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In Reply to: Thanx Marc, but what are you saying?? M3 faster(m) posted by beewang on March 19, 2000 at 18:09:07:
Bee,
An autocross course, at least those run by local BMW CCA and SCCA clubs, is a short twisty course comprised of slaloms, tight turns (one 180 degrees!), and the random sweeping turn and straightaway. Handling is much more important than power. An M3 has more than enough power to pull through the turns. But the M3 weighs less than the 540i and the laws of physics favor it in turns. (F=ma and all that)
To turn, a sideways force must be applied. Unless your car is equipped with jet thrusters, your tires must do the job. To achieve the same acceleration in a turn, the force is proportional to mass (i.e. weight). An M3 coupe weighs just 3175 lbs. while your 540iA weighs 3803 lbs. That 20% difference is huge on the course. The 540i's suspension and tires are not 20 % more capable than an M3's tires and suspension.
If anything, the M3's suspension is tuned more on the performance end than the luxury/performance hybrid suspension of the 540i. The bottom line: the M3 can complete the same turn faster than a 540i. And the M3 has a surplus of power for the autocross track. Not as much of a surplus as a 540i, but a useless surplus nonetheless.
The lightweight of the 3 series (and the 2002 for that matter) makes them better autocross cars.
On the track, however, the 540i will eat them alive.
Marc
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