Here's How Shockingly Similar the BMW E92 M3 and Mustang GT350 Really Are 

Dear god that bump or whatever it was, I fcking felt it.

Spot on review. I’ve owned both cars, moved from the m3 to the gt350. The m3 is incredibly impressive given when it was built, but by today’s standards it just is a bit slow. The GT350 is a bit more wild and aggressive, has a better suspension setup but feels huge in comparison.

When it came time to buy a new car last year I had two I was torn between two. The M2 and the GT350. I ended up going for the GT350 for the shear rawness and everyday excitement the car brings. Not a time goes by that I start it up and feel bored or complacent after 8 month of driving it. And when I get on it hard the smile is still ear to ear, every time...

Have owned both cars. Agree with your takes on them. Both wonderful cars. Love both engines, but M3’s just revs out smoother from my recollection. Miss them both. Probably miss the M3 a little more. It was much easier to live with on a daily basis.

Great comparison and thoughtful insights, as always. E90 M3 owner here (and GT350 admirer) and I had wondered about this - many questionss answered!

Hey....where's the laugh in the opening??? It always makes me laugh, please bring it back.

great video man good comparison and well explained!

Had a ‘17 Mustang GT w/ the performance package, 6 speed and the power pack that added the gt350 induction and tuning from Ford Racing. Kept it a year and traded it in for a ‘13 E92 M3 DCT with the competition package. I couldn’t go back. The Ford interior feels like it is cheaply made whereas the M3 feels solid and comfortable. Another big difference is the Ford back seats are unusable for an adult compared to the M3 which can sit two full size adults. The overall package the M3 has even after all these years makes it a better choice for me over a gt350 unless you’re buying a track car.

7:04 best sounding induction noise ever.

Was really looking for a video just like this. It takes a careful eye that many car enthusiasts gloss over to realize that both of these cars have something special. It's a pretty crazy concept since they're totally different cars on the outside and the companies are reputable for very different things, but it's really interesting that they both created these seemingly one off cars that shared so much in common

You were smiling in GT350. That tells me what car you prefer better. I was considering buying 2020 M2 Competition or 2020 M4 Competition. Test drove both. But when I drove 2019 GT350 and compare the prices, it was no brainer for me. Current M class BMWs are synthetic(steering and automatic rev matching) feels to drive various GT350 feels like a driver car and what I missed from E93. I'm now owner of GT350 and like you said - it's very rewarding to drive her.

Thank you for doing this review. I was already contemplating the difference between the two. I love BMW M3s but this new GT350 has peaked my interest. I never thought of buying a Mustang before because of one thing, everybody had one.

that wheel bending bump...

That Shelby GT350 is a very special car. And will be very sought after some day. Rare machine!

Just a well done video....I really enjoyed it. Thank you for posting. Let’s not forget that the m3 has more hp per liter which I think is very impressive for a 12 year old car.

Both are such nice cars

Totally agree with your comparison.

Both Amazing Cars ! They can be so different but similar in the same time , The important thing is that this is what creates our Car communities , This Amazing Machines 😍

Is the gearbox in the E92 a Getrag? They started using ZF 6M’s sometime but not sure when. The BMW US market 6M also had an OD 6th gear, the euro spec was 1:1 and gears spaced accordingly to utilize the power delivery. The Mustang uses the Tremec 6M with an OD 6th, as does Camaro and Cadillac.

At 22.19 was that ur skid Mark's lol. Nice rides

Should have mentioned they both make roughly the same HP\liter. Electronic dampning has been around for like 30 years... Great comparison 🤘

I've driven both back to back as well and agree with you. I would still pick the M3 all day!

Great comparison. After talking to the GT350 engineers, the M3 was one of their target markets!

Been having a 2011 e92 n55 m sport for about 8 months now, the e92 M3 grew on me so damn much that I want to own one within a year or so from now !

Did anyone else notice that the brand new M8’s body is eerily similar to this Mustang?

