I realize I called it an E92 instead of E90. It was an oops. I should have remembered the old saying, “E nine two, two doors. E nine oh, 0 doors.” - Zack
Aside from whatever the alignment specs are, the e9x M3 has one of the fastest steering rack ratios of any production car at 12.5:1, it's one of the main reasons the steering feels so sharp and precise.
I have driven probably 100 cars in my lifetime, and no engine is as linear and smooth as a BMW. They just are so silky smooth, you have to drive one to appreciate it.
my greatest memories in cars have to be the days where I lived in SF and had a E92 M3. Hours just disappear in those canyons, none of my friends understood it lol
I had the pleasure of piloting a good friends E92 M3 when we were stationed in Germany together. He liked to drink, so I got his keys almost every time we went anywhere (including Hockenheimring and Nordschliefe). Rolling 167 mph on the autobahn and we got passed like we were standing still by an RS6 avant. The Audi was awesome but the sounds from the Dinan exhaust made the car so special. Thanks for giving me a little walk down memory lane with this video.
A centrifugal supercharger is going to build boost later in the rpm range which is why you get to enjoy the car not feeling supercharged down low. A positive displacement blower (Harrop for these cars) will build boost down low and give you that instant torque (and whine) you referred to. As the owner of a centrifugal blown 6MT E90 M3 myself, I enjoyed the video and your perspective!
Thank you. I came here to post exactly this. A Lysholm or Roots style blower moves a lot more air at lower RPM, so they make the engine feel like a larger displacement version of itself. The centrifugal supercharger is basically the compressor half of a turbo with a belt instead of a turbine, so it similarly requires revs to make boost and power. They get around this somewhat with a big step-up ratio in the drive gearset to spin faster at all RPMs, but centrifugal blowers still don't do much to the power curve down low, and produce their biggest gains up near redline.
My 2011 E90 ZCP with an Akrapovic exhaust made the car perfect. The only reason I sold it was that after 40,000 miles, I just wanted more low end torque but to this day, I still regret that decision. It's a classic.
@@225TTuned Probably more. I also had carbon fiber front splitters, rear diffuser, and spacers. The akra was a full exhaust system but due to catalytic converter laws, I only had it as a slip on. It was space grey with the fox red/black interior. Absolute stunner of a car.
Great car. I've got a 6mt E92 M3 in melbourne red with an ESS625 and I don't think I'll ever sell it. I've had the car for 6 years now and supercharged for 4 of those. The engine is otherworldly. 525 whp / 400 wtq on pump gas. Perfect amount for a street car while still remaining neutral and controllable. The chassis of the E9x just gobbles up the power from the blower.
I had one with that kit. Owned it for almost 8yrs. Made the stupid decision to sell it. Have regretted it ever since. I will own another one and modify it just the same as my last one.
@@dizz81 It's really hard to beat. Get another one while you still can. The world is changing. Few things put a smile on the face like an opened up S65 on the backroads
I just purchased an e90 m3 with catless mid pipe and tuned on e85 with bc racing coilovers that will soon be replaced by some edc compatible kw coilovers, the car is such a blast to drive, can’t wait to make some serious power with it one day after I’m done with my other builds lol
Great review Zack! Been watching the channel for years. I’m friends with the owner of the car and a fun fact, those wheels are the BBS Fi RKP edition which make an already very light wheel, extremely light about 16lbs front and 17lbs rear. As a 5x E9X M3 owner, I love these videos!
Not the same but I have an e90 330i with the N52… it’s got 150,000 miles and still sounds and pulls to an obscene level of satisfaction. Can only imagine what this is like!
I had a Interlagos Blue E90 M3 manual slicktop for 6 years. It was my daily for my real estate business, dad car, two kids in baby seats and i autocrossed it on the weekends. I couldn’t find a better car that could do everything for the money.
Stock E46 M3 steering racks are long and needs a lot of input. I swapped out mine for a 330I rack to make it quicker. So the E9X M3s have great steering feel.
