Pulled up next to a very nice, new looking E46 this morning. Still had paper plates on it so this guy was new to the car, but man that car is nice looking. We get going down an access road doing normal speeds and I decide to pass. He stays up with me. I haven't raced in my 951 since I bought it, and this guy was in his 30's so it surprised me that he was eager to show off his new purchase. But hey.. how could I refuse to give him a good run? (Don't answer that)

He got a jump on me as I floored it in 3rd. From about 45-50 to about 70-80 I had caught up to him and we were still climbing. I ended up pulling about 1 and a half car lengths on him by the time we hit 100. I was pretty shocked because I've heard that those M3s are pretty fast. I didn't expect to be able to pull on him.

We slowed down as we got on the freeway (no traffic this early in the morning, btw) and ran them up again to about 120 from around 60 or so. Again I pulled on him about 2 carlengths.

I don't claim to know much about the M3s, but after looking online for a picture of what I was up against, it appears to have been an E46.. the picture I found that looks nearly identical (though the one this morning was a convertible) is here:

Image Link

What kind of power do these cars have?

 

343 DIN HP.

 

They are very different when it comes to engine carachter. Revs to 8500 rpm's and since it's an N/A they don't have the monster torque of a turbocharged car.

They are very nice to drive however.

 

Wow.. the only number I could find for curb weight for an E46 convertible is 3781lbs, so I've got 800lbs on him.. I guess that's why.

 

Anders - do you know what the SAE number is??

 

Not sure but BMW NA lists it at 333 hp.

 

Anders is correct, the North American M3 is rated at 333hp with 269 ft-lbs at something like 5000rpms.

The ROW M3 is 343hp with a few more ft-lbs (not much).

A friend of mine has an '02 in the grey metallic color, beautiful car. Really love the look of it. Its SMG also, which is sorta strange to drive. Basically all you do is push up or down on this stick and it shifts for you, no clutch or anything. It also has the paddle shift. Whats very cool about it is that its analog (for lack of a better term). The harder / faster you push it foward, the harder / faster the car will shift.

 

I read that the unlike previous M3s, the E46 in the US had the same HP and TQ numbers as the ROW cars. edmunds.com I think.

 

Anders - that's what I thought.
Couple years ago I did a 405 RWHP SAE run and I cycled through the correction factors - DIN was 419. It must be corrected to a lower temperature or something.
So I am sure the engines are the same, but the correction factors used are different.

Danny - good job. They are pretty fast.


MSRP: $45,900.00

Out Door Price: $61,200.00

Engine: 3.2L I-6

Transmission: 6-speed Manual

Horsepower: 343 bhp (333 US)

Torque: 262 lb-ft/4900 RPM

Fuel Economy: 16/24 mpg

0-60 mph: 4.7 (s)

0-100 kph: 4.8 (s)

1/4 Mile: 12.97

 

Chipped 951 will take down a '05 M3, even from a standing start

 

From the BMW.ca site...

Not really a match for a stock 951 really....

again, it's pointless relly to compare these two cars, but hey it's fun... If it we were comparing apples to apples look at an 89 m3, the 951 would blow it's doors off....

 

"1/4 Mile: 12.97" >>>>>> "Chipped 951 will take down a '05 M3, even from a standing start"

Not sure about that one

Maybe a 1/2 mile run from standing start.

 

A chipped 951 @ 15psi will take down an '05 M3 standing start till 240kpr, it is all in balancing the clutch/rpms and wheel spin, with a 2-3 car lead as well.

 

Danny,

I actually witnessed your race. MOnday morning, southbond on 161 (Bush Turnpike) as you were coming up on 183. I was going the other way in a Gray Lexus. He looked about a length or two ahead of you, maybe you had already let up.

It was an E46 and they do make good power, but a mildly modded 951 can take them. The newer, N/A cars like the M3 and the 350Z make a lot of power, but the 951 can usually hang with them.

 

chipped 951 owns a e46. They are slow.

I absolutely rapped one with bolt ons(guy said he had all the basic stuff done to the motor you could without getting crazy with the money)