You can't beat the MagnaRide in the GT350 but the EDC in the E90 M3 with upgraded Bilstein EDC dampers is a great alternative. I run Dinan swaybars and springs in mine, with the Bilstein EDC setup, and it offers three distinctive settings. I also run high-flow cats and a Dinan silencer with upgraded coilpacks and throttle bodies and an intake with an AFE filter, and it's helped the low-end torque issues that the S65 V8 is noted for. The fit and finish of a 2009 M3 along with the venerable iDrive system is still great ten years along. A nice supercharger kit is in the works in the future as I love the styling and the flexibility of the M3. By flexibility I mean that it's luxurious inside, racy when you hit the M Button, and low key on the road when you want quiet and comfort. I have the E93 version which is a hardtop convertible with a rear frame stiffener and although it's considerably heavier than the coupe, it is a very capable sports car and feels more planted the faster you drive it. I love the Ford (THAT SOUND!) but the fit and finish of the interior and complaints about squeaks and rattles from GT350 owners after just a few thousand miles for a car that costs twice the price make me doubtful I would ever trade my M3 for one. He mentioned that the M3 is based on a regular 3-Series but if you put a regular 3-Series on a lift next to an M3 and looked at the underpinnings, the M3 is a sports car based on a track tuned car. The Getrag sevn speed dual clutch gearbox is the exact same unit Ferrari sourced in the California V8. It's still great by today's standards even though the Porsche PDK gearboxes and others are simply amazing. When asked what I don't like about the M3, I would say the steering rack could be quicker, like the rack that was put into the Lime Rock Edition M3 or the M3 Competition models. A retrofit is easy if one can be found and would be worth it. The proportions are eerily similar as he mentions and although the M3 is a smoother design that has aged well, the GT350 has more presence and is a lot more muscular. I would say my tuned M3 is a great cross between a Ferrari California and a Mustang GT as far as sound, luxury, performance, maintenance, and handling and original price with the mods and options I have. The iDrive system is amazing though and intuitive and a plus over even the Ferrari's nav system and is a big reason you see so many Bimmers on the road. It's even easier to navigate than Audi's newer MMI systems. Get a low mileage M3 V8, throw some mods and a supercharger on it- upgrade those rod bearings of course ;)- and save some money and wait for Ford to catch up in the fit and finish and you'll be happy owning the Bimmer long term and be more satisfied with it's "dual personality" usability. Buy a used Z06 Corvette if you want to go fast in American Muscle and get attention for the same price as a GT350. ;)

Does the e92 have original suspension? You are comparing it to the much newer GT350, over that brutal bump on the road...

I have an E92 and am thinking of buying a GT350R. I thought the same thing about these two. The M is a great buy right now. BTW I have cutouts on my M. It sounds probably as loud or louder then the Gt350.

Former e90 M3 owner here. I can confirm it did not feel that fast when I bought it 2011! Smooth, high revving and fabulous sounding yes, but it feels very ordinary unless revved to redline in each gear. The main reason is the weight of the e9x, just too heavy for a small NA V8. If BMW made the larger 4.4L version of the S65 engine (was only available in the GTS and CRT) standard in all M3s, and trimmed 200 lbs it would’ve been a truly great car. GT350 seems like a fantastic car but the image and chintzy interior are not going to appeal to most BMW people.

I drove a friends e92 m3 6spd for a few months and did not like the shifter. I ended up buying a BMW 1M which has a better shifter but still not as good as ITR/S2000. I like smaller cars for tossing around. I have to say Gt350 has better seats and brakes vs e90/e92 m3. Have a quick look on forums on how many m3/m4 owners have to upgrade to BBK for any track use.

GT350😍

I've been saying this for years myself. Love them both. I think the gt350 is definitely a more raw theater filled experience where the m3 is more refined

How does this M3 compare to E92 335xi N54 on the engine side? Afaik the N54 gets easily modified to surpass the M3 V8 power and the xdrive version also has the LSD.

Great video! I love both of these. I do have a question that I think you can answer. Right now for a weekend car I have an AP1 Honda S2000. It's a great car, but I don't love it's lack of torque and twitchyness at the limit.i.e. you're fine and then boom, the back tires break loose. I'm considering selling it and getting am E90/92 M3. Since you've owned both can you speak to the difference in driving experience between the two? Thanks!

GT350 is the sex..I will own one in the next 2 years..I need one in my life..👍🏁

"b roads " can be 2 lanes in 1 direction.

