Man, what a faceoff we had in our latest YouTube video! We took Gianni's insanely modded E36 M3 and put it up against Collin's brand-spanking-new G82 M4 Competition. The question on every BMW fan's mind: Does the new school really trump the old school, or is there something special about those classics that just can't be replicated?
Meet The Contenders
The Classic Contender: Gianni's E36 M3
This is no ordinary E36, folks. Gianni's blue beast has been transformed into a street monster with a turbocharged S52 pushing roughly 400 horses to the wheels. The moment you see this car, you know it's something special – that professionally molded widebody flows so perfectly with the car's lines that it looks like it came that way from the factory (if BMW had been way more aggressive in the 90s!).
The wheel setup is just killer – triple-chrome VSKFs measuring a meaty 11 inches wide in the rear, paired with VS SS Works 9.5 inches up front. Throw in our K2 Industries clear taillights and that full carbon fiber trunk, and you've got an E36 that turns heads everywhere it goes.
Pop the hood and you'll find yourself staring at a masterpiece – fully built motor, custom turbo setup, Mishimoto cooling system keeping things chill, S50 intake gulping air, and that beefy SLR strut brace tying it all together. This is what happens when passion meets mechanical know-how.
The Modern Missile: Collin's G82 M4 Competition
Then there's Collin's ride – that Isle of Man Green M4 Competition that looks like it's doing 100mph just sitting still. Fresh from BMW with minimal mods (just our K2 carbon fiber emblems so far), this beast is packing 550 horsepower from its twin-turbo S58 straight-six.
The Competition package is something else – that carbon fiber roof looks absolutely sinister, the comp-specific wheels fill out the arches perfectly, and all those little competition badges remind you this isn't your average 4-Series. This car represents BMW M at its most aggressive and technically advanced.
The Look: Then vs Now
Walking around these two cars side-by-side is like a crash course in BMW design evolution.
Gianni's E36 shows what's possible when you take a clean, classic design and push it to its limits. That widebody isn't just slapped on – it flows from the front fenders all the way back, hugging the quarter panels before blending perfectly with the modified rear bumper. It's aggressive without being obnoxious, widened without looking bloated.
Flip to Collin's M4 and you're hit with BMW's modern design language – love it or hate it, those massive kidney grilles make a statement that can't be ignored! The carbon roof, sharp body lines, and that gorgeous green paint come together in a package that screams "I cost more than your first house." It's menacing in all the right ways.
Inside the Cockpit
Jump in these two cars and you might as well be on different planets.
Gianni's E36 interior is all business. Those Status GTX racing seats hug you tight, the Thrash Racing suede wheel feels just right in your hands, and everything unnecessary has been stripped away. The rare blue Tomy Kyra shift knob is a perfect match for the exterior – it's details like this that show the thought behind every modification. With boost gauges on the A-pillar and an extended handbrake, this cockpit means serious driving business.
Collin's M4, on the other hand, is like sliding into a fighter jet designed by luxury hotel architects. That Alcantara wheel feels amazing, the carbon trim gleams throughout the cabin, and those competition-striped seatbelts add just enough flair. The digital displays, driving modes, and premium materials remind you that modern BMW M cars are designed to do 150mph while keeping your coffee steady in the cupholder.
The Driving Experience
Numbers only tell part of the story here. Sure, the M4's 550 factory horses outgun the E36's 400 wheel horsepower on paper. But then there's the weight – Gianni claims his E36 weighs about 2,800 pounds (based on a trip to the dump, so take that with a grain of salt), while the M4 Competition is packing nearly 1,000 pounds more bulk.
When it comes to soundtrack, the E36's custom exhaust setup had us all grinning with that raw, aggressive growl. The M4 was noticeably more subdued – something Collin mentioned he might address with a Valtronic exhaust down the road.
Two Paths to M Car Heaven
What these cars really represent are two completely different approaches to BMW ownership:
Collin's M4 is the turnkey rocket ship – an engineering marvel you can drive off the showroom floor that requires nothing but fuel and regular maintenance to deliver supercar performance. It's perfect for the enthusiast who wants cutting-edge tech without getting their hands dirty.
Gianni's E36 embodies the enthusiast's journey – starting with a solid platform and slowly crafting it into a personal vision through blood, sweat, and (probably) a few colorful words along the way. It's not always the easier path, but for many, it's infinitely more rewarding.
The Verdict
Better? There's no simple answer there. These cars excel in completely different ways.
The M4 Competition will dominate by the numbers – it's faster, more advanced, and packed with technology that would have seemed like science fiction when the E36 was new. It's the culmination of decades of M division evolution.
The E36, particularly one modified to Gianni's level, delivers something that's harder to quantify – a raw, connected driving experience that modern electronics and sound insulation have engineered out of many new cars. It's a time machine to when driving was a bit more analog, a bit more involving, and for many enthusiasts, a bit more fun.
In our dream garage? We'd have both – the M4 for daily comfort and mind-bending performance, the E36 for those weekend drives when you just want to feel the road and wrench on something when the mood strikes.
Your Turn!
We want to hear which side you're on! Would you take the keys to Collin's pristine G82 M4 Competition and enjoy that factory-fresh experience? Or would you rather slide behind the wheel of Gianni's modified E36 M3 with its custom-everything approach?
Drop your thoughts in the comments of our YouTube video, and make sure you're subscribed for more BMW content that'll have you reaching for your wallet (or at least daydreaming about your next build).
