Ha, never thought I'd post here, but here goes.

Had an opportunity to test my '01 M3 Cab (bone stock) 6spd against the new 335i 4 door auto.

The 335 was brand new...untitled. Right, a dealer car. No, the car was not taken for a test drive and then raced...it was raced by the dealer...and I'm not talk'n some sales dude. N'uff said about that.

First test was a rolling start...roughly 25mph. Count 3, 2, 1, GO...I'm in second gear...the 335 STOMPS me...probably should've been in first gear. I'm not a drag racer...just road course stuff and we never see first or second gear:D

Line up again, rolling start at about 35mph. 3, 2, 1 GO...again, I try 2nd gear...the 335 stomps me, badly.

So, we decide to try with the cars at a stand still. 3, 2, ,1 Go...Finally, the heavy M3 Cab pulls away and keeps a half car lead up 'till we got to around 75-80....where we pullback. The road is only 45mph.

Did it again with the same results.

Conclusion, the 335i in auto and 4 doors is an awesome car. I can't imagine how that car would run with some tuning!

.... 1st geat ftw. 25 in 2nd? lol

.... 1st geat ftw. 25 in 2nd? lol


Yeah, stoops for sure. It was probably closer to 30mph...but still, not good on my part for gear selection:help

Damm dude, you suck. I had a vert and ran it against a 335 coupe and every time the vert was ahead. We even switched drivers still same result. You should never run against anyone ever again!

I thought 335's could take on M3's and it would be a pretty close race...more like a driver's race, with maybe a slight advantage on the M3...am I missing something here?

The E46 M3 verts are way heavier than the coupes, which explains a lot of the difference. Lack of torque combined with poor gear selection explains the rest.

From what I hear the new 335 is actully under rated hp wise and is a beast. At least that's what the magazine article said. I guess you can't believe everything you read though.

From what I hear the new 335 is actully under rated hp wise and is a beast. At least that's what the magazine article said. I guess you can't believe everything you read though.


You also can't believe everything what you read in the "Kill Stories"

You don't race on any road courses that require 2nd gear, let alone 1st? Let me guess, Road America, VIR and Road Atlanta??

Nice run regardless. Know your gearing!

I own a 335i and have raced a 2006 m3 twice. To be honest, its not even a close race. The 335i will pull away big time. I am still looking for decent competition.

I don't understand why this is such a big debate. This is bimmerforums.com. Why don't we just round up a bunch of M3 and 335i owners for a drag day and put this to bed once and for all. What better way to do it than on a drag strip - a place for which neither car was ever intended nor engineered to be driven.

i seen a modded e36m no boosts whip a 335 coupe stock by about 2 cls, it was ugly.

i seen a modded e36m no boosts whip a 335 coupe stock by about 2 cls, it was ugly.

+1 :D

I own a 335i and have raced a 2006 m3 twice. To be honest, its not even a close race. The 335i will pull away big time. I am still looking for decent competition.

You mean looking for a decent driver? If it wasn't even close, and it should be, that sure didn't represent, did it?

You don't race on any road courses that require 2nd gear, let alone 1st? Let me guess, Road America, VIR and Road Atlanta??

Nice run regardless. Know your gearing!


Yes, those tracks...but also some others. With a 3.91 rear, 5 speed tranny and a euro S50B32...third is all I've ever needed. A short course like CMP (Carolina Motorsports Park)...might require 2nd. Second half of that track is more like an auto-x.

Since posting the run, I've attempted to do some pulls in 1st gear with 30-35 mph rolling starts.
It requires a really quick shift. I've actually bumped the rev limiter twice trying it out. Yes, the initial bite is good, but with the additional shift, I'm not sure it would really make that much difference. The 335's paddle shifting seemed very fast. I really think the added weight of my convertible is just too much to overcome from rolling starts. But, I can always try again. I know the other person would be up for the test.

Like I said from the get go...I'm not a straight line racer. Even so, the 335 is an awesome car for 4 doors and automatic tranny for MUCH less money than the e46 M3.
It got my attention.

I own a 335i and have raced a 2006 m3 twice. To be honest, its not even a close race. The 335i will pull away big time. I am still looking for decent competition.

IN YOUR DREAMS

You mean looking for a decent driver?+1

Did no one seem to notice he's racing an auto? With the rolling starts he described, if they both stomp on it, the auto will downshift, while he's stuck in 2nd gear at 30 mph. Advantage- 335.

From the articles I read, the 335 is as fast as an M though.

Did no one seem to notice he's racing an auto? With the rolling starts he described, if they both stomp on it, the auto will downshift, while he's stuck in 2nd gear at 30 mph. Advantage- 335.

From the articles I read, the 335 is as fast as an M though.


I'm tell'n you...it was NO CONTEST. I felt sick seeing that 4 door auto kill me on those rolling starts.

From the line, yeah I had him. Again, we tried twice with the same result. I did have a little wheel spin on both standing starts but still managed to stay ahead of the 335.
However and this is a big HOWEVER, the 335's driver was NOT revving/power braking the 335 during the standing start. He just floored it. And, I doubt seriously that he turned off the DSC or Traction Control. I had both of mine off.

The 335i is a machine. But, if my car had been a coupe...I have a feeling the outcome would've been different or at least much closer with the rolling starts.

I don't understand why this is such a big debate. This is bimmerforums.com. Why don't we just round up a bunch of M3 and 335i owners for a drag day and put this to bed once and for all. What better way to do it than on a drag strip - a place for which neither car was ever intended nor engineered to be driven.



I like the idea. The 335 engine has 300 ft./lbs. of torque from 1400 RPM to 5000rpm!!!! If you both punch the gas at the same time, the 335 will out torque the M3. I sell BMWs at a dealership, so I drive everything back to back all the time.

I like the idea. The 335 engine has 300 ft./lbs. of torque from 1400 RPM to 5000rpm!!!! If you both punch the gas at the same time, the 335 will out torque the M3. I sell BMWs at a dealership, so I drive everything back to back all the time.

yeah, but races are won with the RPMs used between shifting. a 335 is only probably gonna use the power between 5000 and 7000rpm (i believe that's their stock redline) while racing. low RPM torque is nice for launching but from a roll it's all high RPM hp that wins the race, which is why the e46 M3 coupe has an edge over the 335. this race sounds about right, the verts are quite a bit heavier than their coupe counterparts.