C.5 vs M3
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
I memory serves, the E46 M3 cost $50k, the same as a C5, except it has 4 doors and a backseat. Very sweet cars...though I believe they've had some issues with their engines blowing up due to sustained high rpm? E46, can you elaborate on this?
Back to the original post...Holy Snikes!!! Was the track downhill? That is an incredible time for an intake and exhaust (12.5). Your mph is strong too. Congrats! Looks like you got an exceptionally strong car.
Back to the original post...Holy Snikes!!! Was the track downhill? That is an incredible time for an intake and exhaust (12.5). Your mph is strong too. Congrats! Looks like you got an exceptionally strong car.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 614
Likes: 24
From: Manteca, CA
M3 is not the best car for the drag strip, but it's a sports car and it's made to go fast so why not take it out there. It's faster on the 1/4 mile than any stock Mustang GT no matter what year or faster than most Z28's etc. which are cars that are made for the drag strip.
M3 is not a "sports car" it is a sporty coupe.
M3 may be faster than a Mustang GT (maybe not a S197) but is slower than a LS1 Z28.
M3 is a nice car though, but most still suffer from the inverse porcupine principle.
I would not mind driving one though, as long as it had a warranty; and would be promptly dumped before the warranty expired. Don't need to be left on the side of the road like my last Bimmer (540i/6) with electrical problems (3 times before I could get rid of it).
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
They did have some issues with rod bearing (year 01-02) recall for which BMW took full responsibility and replaced them right away and increased their limited warranty up to 6 yrs or 100k miles. M3s love to be reved and the car truly comes alive after 5,000 rpm.
The price of a new one was about the same as a C5.
Last edited by M3 E46; Dec 27, 2007 at 09:32 PM.
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
M3 is not a "sports car" it is a sporty coupe.
M3 may be faster than a Mustang GT (maybe not a S197) but is slower than a LS1 Z28.
M3 is a nice car though, but most still suffer from the inverse porcupine principle.
I would not mind driving one though, as long as it had a warranty; and would be promptly dumped before the warranty expired. Don't need to be left on the side of the road like my last Bimmer (540i/6) with electrical problems (3 times before I could get rid of it).
M3 may be faster than a Mustang GT (maybe not a S197) but is slower than a LS1 Z28.
M3 is a nice car though, but most still suffer from the inverse porcupine principle.
I would not mind driving one though, as long as it had a warranty; and would be promptly dumped before the warranty expired. Don't need to be left on the side of the road like my last Bimmer (540i/6) with electrical problems (3 times before I could get rid of it).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Inland Empire CA
I had a chance to race a LS1 Z28 Camaro don't know the mods but the car sounded very loud must have been a after market exhaust system. We both were on a traffic light, light turns green we go and he floors it and I follow and we go until aprox 90mph with me about a half a car length ahead of the Z28.
A lot of variables, but a half a car length isn't anything really. If it was an auto with 2.73 gearing it wouldn't be much of a show. Like my old Camaro SS 6 speed made 310 to the wheels with chokemaster and a lid. Not too shabby and I knew how to drive that car a lot better. I didn't have trouble with M3s...
I like M3's just not the egos that come with the drivers... My best friend's brother has a E46 and he still think he can keep up with my 500 rwhp car... he's nuts. They have their problems too. Can you say VANOS? The same guy I know has had little problems here there, but when the VANOS ate it he was left without a car for weeks. I dubbed his car the "Malfunction 3" and say each hash mark is how many times it's been in the shop
It pisses him off to every time. Anyways, M3s are nice for what they are. The one that's coming out next year looks awesome... but for now it's a 333 HP car that come with a 500 hp ego (I'm sure the new one will come with a 650hp ego standard). I ran into a modded one once and it kept up with me almost the whole time... but that isn't the norm.
Edit: I forgot to add a few of these guys -->
Last edited by Third Gear; Dec 27, 2007 at 10:59 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 614
Likes: 24
From: Manteca, CA
I had a chance to race a LS1 Z28 Camaro don't know the mods but the car sounded very loud must have been a after market exhaust system. We both were on a traffic light, light turns green we go and he floors it and I follow and we go until aprox 90mph with me about a half a car length ahead of the Z28.
Reality sets in when you realize that given the same driver skill a LS1 F-Body will always be faster than a E46 M3 (stock for stock). Shoot I have seen worked S54's that don't put out what a Cam/bolt-on LS1 puts down for rwhp, and 80-100 less rwtq.
How about a race built, forged bottom end, S54 on 104 octane, running gobs of timing doing 358.52 rwhp/252.92 rwtq! Wow 4 more rwhp, and a 98 rwtq less than my bone stock LS6... Motor belongs to a BMW CCA race car with $16k-18k invested in the motor alone.
Shoot our LS1 with just a baby cam, long tubes, and tune did 385 rwhp/386 rwtq.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Mods
Yeah I do envy the amount of Mods available for the Vette and the cheaper prices. The Mods for the BMW are expensive and less to choose from. The 6 in the M3 is almost all you can get out of it unlike the 8 in the vette where there is more to get out of it. The new M3 though gets an 8 with 4 hundred something horses.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
M3 is not a "sports car" it is a sporty coupe.
M3 may be faster than a Mustang GT (maybe not a S197) but is slower than a LS1 Z28.
Well Maybe the M3 maybe not listed as a true sports car I consider mine one.
Look at the competition it beat and then some on the Ring where cars are tested and raced!
Reality sets in when you realize that given the same driver skill a LS1 F-Body will always be faster than a E46 M3 (stock for stock). Shoot I have seen worked S54's that don't put out what a Cam/bolt-on LS1 puts down for rwhp, and 80-100 less rwtq.
