Thanks for the recommendation Jon.
All the above is correct. The biggest external difference on the M3A2 (as you probably know) is the top hatch shape and the position of the rear periscopes as part of the top hatch, as opposed to behind the hatch on the hull roof. Send me a PM and I may be able to help you out with the top hatch.
Here is how the M3A2 top hatch looks:
As to the Tamiya vs. Acadamy kits:
Tamiya's M2A2 ODS and Academy's M2A2 OIF kits are about the same in quality. They both represent M2A2 ODS Bradleys from about 2003-2005.
The Tamiya one represents a rebuilt to latest standards M2A2 ODS version as used by 3 ID in the initial invasion (March '03). It has most of the ODS mods that were seen at that time, but still shows parts that were removed or changed as well. It also has you adding obsolete parts such as the flotation system rods on the rear and left side of the hull.
The Academy M2A2 OIF kit represents a new-build M2A2 ODS from about the same time as Tamiya's. It has many newer features that Tamiya left off, like the new driver's hatch hinge, anti-foul bars in front of the driver's hatch, new lower front glacis plate, etc. It also has nicer side armor, sprockets with lightening holes, and better details in some areas. It has incorrect, old-style, triangle block track in the kit though. The triangle block track hasn't been used since the mid-'90s. Furthermore, Academy molded the track incorrectly as well, with the pads being molded 180 degrees from how they should be. AFV Club makes a great set of indi-link, square block, plastic track for them though.
Even with the need for replacement track, I prefer the Academy kit over Tamiya's.
Reviews of both from PMMS:
Tamiya M2A2 ODS:
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tamiya/tam35264.htm
Academy M2A2 OIF:
www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/.../acd13205.htm
Neither comes with PE. Eduard does a few good PE sets though, one being a full turret interior. Legends and Voyager also have PE sets for them.
The M2A2 and forward kits deleted the interior that came in Tamiya's and Academy's M2 kits. For an interior, you can find either older M2 kit on eBay pretty cheaply and use the interior out of it for an older M2A2 ODS w/out interior seating mods (changed to long seats along the hull like an M113 with full mods), or use it as a base for a new interior. For an M3A2 interior, you could modify the seating arrangement and TOW storage from one of the earlier kits as well.
M3A2 interior:
Which one you get depends on when you want to build your M3A2 CFV from. If it is before the early 2000s, I would go with the Tamiya one. From the early to mid-2000s onward, I'd go with the Academy one. For an older M2A2 from the early '90s, before the post ODS (Operation Desert Storm, '90-'91) mods were added, go with the Tamiya M2A2 kit (#35264).
I second Pawel's great article as well (working link):
http://vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m2a2/m2a2-p1.htm
Good luck and let us know if you need any more help.