911/3.2 vs z3m 3.2

[rcaradimos]

Took a friends 98 Z3M roadster for a spin and boy did that thing pull, snap throttle response.

After looking at some specs his has 243hp 238tq +/- m roadster seem to make my 3.2l feel like it was running on 4/5 cylinders.

Can 30 to 40 more hp make that much of a difference?

I would say that my 87 911 pulled @ 8 out of 1-10 compared to his car, like 20% less.

Has anyone else compared the two?
What do you guys think?
Is it 10 years difference in age and 120,000 less miles on the clock?
Would the Wong Chip and euro pre-muffler get me close to that kind of pull?

Thanks
Bob

[asphaltgambler]

% - wise 40HP is a huge difference at that level. Also technically the BMW even then was vastly more evolved.

But to be realistic compare a 98 Porsche vs 98 BMW

[mnmike]

which cars do ppl need to check the full throttle adjustment (where sometimes its not opening all the way)?

oh and if you think that feels quick, drive the M coupe/roadster from i think 00 or 01+ when they gave it 320 bhp.

[hatpix]

I used to have a 98 M Roadster, and in a word, that car is sick. As in sickeningly fast. Curb weight is 2950, gobs of power all the way to redline, 235's in the front, 245's in the back. 50/50 weight distribution, factory short shifter, factory big brakes.

Overall I would say the suspension is better on my 85 911, but you can't compare the power at all.

[rcaradimos]

My TB opens all the way when my foot's on it. 40hp more can feel like that?

[rcaradimos]

hatpix, you know what i'm talking about, sick is right! I didn't think that the power band would be that different.

[mnmike]

Originally posted by rcaradimos
My TB opens all the way when my foot's on it. 40hp more can feel like that?

I was reffering to the past threads where people checked the throttle adjustment and commonly found the throttle cable needed a small adjustment and once fixed, the car was much quicker (bc it wasnt opening fully). Fairly common.

Anyway 40 hp can make a difference, especially when the car is geared differently. BMW always seems to really utilize power well.

[MOMO3.2]

Bob:

Stock for stock, the Z3 M has a power to weight advantage over a Carrera 3.2. One good thing about having "an older car" is that one can remove such luxory items as: A/C, stereo, back seats, spare, jack, heavy battery, power seats, full windshield washer resevoir, etc... and get that same power to weight ratio or even better. Of course, one will lose some resale value this way, but it will be nothing compared to stripping a much newer car like the Z3 M.

So, if you feel the need for that Z3 M's level of acceleration and want improved braking and cornering performance to boot, start strippin that hog of yours down.

My 87 Carrera weighs in at 2,465 lbs. That is down from 2,880 stock. There is a big difference.

Mike

[Facey]

this is kinda wierd to hear.

my friends dad baught a 01 z3 coupe with the m sports option or something like that.... 3L i-6.

i had just broken my previous engine in at that point in time, it was a pretty hot 3L (9.8:c/r JE's, matching cams (dc40's?, flowed fuel head, SSI's etc) , (car is a 75 911s) and i'd pull away from him right until deep into tripple digits. now being an older car i am ALOT lighter, and have lost the a/c and sound deadening on top of that.

the car that surpirsed me was my buddies 300zx TT, he slaughtered me in first....and then i'd gain a little...and then he'd hit goverener....but holy fuch...watch out for those things....

[mnmike]

Originally posted by MOMO3.2
Bob:

Stock for stock, the Z3 M has a power to weight advantage over a Carrera 3.2. One good thing about having "an older car" is that one can remove such luxory items as: A/C, stereo, back seats, spare, jack, heavy battery, power seats, full windshield washer resevoir, etc... and get that same power to weight ratio or even better. Of course, one will lose some resale value this way, but it will be nothing compared to stripping a much newer car like the Z3 M.

So, if you feel the need for that Z3 M's level of acceleration and want improved braking and cornering performance to boot, start strippin that hog of yours down.

My 87 Carrera weighs in at 2,465 lbs. That is down from 2,880 stock. There is a big difference.

Mike

what'd you remove for that reduction in weight?

[Steve W]

The 3 series motor is a very refined and torque maximized motor. It is a quick car. I just recently turned in a 330 on lease, and can say when I stepped into my Carrera, it does not have the same low and mid end torque response of the 3L motor, like you said, a 8 out of 10. A friend of mine who programs these motors at BMW M, mentioned they had to detune the programming of the motor for the X3 because the transmission couldn't take the torque the motor was capable of producing.

[ianc]

238 Ftlbs of torque is quite a bit of an advantage over the old 3.2. People pay WAY too much attention to HP, when torque is much more important IMHO.

Fast car the MZ3. Too bad it just doesn't look as good.

ianc

[MOMO3.2]

Bob:

I stripped my interior basically to the bone (no rear seats, center console etc...). I replaced the HEAVY power seats with mid year manual sport seats. I removed a heavy stereo "system", spare tire, jack, and tool kit . I got rid of the A/C. I ditched the 45lb battery for a 12.5lb Odyssey, no driving lights, in-operable windshield washer that was full, rear decklid to fg, and M&K muffler that is 15lbs lighter than stock.

Mike

[stlrj]

A stripped 911 vs 238 ft lbs of torque...I'll take the torque any day.

Joe

[ianc]

I'll take the torque any day.

I'd like the torque AND the stripped-down 911 please. 3.6?

ianc

[hkiang1]

The M is faster than my 911. And my 911 has the Steve Wong chip, Fabspeed premuffler, M&K exhaust, etc., likely putting out 240+hp at the crank. The simple fact of the matter is the BMW is "new tech", with its motor featuring variable valve timing etc. Also, of all Ms, the M Roadster seems to be the quickest of them all (having had an M3 before also). Talk about an overachiever, it goes door to do with my friends' 996s all day, all night.

That said, the M will never be 911. 911s are just very "cool" cars. And on a curvy road, there isn't much that is better at putting a smile on an enthusiast's face.

[rcaradimos]

We took each others cars out unsupervised so you know, be careful but don't hold back.
I really liked the pull, the cornering on my well know turns it seemed ass loose. It's no 911.
His response was this thing corners nice and has good power.

hkiang1:
Would you say the mods to your 911 brings the power to a 9 out of 10 compared to your roadster?

[Porsche_Daddy]

Originally posted by mnmike
which cars do ppl need to check the full throttle adjustment (where sometimes its not opening all the way)?

oh and if you think that feels quick, drive the M coupe/roadster from i think 00 or 01+ when they gave it 320 bhp.

Your right, I drove an 02 version with 315-320 hp and that thing just plain moves from 5,000 to 8,000 rpm. The S54 engine is very very sweet......still went with the 260hp boxster S though. It's just a much better package.

[hkiang1]

Rcaradimos:

Tough to say now. The Porsche feels faster and stronger than it was before, when it was stock. But I'm not sure if it is faster than my M Roadster was when it was stock. My M Roadster is also not stock, having been to Dinan, and presently features a bunch of engine bolt on parts. All that I can tell you is that they are pretty close, but the M is still quicker than the Porsche. The power and quickness are not the Porsche's strongest suits but I've recognized that the Porsche requires more driver involvement to get the most out of the car. It needs me more than the M does. That equates to relatively more grins. But both cars provide many.