I’ve owned both e92 m3 and a e90 335. I have to say the 335 was not only faster but much more fun being the xi version awd. A simple jb4 and some bolt ons had me at 488hp to the wheels. It was reliablish. The m3 just wasn’t as tunable and mine wasn’t supercharged. It was slow. I’d like to drive one with a supercharger though. The only part i liked more was it was a coupe. The 335 was a 4 door
My favorite M platform. For so many reasons. I almost bought the two-door version of the same kind of set up. I know how a car like that drives and it’s just magical. What an aggressive yet easily dailyable drivers car.
Ill never understand why some people go crazy over manual seats in e9x’s. Its a 3600lb luxury car, you wouldnt feel the difference either way. Normally I’d argue that the manual seats can go lower but the full motor sport seats go SUPER low in my e92 non M.
Lol this build is fairly similar to mine - except I have a 4.4L with the blower. Same wheels, same brakes, same exhaust. Even the same name.. I like this guy!
The e90 m3 has been my dream sedan since it came out in high school, instead I have spent the last 7 years in a c55 amg and it has been amazing but this is still hands down end goals! Every time i go looking for one they are again out of my price range here’s to endlessly working for your dream car right!
Zach that V8 does sound great!! Centrifugal superchargers will almost always feel stock at low rpm because the boost is low at lower rpm unless the pulley size is reduced. The horspower increase is linear, higher you can rev it the more power it makes. Roots and screw/Whipple style blowers are the "in the V" kind and make bigger increases in torque at low rpm. Thanks for the video and the owner for sharing.
The real question is...this or an E39 M5? M5 has reliability on its side while the E90 has rack and pinion and lighter weight. Some people described the E90 M3 as the newer M5 since the E60 got much bigger but man, tough choice. I think I'd go M5 for the legend factor alone but the E90 M3 is something people will wake up to to what an amazing car it is. Legroom in the back of a 3 series! Coming from an E36 that's a revelation alone!
@@Allmotor1m I haven't read a lot about catastrophic failures for E39 M5s, the V8 by all accounts is stout, maintenance is what gets ya...not in spite of it and if you're lucky and yadda yadda it might not break. There's probably a reason why (as Matt pointed out) BMW themselves used the E39 V8 in their racecars 12 years after the E39 ended production and not the E9x one. I'd be happy to be disproven by someone more knowledgeable. Though, I have to admit it sounds even gnarlier than the E39 one...with the right exhaust E39 can rumble like an old muscle car but this is a bit more technical than that. Noise wise, it's probably beat.
@@Petrospect Don't get me wrong I love the e39 m5 but it is a 20 year old car, it's gonna have issues. Never owned one but I've heard it's one of the most expensive older M cars to maintain. The e9x m3's are very reliable cars you just have to either buy one with the rod bearings done or do it when you get first get the car to prevent having to dish out the $10k for a new motor. I'll admit I prefer I6's over V8's but something about the sound of the s65 in the e9x m3 is just hard to beat.
@@Allmotor1m Hard to beat an i6 wail, it's all the right Ronin noises (especially the track E36 M3 Zack drove) E39s seem to have big jobs only when stuff has gone wrong due to the lack of maintenance, there isn't a manufacturing flaw like the E9x S65s where it could catastrophically go wrong and it not being as unique as, say, the 996 IMS bearing which was blown out of proportion. The thing is though, if the money has to be dished out, the question comes down to which is worth maintaining more and I'll admit, personal preference for sure...but I'm curious on what specifically makes the driving experience better in an E90 than E39. Speaking of, the proportions/dimensions are so much better in E9x than E39 though, shame the sedans are so rare in Europe.
