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Old 05-18-2004, 05:08 PM   #1
rift321
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Default help... info on Euro vs. US versions of M3

I've been trying to get some information on the differences between the models of the E46 m3's. I'm still a bit confused about what I'm able to get at the local BMW dealership here. There aren't any differences in the engine performance, are there? 330 bhp is what i see on both models. In an earlier post on a different topic, I heard that the US m3's have shit for hp. Maybe i read it wrong....

On a side note, my mother recently "promised" me an M3 if I got straight A's next semester (i'm an engineering student, so it's nearly impossible). I'm just humorously researching it now. If BMW dumbed down the M3 for the US market because it "wouldn't sell well," I'm going to be pissed cuz I love the M3's so much.
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Old 05-18-2004, 05:11 PM   #2
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does anyone know which restrictions prevented the m3 csl not being sold in the us ?

oh n just wonderin why does the us m3 has 333 hp n the euro version 343 ??
this is the message earlier.... i haven't read anything about 343 hp in Euro. and the second part never got answered....
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Old 05-18-2004, 05:38 PM   #3
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Default Re: help... info on Euro vs. US versions of M3

Originally Posted by rift321
I've been trying to get some information on the differences between the models of the E46 m3's. I'm still a bit confused about what I'm able to get at the local BMW dealership here. There aren't any differences in the engine performance, are there? 330 bhp is what i see on both models. In an earlier post on a different topic, I heard that the US m3's have shit for hp. Maybe i read it wrong....

On a side note, my mother recently "promised" me an M3 if I got straight A's next semester (i'm an engineering student, so it's nearly impossible). I'm just humorously researching it now. If BMW dumbed down the M3 for the US market because it "wouldn't sell well," I'm going to be pissed cuz I love the M3's so much.
Why would you care? Mommy is buying the car for you.
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Old 05-18-2004, 06:16 PM   #4
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hyea right. we're not exactly well-off and i don't think she knew nothing about the car.
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Old 05-18-2004, 06:20 PM   #5
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Why would you care? Mommy is buying the car for you.
LOL I sure as hell wouldn't care...just shoot for the grades and tget the car
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Old 05-18-2004, 08:52 PM   #6
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It is true that the horsepower on the US model is 333 whereas on the european model the horsepower is slightly higher at 343 bhp. I ve read somewhere that the difference is partially due to stricter emission laws in the US and partially due to a slightly different way of measuring the bhp in the US. You will see differences on the horsepower on all the models of BMW, for example check the euro 745 and the US 745, 333hp to 325. I ll find the article that i am refering above and i ll be more specific. If i were you i would study like hell now, the M3 would surely motivate me.
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Old 05-18-2004, 09:08 PM   #7
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At least in the M3 case (as it was in the previous EVO version of the E36), Emissions regulations in the US forced BMW to detune the engine somewhat, primarily via the engine software. You could easily chip the car back up to Euro standards I'd imagine. 333bhp for US and 343 for Europe sounds right to me, though Autocar keeps quoting max power for the Euro-spec M3 at 339bhp.
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Old 05-18-2004, 09:12 PM   #8
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The e36 US m3 engine didnt have just differences on the engine software it was a completely different engine
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Old 05-18-2004, 09:15 PM   #9
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just to make sure you know, as i think you do, we're talking about the e46
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Old 05-18-2004, 09:21 PM   #10
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Yes on my first post i was refering on the e46,dont worry about the small hp difference, its insignificant and as i said before the true hp difference is less than 10 hp as a part of this difference is due to slightly different way of measurement and another part is due to your emision laws. So the TRUE hp difference is only due to your emison laws.
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Old 05-18-2004, 09:31 PM   #11
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Please clarify this "different way of measuring"?

Do you mean crank vs wheel? Crank with no accessories? Crank in BHP? Crank in PS? ??
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Old 05-20-2004, 10:35 PM   #12
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When I first saw this thread, I was like... "Wow, since when does BMW make a 3 series?" Then I remembered. And felt really dumb. I'm tired. Good night, people.
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Old 05-21-2004, 02:15 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by pimrusis
When I first saw this thread, I was like... "Wow, since when does BMW make a 3 series?" Then I remembered. And felt really dumb. I'm tired. Good night, people.
hahaha This is a very funny retort pimrusis.
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Old 05-21-2004, 03:58 AM   #14
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There is a pretty big diff between the versions if you get the SMG Shift. The US version does not have launch control, like the euro version. Well it does not have a button for launch control. Aparently you have to enter launch control mode with a series of button presses. Strange. And yea the E36 US ver really blew compared to the EURO ver, the engine at least.
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Old 05-21-2004, 02:02 PM   #15
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i saw a video of the launch control being used and it's a button press and you move the smg stick to the right and then up. then you just step on the gas and let it go. I got the video from bmw.com somewhere and i think i deleted it for some reason. I trust you know your info, but i just want to make sure it's accurate. If you could tell me how the US version gets into launch control, i'd like to know. As far as i knew, there wasn't a difference between the U.S. and European versions of the SMG. It seems like it would be very costly for BMW to manufacture two completely different versions of the electronics for the launch control.... one simple version and one complicated version? Seems wierd to say the least.
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