Re: E30 M3 Handeling, **Why so good?** (archive)

It may appear to be nearly identical to all E30`s , but it is not. As they say, "the devil is in the details". The front control arm bushings are offset, increasing the caster. The front sway bar is attached directly to the strut housing instead of the control arm, increasing its effective stiffness. The steering rack is unique to the M3, having a quicker ratio. The springs are unique to the M3...lower than the other E30`s. Most important to handling is balance, which the 6-cylinder E30`s don`t have.
You mention double wishbone suspension as being a plus....rear drive American cars since the 1950`s had double wishbone front suspension. The point is, just having a particular design as a bragging point isn`t enough. It must be properly developed and refined. The E30 M3 was the most highly developed E30 of the time, and it has the winning race record to prove it.

I am a little confused as to why such a conventional car (e30 m3)achieves outstanding handeling performance.The e30 m3 is nearly identical to all e30's. So why is it that is does so much with so little! It doesn't have a low center of gravity (like a boxer engined car) It doesn't have the double wishbone control arms like the most modern sports cars. The e30 m3 is said to be a better handeling car than the e36 M's. If someone out there has some time, please give a simi-technical amswer to this perplexing question? Thanks

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