Realistic R alternative - modded E92 M3

[MCarsFan]

I have been calling every dealership I can find for an R and I am beginning to think this car wont happen for under 90k and even with that, I have to wait 6-9 months.

Before you shoot my idea down, please have an open perspective and try and understand what I am trying to say:

GT350R:

- 8250rpm redline, 101hp per liter
- 3700lbs
- $80,000-$90,000

E92 M3:

- 8400rpm redline (which can be increased to even 8600), 104hp per liter
- 3550 lbs (6MT, base, with CF roof)
- $30,000

My thinking is, I spend say $20k on the M3:

- KW clubsport
- 380mm brembo 6 piston
- Titanium exhaust
- carbon bucket seats, roll cage, 5 point harness
- tune
- cat removal
- rear wing
- short shifter kit

Preventative maintenance
- coated rod bearings

With the mods above, weight goes down to 3400lbs, power goes up to 450-460. Handling wise I am sure with the mods above, it will handle just as good if not better than R. It sounds just as good, just as exotic, and it has the added benefit of the fun factor of modding my own car.

I owned a E90 M3 before so I know that car very well. In its base form, it wont come close to the R, but with the mods above it should cost 50k which is almost HALF of the cost of R?

Yay or nay?

Please dont turn this into BMW vs Ford, its more about two high revving naturally aspirated cars accomplishing the same thing - track weapon/weekend toy car for fun.

Thanks for your feedback.

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[SoCalTim]

But...GT350R FTW.

 

[MCarsFan]

But...GT350R FTW.

Lets put aside the name, the brand, and all the other intangible stuff and focus on:

- Performance
- Fun

It doesnt make sense to pay a 40k premium over the build above for R. If R was selling sticker, then I wouldnt even bring this up.

 

[nastang87xx]

For what it's worth, E92's are curbing closer to mid 3600's base with real world fluids and fuel. I know the Europeans like to dry weight everything or whatever that weight deal is but from previous scale weighs I've personally seen, that weight isn't realistic. The DCT is also totally 110% worth it despite the weight. This should also probably be in one of the general talk sections though.

 

[dron_jones]

I have been calling every dealership I can find for an R and I am beginning to think this car wont happen for under 90k and even with that, I have to wait 6-9 months.

Before you shoot my idea down, please have an open perspective and try and understand what I am trying to say:

GT350R:

- 8250rpm redline, 101hp per liter
- 3700lbs
- $80,000-$90,000

E92 M3:

- 8400rpm redline (which can be increased to even 8600), 104hp per liter
- 3550 lbs (6MT, base, with CF roof)
- $30,000

My thinking is, I spend say $20k on the M3:

- KW clubsport
- 380mm brembo 6 piston
- Titanium exhaust
- carbon bucket seats, roll cage, 5 point harness
- tune
- cat removal
- rear wing
- short shifter kit

Preventative maintenance
- coated rod bearings

With the mods above, weight goes down to 3400lbs, power goes up to 450-460. Handling wise I am sure with the mods above, it will handle just as good if not better than R. It sounds just as good, just as exotic, and it has the added benefit of the fun factor of modding my own car.

I owned a E90 M3 before so I know that car very well. In its base form, it wont come close to the R, but with the mods above it should cost 50k which is almost HALF of the cost of R?

Yay or nay?

Please dont turn this into BMW vs Ford, its more about two high revving naturally aspirated cars accomplishing the same thing - track weapon/weekend toy car for fun.

Thanks for your feedback.

Do what makes you happy, i had an e92 M3 and it was a great car and a ton of fun.

In a similar position to you where an R is out of the question, i elected to go for a base GT350 though.... you could probably do the same thing, swap out to some light weight wheels, heck if it was really important to you, you can buy the wing and the splitter too.... even start pulling out back seats etc, it will cost more than the E92 you spec'd out but it would also be closer to the "R" experience.... the only thing you wouldn't have is the recognition of a legitimate R but it sounds more like you are interested in the performance vs. the image.

 

[Blk2015GT]

E92 is a nice car, just remember you're comparing a min 2-3 model year old used car to new too.

A track package 350 would be more comparable to an M3. You're still talking a lot more hp and torque on the slightly heavier 350; and as said get some lighter wheels for it and do a rear seat delete like the R for cheaper.

Im also not a BMW expert but I dont think you get magnetic ride either.

 

[cosmo]

You'd be sacrificing liveability for performance. The R is better at that, with the magneride. Is this dedicated track usage only? While the R certainly is amazing; if you want a track toy getting a regular GT350 and pulling weight out of it, changing the tires and rims, and tuning will probably get you quite close to the R.

I love the E92 M3's, they are quite fun and still have soul. However that soul still doesn't match the uniqueness of the GT350. Can you replicate the performance? Probably. But you won't be able to replicate the sound and character of the Voodoo. That's not saying the S65 engine is bad, it's wonderfully fun and still unique in and of its own but isn't a Voodoo.

