Ok.. I'm not going to go into alot of detail.. However I raced a 2003 M3 today.. Actually, at first I didn't realize he wanted to race, and I didn't even launch.. When I realized he was going for it, he was a 1/2 car length ahead and I jumped on it.. It remained that way all the way through about 130+ MPH when we both let off (I did begin to actually gain on him at that point)
I am 100% certain that if I was prepared to race and launched the car, I would have been at least 1 car length ahead...

a few details about the run..

No launch, didn't realize he was racing until after he jumped on it..

Hit the Rev limiter (Fuel cutoff) in 2 gears, but never lost any distance when it happened..

No missed shifts, totally on autopilot..

I'm really impressed with the new M3.. Its a really nice looking car, and sounds pretty mean..

I really underestimated that car.. and mine.. Its a CLOSE match in performance..

I really wished I had been paying attention and given it a real launch, I also really wished I actually had my bolton mods actually installed.. Bone stock (Just a Bushur air filter) is a near even match, mods would have walked away..

I don't consider myself the greatest driver, but apparently someone else appreciated my skills since I was approached later in the night asking if I was the one who raced the M3, and he said, nice driving job, you stayed right with him even though you were snoozing at the line.. LOL

 

Nothing beats an Evo's overall perfomance/dollar value The M3 is a very powerful/expensive car and should NEVER be underestimated, but that's a nice run for being asleep at the wheel off the line Next time you'll be ready and it's for the M3

 

Well for drags, what about the SRT4? It is teh fastAst

 

ive go an evo 7 and raced and automatic M3 from zero i was ahead of him all the way till i put the car into fifth gear that when the m3 started to catch up.. this was with a totaly stock car

 

"Well for drags"

That's why I said "overall" performance

 

i walked on the srt-4 by 5-6 car lenghts for about a 1mile race and have it on video.... and im not even gonna comment on the evo8 vs e46 m3 anymore... me and my brother race a lot of time with his e46 m3 and my evo8...ok thats all. just got home from a night of

 

either your Evo is modified or something was wrong with his evo... 0-130mph and the M3 should be a good bit a head of an Evo......

I think the 0-150mph in the M3 is about 33-34 seconds.... it takes an evo 28 just to get to 130mph...???

Through a ¼ mile race (if both launch properly), the Evo should win, but after that the M should be moving out...... (look at the trap speed of an M3 vs Evo).

anyway........nice run, but something isn't right.

 

I agree. I don't soubt your experience. But I do think that although the evo would win in a race around a track, straightline performance goes to the M3.

 

i raced once the old shaped M3's (E36) ,it has 321 hp (unlike the US model's 240 hp) it was softly moded ,so in the range of 340 hp....my car is an evo 7 with a blitz intake,exhaust,decat .....we raced from a mid first till about 130 mph .......and yes i smoked him bad i didnt imagine it being that bad. .

on the same night i raced a honda S2000 and killed him , then the honda raced another m3(standard ) ..got killed but only
after 70 mph


I tell you these stories to say that from my experiences with the m3 , its not that faaaast and any moded evo can kick its as* on a straight line

P.S I Condemn Street Racing , these races took place on a deserted highway at night.

 

oh forgot to say .....nice kill Jack

 

If you are banging the rev limiter you are waiting too long before shifting into the next higher gear. This is costing you time and distance whether it feels that way or not.

 

The Euro E36 has 321 hp, but it's not nearly as fast as the E46 M3, since it has a lot less torque. The E46 has a trap speed of like 106 mph at the 1/4 mile, EVO stock is more like 102 mph. The EVO VII is probably a lot faster of course.

 

Yeah, I know, I was paying closer attention to the road then the shift points..

Although my car is stock, It feels ALOT stronger than another Evo that I drove.. I doubt just my Buschur air filter woke the car up that much upstairs..

I can't say for sure that after 140+ that I'd still have caught up.. I never did "Truely" beat the guy since in street racing, its all about who is ahead when someone finally lets off (I never let off first..) But when I finally got my shift points to feel good, I began to gain.. We then had to let off..

I guess its possible my car is a "Ringer" since It was the first car to be delivered on Long Island.. But I think thats unlikely, and it just runs stronger than it should.. I have about 5000 miles on the car already and it seems to keep surprising me by running alot better..

I hate drag racing, but its the only real measure of performance we have to go by.. SCCA Solo racing is REALLY hard to get involved in around here, and I race best when I have competition to gauge against..

and let me reiiterate.. I wouldnt consider this a Kill.. But I wanted to post this because the M3 is known to be a quicker car, and it turns out to be a real close performer in real life.

 

Let me add one more thing.. The first two mods anyone should make on the car.. EVEN before the Boost gauge.. Air filter, and SHIFT LIGHT..