Wow just think how bad you could beat up on him if you put half of the M3's price tag into your car, that woudl be one sweet tII

 

Hmm, I whooped on an E46 M3 up at Buttonwillow Raceway a while back. Back then, my car was essentially stock. I had a boost leak, which limited me to 5psi... The only mods I had were GAB adj. shocks and Apexi Dual N1's. My car was understeering like crazy at times.... but if you find the correct line, you can almost help the understeering all go away

I drove my dad's E36 M3 at California Speedway. I'd like to say that it's the most EXACT car I've driven in awhile... Steering response, throttle response, braking power, etc. Everything matches so well in that car... and even more so once you get out on the track. I was able to lap almost all of the cars in my run group that day Instead of German engineering..... I'd like to say: German Precision!

 

i'm not very impressed with them Bimmers. they're nice. but then again, i'm opposite end of stock.

 

Put it up against that aussie 4-rotor BMW and see who's laffing

 

well ive raced some at the track on crappy tires and RT's and it only beat me by like 2 cars 13 sec doesnt see that fast from where i was and on that run i had ran a 15.3

 

e46's have gone high 12's before. They are consistent low 13 second cars.

I'm more of a fan of the e30 and e36, even though they are slower than the e46. The m3 has slowly gone from a raw sports car to a luxury sport car. If I wanted a luxury car I'd buy one, just like if I want a true sports car I'll buy one.

It's not fair to compare the fc3s turbo with a e46 m3. Our t2's are ancient compared to a new m3. Given 1/4 of the money it costs for a m3 and putting that into a t2 will result in a very fun fc, even if it never has the bmw interior. If I cared about interior I wouldn't be driving a rx7.

 

e46's have gone high 12's before. They are consistent low 13 second cars.

I'm more of a fan of the e30 and e36, even though they are slower than the e46. The m3 has slowly gone from a raw sports car to a luxury sport car. If I wanted a luxury car I'd buy one, just like if I want a true sports car I'll buy one.

It's not fair to compare the fc3s turbo with a e46 m3. Our t2's are ancient compared to a new m3. Given 1/4 of the money it costs for a m3 and putting that into a t2 will result in a very fun fc, even if it never has the bmw interior. If I cared about interior I wouldn't be driving a rx7.

 

Basically, the T2 could be made to perform better but will never be as nice to drive. The M3 performs really well, but is comfortable when you want it to be.
My MR2, for example, is very nice/comfortable to drive, gets decent gas mileage, etc. But when you want to play it's got plently of power and handles very well. It outdoes my RX-7 in every way, all while being comfortable and quiet.

Basically, you can make your car perform better, but will anyone want to ride in it? No. Try and pick up a girl, and she'll ask "Why is there no seat? why is it so loud? why isn't there carpet? Why is the ride so rough? etc" You say "because it's fast", and she says "I'm gonna ride in the M3, bye!".

 

I suppose it's all relative. I'd much rather drive a 11 second turbo II than a e46. My FC is more than comfortable for me. I still have both seats, and all the carpet. It's not nearly as loud as many old domestics, foxbodies, and ls1/lt1's in my area. The ride in any sports car is going to be rough, if you want a soft ride go buy a caddy.

For the record any girl that judges me based on the car I drive is not the kind of girl I'd want to associate in the first place.

I am a fan of MKII Mr2's, and if I wasn't driving the turbo II I probably would have gone with the mr2, a very solid car. My only complaint is actually working on the car with the mid engine location is a PITA.

 

Don't worry. If he is only 18/19, it won't take him long to total the M3. Then see what kind of **** he talks.

 

 

The first question shouldn't even have been thought of in the first place. A *stock* T2 vs E46 M3 ? C'mon now...

 

Everyone was talking about how much he payed for the car, and how he'll be in debt forever, but really, what 18-19 year old has the money for a new M3? None, that's who. So his parents are in debt, big deal, he'll probably just wreck the car anyway, and when he does, 86B will have the last laugh.

 

