate. They are all geared long after about 5th or 6th. The E9x DCT has 7 gears and no over drive. Top speed is at the top of 7th at Abit under 300kmh. No saloon car before or since has had such fun, agressive, short gearing let alone pairing it with a race inspired high revving v8.
E90 gets a bad wrap, if you kept up with it and replaced known issues early, can be such a solid car. worked in service at bmw and those that weren’t maintained were ready to junk, those that were have been having kickass weekend assbeatings and still look and drive brand new, all the german cars THRIVE so long as they’re maintained early.
its always seems so weird to my when automatics are brought into these conversations. if you get an m3(especially an older one) you're probably not some banker that wants to look cool. you're probably an enthusiast and enjoy driving. so why even bother mentioning automatics in this conversation. im not one of those people who bash on autos cause ''they arent manly'' or whatever,i think they are great,they are faster if they are modern ,they can be really practical and easy in traffic etc. but when we're talking about old cars you dont have the faster benefit and on top of that you're getting robbed of the amazing experience of a manual in a sports car. if you want to both have a fun car but you use it as a daily in the city then just get a manual and change gears ,i dont get whats the big deal. maybe i think like that cause where im from there is no automatic culture so im not used to it
The S54 VANOS can be fixed relatively easily. It's much easier to work on an S54 than an S65.
@@dake789 in the case of the E92m3 the engine was designed to be paired with the DCT transmission. Driving both manual and DCT versions back to back really makes you appreciate the DCT with the hi revving V8. The DCT keeps that motor on boil and is pure excellence. This is coming from a 47 year old guy who has never purchased a car within an automatic btw, I’m manuals for life but the DCT with the high rev’ing N/A V8 is awesome. It also doesn’t help that BMW Manuals are rubbery garbage compared to Honda, Porsche, and other well done manuals. My current track car is a manual BMW btw 😂
Totally agree. Just bought a well maintained E90 M3 and it’s absolutely glorious to drive. I haven’t driven an E46 but I’m very confident it would not match the driving experience of the E9X. I would put E9X at #2 but still respect Doug’s opinion and it’s we’ll put together
Great list. I also think the new M3 deserves to be that high. Especially since I'm one of the 7 people who actually like how it looks.
LOL!! I'll take the under on how many people like the way it looks, but I am happy to hear you like yours.
I’m with you😂
They really are way better than everyone makes them out to be, even in looks, they just look so menacing
@@cgr_doorjam0263 I mean 9’s on the 1/4 mile and 7 seconds faster than the f80 CS on the N’ring? Pretty savage. The only real bummer is no power dome
I still put it behind E36 and F80
I've heard this already on TST Podcast from Doug and came to the channel to watch the latest video on luxury cars. And then decided that I'll watch, like and comment this, so it gets a little more interaction and probably Doug would release more of these.
I currently own an e90 M3 with almost 200k miles. Ive been beating on it everyday for the past few years, as long as you change rod bearings and let the car warm up, you can rev it out to damn near 9,000 rpm every drive no problem, don’t be scared of these cars they’re one of the better engines in term of reliability 🤝
love to read this :)
You sir are my hero. Recently bought an e92 M3 with about 100,000 Kms with RB just done. I hope it turns out to be more reliable than Doug makes it seem. As I share your sentiment that with good warm ups and preventative maintenance its one of the more reliable cars to beat on.
it's a shame that the e92 m3 had rod bearings issues because outside of that it's actually a very reliable powertrain, especially given the fact that most high revving v8s usually don't tick over 100k miles (i.e. voodoo from the GT350, F136, F131, early Audi 4.2s, etc. all had at least one major fault & in most cases multiple.)
The E30 was a „widow maker“: Rear wheel drive and no traction control. I owned an E30 316i with only 99hp in the 90s. And Even that was a creepy driving experience on rainy days. Several times I was overtaken by my own trunk. 😅 With special rain tires its got a little better. During wintertimes I remember that I sometimes had to leave the Car (with winter tires of course) on the road side and I had to walk. But: I loved that car and I regret selling it.
I have had four E30s. Two 320i, a 325i and a 318is. And i can say it takes some practice to drive those cars. I can remember going backwards out of roundabouts more than once. :p
That's funny. Personally I find the cars to not loose traction on dry conditions if you know what you're doing. In the wet they are also okay if you know what you're doing. But in the snow they are not great. I always switch to my Volvo 240 when it snows here...
