anyone raced an E46?

[Oedipus Rex]

I was driving on the *track* today and happened so come across an E46. I thought I would **** all over him to be honest but it was pretty much even honours in the end.

All I have is a straight through 3" exhaust and a street port.


Anyone else got experiences of racing these babies?

[asp]

my mate has a b10 alpina 3.2.aint had a pop at him yet,but i do no it goes over 170 mph,hes onabout gettin an m5

[babz_audio]

mates got an e46 m3, i usually drive it around and i have to say it is quick, revs through gers very nicely...havent had a race with him yet, but i would say that i should get the edge on him but then you never know

[cruiser]

I experience running against them on the local track everytime that I\'m there. Last time I was running against one, but couldnt keep up, as I had 4 years old Dunlop SP9000 tyres (damn they get hard after a year, I already did around 250laps (1.5mile lap) with them and they still have 3mm of thread) and he was running 4k Euros worth of Michelin Pilot CUP tyres (they come stock on M3 CSL). On straights we were pretty even and I was running only 9psi as it was a hot day.

This year I\'m getting a set of 17" wheels and Dunlop D01J tyres and I\'m confident that I will be faster :wave

[cruiser]

May I add another thing - recently I also bought an Integra TypeR and I think I should be on par with those M3s when I fit a set of slicks on it

[babz_audio]

right, went out tonite and mate was in his e46 m3 and iw as in my rx...good race but i can just go around him...once boost is on its game over really

[Oedipus Rex]

 

I\'d hope so too with a big single like that mate.

Well done for fighting the cause though. I love it when you beat a car that cost 3 times the price of yours

[Gerry M]

M5\'s are just as easy, but its got a lot to do with knowledge of the track as well.

[babz_audio]

mates got an m5, will have to tell him to go for a quick little blast

[FDDreamer]

Depends on the car in question and the situation imho!! A friend of mine has been through pretty much every performance BM, he\'s currently got a CSL and it\'s prob quicker than most give it credit for!

An E46 M3 is a pretty rapid car also, but the weight and relatively low torque count against it. That said, a well-driven manual can be very quick from 70 onwards. Been in the car and seen very close to 180 on the speedo (not on the roads obviously officer!). However, in a SMG version of the same car it\'s a different story. It judders and shifts gear all over the shop. Not good. That said,the SMG in the CSL is amazing...much sharper and lets you drive the way you want.

Would love to see a race between the CSL and a lightly tuned FD, reckon it\'d be very very close!! They sound awesome too, for the record!! Definitely one to go after if any of you guys happen across one on a dry day! I\'d have to say the FD would take it round a track, brakes on the CSL still aren\'t up to much...fade fairly quickly, and although it\'s a lot lighter than the stock M3 (thanks mainly to the use of carbon in and out the car) it\'s still 100kg+ heavier than an FD, and to be honest the claimed output of 360bhp is prob out too...seems like every BMW since the 3.2 E36 M3 evo has been \'optimistic\'!

[babz_audio]

who wants to join me...im going to look for a CSL now

[J4P RX]

Id think a CSL would have it pretty easily on track compared to a lightly tuned FD myself.

[Oedipus Rex]

went out with my mate in his evo viii today. He showed me the launch control thingy on it, proper nice that was.  His 0-60 using that was just insane.


We were out in the twisties and I had absolutely no chance, especially as it was a bit wet. He  was flying round those corners at the kind of speeds I could only dream of or wake up in the hospital

[FDDreamer]

Hmmm not sure, a lot of the CSL\'s cornering ability is down to the rubber, and i think most people have gone back to pilot sport 2s and the like as the semi-slicks are too dangerous for our inclement weather!! Also, despite gripping and gripping, apparently they\'re not really as communicative as other tires, in the sense of the driver not really knowing where the limits lie. Don\'t get me wrong - it\'s a v capable car, and essentially built for the track...but it\'s still heavier and lacks the torque of a turbo set up! Suppose it depends on the track really...

Speaking of launch control, that\'s a big plus in the CSL too!! Roads are too wet and cold right now, but in the dry it\'s amazing! The car picks the right revs, holds it there until you floor it, at which point it just goes and goes, through the first 4 (i think) gears - that\'s up to about 140mph! Unless you accidentally leave the handbrake on...which he did once!!! :rollin

Anyway, if anyone comes across a black CSL with a titanium exhaust (it\'s loud!) be sure to give it a go!!

[J4P RX]

Around tracks CSL\'s are on similar pace to GT3\'s.  It mostly seems to be a couple of secs a lap slower, but depending on where you look the CSL lot argue the case.

I simply dont think an lightly tuned FD is around that sort of pace.