Which one is more reliable

I think the GT350 is very progressive in how it looses traction. On track it’s so good at the limit and lose! It begs for more throttle on oversteer actually which is very surprising. Your pace was much quicker in the GT350 and the smiles were many more. By the way on track the GT350 really shrinks around you.

i found it funny how the E92 M3 is way ahead of its time and still better and more enjoyable than most modern performance cars and most horsepower wasters. Most modern performance cars are barely at the level of a 2008 German coupe saloon when it comes to technology and performance. ig the price to own this kind of well German engineered performance saloon is really worth it.

Would you be interested in selling your E92 M3?

You drove a Porsche Cayman in CA, how was that compared to the BMW and GT 350?

Please correct your title to include Shelby

200 lbs is not similar, that’s a big difference.

GT350 over M3 any day!

So get an M3 for $20k, stroke it or supercharge it plus better suspension and brakes= Heaven! I love GT350 engine but the build quality is not there yet.

Wouldn't a higher axle ratio help with tall gearing in Mustang? Easy change.

Can You Compare A Maserati Granturismo And A Ferrari California Pls?

ayy cincinnati whats up with it

Regardless of price, I'd prefer the ///M3. Shifting gears sounds more interactive/fun than riding around in 1st gear all day long. Former Ford loyalist, current E46 ///M3 owner, as well as twin turbo EcoBoost F150. The E92 will be added to my garage.

Gt350 all the way! Have you ever purchased a BMW and not over paid for crazy high electrical repairs and even just maintenance!? It’s just nuts how you are robbed every time you have to break out another thousand With a BMW!

It’s what ever you prefer and what your using the car for but I will have to correctly state most people that say bmw aren’t reliable never owned one of you keep up with Maintanance and know how to drive your car will never break(barring bad luck) as you can see I’m proud of my new SRT chal but also have the M3 when I wanna whip around corners and interact in the driving process. But the interior of 350 is cheap let’s be honest Dodge put more into theirs and BMW is German but quality of the voodoo engine holds its own. Judge an engine by how much boost it can handle before you have to upgrade components

Savagegeese did a roadcourse comparison between a regular GT with minor suspension tweaks and a e92 m3. The mustang was faster. A Shelby gt350 is miles better than a regular mustang and definitely better than an e92. I used to think like everyone else in these comments but the whole euro car is better era is slowly coming to an end. This gt350 and 1le camaro family outpaces and outdoes bmw for a cheaper price and no they don’t “feel” cheaper even though they are. The motor in the gt350 is ferrari-ish and the suspension is much better than an m3. The zl1 1le for 65k gets you such low Nürburgring lap times. You have to drive them to feel it. Most of the people in the comments are just bmw fan boys that never really get the chance to appreciate the new age American Muscle.

Seems like the GT350's gearing is made with track focus, which makes sense, while the M3 is more for road driving.

BUT THE M3 IS A CLASS IN FORZA AND THE GT350 IS S1

Very nice video, lol we live in a world now where 429lb torque is considered low !

I’m an m3 guy, but have always liked the original mustang fastbacks and now the gt350/r.

Mustang becomes more popular when it’s less of a mustang. Ditto with jeeps.

I have a feeling that Supercharging these 2 high Revving engines could take them to a very special level.

I’ve been saying this the entire time. The GT350 is just like a BMW M3 of old

Man bmw without engine its better in every single way the quality construction its way up

I notice that most of the BMW fanboys comment primarily about how fancy the interior is. That tells me allot. It’s the same thing my wife would focus on. She’s smokin hot.....but wouldn’t take her opinion about a car to seriously.

Love both cars but don’t think Ford will match the quality of bmw

The M3 sounds way better

Honestly, he sounds like a BMW fan trying to not play up the 350 quite as much. Both are “similar “ but he likes the BMW just a bit more. He raves about BMW features and then tones down the 350 accolades. That’s fine, we all like our cars, just saying the presentation feels a little biased. Great quality though!

With a couple of upgrades m3 would be faster and alot cheaper than the GT350

B8 RS5 sounds better

Yeah they both similar as in I destroyed both of them with my e55 lol 😂

Conclusion : BMW will always be 10 years ahead of Ford in every aspect. Anybody that appreciates build quality knows this already. What a rediculois comparison.

Is the gearbox in the E92 a Getrag? They started using ZF 6M’s sometime but not sure when. The BMW US market 6M also had an OD 6th gear, the euro spec was 1:1 and gears spaced accordingly to utilize the power delivery. The Mustang uses the Tremec 6M with an OD 6th, as does Camaro and Cadillac.