Chris Harris talks about car ... E46 M3 may be the most complete package

[livingVoice]

... start at around 6 min. mark

[Woodski]

whos chris harris and why should i care what he thinks about...

[MFactor]

Thanks for sharing. Cool interview.

Guy on the left is so awkward in front of the camera he's almost hard to watch. Same with their bearded host as well that did the Koenigsegg interview.

E46 M3 was high up on my list of cars to get. After owning the MINI for over a year (one of the longest time I've ever held on to a car), I think I will start looking at E46 M3's again.

[ToucheTurtle]

Chris Harris is such a BMW fanboy.

[MFactor]

whos chris harris and why should i care what he thinks about...

You shouldn't so move right along.

[dubscientist]

mole.

[Tuneman7]

The simple point of the car industry is unfortunately money talks. If people want the tech and it serves the manufacturer's purpose of marketing and making things bigger and better to push sales then they have no choice but to oblige. Imo, the Ferrari Enzo was really a car that changed a lot of things in that respect from being equipment that was hit or miss and still somewhat experimental to now it's a case in point of being done at such a level that the rest of the industry needs to follow suit.

The E46 M3 I think is still my favorite M3 by far. The looks inside out are still great when in OEM/good condition and the NA I6 makes it such an emotive machine. Unfortunately finding clean ones with a manual are becoming more and more difficult.

[MrRoboto]

Chris Harris is such a BMW fanboy.

He likes a lot of everything, he just hates Audi's.

[Phunkshon]

He likes a lot of everything, he just hates Audi's.

And he owns a Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

[epbrown]

The E46 M3 I think is still my favorite M3 by far. The looks inside out are still great when in OEM/good condition and the NA I6 makes it such an emotive machine. Unfortunately finding clean ones with a manual are becoming more and more difficult.

To quote Yoda, there is another. The S54-engined Z3 and Z4 M Coupe make more sense as the years pass and fewer people interested in the nice E46 M3s will use them as daily drivers.

As for Chris Harris' opinion, I disagree with him: The E90 M3 with 6-speed manual is the most complete package.

[GRN6IX]

whos chris harris and why should i care what he thinks about...

[SpookyReverb]

I have the same question, to tell you the truth...

[BltByKrmn]

I have the same question, to tell you the truth...

x3

[SchnellFowVay]

I have the same question, to tell you the truth...

He's some guy who drives cars on interwebs videos and The Car Lounge humps his leg. He loves BMWs and Porsches, and tends to hate Audis, claiming they have a "numb" feel.

He also got really giddy while driving a pre-production FR-S, which is part of the motivation behind the Car Lounge's obscene fascination with an underpowered Japanese car (which, admittedly, I also really like).

That's really all you need to know.

[TheDarkEnergist]

He's some guy who drives cars on interwebs videos and The Car Lounge humps his leg. He loves BMWs and Porsches, and tends to hate Audis, claiming they have a "numb" feel.

He also got really giddy while driving a pre-production FR-S, which is part of the motivation behind the Car Lounge's obscene fascination with an underpowered Japanese car (which, admittedly, I also really like).

That's really all you need to know.

That's a pretty unbiased opinion right there...

[livingVoice]

He's some guy who drives cars on interwebs videos and The Car Lounge humps his leg. He loves BMWs and Porsches, and tends to hate Audis, claiming they have a "numb" feel.

He also got really giddy while driving a pre-production FR-S, which is part of the motivation behind the Car Lounge's obscene fascination with an underpowered Japanese car (which, admittedly, I also really like).

That's really all you need to know.

He has driven hundreds of cars extensively and himself a racer so I think his opinions count for something. Most of us though intelligent probably cannot match his vast data base of driving experiences and I meant we don't even come close. No matter how good a racer most of us want to claim of ourselves, it's almost comparing our skills to Mario Andretti. I am not saying his opinion is final but there are a lot of truths in what he is saying (given his opinions are honest and not influenced by any sponsorship). You have to give some respects to experiences.

As for his opinions on the E46 M3, having driving one I can understand what he is saying. There are sport cars that can do certain specific things better than the M3 but the M3 just does everything so well. He has drive extensively countless of sport cars and came to conclusion.

[koko12]

having seen that video you can get a sense of why Harris loved and the FRS so much. It's a car which embraces everything he loves about cars. Anyways I do agree that the E46 M3 is probably one of the best all around driver's car of the last 20 years, but good condition examples are very hard to find nowadays.

[Saintor]

Let him play with an E92 M3 V8 for a while and see his new "opinion". Also the E92 is significantly more reliable than the E46 in its first years.

[livingVoice]

Let him play with an E92 M3 V8 for a while and see his new "opinion". Also the E92 is significantly more reliable than the E46 in its first years.

He bought an E92 M3 when it first came out so I am pretty sure he drove both quite extensively. For whatever reason, he never seems to completely like the E92. And for the record, I would take the E92 over the E46 any day

[Tim@VMG]

He's some guy who drives cars on interwebs videos

And, you know, has been on staff at EVO, Autocar, and a bunch of other well respected British titles, as well as having done internet car journalism for a long time.

He's a funny guy, and comes across as goofy sometimes, but he knows what he's talking about.