I have the competitor to the E30, a 1991 190E 2.6 5 speed as my daily. It’s actually not bad in the snow lol, I was pleasantly surprised
@@gilbertg.8501 Heck yeah. That's awesome. E30's are pretty decent in the snow of you have the proper tires
I learned on a 325is and it humbled me many times, grateful to be alive lmao
E46 is #1 for me….all have been amazing though
1. E46 2.E92 3.F80 Top 3 for me 🚗
100hp per litre aspirated engine in early 2000’s was a true beast… e46 all the way 👍
and why
Cracked subframe boy 🤣🤡
Love the Talks with Doug!
I love your GT just chillin in the back
it is crazy that a car that came out in 2014 is 8 years old. Time flies
Remember when Doug thought people would want autographed photos over tshirts??? 😂😂😂
No
@@MuscleTile must not be a fan
Yes!!!
Yes 💀👍
Those autographed photos were incredibly popular. I only stopped doing it because it just became too time consuming to autograph them all.
Nobody: Doug DeMuro: *releases video at the same time as the Superbowl* Me: *still watching it anyways*
Great list Doug, and very brave of you!
Doug, brilliant analysis, good arguments for all cars. I agree with most but for this caveat - an E-46 with a manual transmission, strengthened subframe and repaired vanos would be my first choice. The auto was a dog, and the smg transmission had issues, however the manual was brilliant.
I’ve owned every ///M3. The only one I still own is the my 61k mileage E30 ///M3. My daily driver is a 2022 X5///M competition. It’s a fun car. But I still love my E30 ///M3 the most!
Love how you used a CSL for the pic of the E46 SMG.
Great Video! Really Opened My Eyes to The Newer Gen M3's (OG 3 Series Will Always be My Fav Though)
E46… period. I autocrossed one for years and loved it. My only complaint about it was that oversteer came in quick and twitchy. The E90 was a dream on the courses because its oversteer was transitional and smooth.
oversteer? all e46s i see irl understeer unless they are clutch kicked or flicked
@@littlepeugeot8341 in autocrossing there’s a little something called performance driving. Understeer is the result of improper driving technique (i.e. going into a turn too fast). Oversteer is used to rotate the car around tight turns.
@@4rr44E seems like you can't see my profile picture... but sure yeah rally drives competing on a national level are noobs...
i.e the ultimate driving experience of understeering out of a corner under gas
@@littlepeugeot8341 not following… if you’re understeering then you’re not coming around any corner… you’re pushing through it and kit turning.
After owning an E92 M3 and now an E46 M3, I think the E46 being ahead of the E9X is valid however I think the E36 should not be last. It’s a tossable, analog car that weighs a good bit less than the E46 and sounds much better than the E46. Yes the S54 is much more powerful but only sounds good after 4K rpm whereas the S52 sounds good throughout the entire rev range.
if you wan't sedan e36 is way to go imo, f30 is just not very special and e90 looks so much worse than e92
Definitely need more videos like this!
LOL, that OTT Plymouth at 08:23, i saw one and made 2 pics of it, in Finland in the summer. Was the same green colour too.
My fav M3: E36 M3 coupe: it's so underrated, it's the first ever six cylinder engine M3 and it looks understated! I love it! E92 M3: This car was way too crazy to have a V8, but it does and it sounds good! F80 M3: The looks are just so good! Good mix of aggression without overdoing it like the G80! PS: Although I'm a little bit sad that my 3 favourites were at the bottom three of the list... :(
E36 was a heap of junk. You're in denial son
@@fakevirus8828 Hmm, any reasons why?
What a good video without me having to watch anything
Sorry Doug I missed the video today so I finally watching it now
Great round up. SN: Can you do a review of the rare 2001/02 audi S6 Wagon. Production was only about 800 delivered in the US
I think you would appreciate driving BMW's M Coupes, coming from someone who owns a Z4M Coupe. Sports car engine in a sports car ends up being a magical experience. I don't think you will fit in a Z3M Coupe sadly. I don't at 6'4".
You still enjoy your job being a hairdresser?
