No, driving is more important... (archive)

Maybe you were a much better driver. A well-prepped E36 M3 will corner just as well as an E30 M3, dare I say even better. You can fit wider tires, it has larger brakes, more torque, more area under the torque curve, stiffer chassis, multi-link rear axle, etc, etc. The turbo driver just didn't push the car like you pushed your E30 M3.

I've taken my old 533i and glued it to the ass of (then passed) many different, supposedly faster cars at the track. It's not all the car, it's the driver. Bimmerworld converted a 325 to M50 (100% stock), E30 M3 suspension and brakes, and ran circles around E30 M3s. So you can't say that balance is everything. It has more to do with the driver.

I was at a track event this fall and there was a E36 M3 turbo there. He was in my run group and he was very fast untill we hit the corners. I was all over him in the corners with my lightly modified(chip, EVO intake, suspension, brakes) 2.3l S14 equipped E30 M3. When you put the 3.0 or 3.2 M motor in the car you are absolutely effecting balance. Yes, it is quicker, but our cars were designed with balance in mind from the beginning-that's one of the reasons that the battery is in the trunk. I had an M6 before the E30 M3 and I loved the way the car went. It also had light modifications and was very quick. On the track it was a handful. The E30 M3 will run rings around it. Alot less weight and better BALANCE. All BMW's are designed with balance in mind because it is much easier to control something that is predictable. It is your car and I love to see the different variations that people come up with for power in these cars, but don't sell balance short, it works.
Scott

Follow Ups:

[ Follow Ups ] [ E30 M3 Message Board ] [ Msg. Board FAQ ]

Questions, comments, or problems, please visit the Roadfly help desk.