-Tim

[bubbagti]

whos chris harris and why should i care what he thinks about...

He's a young cultured Jeremy Clarkson

[dmorrow]

To quote Yoda, there is another. The S54-engined Z3 and Z4 M Coupe make more sense as the years pass and fewer people interested in the nice E46 M3s will use them as daily drivers.

As for Chris Harris' opinion, I disagree with him: The E90 M3 with 6-speed manual is the most complete package.

X2 as a current owner.

[zmt]

To quote Yoda, there is another. The S54-engined Z3 and Z4 M Coupe make more sense as the years pass and fewer people interested in the nice E46 M3s will use them as daily drivers.

... Do the roadsters count?

[masa8888]

He's a young cultured Jeremy Clarkson

Without the hyperbole and political tangents. People like him because he comes across as your average Joe getting giddy everytime he gets behind a car.

[Woodski]

He has driven hundreds of cars extensively and himself a racer...

what has he raced in?

only chris harris i know of rides speedway bikes.

[Krazee]

He's some guy who drives cars on interwebs videos and The Car Lounge humps his leg. He loves BMWs and Porsches, and tends to hate Audis, claiming they have a "numb" feel.

He also got really giddy while driving a pre-production FR-S, which is part of the motivation behind the Car Lounge's obscene fascination with an underpowered Japanese car (which, admittedly, I also really like).

That's really all you need to know.

Having watched his review of the new RS4 (and ultimate comparison to the C63), I did not get the impression he hates Audis. He liked the B5 RS4, loved the B6/7 RS4; he thought is was just perfect in every way, allowing him to question "Why buy an M3?" In the end, the C63 won out simply on the basis of less tech for tech's sake, which I agree with.

The B5 RS4 was good because it just was - aside from a crashing suspension and slightly numb steering, it was functional without an electronic nannies and choices. The B6/7 RS4 sorted out the steering, the brakes and the suspension, and was straight forward. The current RS4 is too tech-oriented. A multitude of choices for steering and throttle response - why?

I agree with his assessment of the RS4, and then his choice of the C63.

[Tim@VMG]

what has he raced in?

Some of the VLN races in Europe, I believe, and I *think* the Nurburgring 24 hours.

-Tim

[konigwheels]

That's really all you need to know.

That's far from all you need to know, it sounds like "I'm biased against him and the CL, and he doesn't like the cars I do. Boo hoo".

He's a real guy that loves cars, can drive very well, and will give a honest opinion of the driving experience, telling you how the car should be driven and what to expect when driving it. He enjoys his job a lot, which I appreciate, and his enthusiasm makes his reviews that much better. His opinion of the FRS is one shared by every enthusiast who isnt a blind fool. Its a small front engine, rear drive, sports coupe thats inexpensive and not dangerously fast. Whats not to love? Even if you hate the thing, you can't deny what it's about. Fun driving.

Chris Harris and Tiff Needell are two of my favorite reviewers. They both convey the magic that some of us feel when driving exiting cars.

[danny_16v]

yeah E46 M3 is next... but I want ZCP and 6-speed.

[Tuneman7]

To quote Yoda, there is another. The S54-engined Z3 and Z4 M Coupe make more sense as the years pass and fewer people interested in the nice E46 M3s will use them as daily drivers.

As for Chris Harris' opinion, I disagree with him: The E90 M3 with 6-speed manual is the most complete package.

Yeah, the Z4M in particular is a go to alternative those are much easier to find in good condition. Though I think at the same time, in many cases those cars are a bit of a love it or hate it deal due to some of the quirkiness in design. In typical Bangle fashion they can be somewhat polarizing.

The E90,92 M3 is the most complete, most capable, and probably most compelling model to date. But in the similar way that people call the 997 and 991 better cars but the 930, 964, and 993 better 911's I think the same is sort of true for the M3.

[hugoaswho]

fail

VANOS Issue
Subframe issue
SMG Pump failure
Older Technology
Harsher ride
no interior volume
The inspection I and II's are 1100 and 1400 respectively and are called for every 30 and 60k
Oil changes are 100, just in parts.
Bushings and such wear out quickly
tires get about 8-10k miles out of a set of rears and roughly double that from the fronts.
Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Rear Differential Mount Failure
Tie Rod Wear
Worn or Blown Shocks and Struts
Worn or Failed Swaybar Endlinks
Torn or Cracked Transmission Mounts
Water Pump Failure
Cracked Radiator Necks
Electric Fan Failures
Fan Clutch Failure
Power Steering Lines

on and on and on!!!

average maintenance cost to maintain is 5k per year!!! YOU MIGHT AS WELL BUY A 911!!!

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/m3/200...-bmw-335i.html

http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?...d=25&Itemid=55

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=347219

[Woodski]

Some of the VLN races in Europe, I believe, and I *think* the Nurburgring 24 hours.

-Tim

so he's your average club racer...i see.

[RacingManiac]

Not having owned or driven one, I like the E90 M3 better...simply because it is a 4 door...Although something like a B7 or B8 RS4 is even more "complete" since wagon = better....

[hmontaq]

IMHO The E46 is the most unattractive M3 ever...

[Woodski]

IMHO The E46 is the most unattractive M3 ever...

E36 without a doubt.