M3 vs NSX

[qwickm3]

I have a 95 M3 and was wondering about you nsx guys and your experience versus them. My friend had a 91 with comptech headers and exhaust, my car has intake, chip and exhaust and when we raced from a standing start i pulled out on him in 1st and 2nd but by the time we got to 3rd he was slowing go by me. His car turned a 13.4 and I turned a 13.9. what are your racing stories vs. the m3. by the way the only other car I would consider driving than my m3 is an nsx

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[HapaHaole]

I use to own a '99 M3.. till I sold it 6 months later.

The one problem I had with the M3 is that if you dont know what it was.. then it is just a 3 series.

Yet the NSX is a different story

 

[nsx4jlp]

Hey quickm3 I think I used to speak with you on the bimmer.org site (M34JLP). I sold my car about 3 weeks ago and to tell you the truth I am really enjoying my NSX. The car doesn't have that gob of torque feeling but it does have that endless horsepower fell after 5500 where the M3 lacks in my opinion. If you want more information email me at: [email protected].

PS: The last post is right, the looks you get in the NSX are very different from the looks on the M3.

 

[Number9]

The two cars have similar performance envelopes, but the M3 is more practical and more stealthy while being a bit slower (it's heavier and has less HP - though handling in stock trim arguably favors an M3 with MXX3s).

So if you want to be practical, stealthy, and fast, just get a blower or turbo for your M3. The NSX is sleek, sexy, rare, but NOT STEALTHY. Probably rarer than Ferraris in Silicon Valley. So if exclusivity is what you want, then NSX much better.

--twc

99 NSX-Z s/c
95 Dinan M3 s/c

 

[nsxtasy]

LITFAQ:

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Reference/comparisons/bmw.htm

 

[Zishan]

Hey
I too have a M3 that has all the usual upgrades. IMO, its a all around car, fast, comfortable, luxurious, and a head turner. But Im in the process of selling it for a NSX. Reason.... I just the way the NSX looks and feels! I rode in one and now thats all I want. I guess Im a sports car guy, and IMO, the NSX is a very much so an exotic sports car!
Regards
Shawn
M3FoYoAss-->NSXFoYoAss

 

[uberjeph]

The way I see it, if you have either an M3 (especially an E46 M3!) or an NSX you're off to a good start...but since you wanted a comparison, my M3 can probably beat a stock 3.0L NSX, but then again my M3 isn't stock. I like both cars, they both are fun on the street/track--they just have their differences. Get both! heheheh...

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95 3.2L SC M3
91 NSX

 

[NSEX]

I noticed some of you guys drive SC E36 M3 and I was just wondering how fast is a SC M3 with some other basic mods (exhaust, chip, airintake..etc)
The reason why I'm ask this is because there's a SC M3 with Hargati (SP?) engine in my area and this heavily modded M3 was racing with another slightly modded M3 (HKS exhaust, airintake) and they were dead even!
However, the SC M3 couldn't get enough traction when it took off. Any thoughts?

 

[johndoh]

As an owner of both cars, if you're racing from one stop light to the next, it totally depends on driver skill and how well your standing launch is. If you're racing on a long straight road, NSX definitely beats the M3 without comparison with the exception of the start. M3 usually gets the early jump, but will out distance the M3 once the VTEC kicks in. Of course, this is stock vs. stock.

The M3 loses steam at about 5500rpm, but it's a very solid car. You point it and it will go. It makes you feel like you're in a wind up hotwheel car. Very stable and rock solid. It's also incredibly predictable and the M3 will make almost everybody look good when driving the car hard. It's confidence inspiring and you can take the car 9/10th of the limit without fearing for your life. Lastly, the engine's too quiet for my taste and nothing comes close to the braking power of the M3.

The NSX is a completely different story. Sitting inside, you feel like you're part of the car. You feel every imperfections of the road and the car feels like an extension of your hand. You sit very low and close to the ground and it feels like you're driving an Indy car, especially when you're in the VTEC range. The sound of the engine is simply incredible. It's much easier to get yourself in trouble if you take it 8/10th of the limit if you are not familiar with Rear Drive cars, so it can get pretty scary. Note that this is a mid-engine RWD so it drive differently than a front or rear engine RWD cars.

In an autocross, I would pick the M3 over the NSX. However, I'm not dogging the NSX here. You just can't describe in words the feeling and the exhilaration you get when you're driving an NSX. Nothing comes close to it in its class. I love my NSX.

 

[Ag NSX]

I had the exact same experience with a couple M3s. I have a 93 NSX, with K&N drop in and RSR exhaust. My friend had a 95 M3 with chip, intake and exhaust. He pulled on me in 1st and 2nd, by 3rd gear I was pulling on him. At mid-3rd gear we were back even. Another time I went against a stock 97 M3 and I slowly pulled on him in all gears, at mid-3rd gear I was about a hood length ahead. They were both from 5 mph rolling starts.

 

[hejo]

Originally posted by HapaHaole:
I use to own a '99 M3.. till I sold it 6 months later.

The one problem I had with the M3 is that if you dont know what it was.. then it is just a 3 series.

