Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: e36 vs e46 non m 1/4 mile times

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    9
    My Cars
    1993 BMW 325i Sedan

    e36 vs e46 non m 1/4 mile times

    Hello all, long time lurker. 1st post. Have loved BMW's since I was in high school. I'm trying to figure out which one would be best for me right now. I just bought an e36 and love it. But it does need some work and I'm starting to realize that for the amount of money I'll put into my e36 to go back stock, I can pick up a pretty clean 330i e46 then sell my e36 for mods. My concern is that it seems like all my research on the e36 comes up peaches but the e46 doesn't. Unfortunately, most posts I can find anymore on this are about a decade old now. According to what I've found, it doesn't take much to get an e36 to run 12 second 1/4 miles but even though guys use the m54b30 in their e36 and e30's, there isn't much about 1/4 times on a modded 330i. Most of my findings for e46 are for m3's.
    Simply put, if an e36 400whp m52 car can break 12 seconds, an e46 400whp m54 car can do it as well if driver skill is equal? Or is there some kind of limitation on the e46 that makes it harder to do that I'm not finding?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Central, MD
    Posts
    3,847
    My Cars
    1995 M3
    "it doesn't take much to get an e36 to run 12 second 1/4 miles"....for most people, this would be a controversial statement.
    400HP...that requires forced induction, you know that, right?

    Anyway, engines and drive trains on both cars are pretty similar. The E36 is very well understood for mods because it was in production so long, and it's a Spec platform for both SCCA and NASA. But...those have nothing to do with making 400HP and 1/4 mile times.

    There's a FI section on one of the forums. Probably jump over there and ask this question.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    9
    My Cars
    1993 BMW 325i Sedan
    Lol. Yes I am referring to FI being needed for both cars. I could post over there but chose this section because it's the organized racing section- including drag racing. Idk I guess maybe I would have to just pick up an e46 and find out. The curb weights seem to be similar (I don't think 150 lbs will make you a whole second slower) and so are the drivetrain it seems like. I guess I haven't actually looked much into e46 differentials.
    I guess i was hoping to see if there were e46 non m guys out there that have spent the time e36 guys have on their cars who could chip in. I would rather keep the e36 if it has more potential. Even though both cars seem basically the same.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Ottawa, ON, Canada
    Posts
    4,937
    My Cars
    e90 M3,X5,e46 racer
    e36 diffs are cheaper to build proper LSD (as they came with LSD from factory). The rest of suspension and setup wise will be nearly identical. The e46 will need rear subframe reinforcements. The e36 can probably be 50-100 lbs lighter with extreme gutting, but they're pretty close. For track, the e46 has a bit better suspension geometry, but pretty much the same as e36. Engine wise, the iron blocks are easier to FI and less complicated, though there are kits for M54 as well.
    Check out the 8legs Racing page: https://www.facebook.com/8legsRacing/


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Springfield, IL
    Posts
    2,491
    My Cars
    '95m3(Avus)/996tt/4.8is
    I would keep the e36. In terms of potential, they are both very similar, with the e36 chassis having the edge on curb weight. They both have very strong aftermarket, and fit the same amount of rubber stock.

    E46m3 has the advantage of 285 sized tires with little modification, but this is a moot point if you are going to flare the fenders on an e36.

    All will need reinforcing of the subframe structure to take the abuse, but differentials and half shafts should not be a concern at those power levels.

    FI section is going to be much more helpful as this section tends to focus on road course and auto crossing. Drag racing isnt so much the BMW's bag but more power to you.

    Consider an LS swap, as the iron block 5.3 would seem to be an easy ticket to high power FI and the swap itself is well documented. Much cheaper than seeking high power out of BMW powertrains.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    9
    My Cars
    1993 BMW 325i Sedan
    Eh idk what it is about LS motors I just don't like them. I would actually prefer a small block Ford. But this is doesn't matter since I want to stick with a Bimmer engine. I know there is plenty of power to be made from the platform I already have. I appreciate the replies guys. I guess what I'm actually looking for is a good 0-60 rather than a 1/4 mile. I figured the 2 related enough to consider this a drag racing topic. The 400whp was more of just a figure to say we could consider both cars to be at for comparison (even though that is my goal for this car). I have chosen to stick with my e36. I haven't driven an e46 but I know my e36 is a bunch of fun as is. If it can only get better... well I consider that a W.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    400 rwhp is easy with a compression lowering head gasket, ARP studs, an intercooled turbo system and a tune. Done right, it will cost you around $4-5k in parts.

    $500 for headgasket and spacer
    $200 for studs
    $1000 for tune and hfm and injectors
    $500 for clutch
    $1800-2800 for turbo system depending on quality of parts

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    9
    My Cars
    1993 BMW 325i Sedan
    lol. That is what I meant by "it doesn't take much."

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Springfield, IL
    Posts
    2,491
    My Cars
    '95m3(Avus)/996tt/4.8is
    Dont you have a wonderful attitude.....

    Glad you could come around here for some help.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    A few years ago when I was drag racing regularly, a friend had an E36 325i that did about 87 mph in mostly stock naturally aspirated form. With an AA intercooled supercharger it did about 97 mph. That is about what a good stock M3 does. The supercharger kit was later put on an E36 328i and the boost raised. I think it did about 109 mph. The 328i was then turbocharged, and trapping around 123 mph. Then the 2.8L was swapped for a 3.2L M3 motor and traps over 130 mph. With some additional mods it is about 137 mph.

    ET with a stick is tricky due to traction even on drag radials. That 137 mph car is well driven and the ET is about 10.9. A similarly modded car with a Ford C3 auto conversion is doing 9.9 seconds.

    Back to reality. Turbo the 2.5L. If it breaks, try a 2.8L since they are cheap. Aim for 400-500 rwhp and have fun. You’ll break stuff along the way. Start with 400 rwhp and work your way up to 500. It gets more expensive after that. If you have E85 available locally, consider using it. None near me.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    MA
    Posts
    2,706
    My Cars
    Cayman S, Golf GSW, E30
    A new Camry would be faster in the 1/4 than an E36.

Similar Threads

  1. e36 m3 ridgidity vs. e46 non-m ridgidity
    By cab354 in forum General BMW and Automotive Discussion sponsored by Intercity Lines
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 07-24-2009, 03:28 PM
  2. E36 Vs. E46
    By Reno in forum General BMW and Automotive Discussion sponsored by Intercity Lines
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 09-15-2003, 11:36 PM
  3. E36 Vs E46
    By Reno in forum General BMW and Automotive Discussion sponsored by Intercity Lines
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-12-2003, 10:22 AM
  4. E36 vs. E46
    By LA e46 in forum Kill Stories
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 06-10-2002, 10:24 AM
  5. e36 vs e46 M3
    By yardboy in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 04-30-2002, 02:21 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •