bmw e36 m3(95-99) vs nissan 350z

[CrzyMR2T]

so handling wise, which do you think would win? both stock. if modified, which one do you think has more potential? anyone go to autocross? how do they both do? how about acceleration? i think they re about even acceleration wise. how about driver feedback? which one do you think is nicer to drive? anyone have experience driving both?

[BP2K2Max]

i'd rather have the Z. the 350z is faster seeing as how it makes a significant amount more hp and i've read reviews of the track model 350z lapping times as fast as the E46 M3's around a track. in Road and track, Top Gear and Best motoring international the 350z and E46 M lapped almost the same times, so i'd assume that it's better around a track than an E36.

[CrzyMR2T]

Originally Posted by BP2K2Max

i'd rather have the Z. the 350z is faster seeing as how it makes a significant amount more hp and i've read reviews of the track model 350z lapping times as fast as the E46 M3's around a track. in Road and track, Top Gear and Best motoring international the 350z and E46 M lapped almost the same times, so i'd assume that it's better around a track than an E36.

yea ive seen that too. but just handling wise, some m3 owners are saying the e36 is actually better, and has a tighter feel to it. plus thats probably also because the e36 weighs around 300 lbs less than the e46. also weighs less than the z by about 200.

[NISSANSPDR]

I'd watch out for M3 repair bills though...

[BlackGT2000]

I would say go for the Z

[kman10587]

The 350Z is going to perform better, but in terms of acceleration and cornering speed, but the E36 M3 is going to be more comfortable. I'd watch out for repair bills on a potentially 11-year-old BMW sports car, though.

[DinanM3_S2]

Handling wise I would say the two are pretty close. The E36 M3 was known for its amazing handling. I've said this a million times, but C&D rated the E36 M3 as having better handling then the 911, Boxster, NSX, Supra TT, F355, 300zx TT, etc, truely an amazing feat considering the price difference between them. It is also a bit lighter then the 350z.

Its tough to tell which car has more potential. There are pretty good aftermarkets out there for both the 350z and the S52 (3.2l) E36 M3. Active Autowerke's stage II M3 turbo kit produces about 360 hp at the wheels for about $10,000, and they have built up a few 600hp + cars. Dinan has a supercharger kit that produces 340hp. DA Motorsports has a 1,000 hp turbo setup for around $20,000. There are various 350z kits to get similar numbers.

As far as driver feedback, the M3 wins, and nobody can convince me otherwise. It is what BMW is known for, and they do it better then anyone that isn't Porsche or Ferrari.

The BMW is also going to be nicer to drive. It is a BMW after all. The 350z is built to be a sports car, the M3 is built part sports car/part luxury car, which is why it was more expensive when it was new.

All of this talk about the M3's reliability is a little exaggerated. For a sports car, they are pretty reliable. You usually only get problems when the owner beats the hell out of them on a regular basis. If you can find one that is babied they are fine.

[BP2K2Max]

Originally Posted by DinanM3_S2

Its tough to tell which car has more potential. There are pretty good aftermarkets out there for both the 350z and the S52 (3.2l) E36 M3. Active Autowerke's stage II M3 turbo kit produces about 360 hp at the wheels for about $10,000, and they have built up a few 600hp + cars. Dinan has a supercharger kit that produces 340hp. DA Motorsports has a 1,000 hp turbo setup for around $20,000. There are various 350z kits to get similar numbers.

it's not so much who has more potential but how much you're gonna pay to reach that potential. $10,000 for a trubo kit making 360 hp? that's insane. theVQ35 has single turbo kits available from Turbonetics and SSR for around $4,000 making 360-380 whp. Stillens supercharger kit makes similar power for somewhere in the $3K-$4K range.

[NISSANSPDR]

I know the BMW tuners are SUPER overpriced...if you want to mod it affordably, get the 350Z

[DinanM3_S2]

BMW tuners are expensive, but you can get an E36 M3 for much less then a 350z. I've seen decent ones sell for well under $20,000. You could theoretically have a 340whp E36 M3 for the price of a recent used 350z.

On top of that, it would be pretty difficult to get the 350z as comfortable and luxurious as the M3, or get that same steering feel from it.

[9ball]

I'd rather have an E36 if we're talking image, but I would agree that going Japanese is almost always more economical than going German. Yes, you can get a good used E36 for much less than a new Z, but there's a lot to be said for the difference in age. Therefore, if we're not just talking image, I'd have to go with the Z. In any 10yr old car you've got to worry about a sudden, out-of-nowhere problem that isn't near as much concern with a newer car. Also with the Z, you're more than likely to have a warranty which is invaluable if something actually does go wrong.

[kman10587]

Handling wise I would say the two are pretty close. The E36 M3 was known for its amazing handling. I've said this a million times, but C&D rated the E36 M3 as having better handling then the 911, Boxster, NSX, Supra TT, F355, 300zx TT, etc, truely an amazing feat considering the price difference between them. It is also a bit lighter then the 350z.

I've been meaning to comment on that handling comparison. I think what C&D meant by the E36 having superior handling is that it feels the nicest in the corners; in other words, they felt the most comfortable driving it aggressively through turns. While I have my doubts that an E36 M3 can realistically out-handle an NSX, 911, or F355, I have no doubts that it's much more civilized and predictable in the corners than those mid-/rear-engined beasts. Just food for thought, and a reminder to take anything that any magazine says with a grain of salt.