Racing Dynamics M3

[JohnH]

This must be the ultimate M3. Not only have they shoe horned the M5 V8 into the E46 M3 but they have also upped the output to 500bhp. They have upped the compression ratio, lightweight forged pistons and reworked the cylinder head. They claim 0-62mph 4.2 secs and top speed of 196mph. The best bit is the cost, a whopping 96K pounds or 140K USD

[kees]

Sounds like Racing Dynamics are up to their old tricks of 'badge engineering' Hartge cars...the M3 with M5 engine...the Hartge H50 was launched by Hartge months ago...

[Apples]

I bet ya....... it's Nowacks M5 tuning that was done to their RD M3.
They have done some work for them before.
APPLES

[Erik]

Hi

Can anyone gove me an ansver to why non of this "fantasy" tuners dont give their car to a serious car magasine to prove their performance figurs and to coment on their drivability.

Makes me wonder


Erik

[Apples]

There are some good articles on Nowacks M5 and M3 tuning to 500 hp(M5) & 400 hp (M3) for those engines.
I have also driven their 400hp M3 conversion, and it is that most impressive sound an M3 has ever made. Running it out to 8,700rpm is sooo much fun.
I've just about to have their 530+ full converted engine put back in my M5.
I drove the Z8 that they also had there with this conversion, and it was so bloody strong, it pulls hard over 150mph (250kph).
I maybe one sided, but i looked hard at trying to find the best. They will tune your M5/M3 to very easy to drive levels.
APPLES

[Prometheus NY]

First off, in response to one of the previous responses, isn't the Hartge H50 a regular 3-series with the M5 engine? Don't get me wrong, I'd do naked cartwheels in midtown Manhattan on New Year's Eve to own one, and I don't mean to downplay the car. But if it's an ordinary 3-series, it's missing some of the other speed components that the M3 would have. I could be wrong though.

The are many excellent articles on the Nowack M5 and M3, the 2 most memorable being in the British publication BMW/Car Magazine. They are definitely not a fantasy. They're probably the 2 fastest normally aspirated cars on the road, not withstanding Ferrari, Lamborgenie and very few others. I have read excellent articles on the Racing Dynamics M5, the AC Schnitzer M3, and the RMS M3 in European Car Magazine.

I do have to say however, I would like to see more in the way of publications and articles on the tuned BMWs.

[JohnH]

Prometheus,

The Hartge H50 according to the distributor in the UK is based on the E46 M3. The link to the spec sheet is below although you will need Adobe Acrobat reader to view:

http://www.birds.uk.com/hartge/pdfs/E46/E46%2010.pdf

[johann]

Erik was refering to the RD cars, not Nowack cars, right Erik?

Haven't seen any review of the RD cars in a European car magazine. I found that strange.

Cheers,
/Johan

[Apples]

I don't really know how it all works in the auto business, but there seems to be a fair amount of re-badging going on around the world in all countries.
The RD M5 conversion is all done by Nowack and just put together by RD.
I would think it would be a very good car by RD.....but why would a mag give it big reviews, because all their really testing is a Nowack car???.
So i guess that if Nowack can increase sales this way then why not. And RD look good for putting a great product into an owners hands. But why not go straight to Nowack for their conversion?

There's no doubt that a stock M3 converted into with the M5 engine wound be much better the a regular E46.
I'm thinking about getting Nowack to look into this for me... maybe next year.
It being 200+kg (550lb) lighter i could see it being on hell of a track car with 500+hp
APPLES

[kees]

Originally posted by Apples
So i guess that if Nowack can increase sales this way then why not. And RD look good for putting a great product into an owners hands. But why not go straight to Nowack for their conversion?

Because Nowack specialise in cultivating technology, whereas RD specialise in culvating image...naturally RD will have to charge more for the products, as they have to make a few $$ as well.

Why do some people buy from RD instead of Nowack? Firstly, because they don't know that Nowack does the actual technical implementation. Secondly, because RD has a more flashy image...which has an extra appeal to some people...

/Kees

[tt]

Some information about the Racing Dynamics R50:

http://www.racdyn.de/e3.htm

[kees]

I like the idea of their 3 series Touring with M5 engine...really cool...I wonder if this is the car that APPLES saw when he visited Nowack's premises?