13 seconds at the track is slow. I ran a 13.8 @103 I have a FCD Full RB 3" back exhaust stock everything else. I was running between 14-15 psi. It is funny when you go to a actual drag strip and see who runs what. There are a lot of suprises. There is some rich #%^$^ with a new dodge viper. On his license plate it says 500HP his best runs are mid 13s. Good thing money does not make someone a good driver. Anyway road and track gets 12.1 in the 1/4 with the viper. So if the M3 is getting 13s by road and track standards your 18 yr old buddy will probably be in the 14s. In my opinion you have a hell of a good chance of beating him. As far as handeling get the full RB suspension from FC3S.org and a decent brake upgrade and you should have him there as well. Dont be scared to drive like a ****. I see a kid at the track with a FD running 15 second runs. I watch him drive and he is scared to rip through the gears. He shifts as if he is just leaving the stop light during daily driving. He is scared to rip through the gears. You have an excellent chance of beating him. Just get the RB 3" exhaust and FCD and let her buck. Worst case sceanario you blow somthing it will probably cost you around $1k for a new Jspec. Or $3400 for a rebuilt streetported motor with 3mm apex seals from Rotary Performance. Either way if you wanna beat him you can. How cheap will it be for that silver spooner to replace a motor in that prissy M3? Go to the track and you will see a lot of the more exotics that dare come there, just get spanked hard by everything from modded eclipses,RX7s, Supras to some damn quick late 80s 5.0s that are running 20 psi on a paxton Novi2000 supercharger. You know they are fast when the front wheels lift. I dont ever recall seeing the viper or any of the other exotics ever pull the front wheels up and make 9 second run down the track. I can guarantee you those 5.0s dont have no $50k into em. Your friend is driving a status symbol and thats it. I see there kind come and go at the track so much. They buy a expensive sports car and think they are gonna take it to a track where the majority of the cars are damn close to fully modded and expect to compete. They always get a rude awakening and it is hilarious.
Ya if your car is bone stock and he is a somwhat decent driver he will probably beat you. But dare him to go to the track against some real competition if he thinks his car is fast. When he races against the rest of us with cheap cars that we modded with our hard earned money and put together ourselves, he will see where pride begins and money ends. Granted the speed always costs $$ but most of us that drag race would rather put our money into performance than status. Like I said let him pull up next to 87 5.0 Mustang that can pull the front wheels off the ground when it launches that was built for under $20k then see what he thinks of his M3. Then he has nothing but $50k status symbol. Personally I love to see the look on peoples faces when that happens. Just like the jerk with the Viper at the track here. That sure was fun to watch him get the snot beat out of him.
Anyway I am getting way off track sink maybe $3k into the exhaust and fuel upgrades and maybe even a hybrid turbo and you should beat him. I would think just sinking $800 into the full RB exhaust would give you a fighting chance. I did a little researching on some things here is what I found. RB exhaust from FC3S.org $800
Upgraded fuel pump RX7.com $264
720cc injectors RX7.com $122 Ea
Custom Spearco FMIC MazdaRacing.com $1300
They also sell a fuel pressure regualtor that maintains fuel pressure according to boost level to insure you always have a safe level of fuel pressure. I believe it was like $100.
SAFC anywhere approx $400
Right there is roughly $3k and that should for sure do it. If not get at least a hybrid turbo. BNR offers 4 diffrent stages of hybrids from around $500-$800. MazdaRacing also offers a hybrid for $800. Then I know that would do it. If not there are numerous places you could get a professionally built motor ported with 3mm apex seals, side cut and lightend rotors, race bearings so you could climb over 9k rpms. Maybe get a lightweight steel flywheel. Also an ignition upgrade could'nt hurt either when you get this far. Rotary Performance offers ported motors with 3mm apex seals for $3400. All this still comes in under $10k fairly easily. This is all new parts to. If you can find some good used ones somplace you could probably get close to cutting the new price in half. It also helps if you can do your own work. I still think just the exhaust would do it for ya. I just got my T2 and like I said I ran a 13.8 with just hte exhaust and a cheap MBC. I keep a eye on my A/F meter all the time and even at a hair over 7k rpm at 15 psi it is still in the green (rich). I have stock IC and fuel system. This winter I am looking to upgrade to a hybrid turbo, FMIC and upgrade the fuel system. Who knows if I get brave enough maybe a 75 shot of N2O just for good measure. Well all this rambling is my perosnal experience with my own car and what I have personally seen at the track. As far as the mods thats so far my opinion as what I think would make some awsome power. I came to that conclusion from talking with RX7.com, MazdaRacing and MazdaTrix. Also from what I have read from people on here. So good luck rotor head I hope you dont get discouraged by his $$ and loud mouth and you take him to the cleaners. Have faith in your car and in yourself and you will do OK.
Later

 

I'd rather drop 50K on a new E46 M3 then spend 50K on my TII.

 

Id rather spend it on the FC.

 

I'd rather put 5k into the FC and invest the rest

 

Well I paid $3k for my TII, and the total of mods I listed did not even come to 10k, and that was if you bought nothing used. Buy a few used items and cut the cost a little more, just becareful when buying used who you buy from. Anyway the point is my total cost for car and mods would be $13k total. Not even close to $20k. My point is I would have a long way to go to get to the $50k you speak of.

 

Ok this is a nicely resurrected thread...but here's my two cents.
An M3 is a pretty car....but i woulda spent the money on an STI.

Make fun of his stupid a$$ when winter comes and that thing is in storage.

"Nice $90+ grand waste of space u got there buddy!!"

...run when summer comes tho.

 

Can't believe this thread is still going after 3 months!
This has NO technical issue whatsoever.

 

i would spend 20k on my fc and use the 30k to get a fd

 

I 2nd that motion!

 

sell your FC & get an FD. Most of the Modded FDs (dp, mp, cb, intake, ecu) eat E46s for lunch. I'm surprise that no one have mentioned this already.

 

In CO, E46 M3s run 15s at the track at this altitude, and I've stomped two rich little teenage **** on the street in my FC.

 

I've got a T2 w/ stock fuel injection and a hybrid turbo. I raced an E46 from 60-130 and he only pulled a door length.