Test drove an M3 yesterday

[Anthony]

ok so will a stock 89 m3 out run my stock 89 325i? In a straight line?

Do you mean STOCK? No chip? Nothing. Yes, it prolly would then.
But with a Conforti chip, and a good driver, hell no!
Sure, on the top end if you were out on the highway and had the room to run, or for you safer and saner types, the track, yes, it would take you. IF the driver had the balls to go there.

But on public roads, where most of us do most of our driving, with the proper setup and a good driver, the 325is slightly modified would run all day with the M3. I know, I do it all the time. Actually, I usually run the show, not to brag, just statin the facts sir. The M3 is usually playin catch-up.

Anyway, I understand that the M3 is a good car for what it was designed for, unfortunately, it was not designed for daily driving on the street. Mod your 325s boys, and learn to DRIVE them, and the M3 really doesn't have anything on us, except some pretty cool body mods and a few rpms.

Well then Mr Wells. You must have some 325 there. What are your mods?

[Bavarian3]

"IF the driver had the balls to go there.

But on public roads, where most of us do most of our driving, with the proper setup and a good driver, the 325is slightly modified would run all day with the M3. I know, I do it all the time. Actually, I usually run the show, not to brag, just statin the facts sir. The M3 is usually playin catch-up"

Come down to Florida, lets test your stuff.

[reelizmpro]

the M3 really doesn't have anything on us, except some pretty cool body mods and a few rpms.

Myself and a few others I could think of used to think the same thing but fact of the matter is the E30 M3 is the pinnacle of E30 performance and despite being an E30, really is different from a 325. Cool body mods and a few RPMs are an understatement. The M3 has a race bred 4 valve DOHC engine, better suspension/brakes/wheels/bearings/tranny/seats/instrument cluster and a functional aerodynamic body not to mention exclusivity. Not to take anything away from the 325iS but the M3 is way better. Is it worth the extra money performance wise? probably not, but the M3 has way more potential and is a better investment.

[RCWells]

ok so will a stock 89 m3 out run my stock 89 325i? In a straight line?

Do you mean STOCK? No chip? Nothing. Yes, it prolly would then.
But with a Conforti chip, and a good driver, hell no!
Sure, on the top end if you were out on the highway and had the room to run, or for you safer and saner types, the track, yes, it would take you. IF the driver had the balls to go there.

But on public roads, where most of us do most of our driving, with the proper setup and a good driver, the 325is slightly modified would run all day with the M3. I know, I do it all the time. Actually, I usually run the show, not to brag, just statin the facts sir. The M3 is usually playin catch-up.

Anyway, I understand that the M3 is a good car for what it was designed for, unfortunately, it was not designed for daily driving on the street. Mod your 325s boys, and learn to DRIVE them, and the M3 really doesn't have anything on us, except some pretty cool body mods and a few rpms.

I think it takes more than just a chip to beat an M3 in the straight line. And by the way, have you ever driven an M3 extensively? My friend's stock M3 outhandled my 325i with upgraded springs and shocks before I got my strut bars and urethane bushings!

And its only fair that you compare a modded 325i vs. a modded M3, not a modded 325i vs. a stock M3.

Why is it only fair? The M3 is supposed to be a much better performer all around out of the box, no? So no, to be fair, the 325 SHOULD be modded. If in no other category than suspension. And when one IS modded, I can run with the M3 and even best it. And that is fact, NOT opinion! Oh, and yes, I have spent some time in the M3s. Two of my friends own E30 M3s.

[RCWells]

Uh oh, I think I stepped on some toes here. Guys, I do have opinions, and I am not shy about sharing them.

Perhaps I am a good driver. Perhaps I do have some balls. Perhaps I can drive what I own to its limits and extract every last drop of performance out of it. Eric Giles will vouch for that. I swear he has trouble keeping with me in either of his M3s (E30 and E36).

As far as the M3, I stated imo, that it is a great car for what is was designed for. Again, for the street, it is lacking. Mostly in low end usable torque.

Mike (Abrams), I would love to come to Fla. and run with you. It would be an honor and a pleasure. I am sure that your M3 rocks. (I do like the M3s, they are just not for me).

Sure, if you are looking for a track car, the M3 is surely the better choice. As for daily driving on public roads, I don't think so.

You guys do what you like. I was just expressing my thoughts on the matter. This is a forum after all.

I truly wish more of you guys were closer so that we could run our cars together, and se what was what with them. My car is not heavily modified but it runs very strongly. I am sure that any of you other guys w 325is' would say the same of yours.

Anyway, do what YOU want to do. I am not giving advice, only my opinion.

