Beware of the e46 M3 !

Black M5 · 18th September 2001, 21:09

I got my first chance to drive the new M product from Germany last night. The white M3 belongs to my cousin and so we switched cars to see what the other had to offer. Accelerating through gears gave me the sense that the car is up there and could be a threat. The first and second gear are fast but it started to give up that power from third gear. You can say just the opposite of its bigger brother which starts to pull hard from third gear and upwards!

So my impression was that a race against the beast could be close to third maybe but then it would fall behind to the mighty V8 power. Anyway, we had a chance to race eachother although each driver wasn't in his own car. We were rolling and took off at the count of three, i slightly accelerated after the M5 and thought there was no way i would keep up after my bad start. The M5 pulled ahead 1/2 car length through second but he lost momentum shifting into third and i managed to pull ahead in the M3 till almost forth. At the lights, my cousin told me that he didnt get used to shifting with my short shifter and so had a small drop while shifting. I told him it looked worse cuz i shifted alot faster than him which made the M3 pull ahead and stay ahead through another gear.

M5er came alone later and was curious of how the M3 would match up. This time i was in my car just following them. At the first lights, they both were gonna race from stand still. It went green and it seemed that the M5 was the only car that spun the wheels while taking off but later my cousin said he spun his wheels too (could he be lying?). The M3 was slightly ahead through second but it was difficult to judge when two sub 5 second cars take off with me just following at normal pace!!! They tried again and the same story. 2 M mobiles spinning their wheels off the line with the M3 ahead again! As they were going through gears, it could be seen that the M5 was starting to gain on the M3 and real him in. He eventually passed him but that was only at 120 mp/h. They tried again but from rolling start and the M3 was no competition as the m5 just pulled away as soon as they went GO!!!!

To conclude, i can say that the M3 is alot faster than it feels thanks to its power to weight ratio. Its torque is only 269 so don't be fooled that it wasn't to your expectations. Im sure that the race could be tighter cuz the M5 spun its wheels on both our the standstill runs. So don't hesitate M5 owners with the little 3 series from Germany with the M emblem on its trunk. It is FAST!

M5er · 18th September 2001, 23:47

black m5- I'm very impressed with the New M3. from a 0-what ever I think the M5 can take him . I had so much wheelspin but was still able to keep up with the m3(while spinning my tires) but once I got my car to second and the M3 also put it in 2nd we acclrated evenly all the way to 3rd. and then the M3 had no chance. I expected to kill the M3 off the line all the way but that wasnt the case. with a little tuning of the m3 I believe it would be as fast as the M5 but after 120mph I dont know. I guess next time we have to try a 0-top speed.

jim

p.s make note to self, never run with a M3 from a stand still. always from a roll. hahaha Black M5 ur cousin is insane!!!! I guess it runs in the family eh!

jackmac · 19th September 2001, 00:37

Hey Black M5,
I remembered that a while back that you have 19 inch wheel setup. Could it make a little difference if you were to use stock(factory) rims and wheels?
JACK

Black M5 · 19th September 2001, 01:51

jackmac,

Yes that is correct. I do have the 19" wheels but i don't think it will be faster if i went back to the 18" stock wheels. I felt that my car was faster when they were first installed and i confirmed that by flooring it a couple of times. The garage told me each wheel was a couple of pounds lighter than the stock!

M5er,

He just just called me and said that he is cruising around looking for M5's to kill ! I guess we better put him away once and for all!!!

He also said that he wants to race my M5 too. I will post the result if we do. Keep your fingers crossed !

blue max · 19th September 2001, 02:04

Baby Brother is nothing to worry about

You can run...but

M5Laser · 19th September 2001, 02:33

So what kind of mods do you gusy think the M3 would need to keep up with a stock M5? I know Dinan hasnt come out with anything for the E46 M3 yet so we have to wait and see what they turn out and what results they get... (A supercharger would be nice...)
I wonder how much more HP they can pump out with a chip?

Duncan

KirklandM5 · 19th September 2001, 03:17

On a roadcourse, with equal drivers...M3 should be quicker unless the straights are VERY LONG.

JL

VanCooper · 19th September 2001, 03:49

Put the M5 on a track like Hockenheim or Monza and the M5 will be faster because of its long straights.

Put the M3 on a track like Monaco, Hungary or other twisties kinda course and the M3 should be faster due to it's better handling.

Bart Carter · 19th September 2001, 06:48

Put 5 people in both cars, M5 wins.

BostonRocket · 19th September 2001, 06:53

Black M5 & M5er:

Wow, what a productive day... Ok, after lunch tomorrow, i say we go 'hunting' for m3s, and do what other beasts do, HUNT IN PACKS!! heehee.. we can surround them, and then we can unleash the beast! hahahah

'Rocket