E39 540i/6 vs E46 M3/6

[speedemn]

Last week I was on my way home driving about 120 km/h in the middle lane, all alone on the highway at about 10:30pm. Out of nowhere a grey M3 blows by me like I am standing still - couldn't even see what it was! So I catch up to him and notice that it is in fact an E46 M3. I was in the middle lane behind him now. I figured that I would get owned, so why not see "by how much". I switch to the left lane and he stomps on it, as do I. To my surprise I pull on him and pass him (not going to mention speeds here, but the limiter said hello a few times in the straight line... nobody around for about 20 kms). We both slowed down around the slight curves and ran on the straights. The only exception was when I hit the limiter and he slowly inched up on to me and then pretty much pulled away. Every single time that I was behind I pulled on him and passed him and when I was ahead I pulled away.

We pulled over on the shoulder later on and chat for a bit... nice guy! He said that he could not believe how fast "that thing" is... referring to my car (I wonder if he thought that I have an M5... it was dark where we pulled over and my rear tires are fat). He said that he was up to 290 km/h the one time that he passed me after I hit my limiter. Then he asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy his M3... 2005 6-spd 35K kms and never driven hard ("outside of tonight" I chuckled back at him) lol

I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. I guess the M3 is a great car off the dig (on par with the M5 according to the mags and such) but not as good a match vs. the V8 torque on a high speed roll.

It would be nice to run some real tests on a track sometime like m5board.com does in Europe.

[EaglEye]

You're going to be inundated with 540ers patting you on the back and M3 guys screaming "no way," so I'll just say good run and leave it at that.

Good runs!

[speedemn]

heh no doubt.

We did about 5-6 runs in all... and held the top gears for a while so any "driver error" should really be negligible. We kind of staged our runs too... we both knew what we were doing with respect to that.

I know that the M cars are high revving, no-limit beasts so I did not for a second underestimate him... but he could have underestimated me... on run #1 at least

[Sa///M3]

I don't want to call BS or anything... but honestly aren't e39s more of a match for e36s..?

What are the numbers ~3700lbs with ~290 hp?

I have never raced an e39 in a straight line therefore I am not calling BS, but the numbers just don't add up..

Anyways, good run !

[chromius]

I'm pretty sure e46 M3's also have the same 155mph top speed limiter, unless this guy had his removed.

Regardless, nice run.

[speedemn]

He claimed that he was going 290... and he did pass me when I was at my limiter so he must have had it removed I guess.

The numbers wouldn't add up if I beat him from a standstill... however from a roll it is a very different story. In my drag racing days with my old Maxima the race 0-100mph (approx. trap speed in the 1/4 mile) was VERY different than a race from 100-200 (for a 1/2 mile run for example).

Another case in point... the M3 and M5 are on par in the 1/4 mile, but the M3 gets spanked by the M5 big time at higher speeds starting from a roll.

I too expected the E39 540i/6 to be more of a competitor to the E36 M3 so I was surprised for sure. I only wish him or I had video... all clean runs (except maybe the first one if he didn't expect me to pull on him).

[PutterMcGavin]

Souds like alot of fun!

I've had a couple of run in with E46 M3 and haven't ever been pulled on (granted I've only run into two and speeds were 75 mph +). I've actually pulled on them pretty well (then again I do have an 80 torque advantage to a 18 hp deficit). I think below 80 or 90 the M3 has the edge. Its lighter, more HP, LSD(?) but as you climb into higher speeds the 540i probably has the edge. Weight is less of a factor and the M62's have roughly 55 more torque that keeps churning the car ahead, plus two more cylinders. Once you get that high in the gears (120-130+) that torque really is what pulls the needle higher into the RPMs.

I personally think both cars are GREAT in different ways! Of course though "he would have had you in the twisties"

[NikosX]

Ive taken E46 M3s from a 10 mph roll in 1st all the way through 4th with my 92 M5. Ill believe this story, no problem. From a roll E46s are a lot less dangerous than they are out of the hole.

Good kill.

[Turbofans]

You're going to be inundated with 540ers patting you on the back and M3 guys screaming "no way," so I'll just say good run and leave it at that.

Good runs!

I am an E46 M3 guy saying "yes way". I used to own a 2001 540i 6. From a 80 roll up, the 540i/6 is just as fast as my M3.

[Turbofans]

What are the numbers ~3700lbs with ~290 hp?

Yes, but once you get that mass rolling, 80+, the additional weight is not that big of a factor anymore. The additional mass and it's low aerodynamic drag coefficient make the 540 shine on high speed runs. From a dig, the M3 will win hands down.

[spaghettininja]

been waiting to see someone with a good run on these cars, honestly, it surprises me and I still have that tiny tiny bit of doubt until I do it myself. Good runs though, that must have been awesome.

[iforti]

been waiting to see someone with a good run on these cars, honestly, it surprises me and I still have that tiny tiny bit of doubt until I do it myself. Good runs though, that must have been awesome.

I was thinking the same thing. If I do it myself someday I will beleive
I must agree with Turbofans for highspeed 540 is really nice from stop is not the best you can have I guess.

[reNT]

540i has 320ishlbs of torque i think while m3 has 270ish, from a roll 540i can go head to head with the m3 no problem.

[GTP540]

It seems (for me at least) most races usually begin from a roll anyways. Its usually a matter of acclerating onto a hgihway, or away from slower speeds (when traffic clears etc). I very rarely ever get the deserted highway light and some guy in a major league competitor car slowly rolls up next to me (cue Clint Eastwood music). Just never happens like that!

That beging said-great kill. I believe it. What is ironic is I got killed in my STI (it was a brick at 100+) by a modded M3 a year or so back. Now, I feel like the 540 has even better mid range to high end than my Subaru did!!

[Turbofans]

Down low, from digs, the 540 needs a LSD. That's where the letter M comes into play. Too me, the E46 M3 and the E39 540i are the Yin & Yang of the BMW world. I have a love/hate relationship with the 540i as well as the M3. Both cars have a mission and the 540i does it's mission very well,,,,,,and that is (Anti-Terrorist, high speed, autobahn, "get my dinner party to the opera on time", executive, high speed shuttle).