 

[arsenalrocks]

current owner of E92 M3 i don't find voodoo is that unique or special. it is powerful, sounds bad ass, but not that special vs s65.

no ITB, much lower hp peak at 7500rpm, lower redline, and slower response due to longer stroke and heavier crank.

s65 is way more race-like than voodoo. FPC or CPC, at the end of the day you want fast response with smoothness and high specific HP/TQ output, the s65 has voodoo beat with no issues b/c of ITB and shorter stroke.

You'd be sacrificing liveability for performance. The R is better at that, with the magneride. Is this dedicated track usage only? While the R certainly is amazing; if you want a track toy getting a regular GT350 and pulling weight out of it, changing the tires and rims, and tuning will probably get you quite close to the R.

I love the E92 M3's, they are quite fun and still have soul. However that soul still doesn't match the uniqueness of the GT350. Can you replicate the performance? Probably. But you won't be able to replicate the sound and character of the Voodoo. That's not saying the S65 engine is bad, it's wonderfully fun and still unique in and of its own but isn't a Voodoo.

 

[arsenalrocks]

OP,

Most of the forum will tell you the R cannot be matched by any car, let alone a 8 year old E92 M3. That is cause most of forum never driven anything past 6500rpm, let alone 8600rpm.

I went to track the other day, there is an e92 m3 with some after market exhaust believe or not, sounds way meaner and faster than my stock gt350. if you can tune the M3 to close to 460-480hp, put on some lighter wheels, it will give the R some food for thoughts.

I say do it. BTW the more I drive my GT350, the more appreciate my M3. every single reputable comparison tests against c63 rs4 rs5 cts-v all puts M3 above the competition and now I know why.

Some other poster said get track gt350 instead, i say that is an excellent choice if u can get it at MSRP.

 

[cosmo]

current owner of E92 M3 i don't find voodoo is that unique or special. it is powerful, sounds bad ass, but not that special vs s65.

no ITB, much lower hp peak at 7500rpm, lower redline, and slower response due to longer stroke and heavier crank.

s65 is way more race-like than voodoo. FPC or CPC, at the end of the day you want fast response with smoothness and high specific HP/TQ output, the s65 has voodoo beat with no issues b/c of ITB and shorter stroke.

To each their own, OP definitely needs to drive them both to see which he likes better. The Voodoo to me has more character and is unique. The Voodoo sounds pretty nutty when you add aftermarket exhausts as well, as mentioned in your other post regarding the M3.

Having ITB is cool but isn't unique. You can buy those for the Mustang (at least for the 5.0, albeit expensive). The rev blip of the 350 isn't poor by any means. The S65 may be quicker to rev, but versus the sound and NVH of the Voodoo's FPC I'm not sure I can say the S65 is more special.

 

[DrumReaper]

Boring German auto... Boring.

 

[pj.singh]

OP,

Most of the forum will tell you the R cannot be matched by any car, let alone a 8 year old E92 M3. That is cause most of forum never driven anything past 6500rpm, let alone 8600rpm.

I went to track the other day, there is an e92 m3 with some after market exhaust believe or not, sounds way meaner and faster than my stock gt350. if you can tune the M3 to close to 460-480hp, put on some lighter wheels, it will give the R some food for thoughts.

I say do it. BTW the more I drive my GT350, the more appreciate my M3. every single reputable comparison tests against c63 rs4 rs5 cts-v all puts M3 above the competition and now I know why.

Some other poster said get track gt350 instead, i say that is an excellent choice if u can get it at MSRP.

E9x m3s only tune to around 380whp if you're lucky. They aren't very mod friendly unless you go the blower route but at that point you're not an NA car. Reason why I bought a c63. That being said, the c63 doesn't handle as well as a e92 m3 (I had a heavily done 335i with kw v3 so a slight comparison) buttttttttt at the end of the day I have my c63 posted for sale and buying a gt350 (choosing this over a z06 as well)

 

[arsenalrocks]

if Ford Performance comes out with an ITB kit for voodoo that will be truly sick. faster response and higher rev i would imagine too. maybe over 560hp easy.

the entire kit + install+tune will most likely run over 7-8k

To each their own, OP definitely needs to drive them both to see which he likes better. The Voodoo to me has more character and is unique. The Voodoo sounds pretty nutty when you add aftermarket exhausts as well, as mentioned in your other post regarding the M3.

Having ITB is cool but isn't unique. You can buy those for the Mustang (at least for the 5.0, albeit expensive). The rev blip of the 350 isn't poor by any means. The S65 may be quicker to rev, but versus the sound and NVH of the Voodoo's FPC I'm not sure I can say the S65 is more special.

 

[Wichard20]

you consider doing a base 17 GT350? Finding one at MSRP will be a lot easier then finding a low ADM R. Swap some lighter wheels and better rubber and you are pretty close to an R (I know the R wheels is still lighter, better aero, etc) but your probably around 95% or more to the R in performance for a lot in savings.

 

[50 Deep]

This conversation might be better if you discussed a vehicle that is currently available and matched the R performance without mods. I'm sure many can argue a lot of older/cheaper vehicles after mods can be made to be competitive. A car delivered to the consumer with similar performance/spirit at the same price point is a whole different story.

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