Video: 20 years later, is the E46 M3 still a competitive track car?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-WerLwAgq4c?si=65zZu_HLmPXGpGVf

In a large field of highly competitive modern sports cars, is the E46 BMW M3 still a great choice for a track car?

We took one to our official test track, the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park, to find out.

Presented by CRC Industries.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 9:22 a.m.

And a question for the audience: Do we like these data-driven track tests of older cars?

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 9:23 a.m.

And I don’t think it made the final cut, but I remember JG saying something like if I wasn’t there, he could have found another half a second. :) 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 1:44 p.m.

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

Yup.

An x:xx.xx lap time doesn’t mean much until you add the benchmark. More like this to come. 

BimmerMaven
BimmerMaven Reader
10/6/23 11:17 a.m.

i'm obsessed with measuring (i.e. objectively) things.

Lord Kelvin:

please feel free to measure and publish anything you can!

BA5
BA5 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
3/11/24 11:11 a.m.

I love the track data traces.  It's facinating to see where and how the time difference it made up.

livinon2wheels
livinon2wheels GRM+ Memberand Reader
3/11/24 1:31 p.m.

I think if i was buying another car to play with, the Hyundai might get a chance - bet its as fun as the bmw and the consumables would be less expensive and with the lap times that close, driver technique would be more the deciding factor than any real performance differences in the cars, but I am guessing the bmw has more performance left untapped and available than the hyundai. Any thoughts?

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/12/24 11:15 a.m.

Hmmm, which one to actually buy and live with? I’d love to hear which you all would choose. 

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter)
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/12/24 12:57 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

And a question for the audience: Do we like these data-driven track tests of older cars?

yes.  yes we do.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/12/24 1:18 p.m.

In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :

Then we will have to make more. 

CAinCA
CAinCA GRM+ Memberand Dork
3/12/24 1:38 p.m.

Yeah, I think this is pretty cool. I like looking at Lightning Lap times to get an idea of relative performance. Then I start thinking about how tires have come a long way in the last 20 years.

 

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