The Definitive Daytona Violet vs. Techno Violet E36 M3 Comparison

[DarkstarZero]

I took my 95 M3, Daytona Violet on Dove Grey to my favorite spot, American Shine detailing for some work. Those of you in the Mid-Atlantic that remember the "Skyline Run" tours I put on will remember the owner who joined those runs in his 944. It turns out, at the same time I was there, someone was having their mint 1998 M3,4,5 Techno Violet being worked on. Obviously, we had to take some pictures for the definitive Daytona Violet vs. Techno Violet comparison.

As a reminder, BMW made the e36 M3 in Daytona Violet for 1 year only in the US, 1995 with the S50 OBD-I engine. From 1996-1999 it was sold in Techno Violet with the S52 OBD-II engine.

The S50 and S52 produced the same amount of peak power. However, the S52 was the beginning of BMWs now standard "plateau" torque curve, where it produced peak torque throughout the rev range. While the S50 was the end of BMWs traditional torque curve where all the power and torque were at the very top. You really need to rev the S50 all the way to the red line to get the most out of it, but as Jason Cammisa recently showed, you can reliably do that all day, every day with this engine and it SINGS up there like modern BMW engines just don't anymore.

In my opinion, essential mods for an e36 M3 is replacement all-aluminum radiator, water pump and chassis reinforcements. Optional mods would be an electric fan (the original clutch fan can sometimes explode), replacement suspension (the originals are 25 years old at this point), Euro OEM ZKW glass lens headlights (for the love of Bavaria, not Depo headlights) and for the 95 M3, the TMS Stage 3 kit which provides +57hp / +30ft-lbs without forced induction! The power of OBD-I I guess.

I have a M2 CS and for driving on the track, the M2 CS is soooo much better than the e36 M3. But for driving on back roads, in good weather with the windows down and sunroof open, my e36 M3 is hands down the best back roads driving car I've ever driven. And I've driven a lot of cars. There's so much visibility, so much interaction and feel, so much better noise, it's just a better drivers car in every way, on back roads. On the track the M2 CS is just unmatched with how playful it is at the limit but on backroads, it's plain boring in comparison to my 95 M3.

The coupe is Daytona, the 4-door is Techno. Which is your favorite?

[Darth One]

Thanks for the photos. The difference between the two is a LOT more than I remember

[TboneS54]

Beautiful!

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

I took my 95 M3, Daytona Violet on Dove Grey to my favorite spot,

[Mani59]

Thanks for the photos. I love any OEM purple BMW

[W///]

Beautiful cars! I've got the coupe version of that sedan. I know in my neck of the woods, any purple E36 is a very rare sight, I don't think I've seen one yet. May I ask what's the story with yours (i.e where has the car lived, how long have you had it, mods)? What I find common between the E36 M3 and F87 is that they don't take themselves too seriously, which I love.

While this is an aftermarket paint job, my friend's LS swapped Miata is painted in Daytona Violet. It was interesting to see how much more red was in the color, whereas Techno had more of a blueish hue.

[IcewaterPete]

Great pics and excellent info on the different colors and specs. That techno violet really looks blue in the photos, not how I remember it in person. Is it a camera thing? I’ve always liked the techno, but I will have to save my judgement until I see both in person side by side.

Hopefully I will be able to see both colors at MX1 in a few weeks and then record my official decision!!

Thanks for the interesting post.

[Davil]

The first M3 I ever test drove was Daytona Violet. Very fond memory. I think it was 1994. God that's 28 years ago. A friend of mine later bought a Techno 318ti. Daytona violet was such a signature M3 colour. Though at the time I really wanted a Dakar Yellow one.

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by IcewaterPete

Great pics and excellent info on the different colors and specs. That techno violet really looks blue in the photos, not how I remember it in person. Is it a camera thing? I’ve always liked the techno, but I will have to save my judgement until I see both in person side by side.

Hopefully I will be able to see both colors at MX1 in a few weeks and then record my official decision!!

Thanks for the interesting post.

That's what's great about being able to take pictures of them side-by-side with the same camera at the same settings, so we can say it's not the camera. This is how they really look next to each other. The Techno has a lot more metallic flecks so in the shade it still sparkles while the Daytona looks flat in the shade but really sparkles in the sun.

I own the Daytona so I'm bias, but I love that it looks different in shade vs. sun and also it's rarity, only being made for 1 year. I think the total was around 200 cars.

