Ok, I KNOW that the Engineers at BMW are some of THEE best in the auto industry and that there is a perfectly good reason for the way they do things, I'm not arguing that. But does anyone here feel that the M3 could have just a little bit more tq? I mean...I'm about to install a TT stgI turbo on my E36 M and it'll have more tq, and I know that the car has 7 gears (well...ours does, it's the new double clutch) but I dunno...just feels like all the other cars out there that are suppose to compete with it just have a that little extra tq to make it that much better balanced.

What cars you ask? R8, F430, GT3, IS-F, and yes dare I say the GTR.

Thats just the way it is when you build a small displacement, high revving engine. Keep in mind, as a benefit you can put more aggressive gearing behind an engine like this to make up for it.

Well, the power band characteristics of the M3, and other high-revving motors, is not all bad. Granted, you have to keep the revs up in a track situation, but it yields a much more forgiving car to drive. After 4 track days, I'm still getting used to a C6 ZO6. The torque of that car, especially on street tires, requires absolute attention to the throttle. It has redefined for me, the art of squeeeeeezing the throttle. Certain corners I really should take in second gear, I tend to take in third, as there is just so little margin for error in the fat of the power band. My take on the BMW motors, just keep the revs up and enjoy it!

Like Jonathan said, don't overlook the gearing. Because that engine winds up to 8k+, they can and do run a lower final drive ratio (3.85) than say, that C6 Z06 with a 3.42.

So what you end up with is pretty good torque multiplication (http://www.team-integra.net/sections/articles/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=707)...net result, more "effective torque" than what you'd expect from the published crank numbers.

Will it pull stumps like a 7 liter LS7? Nope. But it still has pretty good grunt, and a very flat torque curve as well, even if you're not in the 8k range.

Funny you should mention installing a turbo on your car...ask most E36 turbo guys what they do for gearing...they go TALLER, like a 2.93, so they have more time to build boost (especially with larger turbos). But doing that also gives up a pretty fair amount of torque multiplication, compared to the stock 3.23 on your '98.

I don't break 300 rwtq with my blown E36..but I run a 3.38 LSD that adds effective torque, especially considering I started with a 3.15 LSD. From a start, it'll pin you in the seat pretty damned good, and it'll pull you out of a corner toot sweet. If I had an extra gear or two, I'd happily throw a 3.65 or higher on it.

BMW went for the magical 100+ hp per litre figure. Plus it is a somewhat flat torque curve.

Ok, I KNOW that the Engineers at BMW are some of THEE best in the auto industry and that there is a perfectly good reason for the way they do things, I'm not arguing that. But does anyone here feel that the M3 could have just a little bit more tq? I mean...I'm about to install a TT stgI turbo on my E36 M and it'll have more tq, and I know that the car has 7 gears (well...ours does, it's the new double clutch) but I dunno...just feels like all the other cars out there that are suppose to compete with it just have a that little extra tq to make it that much better balanced.

Don't go just by the peak number. The "curve" is not a curve but almost dead flat from 2,500 to 7,500. I don't find myself having to shift down much in normal driving. Here are the power & torque charts for the S65 vs the S54 of the E46:

don't break 300 rwtq with my blown E36..but I run a 3.38 LSD that adds effective torque,

Torque measured at the rear wheels includes the multiplication provided by the diff. The differential adds effective torque to a crankshaft torque figure.