5. It’s a classic. While the E36 may not be as icy-cool as the E30 and not as good looking as the E46, it’s still a classic. Plus E30s are ridiculously expensive nowadays and E46s aren’t The E46 has 18-inch wheels that prove the gigantic rims of today are not needed for excellent grip. Some credit must too go toward the chassis. At 3,480 pounds, it’s not a light car, but it never feels heavy. Minimal body roll, squat and dive – even the streets of Manhattan, where I drove this E46 M3, didn’t upset the chassis. Just like the E36, the E46 had some fairly big shoes to fill in. BMW has always been good at out-doing themselves, and they did with the E46. Not only was it more luxurious, faster, and safer. But, it was only 100 lbs heavier. BMW used quite a few light weight materials and techniques to keep the weight of the E46 down. First Drive of a Future Icon: The E46 BMW M3. In one particularly good year, 1998, four of five M3s sold were the 240-hp U.S. version priced at roughly $40,000. BMW says the new car will Rudy@Tirerack. 6682 posts · Joined 2003. #12 · Feb 20, 2008. Avoid 235/45R17 on 7" wide wheels. 235/45R17 would be better suited to a wider wheel. C. COOL-330CIC Discussion starter. 20 posts · Joined 2008. #13 · Feb 21, 2008. thanks guy's, I will be going to 225/45/17, it will look beter. The E46 was a huge success for BMW in all their markets with their record year in 2002 in which they sold over 560,000 units worldwide. The E46 was widely considered the performance benchmark of its class due to its huge success. The E46 design was the product of a US Designer named Erik Goplen. The BMW E46 M3 has always been considered one of the most celebrated dedicated performance platforms. It’s powerful, rear-wheel drive, includes a limited-slip differential, was equipped with either a manual transmission or a single-clutch automated manual, and checks all the boxes for enthusiasts. However, as with any high-performance BMW built with cutting-edge technology, The FWD to RWD is less of a jump than the actual weight difference. The corsa has similar dimensions to the e46 in width and height, so you may think that you can safely throw it around just as easy, but it is much heavier and can very easily slip and leave you in a ditch. All too common, stay careful. 19 posts · Joined 2014. #1 · Sep 20, 2014. Hi guys, my brother is going to buy Bmw 3 series (e46). He wants to drift with e46. He wants a 325ci , 330ci but i told him these car have a bad condition so i think he must buy a 2004 or 2005 316i. When he buy a car we will be doing some engine upgrade for a drifting. If you want to own the mind-bendingly good E46 M3, but can't afford the M3 lifestyle, then buy the awesome and affordable alternative instead, the BMW 330Ci. You still get good looks, handling and while the power is a bit less than the M3, it's still a lot of fun to drive. 8TguX.