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by W///

Beautiful cars! I've got the coupe version of that sedan. I know in my neck of the woods, any purple E36 is a very rare sight, I don't think I've seen one yet. May I ask what's the story with yours (i.e where has the car lived, how long have you had it, mods)? What I find common between the E36 M3 and F87 is that they don't take themselves too seriously, which I love.

I've owned the car for about 15 years. I don't remember exactly. It has 95k miles on the clock and has spent most of it's life garaged in VA. It's now running on Antique plates.

I've done all the reliability mods:
Replacement all aluminum cooling system
Chassis reinforcements
Electric Fan

Safety mods:
Euro-OEM ZKW glass projector lens headlights (the stock US ones are literally dangerous at night IMO)
Euro-BMW M3 2-Piece brake rotors (the US version was single piece steel, so these reduce unsprung weight)
EBC brake pads
Bilstein Coilovers (for modern performance+comfort)
Full Swaybars and X brace

And did a few performance mods:
TMS Stage 3:
aFE Cold Air Intake
3.5" HFM
24lb fuel injectors
Schrick Performance Cams
TMS chip

Dinan high flow throttle body
Short shifter with ZHP shift knob
BMW 3.38 Differential (from a 99 M3 Vert Auto)
S52 Headers
And a Borla SS catback exhaust which I LOVE, this is my favorite part of the whole car.

It looks stock on the inside and out but underneath it's been upgraded for more reliability, safety, feel, sound, and power!

[IcewaterPete]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

That's what's great about being able to take pictures of them side-by-side with the same camera at the same settings, so we can say it's not the camera. This is how they really look next to each other. The Techno has a lot more metallic flecks so in the shade it still sparkles while the Daytona looks flat in the shade but really sparkles in the sun.

I own the Daytona so I'm bias, but I love that it looks different in shade vs. sun and also it's rarity, only being made for 1 year. I think the total was around 200 cars.

I’m leaning towards the Daytona as it seems the be the truer purple color. In a perfect world I’d have to have both!!

[W///]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

I've owned the car for about 15 years. I don't remember exactly. It has 95k miles on the clock and has spent most of it's life garaged in VA. It's now running on Antique plates.

I've done all the reliability mods:
Replacement all aluminum cooling system
Chassis reinforcements
Electric Fan

Safety mods:
Euro-OEM ZKW glass projector lens headlights (the stock US ones are literally dangerous at night IMO)
Euro-BMW M3 2-Piece brake rotors (the US version was single piece steel, so these reduce unsprung weight)
EBC brake pads
Bilstein Coilovers (for modern performance+comfort)
Full Swaybars

And did a few performance mods:
TMS Stage 3:
aFE Cold Air Intake
3.5" HFM
24lb fuel injectors
Schrick Performance Cams
TMS chip

Dinan high flow throttle body
Short shifter with ZKW shift knob
BMW 3.38 Differential (from a 99 M3 Vert Auto)
S52 Headers
And a Borla SS catback exhaust which I LOVE, this is my favorite part of the whole car.

It looks stock on the inside and out but underneath it's been upgraded for more reliability, safety, feel, sound, and power!

Wow 15 years, that's great.

Those are some very solid mods you've got there. I've also got a Borla catback on mine, sounds great! Do you also have the underbody X-Brace? They made quite a big difference on mine!

Agreed about the stock headlights, even with updated bulbs, they're horrible. And if it's a combination of night and rain, you're right, you're better off using flashlights

[AR_Motorwerkz]

Woooofff.. Daytona Violet for the win!

[positiveions]

Love both of them colors. Heck I love all the colors that were offered on the E36 M3 😁

[W///]

Originally Posted by positiveions

Love both of them colors. Heck I love all the colors that were offered on the E36 M3 😁

Truly one of the best color palettes BMW has ever offered IMHO. Red, green, blue, yellow, purple, the usual white/black/silvers but also Byzanz which I always thought was so cool.

[aardvark9]

Epic colors (and cars)

[Krychool]

Both colours are extremely beautiful. Your e36 too

[Onizukachan]

Techno for me. I like violet more than purple.

My one of my favorite violet paint colors of all time was MGs Black Tulip.

[Dr Ed]

Very nice examples! I own, and currently restoring, a 1997 Techno Violett Metallic coupe with black interior.

[NickyC]

The world needs a lot more purple cars.

[rotomoto712]

I wonder how these colors compare to the new Thundernight Metallic on the G42. Would love to see a side by side comparison, as it seems to me that Thundernight is really close to Daytona, in direct sunlight at least.

[matt.the.lee]

I really wish BMW kept the Daytona Violet. I like the Techno too, but if I had to choose I'd go Daytona.