Last night, I had a choice of either the new M3 or the old M3 to take home. I took the latter, which no doubt has some of you scratching your heads. You see, the old M3 will be going away soon and as I haven't driven it in a while, figured I better get time in it while I can. Even though it was just for my traffic-filled six mile commute, it was worth it -- this morning I let it sing on the wide-open on-ramp to the 10 trapped-way. Of course, one last dance through the canyons is on the docket too. So yeah, I like it that much. Dare I say, I'm as smitten with this car as Mr. Sadlier.
Herewith are the 3 things I love and, uhhh, don't love about the car:
Love:
1) Silken, muscular and free-revving 333-hp inline six.
2) Multi-adjustable sport seats that are comfortable on long trips and supportive on canyon runs.
3) The look and stance of the car. Seriously people, the E46 is the highwater mark of 3-series styling.
No Love:
1) No 'off' button for the climate control -- you have to repeatedly hit the fan's 'down' button to shut it off.
2) The cheap plastic trim near the parking brake and cup holders that looks like hell thanks to its easily-scratched up nature.
3) Exhaust note. Sounds tinny and wimpy compared to the hearty engine note.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 72,880 miles.
chavis10 says:
12:00 PM, 06/25/09
I love the body of that generation 3 series coupe but those rims are terrible. The 17" double spoke sport package rims offered on the 330 were much nicer looking.
jeepsrt says:
12:42 PM, 06/25/09
1) No 'off' button for the climate control -- you have to repeatedly hit the fan's 'down' button to shut it off.
And the fact that it comes on regardless when you start the car, at least it does on my Wife's '01 330Ci.
m_thrizzle says:
12:53 PM, 06/25/09
Yes, the fan will always come on when you start the car. I'm not a big fan of the exhaust note either. I replaced my midpipe to take out the rasp from it and it sounds cleaner but I will admit it loses a little bit of its chaotic and angry demeanor.
BTW, the last post for the M3 needs to be tagged as being an M3 post.
huisj says:
12:57 PM, 06/25/09
I've never really understood buttons for fan speed anyway. Knobs are so much simpler and easy to use. Why is that easy to use things like knobs somehow mean "cheap" to so many people? What makes a button so luxurious?
bimmerjay says:
01:07 PM, 06/25/09
"I've never really understood buttons for fan speed anyway. Knobs are so much simpler and easy to use. Why is that easy to use things like knobs somehow mean "cheap" to so many people? What makes a button so luxurious?"
On a fully automatic system there really isn't need for a fan speed knob IMO, I know I only touch mine to shut the system off when I open the windows.
clarkma5 says:
01:16 PM, 06/25/09
I never turn off the climate control fan. If you read most car's owner's manuals, they reccomend against turning the system off, especially for extended periods of time and especially when the car is parked. Very few people seem to latch on to this idea but my fan is constantly on the 2 setting (of 4, not any sort of automatic climate control).
chavis10 says:
01:45 PM, 06/25/09
clarkma5- i will read my manual when i get home. Not sure if I heard that one before. I have a fully automatic climate control system and having a big huge OFF button is nice and convenient. I rarely use my a/c unless it's about 90 so I'd hate to be fiddling with a fussy tiny fan speed rocker switch to just the vent settings.
chavis10 says:
01:46 PM, 06/25/09
clarkma5- i will read my manual when i get home. Not sure if I heard that one before. I have a fully automatic climate control system and having a big huge OFF button is nice and convenient. I rarely use my a/c unless it's about 90 so I'd hate to be fiddling with a fussy tiny fan speed rocker switch to just the vent settings.
ddoouugg says:
05:00 PM, 06/25/09
The e46 m3 has one of the best exhaust notes ever!
bimmerjay says:
10:37 PM, 06/25/09
"I never turn off the climate control fan. If you read most car's owner's manuals, they reccomend against turning the system off, especially for extended periods of time and especially when the car is parked."
With the windows closed, absolutely... the climate control should never be turned off.
m_thrizzle says:
10:50 AM, 06/29/09
My friend likes to turn off the climate control every time before turning off a car. Seems unnecessary to me, the starter can handle it. It would be a real PITA to do on the M3 too since you have to push the fan button until it turns off.
drmillerM3 says:
07:31 AM, 06/30/09
For the record guys, if you turn off the climate control on the e46 M3, it stays off until you turn it back on. IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON EVERY TIME YOU START IT.
I didn't want to comment on it until I was sure, so I figured I'd test it out. Turned it off last night, and sure enough when I started my car today, it remained off.
Mystery solved and the windows down for a pleasant drive to work today.
m_thrizzle says:
09:07 AM, 06/30/09
drmiller, my E46's fan turns on at the lowest fan setting automatically when I start the car after having shut it off.
drmillerM3 says:
06:18 AM, 07/ 1/09
M_thrizzle,
That's really weird, because my doesn't. In fact,my climate control has actually been off for the last 3 days.
If I leave it on when I shut it off, it is on when i turn it back on, and likewise with A/C.
What year is yours? Mine's an '04. I'm assuming you have an ///M as well.
drmillerM3 says:
06:20 AM, 07/ 1/09
You know, come to think of it, I do recall it often reverting to the lowest fan setting in the past,(I'm talking months ago) but as of recently it stays completely off. Hmm... that is odd.
Have you done the DME recall? I can't think of any other reason why it would have changed.
m_thrizzle says:
08:51 AM, 07/ 1/09
Drmiller, I have an 01 M3 with no nav and I did the DME recall.