This is the CSL verison and it a bit lighter and a bit more horsepower but still less then a Z06. 8 fastest time! Again horsepower doesn't always mean fastest!
Check out the times in this forum for the ring!
http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?vie...10073&bottom=0
Heres a great video on the Ring with a Porsche and M3 wow and passing motorbikes
Here is a corvette video from the ring..
http://www.corvette-videos.com/watch/?vid=624
M3 may be faster than a Mustang GT (maybe not a S197) but is slower than a LS1 Z28.
Well Maybe the M3 maybe not listed as a true sports car I consider mine one.
Look at the competition it beat and then some on the Ring where cars are tested and raced!
Reality sets in when you realize that given the same driver skill a LS1 F-Body will always be faster than a E46 M3 (stock for stock). Shoot I have seen worked S54's that don't put out what a Cam/bolt-on LS1 puts down for rwhp, and 80-100 less rwtq.
This is the CSL verison and it a bit lighter and a bit more horsepower but still less then a Z06. 8 fastest time! Again horsepower doesn't always mean fastest!
Check out the times in this forum for the ring!
http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?vie...10073&bottom=0
Heres a great video on the Ring with a Porsche and M3 wow and passing motorbikes
Here is a corvette video from the ring..
http://www.corvette-videos.com/watch/?vid=624
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 614
Likes: 24
From: Manteca, CA
M3 is not a "sports car" it is a sporty coupe.
M3 may be faster than a Mustang GT (maybe not a S197) but is slower than a LS1 Z28.
Well Maybe the M3 maybe not listed as a true sports car I consider mine one.
Look at the competition it beat and then some on the Ring where cars are tested and raced!
Reality sets in when you realize that given the same driver skill a LS1 F-Body will always be faster than a E46 M3 (stock for stock). Shoot I have seen worked S54's that don't put out what a Cam/bolt-on LS1 puts down for rwhp, and 80-100 less rwtq.
This is the CSL verison and it a bit lighter and a bit more horsepower but still less then a Z06. 8 fastest time! Again horsepower doesn't always mean fastest!
Check out the times in this forum for the ring!
http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?vie...10073&bottom=0
Heres a great video on the Ring with a Porsche and M3 wow and passing motorbikes
Here is a corvette video from the ring..
http://www.corvette-videos.com/watch/?vid=624
M3 may be faster than a Mustang GT (maybe not a S197) but is slower than a LS1 Z28.
Well Maybe the M3 maybe not listed as a true sports car I consider mine one.
Look at the competition it beat and then some on the Ring where cars are tested and raced!
Reality sets in when you realize that given the same driver skill a LS1 F-Body will always be faster than a E46 M3 (stock for stock). Shoot I have seen worked S54's that don't put out what a Cam/bolt-on LS1 puts down for rwhp, and 80-100 less rwtq.
This is the CSL verison and it a bit lighter and a bit more horsepower but still less then a Z06. 8 fastest time! Again horsepower doesn't always mean fastest!
Check out the times in this forum for the ring!
http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?vie...10073&bottom=0
Heres a great video on the Ring with a Porsche and M3 wow and passing motorbikes
Here is a corvette video from the ring..
http://www.corvette-videos.com/watch/?vid=624
CSL is for all purposes a mute point, since it was very limited in production and never a North American car. Although taking it into account it is just a lightweight, higher hp (360 vs 333), and prepped (suspension, wheels, tires, etc) race car.
Shoot I would love to own a 2003 CSL!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
Few things that I would like to add:
M3 is considered a sports car in europe. BMW is known for their 100hp/per liter concept in their M engines. S54 has a 3.2l pushing 333hp that is amazing and any engine that puts out 100hp/per liter is being pushed to its limits, there is not much to be had going the N/A route. However S54's respond to boost very well, and unfortunately that is the only way to go if you want big #'s. Unlike our Ls1 motors that are not even close to putting out 100hp/per liter and therefore respond to better airflow N/A (cams,heads,long tubes etc.). If BMW would have used the LS1 engine in their M car, it would have at least 570hp stock
. I love driving both but I do miss the torque when I drive my buddies M. I think they put out great 1/4 numbers. The fastest stock 1/4 for an M was I think 12.9 and when properly driven shouldn't be slower then 13.6. That is totally LS1 territory, now start adding little things like intake, exhaust on an LS1 and its game over. Neither a Corvette or M3 was meant for a dragstrip but both of them perform rather well on one, and I posted up this video to show you just that.
M3 is considered a sports car in europe. BMW is known for their 100hp/per liter concept in their M engines. S54 has a 3.2l pushing 333hp that is amazing and any engine that puts out 100hp/per liter is being pushed to its limits, there is not much to be had going the N/A route. However S54's respond to boost very well, and unfortunately that is the only way to go if you want big #'s. Unlike our Ls1 motors that are not even close to putting out 100hp/per liter and therefore respond to better airflow N/A (cams,heads,long tubes etc.). If BMW would have used the LS1 engine in their M car, it would have at least 570hp stock
. I love driving both but I do miss the torque when I drive my buddies M. I think they put out great 1/4 numbers. The fastest stock 1/4 for an M was I think 12.9 and when properly driven shouldn't be slower then 13.6. That is totally LS1 territory, now start adding little things like intake, exhaust on an LS1 and its game over. Neither a Corvette or M3 was meant for a dragstrip but both of them perform rather well on one, and I posted up this video to show you just that.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Nice driving by these two car Porsche and M3 at the ring. These guys and drive!
http://www.gofastvideo.com/gallery/i...rsche-911.html
When you get to this page click on it but open a new window.
Nice Vette and Porsche video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bCJcSpx3vk
http://www.gofastvideo.com/gallery/i...rsche-911.html
When you get to this page click on it but open a new window.
Nice Vette and Porsche video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bCJcSpx3vk
