[Blazin383]

So I have a buddy that I have a long time running competition with for who's car is fastest. He hasn't really had anything to play with for a long time, but he's looking at getting a 2011-2012 BMW M3 in the next week or so. He's also done some research into some simple upgrades like a tune that will bump his output by about 50 hp. I know the M3 is a stock 414 hp and only like 295 tq, so with the upgrades he'll be in the 460-465 hp with some extra tq. The M3s are quicker than they should be in factory form with 0-60 times in the low 4 second range, so I'm sure with some extra hp he'll be able to run neck and neck with my 2SS A8.

I can't have him edging me out, so what do you think? Will he pull me? What is the best simple bolt on etc for me to hold him off?

[enzia35]

Have fun spanking that guy.

[Dethsupp0rt]

Originally Posted by Blazin383

He's also done some research into some simple upgrades like a tune that will bump his output by about 50 hp. I know the M3 is a stock 414 hp and only like 295 tq, so with the upgrades he'll be in the 460-465 hp with some extra tq.

I don't think he's going to get an extra 50 hp from a tune. You can on the new ones easy, but on the NA motor you'll be lucky to get 15hp/tq more out of it with just a tune.

It'll be an even match given the M3 is lighter and the DCT shifts faster than the A8.

[enzia35]

I ran one the other week. Pretty neck and neck actually.

[Stryfe]

Originally Posted by enzia35

Have fun spanking that guy.

agreed.

[L99BEN]

On paper the m3 is slower stock vs stock.

e.g.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/bmw/m...t-first-drive/

The gen 6 is more comparable to the new M4/M3.

That is magazine racing...anything can happen on the street.

[Spartan268]

Probably a drivers race vs your stock SS and his tuned M3. It's only a 4.0L N/A V8, he'll hit a brick wall very quickly with it

[enzia35]

You mean anything can happen on the strip.

[Blazin383]

Originally Posted by Dethsupp0rt

I don't think he's going to get an extra 50 hp from a tune. You can on the new ones easy, but on the NA motor you'll be lucky to get 15hp/tq more out of it with just a tune.

It'll be an even match given the M3 is lighter and the DCT shifts faster than the A8.

It's more than just a tune, but I don't remember exactly what else is involved. But, what I do know is that an extra 50 in the M3 isn't that difficult and a lot of it is in the tune. Easier than getting 50 more hp from the SS.

I'm not sure what trans he'll end up with, but I know he's thinking the 7 speed auto which I understand is supposed to be a pretty slick tranny. I hope he defaults to a manual 6 speed!

[Blazin383]

Originally Posted by enzia35

Have fun spanking that guy.

I think maybe you under estimate the M3: 0-60 4.1 & 1/4 in 12.6 @ 113 mph puts the M3 wheel to wheel with the SS. A drivers race every time!

[marknagy13]

The torque you have will pull away from him every time.

[Dethsupp0rt]

Originally Posted by Blazin383

It's more than just a tune, but I don't remember exactly what else is involved. But, what I do know is that an extra 50 in the M3 isn't that difficult and a lot of it is in the tune. Easier than getting 50 more hp from the SS.

Pulleys, intake, and a re-map is about all you can do with those (short of adding a supercharger), which might net about 30whp at best.

If he's expecting significant gains, he's going to be disappointed. I've been there. The F80 was obviously way easier and cheaper to tune, and get significantly more power out of. The problem was keeping it to the ground.

[Joe's_cool_1le]

I'm not stock so not a fair comparison but I had one out of a bunch actually ran with me until a certain point. But you never know what others have done to their rides.

[Dethsupp0rt]

Originally Posted by marknagy13

The torque you have will pull away from him every time.

Don't let "only" 295 lb-ft. fool you, the short gearing and the high redline of that motor more than makes up for it. There won't be as much pulling away as you think.