[Bavarian3]

E30 M3:
Max Power 192 bhp at 6750 rpm
Max Torque 170 1b.ft at 4750 rpm

E30 325i:
Max Power 170 bhp at 5800 rpm
Max Torque 164 1b.ft at 4300 rpm

I am not saying that the 325i is a dog. But if you are comparing cars on the street, then lets compare monster torque V8s that own the streets. I don't know what exactly you mean street. Daily driven, yeah the M3 sucks but that is because these reasons:

Its a race car
Its buzy
Its not soft
Its rough
Things rattle
Its can be expensive to fix (more than the 325i)
Its rare
Its the most winningest touring car produced
It still competes with the most bhp per liter even with todays car

Yes a 'modded' 325i can/could/maybe out do a E30 M3 (stock) but I will set up to the plate and say, a modded 325i (depending what you mean what) should beat a M3. Heck, change the final drive, add a chip, bigger injectors, maf, brakes, suspension, etc. Then you will have a car that will beat an E30 M3 (stock) but that is a lot of mods to do to a car just to surpase a M3.

I have major respect for ALL E30s, no matter what shape or size, what engine (well in regular E30s) but you can't go say, E30 M3s suck because they are not a good daily driver (I am not saying you said they suck but just 'saying') They weren't made to be a daily driver. The E30 3 series (Non ///M) were made to be a daily driver. The E30 M3 was made to be allowed in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

[GreekDriver]

I want an E30 M3 more than EVER now. :(

I personally wouldn't mind the E30 M3 as a daily driver, I don't mind a motor that needs to be wound up. But that's just me, most people don't like having to push a car to get it to move. And E30 M3 should be treated like Ferrari, they're not made anymore and the only thing that can happen to them is be destroyed.

Plus, their styling is do die for. The E30 M3 has to be one of the most beautiful and evil/mean looking cars ever.

[Anthony]

Yes the 325 was designed for the street driver in mind. The M3 was designed only for the track. Both cars shine where they are supposed to be driven. I'm sure if your were to put a stock 325 and stock M3 on the track (not a small autocross) the M3 would dominate and visa versa. Strangley enough I have never met up with a 325 my M can't pull on, out brake and out handle (325's cammed and suspension modded). I'm not bragging just stating a fact.

[e9nine]

aah the infamous debate.

Just like most other things, it comes down to the driver....in my opinion....
If one can out-drive porsche's and what nots with a non-e30 m or with an e30 m3; why not accept the non-e30 m3 outdoing the e30 m3....driver's race

With equally matched drivers (hypotheically with the same exact susp mods), depending on whether it's auto-x vs track racing....the e30 m3 will out-do the non-m.

[Ryan Stewart]

There is no debate. rcwells is wrong in every aspect except for racing in the streets (which is for morons who what to -see pic of randomtasks car-).

If a 325i with a chip was able to beat, even hold a candle to, an M3 then why isnt the winningest touring car in history a 325is?

Its a race car, not a street racer.

[Jonathan M3]

Just for the record, I ran my m3 in the 1/4 when it was bone stock and ran a 14.8@91. Put the chip in it at the track, ran a 14.5@94. Went back later when the weather was alot cooler and on a better prepped track and ran a 14.0@96.
I later drove a friend of mine's bone stock '87 325is to a 15.4@88 in good weather. I drove both cars equally hard.

[reelizmpro]

Rc....no big deal. I know where you're coming from. Afterall, I don't daily drive my M3 anymore after driving it in LA traffic for a couple of months. I decided to get a 325iS as a daily driver and it served me well but now I've since sold it for a CRX w/B16 VTEC and the car is MUCH more fun than the 325. Not a lot of torque? ...it doesn't need much! the car is so compact and light that it just goes. Makes about 180HP after mods and gets the same gas mileage as the 325. VTEC gives the best of both worlds...fuel efficiency and performance when needed.

[RCWells]

There is no debate. rcwells is wrong in every aspect except for racing in the streets (which is for morons who what to -see pic of randomtasks car-).

If a 325i with a chip was able to beat, even hold a candle to, an M3 then why isnt the winningest touring car in history a 325is?

Its a race car, not a street racer.

and YOU are the expert? You say, "wrong in every aspect".

Let's see: I said, "the M3 is a great car for what is was designed for, unfortunately, it wasn't designed to be a daily driver."

I said, "sure, if you are looking for a track car, the M3 is surely the better choice"

So, you dumbass, If I said the same things you stated, then it must NOT be wrong, right?

Please try to pay attention.

"ALL HAIL THE M3! LONG LIVE THE M3!" Nah. You guys can do that. It is an okay car, I just don't see it the same way you guys do.





I said,

[GreekDriver]

Why do some of you have the need to insult people? It's such an immature and ignorant thing to do. Can some of you guys not speak without say "YOU GOD DAMN waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles! YOUR SO FUCKING STUPID MY TURDS ARE SMARTER THAN YOU!!!! tehH h@x0r!!1!1!!"

Im not really talking about this thread, but many other threads on the forum.

[RCWells]

Why do some of you have the need to insult people? It's such an immature and ignorant thing to do. Can some of you guys not speak without say "YOU GOD DAMN waffleswaffleswaffleswaffles! YOUR SO FUCKING STUPID MY TURDS ARE SMARTER THAN YOU!!!! tehH h@x0r!!1!1!!"

Im not really talking about this thread, but many other threads on the forum.

Please accept my apology then.