I had another chance to run with a C5 tonight on some empty roads, and got pretty much the same results as the last run-in. From 20-80 I was able to pull (slowly) on him, and we ran several times. He pulled up nect to me and we gave each other a polite wave and I let him go ahead.

Then I decided to see how I could run with him on the freeway so I got behind him as he got on the entrance ramp. He didnt gun it until about 50, and since he had been kind of taking it easy, I went to third early instead of revving out second. Then he decided to hit it and got a jump on me. He pulled a bit at first, then couldnt pull any more, and then I very slowly started to reel him back in. I had given him a pretty good buffer on the entrance ramp so I wasnt able to pull even with him, but I did gain some ground.

About that time my Passport started going off with a K band signal so I dropped anchor at 120 or so. When the signal died I gave it one more run and ran it up to 120 or so again to catch up with him...then the K band started going crazy so I dropped back down to 65 and exited off the freeway. It was a good run overall, and I definitely pulled on him in the lower gears, less so at freeway speeds as expected. If we had run any faster, I'm sure he would have started pulling.

Not a true kill by either but a good run. I would say that definitely the best competition I've had has come from C5's...although one I ran with previously had extensive mods and he wasn't able to pull from me consistently even when he started first.

Have fun out there and be safe...all my runs are done on dry, smooth, empty roads...not as safe as a track, but I dont do anything crazy and I dont race in traffic.

Hey Boss,
I posted an encounter with the C5 also.
It was fairly close, for me too, but there was a nice difference in 4th and 5th gear for me. I pulled comfortably away up top. Less so down low in third, since the vette is such a torque monster.

Nice run!

Greg

Nice! I've found that gearing on my car gives me more of an advantage in the lower gears against the C5 than it does in the higher gears. I was definitely pulling more down low than at freeway speeds. I've had previous low speed runs with other corvettes (0-about 80) and have been able to pull consistently in all runs.

My freeway run was pretty short though because of the radar detector going off, so I really didnt get a chance to see what would happen...I was also at a disadvantage because he started first and I had given him a decent buffer.

Other E46 M3 drivers have said they have run door to door with a C5 up to an indicated 170 mph, but I've found my car to be faster in most situations...at those speeds I'm sure aerodynamics would favor the corvette. I'm sure your could pull easily from all but a Z06....with that intercooler, you will probably be able to keep up with them, too.

It would be interesting to supercharge this car (assuming the engine doesnt blow up)...the RMS kit is supposed to be good for 460hp with a full drivetrain warranty. No one needs that much power but it's an interesting thought.

Several things.
Your car has tall gearing which will make it rip off the line. That's why you perform so well against greater HP cars down low. Also the limited slip in your car is so efficient, that your lauches are guarenteed(most of the time) to put max power down.

Having tall gearing does have the downside of losing wind up top. That's when a short geared car will spread it's legs, and why my 5 speed with 3.23:1 gear ratio walks away from Vettes.

I have played with a Z06~
When driving all out on the highway, I was right with him. When he accelerated before me, he would pull, and I would pull on him when I got the jump. I also performed a few crazy things such as drafting, but I would stay away from that...
BUT... When lined up and and gassed at the same time, the Z06 walked on me no question. He pulled 3 cars on me between 60 and 150.
He had an easy 35 ponies on me, and it was obvious.

Nothing cams and water injection can't fix!!

IF they really have a supercharger that is not 10K for the E46 M3, then I would be VERY interested in that car.
I would buy an exhaust first. Then drop in the blower.
If you haven't heard your car from the outside, let someone drive it up the street at WOT.

You may reconsider the exhaust kit!!!

The RMS SC is supposed to cost in the neighborhood of $8K with drivetrain warranty...the rumor is 460 hp, but I've known RMS to lie in the past, so I'll wait till I see more convincing data.

In the end I'll probably wait for Dinan to come out with their kit. It will probably make less power but will likely be more reliable and the word is it will have an intercooler. And it will be expensive...as in $12K or more. They also have an exhaust coming out soon, and their chip, exhaust, and SC will all be made to work together. Should be a pretty potent (but expensive) setup.

I mentioned the AA exhaust previously, but their claim of 12 rwhp is a little hard to believe. Before dropping $1100 on that, I'll wait to see what Dinan comes up with and how the Supersprint kit pans out.

Jeez for the extra 15K you can go out and just get a used Viper!!
:nono No not really.

That would simply be a great way to spend a bonus!!

Of course you keep the car stock looking, so that you apply the sleeper effect.

Definitely no badges. The intercooler may be a bit tough to hide though. :biglaughb

I like Dinan, but that stuff is just WAY too expensive:mad: . I'm trying to find a solution to pump out some serious horsepower myself. I think if i got a thicker head gasket i could lower the compression down to 9.4 or so. Then i could slap a turbo on it and boost away. I'd have to lower the rev-limiter as well and do some research but it would be nice. The iron block would definetly hold the boost but alas, this concept is years down the line.
As where exhausts are concerned, i'm not sure what is worth buying out there. Everything currently yields such little BHP. In additon, the stock exhaust system is supposed to be pretty free flowing. I think the best thing would be to wait for someone to release a header that has "3 or so exit pipes so you can pipe it all the way down on "3 exhaust pipes(i wonder what the stock diameter is). Then you would have to also get an exhaust that would be compatible. An intake would be in order at that point as well. Its too bad they dont sell the CSL's intake, it would be so nice. :bawl
Nice run though, I know a lot of guys that ran the E46 against regular C5's and pulled away pretty easily. Virtually every single time they pulled away atleast a length, perhaps even 2. The M3 actually performs pretty well at the higher speeds in my opinion. Ofcourse being a 6 cylinder you really cant expect that much past 100 but it still pulls.
As for the aerodynamics, i believe our drag is .31. An M5 friend of mine said that's the same as a vette. I think the M5's drag is also in the low .3's range.



Ps. I got a JB beast sleeping in the garage. I'll let him hybernate tonight but i know he's gonna wake up hungry so i'll have to take him hunting in the morning.

I think turbocharging this car will be a very difficult thing to do...so much so that it's not worth it. Even though the Dinan SC kit will be very expensive, it seems to be the safest way to go about adding significant power to this engine without blowing it up...and if you do blow it up, you have a full drivetrain warranty. On top of it, I'm not much of a fan of turbocharging (I hate the nonlinear power band) so that's not an option for me.

I cant imagine how fast the car would be with even a low-boost SC system. If Dinan's kit adds another 100 hp, I would imagine the car should be able to hit the low 12's. Do I need that much power? No way. Do I want it? Of course! But before I do anything like that I need to get myself to a track and get some quality education from a pro.

Post some pics of your JP beast! The car looks so amazing in JB and CB...I would have gotten one of those colors if not for the upkeep.

The main thing with aerodynamics that favors the C5 over the M3 at high speed is the frontal area, which is much larger on the M3. Then again, I'm not really for proving myself at those speeds where that would make a difference...I like to keep it at under 85 generally (but as you can see I get weak sometimes--as you know, it's tough), and at those speeds, the M3 definitely pulls from the C5.
:alright

Originally posted by Greg
Several things.
Your car has tall gearing which will make it rip off the line. That's why you perform so well against greater HP cars down low. Also the limited slip in your car is so efficient, that your lauches are guarenteed(most of the time) to put max power down.

Having tall gearing does have the downside of losing wind up top. That's when a short geared car will spread it's legs, and why my 5 speed with 3.23:1 gear ratio walks away from Vettes.


Very correct Greg, however, you have your terminology switched up here. Short gears (numerically larger) will give you a better holeshot whereas tall gears (numerically smaller) will yield more top end performance.