Curious Acceleration Query

[Fr0dders]

We were having a discussion about acceleration over various cars at the north york moors meet and we were comparing the performance of the e46 330i and the Z4 3.0i and commenting that obviously being lower weight the Z4 would be a bit faster. We then speculated on just how much quicker the Z4 M would be with the m3 engine on board.

so why then does autocar reckon the E46 m3 is quicker than the Z4m ?

Heres the Data

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsData/BMW-Z4-3.2-M/221602/

versus

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsData/BMW-M3-3.2/176639/

Same 346bhp engine, same 2nd,3rd, and 4th gear ratios

but its 1577kg plays 1495kg

yet the M3 is quicker on 30-70 in gear and 0-60 as well. AND its the heavier car

huh ?

 

[Fr0dders]

makes sense

its why the VXR8 bathurst has such poor times. It spins the wheels in 2nd and 3rd if your floor it without sympathy. Its not nearly as fast as the 600bhp headling would make you believe.

Note that the Z4M isn't much lighter than the e46 M3 - there's only about 50kg in it.

indeed but you'd expect the z4m to be quicker, but not by much.

 

[Fr0dders]

it is, but at entirely different RPMs

 

[Fr0dders]

autocar says they are both the same - 3.62