USDM vs EURO: E36 M3

Hey boys, need some of your random international BMW wisdom.

Been shopping around for an e36 M3, a chance encounter with a friend helped me realize something, I can import a euro car (probably from japan) for the same price as some of the nicely cared for US cars. In canuckland up here, that would make the 1997, 3.2, 6 speed, 321hp viable.

I have heard and read everything from we got completely screwed and a half to the US car is basically as fast. Based on my research, the oil filter is the same, the oil pan is the same and the engine mounts are the same. I don't know if the air filters are. On the euro car the rumors are weak 6 speed, engine is higher maintenance (valves need adjustment). I am worried about maintenance basically. Yet, I know this is considered the unicorn here and some people will do this as a swap intentionally.

So, any experience? Advice?

Some background: -Exclusively DD, I prefer the driving more than the wrenching. -I prefer to do my own maintenance and am absolutely anal. I am not a master mechanic, have never rebuilt an engine but I do my own brakes, installs and have done a tranny -I have matured enough (getting old?) to realize I do not want to drive with a cage and buckets in my DD anymore. So this car would be getting kw3's, wheels, exhausts and a seat. -Hate leather -Not to be obnoxious, but I am quite comfortable with cars that try to kill me, s2000 would be one of my top fav. Seat time in everything from bone stock cars to fire breathing race cars. -m5 mileage is not acceptable, 20-25 is fine.

Something like this discussion was had a week or two ago.......I believe the general conclusion was to buy an E46.....

berkeley this E36 M3.....

Do you really want to daily drive a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side?

I get about 24mpg with mine. I wouldn't bother getting a US spec E36 M3. They look awesome, but the engine just isn't fun. That said, mine has been working great as a daily driver, I just wish it was more fun to drive.

docwyte wrote: Do you really want to daily drive a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side?

Not that I can answer for him, but...Yes, yes I do thank you very much!

A couple things, my second car ever, was a right hand drive JDM NA6 miata. It was imported from japan, bone stock with 89,000km on it, smelled like fish and had some Japanese coins under the carpets. I had a positive experience with that car and driving on the wrong side did not bother me. However!...at that point in time Japan was not a big enough market to warrant BMW making a RHD car. So the cars would actually be proper, left hand drive.

This car could be even more (relatively) unique than the car discussed last week. The car discussed last week is the 3.0, 5 speed and originally 45 in quantity as imported by BMW Canada. Taking the 15 year import law into consideration, and 1997 being the first year the Euro got the upgrade: 321hp 3.2 with 6 speed (the old car being a 286hp? 3.0 5 speed).

Rotard: care to elaborate? I have yet to drive an e36 m3. I have codriven an SM2 e36 autox monster, a 328is and an e90 M3. I recall them being pretty fun. I for example have found the following "fun" to drive: Rx8, s2000, older miatas, e30 318 (400,000km, 2 sets of wheels, best 150$ I ever spend ) not the NC. An STi is probably the least fun car I have ever thrown around in autocross.

I am looking more so for Euro specific advice. Anything weird I should know about?

rwdsport wrote: A couple things, my second car ever, was a right hand drive JDM NA6 miata. It was imported from japan, bone stock with 89,000km on it, smelled like fish and had some Japanese coins under the carpets. I had a positive experience with that car and driving on the wrong side did not bother me. However!...at that point in time Japan was not a big enough market to warrant BMW making a RHD car. So the cars would actually be proper, left hand drive. This car could be even more (relatively) unique than the car discussed last week. The car discussed last week is the 3.0, 5 speed and originally 45 in quantity as imported by BMW Canada. Taking the 15 year import law into consideration, and 1997 being the first year the Euro got the upgrade: 321hp 3.2 with 6 speed (the old car being a 286hp? 3.0 5 speed). Rotard: care to elaborate? I have yet to drive an e36 m3. I have codriven an SM2 e36 autox monster, a 328is and an e90 M3. I recall them being pretty fun. I for example have found the following "fun" to drive: Rx8, s2000, older miatas, e30 318 (400,000km, 2 sets of wheels, best 150$ I ever spend ) not the NC. An STi is probably the least fun car I have ever thrown around in autocross. I am looking more so for Euro specific advice. Anything weird I should know about?

It was me that asked about the Euro M3 vs an E46 M3. I also own a North American E36 M3 for comparison purposes. I ended up with the E46 M3 mostly based on price and availability.

I didn't get a chance to drive the Euro-engined car -- but I can tell you that the E46 is substantially more solid than my E36 -- all around it feels stiffer and stouter. Most of the interior in the E46 feels to be of better quality components than my E36.

I don't know that you can go wrong either way. And I wouldn't rule out a North American spec E36 M3. Although they aren't as rev-happy, they are torquey and flexible. I usually get 28 mpg in mine around town -- nothing to complain about.

You said that this would be a DD only, right? Mostly stock, the E36 M3 is not as much of a driver's car as an S2000 or RX8.

To be fair, you have a 'vert, right? I found our E36 M3 sedan a more fun and more capable car than the convertible. Fresh(ish) suspension? That makes a huge difference too....

More fun? What are you used to driving? a bus full of drunk hookers in clown suits?

I've been driving one for 5 years and it's crazy fun. (And I have a built 1275 Sprite, a Radical w/ a Hayabusa 1300 motor and Hoosier slicks, a good NA Miata w/ suspension, tires and bolt-ons, a KTM 690 supermoto and a hot rod Yamaha RD400 2-stroke. I know fun)

motomoron wrote: More fun? What are you used to driving? a bus full of drunk hookers in clown suits?

THIS. Needs to be in the next magazine.

motomoron wrote: More fun? What are you used to driving? a bus full of drunk hookers in clown suits?

It's not as much fun as it sounds. Like strippers, any hookers you can get in quantity are ones you'd probably prefer not to.

rotard wrote: You said that this would be a DD only, right? Mostly stock, the E36 M3 is not as much of a driver's car as an S2000 or RX8.

I disagree with this statement. While the Euro E36 is pretty astounding, the U.S. market version with the "lowly" S52 is a damn fine car in it's own right. I've driven RX-8s, and S2000s, both nice cars. IMHO Neither is a "better" drivers car.

The E36 M3 is pretty tough to beat as a daily driver / do it all performance car. I've always been curious about the euro version, I'm sure it's fantastic.

E46s do have better interiors though.

I daily an E36 M3. It is waaaay too fun for a daily. I can't believe it is moderately practical to boot. Mine has an intake and chip, and the thing sounds like god burping when I take it to redline in second on the freeway onramp.

The car has freshish suspension and is in pretty good shape. I enjoy the handling; I just don't care for the way the engine makes power. I'll probably do an M50 intake manifold swap to make it breath better.

To be fair, the car has come in at an unfortunate place in my vehicle lineup. A C5 Z06 is a very tough act to follow. I try very hard not to compare the two, but I'm sure that I do it subconsciously.