Screw you Doug, just kidding. As a F80 owner I agree with you - it’s a great grand tourer. Very much enjoyed the ranking video. Keep ‘‘em coming! I daily my M3 and what I like about the F80 is the comfort and ability for it to turn into a more powerful beast when needed. Never taken it to the track other than a Slipstream 1/3 mile even at Poccono (doesn’t count as a track day), not why I bought it. Would a 340 serve me just as well? Yes, but always a dream to own a M car. Love driving it every day and to my eye the design is solid. Yes, like Doug said a lot of questionable modifications in the F80s
f80 easily the best looking modern m3
True, and the 340i is already a really good looking car with th M sport package, but i prefer the frown of the M3, as well as the widebody
@@aer300k4 absolutely. Put 18mm spacers all around on the M3 and it looks like it should. Wide and planted!
@@zachw1117Facts
Would love to see where you would place the 135M in this list, being as it reminds me of a E46 but with a power curve suitable for daily driving. Yes it's not a 3-series, but I have always felt the 135 was a good successor to the E46, where as the E80/82 and onward tend to be on the bigger side.
E46 fan here and I agree 👍
Framing is important. Jason Camissa said that even though the US spec E36 M3 got a lesser engine, it had the same torque as the Euro spec engine with the M-engine, so you wouldn't really notice or care on the street/day-to-day driving, because it still "felt" fast with the same great handling components. BUT you also got the added benefit of more reliability/lesser maintenance intervals with the non-M engine, so you can make that a plus for the e36 if you knock the e9x M3 for having rod bearing issues. I think I agree with Jason on having an engine you can beat the crap out of, over an engine that has more power & redline, but is finnicky. Makes me appreciate my 135i or a 1M with the volume N54 engine, over an e46 or e9X with an S-engine. Bespoke engines will always be more to build, maintain, and buy salvage or for a swap. You can't argue with owning a car that has a great engine that was also a volume seller, because it's much easier to want to drive & fix. For that, I think the e36 deserves to be higher on the list than the F80.
What? The UK spec M3 evo had way more torque and was a 6speed with infinite better suspension. Stop trying to mug us all off you tool of a boy.
Also the engine was junk it had various serious issues. You live in an alternate reality pal.
8:16 "Nobody wanted it at the time". Exact number were not revealed yet, but G80 "BMW M3 and M4 were the biggest drivers of growth last year" (13% increase of sales of all "M" models) as said by BMW themselves.
Lol I know, all the people that complain about them don’t have the money to afford them….they are awesome. Especially the base manual G80
@@claycrawford9009 exactly what I said
Yep so true it has AWD now there’s honestly nothing better at the price and performance level now you can daily your M3 in all seasons
MSport and M Lite models are counted under that total.
My ranking of M3s: 1. E30 - racing car for street 2. E36 - stealth and powerful 3. E92 - german muscle car
Wow you really don’t understand why the e46 is the best, they basically just need a turbo like mine that makes 800hp easily. I’ve always wanted an e30 though
@@Boostiverse Never liked E46 but still great car :)
My 1999 E36 in Dakar Yellow was my first experience of owning a car with different size tires front and back, thus limiting rotation of tires and decreasing their lifespan to about 20,000 miles. That wasn’t the worse part!! The first time I needed tires I called the local tire shop and asked for a quote on my Dunlop tires. I can’t remember the exact sizes or tread pattern, but it was so unique the local tire shop couldn’t find them! After several days of calling tire shops across Pennsylvania, I had one of them call me back and he began the conversation like this… “Let me guess, your car is a 1999 BMW M3 and this is one of the two front tires.” When I heard that I KNEW this was NOT going to be cheap!!! I sold her around 50k miles, just before having to buy all new sneakers again.
I also had a 98 M3-4-5 in Cosmos Black Met...I really liked it, but thought it could've benefitted from a 6spd manual vs the 5spd unit we got in the US. The 1st M3 I ever bought was the E30 M3 an 88 model which went through head gaskets like crazy. It looked great and handled well but lacked power at the time. I owned a 87 GLHS Charger at the same time I owned the M3 and the Shelby was way faster. Last M3 I owned was a 2011 M3 sedan with the comp pack...Liked that as well
Finally you’re doing a 4c review that not ancient haha
@ sup
The E92 M3 is so underrated
Totally agree with your rankings. My 2002 M3 LSB has been one of the best investments that I've ever made. One just sold on another auction site (ahem) last week for 50K with more miles than I have on mine. The SMG is charming and makes more sense the longer you spend driving it. BMW never made a good manual but props for keeping the spirit alive. Every time I drive the car it reminds me why I fell in love with cars in the first place.
