help... info on Euro vs. US versions of M3

[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 :lol: (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.

[rift321]

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....

[RC45]

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 :lol: (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.

[rift321]

hyea right. we're not exactly well-off and i don't think she knew nothing about the car.

[Tomerville]

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

[bmwdakias]

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. :)

[Vansquish]

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.

[bmwdakias]

The e36 US m3 engine didnt have just differences on the engine software it was a completely different engine

[rift321]

just to make sure you know, as i think you do, we're talking about the e46

[bmwdakias]

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.

[RC45]

Please clarify this "different way of measuring"?

Do you mean crank vs wheel? Crank with no accessories? Crank in BHP? Crank in PS? ??

[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.

[Schwalbe]

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 :lol: :lol: This is a very funny retort pimrusis.

[spicymustard]

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.

[rift321]

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.

[tifosi]

i think you will probably get more helpful answers if you ask the question in any M3 messageboards.

but what it is worth, the Euro M3's horsepower is measured in DIN bhp, while the US M3 uses SAE bhp. and 343 DIN bhp is roughly around 338 SAE bhp. in another word, US-spec M3 has 5bhp less than Euro-spec M3.

and the difference in horsepower is mainly due to the more restrictive hearders and the catalystic converter require for US' tougher emission law.

[tifosi]

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.

US M3 SMGII still has launch control, however BMW didn't mention about it in owner's manual.

Euro and US M3 SMGII do comes with different software as far as launch control is concerned.

i can't remanber the exact number, but Euro M3 is able to launch at very high rev compares to US M3. HOWEVER, you will only be able to use launch control once every 30min and 20 launches will be allow before clutch replacement.

US M3 on the other hand launch at relatively low rev, and thus isn't anywhere as fast or aggressive as Euro M3, but it gets the job done nevertheless. but there's no limit on the use of launch control, so you can use it pretty much at every traffic light if you wish.

[ninopan]

maybe it s also due to the octane rate in the fuel you use,in Europe its octane 98 whereas in USA it s about 93 i think...

[tifosi]

maybe it s also due to the octane rate in the fuel you use,in Europe its octane 98 whereas in USA it s about 93 i think...

nope, that's not the case. but i am sure you'll be able to get few more horsepower if you can get some higher octane rating fuel.