'98 540i (6-speed) VS. '95 BMW M3

**328 is man** · 01-15-2003, 02:52 PM

Here's the story my cousin just bought a '98 540i and is talking smack from here to Canada. He says if we race I'll "be staring at his 255's the whole way". We would race on the street up to the quarter mile and then on the highway starting from 60mph. Heres the details:

His Car: Bone Stock '98 540i 6-speed
(He's an EXCELLENT driver)

My Car: '95 M3
Euro HFM
Tuner ECU
ECIS Inatke
Borla Cat-Back
(I am an average driver)

Whats it look like? Do I have a chance? Any advice. People with actual 540i versus E36 M3 experience are very appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Alex

**Ron17** · 01-15-2003, 03:02 PM

Well, I'm told, stock-for-stock, the 540i is every bit the match for an E36 M3 up to 100, at which point it just walks away (the big HP kicks in).

Now, with your mods, I dunno. Here's *MY* guess:

You open up a little lead on him early on and then it holds at high speed.

Others here will have a better idea of what will transpire, so you'll wanna wait to get their input before mouthing off. I'd hate to be the cause of you parting with any of your hard-earned $$$$.

**SilverStreak** · 01-15-2003, 03:05 PM

Well, it will be close, and likely come down to the driver, if he's as good as you say he is, and he launches well, he'll likely hang with you at the start and grow the lead as you continue on up to speed.

Your advantage will be at launch. After that, he has the advantage. So make the most of it, practice your holeshot...

**Jwright** · 01-19-2003, 06:07 PM

depends on driver, as silverstreak said... have someone film it tho so u can share it with us heh

**Greco540** · 01-19-2003, 06:16 PM

To my dearest cousing Alex, I look forward to visiting you all in a couple of weeks. Albeit racing in the snow is not the ideal environment. Rather than racing you and handing you your ass, I'll just give you the keys to it and you can take it around the beltway and experience true V8 power.

As for the race on Lombard, lets do it on my next future visit sometime around easter. Don't you guys worry, I'll stick his younger brother in the back seat filming Alex crying behind the wheel of his M3.

As I do not condone street racing this unfortunate incident for Alex will occur at the speedway.

Luv ya Alex, see ya in couple of weeks....

**dave is cool** · 01-19-2003, 07:14 PM

Dang Alex, you got

**BGM3** · 01-19-2003, 08:20 PM

Sounds like a loving family

I have my money on the M3

for the quarter mile jaunt. Starting from 60.... tough call.

**Rito Smooth** · 01-19-2003, 08:30 PM

I raced a 2000 auto 540i with..Dinan..transmission software, ECU sofware, intake, throttle body, air flow meter, exhaust and I guess whatever else Dinan offers minus the Diff. I have a 97 M3 with Dinan Intake, Software, Exhaust, Dinan Stage 2 Suspension and UUC shortshifter...Off the light I would jump on him about a car length..I would hold him up till about 90-95 and then he begins to pass me and pull away very slowly..I am sure the 6 speed is faster, but with his mods it might be equal. I have to say that car must be a monster.

**Rito Smooth** · 01-19-2003, 08:30 PM

I raced a 2000 auto 540i with..Dinan..transmission software, ECU sofware, intake, throttle body, air flow meter, exhaust and I guess whatever else Dinan offers minus the Diff. I have a 97 M3 with Dinan Intake, Software, Exhaust, Dinan Stage 2 Suspension and UUC shortshifter...Off the light I would jump on him about a car length..I would hold him up till about 90-95 and then he begins to pass me and pull away very slowly..I am sure the 6 speed is faster, but with his mods it might be equal. I have to say that car must be a monster.

**Deutscher Konnt** · 01-19-2003, 08:30 PM

If you launch really well and hold it, than you might win in the quarter mile run. He will utterly decimate you in the highway run starting from 60 mph though due to his 6-speed transmission and higher hp. Good luck though and a film of the races would be great.

**BGM3** · 01-19-2003, 08:51 PM

Yep, sounds like the 1/4 mile is all a fairly stock M3 can handle against a 540.

**JM3** · 01-19-2003, 08:51 PM

i think if you practice enough on your launches you have a chance, but if you do not put in the time, he will kill you.

**BGM3** · 01-19-2003, 09:59 PM

I raced some guys in a 528. I guess they were slightly modded but after a few runs with em they yell "there are three of us in this car and only one of you in yours". I was thinking "well I probably weigh as much as all three of you"

Anyhow, they were not even close (car lengths back).

**MKit** · 01-19-2003, 10:38 PM

i think this will be a tight race

**cleoent** · 01-20-2003, 03:41 AM

In my experiences driving both cars I would have to say I put my money on the 540. Those things are monsters. On the freeway even more so, those things can reach 150 (so im told

) sooo fast. I dont think 540 6spd is a fair match to an m3, but since you've got a couple mods you might stand a chance, my money is on the 5er.

