OZ-Z

anyway I spent a day in an m3 (I own a 03, Z pre ordered enth 6spd )
It is faster but I think it due to lower gearing as the m3 is heavier and not that much HP advantage. I useed 6th gear ofen while i rarely use it in the Z.keep in mind the M3 has a back seat and rides better than the Z as a sedan should. Overall it is not all that much better but is quite nice performer for a car with back seat.........this takes me back to the orig.DATSUN 240Z, It was a favored upgrade to put a Euro rear end in them as it had lower ratio or better 0-60 take off. just wondering why I have not heard or read anyone doing this with current incarnation as would make the Z a screamer on th straight takeoff.

jmckuhen

iTrader: (30)

What year M3 was it? I just traded in my 95 M3 (E36) for my 04 350Z enthusiast. The M felt much better on the street, not quite as rigid as the Z. The exceleration of the M3 was as good or better than the Z, I am having a hard time remembering b/c I spent almost a month breaking in the Z correctly. I think they are very very close. But the new M3's (E46) are faster. One thing that I really noticed is that 1st gear in the Z is a usable gear, in the M3 it seemed like it topped out at 15mph.

Also, u say it was a sedan. I'm assuming it was a 97 or 98 as these are the only 2 years that BMW put out a sedan M3. In that case it is the E36 M3 with 240 factory rated horsepower. The newer E46 M3's have 333 hp.

fdao

Actually, there is a 350EVO 3.9 Diff upgrade for better acceleration. Just not a Euro Rear .

bobS

I'm confused whether or not your talking about the e36 or e46 since u said sedan. However i have driven all of them and my general opinion is that the e46 is faster (should be has more hp) but u can put a twin turbo on the z and make it faster and still save money from buying a e46 m3 (yes u can supercharge an m3 but then u will be still paying more than a tt 350z, and the compression in the e46 is to high for a usable turbo). THe e36 m is at par if not a little slower given equal drivers. The e36 is a dead car however and ages by the year. Although a turbo e36 m3 is sooo hard to turn down, i still think the z is better since it is more new and there isn't as many modded ones around.

OZ-Z

2002 E46, 6spd all stock
BTW BMW will offer the 300ti turbo in 06 or 07 w/340hp so the wars on and WE WIN..should be a great car as turbos can gain HP EZ
Must say though the 350Z is 90% the M3 at half price..no gripes here on plastic interor as i never look at it as I'm a rare one who watches the road these days

taurran

iTrader: (18)

For the price of your TT M3, I could buy and mod a 350z that would look better AND blow the doors off any M3 you could throw at it...

What war are we talking about, anyway?

qirex

i spent a week with an m3 convertible.

Nice car, but man did it shake rattle and roll. It was an 2002 e46.

the engine sounded really ragged, i asked my buddy if he had a loose header mount, he said "nope, thats how it sounds"

the e46 feels and is pretty heavy. I couldnt believe it, but i was really happy to have my z back.

bobS

First of all what do you mean by "300ti"? Ur saying they will make another hatch back similiar to the e36 318ti? Also there are many people high up in bmw that say they will never go forced induction. Bmw doesn't believe in it. Where did u get this info from?

bobS

BTW taurran...if u wanna see some nice/fast e36 m3's that would blow a greddy tt z away go to www.aatuning.com

or check this car out... http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/showth...ght=dado+turbo

Have to give respect where respect is due.....

s0nz

this thread is confusing. First post states its a sedan or something..or are u referring to the car being sedan-like? Well, either way. I still say the m3 is a great car no doubt about it. Its just plain classy, period. ANd umm..about you guys talking about it being raggedy. I dont think you're driving it right. Maybe it was because you're so used to the Z's clutch and when u got in the M3- its different. Raggedy? I dont think bmw would let a raggedy m3 off the assembly line. I dont think theyd let any raggedy BMW off the assembly line, period whether its the 3 series 5 series M series, Whatever. My brother in law owns a carbon e46 m3 6spd. Its an attention requiring car when you're driving it. It involves quite more work than that of the Z....anyways...Z still rocks, but. m3 is still UP there.

Azn03Z

2005 Nissan 350Z Coupe Touring

Curb Weight MT 3247lbs

The E46 M3 runs in at 3415 lbs...stock SMG M3's run very low 13's.

Oh ya...here's one of a M3 with a coupe of mods, nothing big just pulley lighter rims and "software" and 4.1 rear diff.

http://www.daftproductions.com/video...497_109-30.mpg

he ran 12.4 @ 109.xxmph...

his completely stock time was 12.7 @ 108mph

kmurph

Here are a few more vids...same driver as in the video you posted.

12.48 @ 111.3 (has a few mods...software, pulleys, intake)
M3 12.48@111.3


This M3 is fully optioned and weighs over 3500 lbs. w/ driver...not sure about all of the mods.

Phoenix Yellow M3...12.8

The M3's S54 Inline 6 is probably the best 6 cylinder engine in the world....333HP out of only 3.2L is pretty impressive. The only problem is that the engine is pretty much maxed out from the factory. Headers, full exhaust, intake and software will get you around 20-30 more rwhp but it's going to cost a lot....probably at least $4000.00 Evosport has a supercharger that bumps the HP up to 600 but it costs $21K...

Someone mentioned about the engine being raggedy...not sure how that can be. Inline 6s are a lot smoother and more efficient then a V6s...the engine is smooth as butter all the way to 8K rpms...maybe you're thinking of the "rasp" from the exhaust...

dnguyent

iTrader: (5)

My friend mentioned that he had to pay gas-guzzler tax when he bought his M. What's up with that? Half the cars on the road have worse gas mileage than the M3.

I got a ride in an E36 yesterday. Even with its 240hp, it felt comparable to the Z's acceleration. So, I would expect to the E39 to be quite a bit faster. The E36 however, seemed lug a bit out of turns than the Z, and that's probably due to having less torque. But once that engine hits its sweet spot, it seemed to be accelerating about the same rate as my Z. I haven't ridden in an E39 M yet...been waiting for the opportunity though...

dchengmd

E39 M? Is that a new model?

dnguyent

iTrader: (5)

Oops, I meant E46...

The E39 is something I pulled out of my ***...sorry!

OneFast944Turbo

I cant understand how one person can enjoy a 350z over a m3... regradless of price, If you have driven both you will pick the m3 HANDS DOWN... YOu need a shrink if you choose other wise!!

bobS

The e39 is the 5 series, aka m5

Z4ME2

I love the look and handling of the M3's but what's up with the engine? I read that there's a complete engine recall on 2001-2003 M3's.

Recall

Damn, and I thought feathering was a problem!

- John

Supernatural

The recall was primarily for 2001 E46 due to the software problem...typical first year production bug...all of the 01 M3 has 6 year 100k powertrain warranty because of it.

E46 is definately superior in performance all around..no doubt. However the reliability issue still remains....you think tire feathering on Z is a *****? just visit any BMW service department...I should know...I work for BMW.

qirex

yeah, it was really *raspy* and it was a convert - so yeah the car c reaked and moaned like a $5 hooker.

For sure the car is fast...if revved high and hard. I kept forgetting to engage the sport mode and d/c tcs. Once i did that (inc throttle resp) the car was way fast - but still lacking the Z's low end grunt.

IMO the only reason i'd buy an m3 is just for the snob factor. Its nowhere nearly as direct as the Z, it feels like a bi car (it is!).

Lucky for me i'm lookiing for a 97 nsx or 05 997.


an m3 is a great car, i just dont like it