Yet the NSX is a different story

Funny same for me as I sold my 328ic with M sport package 6 months after I bought it (took a nice hit too). If you think there are a lot of Boxsters running around then there's twice as many 3 series. The NSX turns heads from everyone even the F guys.

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Hal Jones
Lake Oswego, Oregon
95T Blk\Blk SportShift

 

[Number9]

Originally posted by NSEX:
I noticed some of you guys drive SC E36 M3 and I was just wondering how fast is a SC M3 with some other basic mods (exhaust, chip, airintake..etc)

I'm getting 273 RWHP in my 3.0L E36 M3 with all the mods you mentioned, which will smoke most NA M3s and NSXs in straight line acceleration (including my own NA 3.2L NSX coupe - before I got the blower for the NSX too). A SC NSX will beat it, though. In wet weather, you've got to have a delicate throttle foot...

--twc

[This message has been edited by Number9 (edited 02 March 2001).]

 

[dswartz]

Number9, Did you ever take either car to the drag strip? If so, what times did you get (60' , 1/8, and 1/4 )?

 

[286 NSX]

thats pretty wierd. lots of M3 drivers here who have fallen in love with the NSX. I too, have an M3. A 97 with intake and exhaust but will sell it soon for an NSX. I like it but i need something with the head turning factor. I am selling my dinan airbox and B&B exhaust and M roadster steering wheel for the M3. Anyone interested?

 

[nsxtasy]

I'm getting 273 RWHP in my 3.0L E36 M3 with all the mods you mentioned, which will smoke most NA M3s and NSXs in straight line acceleration (including my own NA 3.2L NSX coupe

That doesn't make sense. Your SC M3 has maybe 10 hp than the 3.2l NSX coupe, but weighs several hundred pounds more.

 

[Number9]

That doesn't make sense. Your SC M3 has maybe 10 hp than the 3.2l NSX coupe, but weighs several hundred pounds more.[/B][/QUOTE]

Reference NSXs I've seen on the dyno out here: 3.0L run about 235 RWHP stock and up to 270 NA with a bunch of mods. 3.2L run about 250 - 260 stock (haven't seen any modded 3.2Ls except for SCs).

My Dinan weighs (3180 stock, but I've thrown out some non-essential junk, so it's less) about the same as a T and the low end torque on the Dinan is much better than stock M3 > stock NSX, and unlike stock M3s, it pulls all the way to redline. It was definitely zippier than my NSX-Z before I SCed it.

It's a neat car, and I don't worry about parking it in bad neighborhoods when I'm getting authentic ethnic foods...

--twc



[This message has been edited by Number9 (edited 03 March 2001).]

 

[DocL]

I've never owned an M3 because they are a dime a dozen down here in Florida. Maybe I'd consider the new model in a few years if I need a practical car. The reason for my post here is that my neigbhor is selling his Turbocharged M3. I haven't been in it, but he has tld me that it's putting out almost 365hp at the crank. To me, that sounds pretty good, and the car has low end torque which the NSX doesn't. Anwyay, I've always been a fan of the Motorsport division of BMW, and I especially like what they are doing the with new M5 & M3 soon. BTW, M5's are everywhere now in Florida.

 

[pstoppani]

A SC or Turbo M3 is an awesome car. If you can get one for a price that you like you will not be disappointed.

I have owned an M3 since 97, last year I supercharged it (Dinan). It puts out 298HP to the wheels, about 360 at the crank. It is very fast and fun. I've really enjoyed the difference the SC has made, both on the street and at the track.

The same setup has been tested by several magazines and it does 0-60 in 4.8s and the 1/4 mile in 13.3.

 

[Number9]

Originally posted by pstoppani:
A SC or Turbo M3 is an awesome car. If you can get one for a price that you like you will not be disappointed.

I have owned an M3 since 97, last year I supercharged it (Dinan). It puts out 298HP to the wheels, about 360 at the crank. It is very fast and fun. I've really enjoyed the difference the SC has made, both on the street and at the track.

The same setup has been tested by several magazines and it does 0-60 in 4.8s and the 1/4 mile in 13.3.

Actually, the magazine tests were conducted on the older 95 E36 car, one of which was my very own 95 (I bought Steve Dinan's white M3 beater car). Due to the larger displacement and greater RWHP, yours should be even faster than that!

--twc

 

[dswartz]

I race M3's at the drag strip in NIRA's Comp 6 Normally aspirated class. The fastest one I'v seen to date ran 14.1. I run consistant 12.8's at 109mph. It seems that even a superchared or turbocharged M3 is not as fast as a 97+ NSX Coupe.

[This message has been edited by dswartz (edited 04 March 2001).]

 

[Number9]

Originally posted by dswartz:
I race M3's at the drag strip in NIRA's Comp 6 Normally aspirated class. The fastest one I'v seen to date ran 14.1. I run consistant 12.8's at 109mph. It seems that even a superchared or turbocharged M3 is not as fast as a 97+ NSX Coupe.

[This message has been edited by dswartz (edited 04 March 2001).]

Or maybe we should just put you at the wheel instead of the C&D/MT gang!

--twc