**Midnight Shark** · 01-20-2003, 03:51 AM

Originally posted by 328 is man

Whats it look like? Do I have a chance? Any advice. People with actual 540i versus E36 M3 experience are very appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Alex

From my experience against a 540i sport, you may be dead even. I had raced against one that was bone stock, my 97E36 M3 was better at the launch and the kid in the 540was able to keep up until about 110mph that's when I noticed him to start to creep up from behind.

I tap the brakes 3 times to signal to him that I'm done, but I knew for sure that he might have caught up. I signaled the kid if he would pull over just for the both of us to check each other's cars out. That's when I saw that it only stock, the kid was actually 22 yrs old and had only borrowed his dad's 540i, he himself has a 94 325.

It was a fun race, I didn't expect the guy to be so down to earth.

**dave is cool** · 01-20-2003, 05:29 AM

Welcome to the forum Midnight. I remember you from DTM

. Are you going to be selling your M Contours anytime soon?

By the way, between this race, I think it will be very close. The 540 might start pulling at higher speeds, but you never know, maybe one of the cylinders in the 540 will fry, which will result in you winning the race. Or maybe all four wheels and tires on the M3 will just fly off, which will result in the 540 winning the race. It's all about the situation

**MKit** · 01-20-2003, 06:00 AM

yea starting from 60mph... the 540's v8 engine would fly. i had a couple runs with my friend's c43 amg (v8 also) starting from 60mph also... his car pulled...

328 is man's car has been modified so i don't know.

**Greco540** · 01-20-2003, 10:47 AM

Being a lot older and having already driven Alex's M3 I have to cencede that this will be a really tight race. Albeit I haven't driven it since he put the HFM kit on, but from what he tells me he got some serious butt dyno figures from the HFM/Chip kit. Anyhoot, this should be all fun and as the much older one of the 2, I'm gonna beat him 1 way or another. (On the track, or physical if he beats me on the track.) So you see Alex, its all a win/win situation for me...

**328 is man** · 01-20-2003, 12:18 PM

Sagapo reh vasili, thelo nah pasiso ligaki...

At the end of the day, no matter who wins I'll still be driving an ///M car and you'll be driving a 3800lb boat with a big engine. Hmmmm...reminds me of Yianni's Mustang, can't do much except go in a straight line (hehehe). And don't be fooled, the win / win situation is mine. If I win I'll have the satisfaction of knowing my 3.0L took out your honking 4.4L V8. If I lose I can just call your wife and tell her your racing the $23k family car and then watch all night long as she reams you out over the phone .

.

Just kidding, the 540i is a masterpiece, it'll be fun whoever wins, I'll get Tom to film at the 1/4 mile marker and Photi to film in the car. See you soon. Oh yeah, watch out for the NJ Turnpike troopers on the way down.

Alex

**cleoent** · 01-20-2003, 01:15 PM

quit talking and start racing now!

**SilverStreak** · 01-20-2003, 01:18 PM

Let's get ready to RUMMMMMMMMMMBLLLLLLLLLE!!!

**328 is man** · 01-20-2003, 01:20 PM

.

**Greco540** · 01-20-2003, 01:21 PM

Like I said, you guys are gonna have to wait a while for this one, unless the weather is supper nice in a couple of weeks...
Alex dude, don't forget to chage up the batteries in the digital camera. Opportune time for photo shoot with your M3, justin's 328is and your bor's boxster. We may even get your bro's 325ic in there if he wants to participate...

Heck while we are at it, why not throw in your sis E46 323, your dads' 735 and the black stallion 535i?

See ya in a bit...

**Midnight Shark** · 01-20-2003, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by Sean M3
Welcome to the forum Midnight. I remember you from DTM . Are you going to be selling your M Contours anytime soon?

By the way, between this race, I think it will be very close. The 540 might start pulling at higher speeds, but you never know, maybe one of the cylinders in the 540 will fry, which will result in you winning the race. Or maybe all four wheels and tires on the M3 will just fly off, which will result in the 540 winning the race. It's all about the situation

Hey what's up sean?! Nice to see some familiar names here too! I'll be keeping the M Contours for winter tires. I'm getting a new set of wheels starting this spring. And a whole lot of other goodies! I've been working 5-6 days/week and some overtime to save up for the following upgrades:

1. RE exhaust
2. Clear Tailights
3. DDE's
4. Maybe chrome my rollbar
5. Cross drilled rotors and new calipers
6. New lightweight rims (havn't decided yet on which one) and Kumho MX's
7. remove the backseats

Hopefully with this additional set up, I won't have to worry about a 540 anymore!

:

Thread: '98 540i (6-speed) VS. '95 BMW M3

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'98 540i (6-speed) VS. '95 BMW M3???

Re: '98 540i (6-speed) VS. '95 BMW M3???

"Greco540", now thats cute...

Uhh, he'll be in Canada for two more weeks.

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