Out of all the cars I've test driven, 4 years ago I picked the e92 m3. I put 60k miles on it since then and don't plan on getting rid of it in my lifetime. Best car everrrr
Love this video. I have a very similar car. 2011 E90 6MT Lemans blue though 😊 currently have swift springs, Stoptech bbk, volk te37, corsa exhaust… Harrop supercharger being out on next week, I’m pumped and this video made me more excited!! Zack, hit me up if you’re interested in buying it😊
I have a '11.5 e90 Interlagos Blue M3, it's such a beautiful car, the lines, the V8. My buddy has a black e60 M5 with the V10 and we were at a car meet last night chatting with a SRT-10 owner with the Viper engine.
Great review. I've always wanted to hear more about how these are in practice as they seem great on paper. Will owners ever be joining again? I miss hearing some commentary on snags in the build, reliability, their experience, etc.
I’m still unsure about owners riding shotgun due to covid. Sitting in close proximity with 3 strangers each morning seems risky, although I did enjoy the moving conversations. - Zack
This car is awesome. You said it perfectly, cleanest looking and spect M3 E90 ever. The inside is so clean without the navigation and it sounds like a symphony love it.
just sold my my e90 for a M4. have had an e36 and e46...the e90 was the perfect sized car, relatively light and nimble yet stout and solid. the steering is night and day compared to the m4...love that the m4 is a newer car but the e90 just felt perfect.
I have an e92 335i, because I could not afford an M3. Hope the prices won't explode and next year I will be able to buy the V8 one. I love the fact that this car does not have the iDrive. The dashboard looks so much nicer.
E90/E92 M3 was peak M car. I bought new a 2011 LeMans blue manual M3, no sunroof, no nav, cloth seats (power though). EDC. Not ZCP and on 18” wheels. Should’ve kept it, but 1.5 years ago I bought a similar 2009 e92. Interlagos Blue manual, carbon roof, 18” gun metal wheels, but with leather and nav. It’s just as awesome.
E90 is such a timeless body style. I love my 335i, but MAN that V8 sound is amazing. At least with the N54 you can single turbo it and it will sound like a Supra.
Honestly Zack, you likely know this, but aggressive track alignments can transform steering. If there's not one on your e46, I can't recommend enough finding a shop known for it and having them do one.
My 2011 e90 M3 has easily been the most reliable BMW I've owned and the exhaust note makes the most mundane tasks enjoyable. There isn't a more enjoyable and usable car at this price point.
Been looking for one under $40k for a couple years now. In 2022 $30k gets you a clapped out 110k mile wrecked m3 on bat today. E90 would be a phenomenal fun daily in the world of boring tesla’s at every intersection.
You guys should do a 2Take one of you drive a ESS supercharged m3 etc and the other drives a Harrop m3 since you get more power down low with that kit, compare and swap between the cars that would be 🔥🔥🔥🔥 to get your opinions
Zack, if you want to drive an e92 M3 (they are a bit more agile than an e90) with carbon fiber plenum and driveshaft (both which add to the characteristics of this car) , I am your man. Located in SoCal.
@@gt1r agree to disagree. But from my experience, I found the e92 to feel more nimble than the e90. I've heard from others who have owned both, state the same.
As an owner of a Phoenix Yellow E46 M3 then five years later adding an Interlagos, slick top, six speed E90 M3, you are correct Zak. This was a very expensive mistake as you will not be able to own one or the other. You will love and maintain both and be reminded how insane you are to own both. However, owning the ballerina and pitbull of M cars simultaneously is just too hard to pass up.
I had a 2011 and supercharged it, but chose the wrong assholes in LA (not allowed to say who due to settlement) and they blew up my engine. When it worked it was ferocious and lots of fun. Forums said ESS was the way to go, but I didn't listen.
The biggest problem with these s65 v8s are as with the v10s the rod bearings. Pls do your research if you are looking to purchase on of these. Other than that, these things are awesome.
BE bearings and ARP bolts. $2k job for peace of mind. This is a reliable motor and platform overall, this car was built to be driven hard, then pick up groceries on your way home from the track.