I absolutely love this idea of ranking popular cars though there generational evolutions. I'm surprised that the comments haven't hit the 10K mark as of yet. Also kudos to you for starting with The M3. While like most I would have a few change in my personal list. I have only had the opportunity to drive the E36 and E46. Yet do agree with most of the list. There are so many opportunities for this to be a continuing segment.
E46 or E92 for me definitely. Full respect to the f10 and 30 as well.
The G80/G82 has grown on me, it’s a rather charming and daring design and I like that.
I predicted and agreed with every one of your rankings on the list. I have an M2 Competition and even though its not an M3/M4 it feels like the spiritual successor to the E46 M3. Great video!
M2 Competition is better than every M3 except the new one. It’s the first M car that completely broke my obsession with the E46 M. Fantastic car.
You should definitely make this a series
Well, seeing as your website sells a lot of those E46s, I felt like that would have been the best one out of all of them
E30 M3 is my number 1 here, and we've only sold four of those. We've sold over 30 E36 M3s and I ranked it last. Not really a connection to the site here.
My first car was an e36 M3 and I’m a M fan in general. I’ve considered buying each and every m3 at some point and researched the heck out of all of them (and also am kicking myself for not getting an e30 for $15k back in the day) and agree with your ranking here 100%. Great video! Now this begs the question… what would you say is THE single best ///M car at this point in time?
I hope you're sitting down. I had a '91 e30. At 150k miles of hard use she needed an engine rebuild. I sold it. The new owner did an engine swap with a later inline 6. Destroyed the balance.
1M.
@@nucleargrizzly1776 😢 Although engine swaps can be fun in the e30 M3 - anytime I’m online looking for one to buy I find myself cringing more and more when I see one with the s14 missing under the hood. The car has definitely reached “collector car” status more recently and unmolested clean examples are getting harder to find for a fair price.
Thank you! E39 M5 I think is the pinnacle -- they are truly amazing.
@@DougDeMuro yessss… 🤤🤤🤤 kzhead.info/sun/lplsdMhromuGo2w/bejne.html
Just watched ur interview with graham Stephen and instantly subbed. Ur 96 rating from graham is saying something 😎👌😍😊 and those cars look sick that u showed
Yussss. The E30 is my favorite as well. I'd occasionally see them in Maryland in the late 80s, early 90s and I'd always revel in that moment.
That is why the Alfa Romeo Giulia is such a great car. Opposed to the M3, where they first developed the mainstream car and thén the M3, Alfa took the reverse approach. First develop the Quadrafoglio, then the less performance cars
If only you didn't need a full-time mechanic to ride along with you.
Italians, think with your heart and not your brain…………that’s why they only have like 2/3 models in their line-up and they are almost bankrupt. I mean I get it but it just does not make sense to develop a model to fit the type you sell maybe 1-2% out of your model. Wether you like it or not, most people buying a BMW just want the normal one to drive from A to B.
@@povertyspec9651 thanks for the uninformed casual opinion
Alfa's are trash lmao
@@yungboicontigo9278 so they found a sugardaddy what else? Just wait until she doesn’t want to put out again, she’ll be on the streets in no time
G80 i absolutely love the styling! i really really like it
Bought my E46 M3 with SMG from CarsandBids in March. Already got it converted to manual
In 2003 I’d rented a new, light blue E46 M3 Convertible 6-speed in Los Angeles CA for a couple of days - and absolutely loved it! Driving on the PCH and along the twists and turns of Sunset Blvd in Santa Monica was a totally joyous thrill! So I bought what I could afford back then - a used, black 1998 E36 M3 Convertible 5-speed - and I super-absolutely love it, even though it doesn’t go quite as fast, but you know what? Its plenty fast enough for me, and easier to maintain.
I currently have both an e46 and e36, if I had to choose one to keep it would be the e36. The e46 is a good car but just a bit too large and heavy to be truly enjoyable to drive.
I chose the e36 when cross shopping. It's more raw and the size is seriously perfect.
Agreed
I never drove an E36 M3 but I drove an E36 325IS and I thought that was the best clutch I ever felt and I loved the mechanical precision of the car. It was on a whole other level from the American and Japanese cars I had driven to that point. So I can only imagine how good the M3 was.
Doug had mentioned in the smoking tire podcast that the G80 is his favourite amongst M3s. I would’ve loved to see the comments section if he said that in this video😅
Great list would have swapped positions 1 and 2 though - the e46 should be your top spot because it's the best made, analogue-no-computers, all rounder version of all the M3s ever made. And the convertibles are so good looking / sounding they make me want to buy another.