ajoe

The c55 weighs only about 100lbs more than an m3, why doesn't it clearly dominate in the numbers department with all that extra power. Is it the gearing of the m3. I know from personal experience the m3 runs out of gas big time over 95 mph.

IdriveFast

i think because its ultimately about HP. since the C55 only has a little more horsepower, its only marginally faster. torque compensates for the weight disadvantage though...but mainly its about HP....thats my theory...

weight is dealt with by torque and HP takes care of the rest...thats my theory

EKaru

I own the C55 and have driven the M3 extensively.. The M3 is the sling shot and the C55 the rocket. The M3 feels quicker and the C55 faster (if that makes any sense)...
Eric...

reggid

the torque of the C will show up in low rpm races. If they were geared the same ( reached the same speed in each of the gears at full rpm) the fact they have similar hp means the C would have about 3-5% more wheel torque because of the extra power but the m3 has an extra gear to compensate this.

Plot hp vs road speed for the two cars and you'll see which car puts more hp and hence torque to the road. Then factor in weight, rotational inertia, friction and drag etc.

At high speed any small differences in performance are magnified and at very low speed they are masked.

AaronC

besides what is mentioned above, the C55 has inferior tires compared to the M3. this makes a big difference in its 0-60 and 1/4 times. A good way you can tell a cars real power is the MPH in the 1/4. It takes tires out of the picture. The C55 does the 1/4 in the 107-108 MPH range and the M3 does it in the 105-106MPH range. That is a pretty big difference.

BTW, I think this makes a big difference in the M5 vs E55 wars. The E55 has crappy 255 ContiSports, wheras the M5 has 285 PS2s. BMW has a distinct advantage there. I cannot beleive that MB has not put some better tires on the E55 to show how much faster it is.

IdriveFast

i think the w210 E55 had 245/275 and the W211 has 245/265...neither of them have 255's front or rear.

i would also like ot add our mighty C32 can consistently defeat the E46 Demon

MikeL

Torque converter, autos are slower. BMW's are geared more aggresively. I have a S54 M Roadster and CLK55, redlight to redlight, I'll put my money on the manual BMW. Anything rolling from 60 mph or higher and the AMG walks. Ive pulled faster 1/4 mile times out of the BMW, but the AMG is a fwy monster.

ajoe

Very good answers. Tells me that on a highway the c55 would outpull the m3.

AaronC

My bad, Typo. But, like I said the tires are far better on the M5.

1313

1) M3 is a manual and C55 is auto (SMG is still manual based).

2) M3 has one more gear and closer stacked ratios.

3) M3 has LSD and hence better traction, especially in standing start situation.

4) M3 has better weight distribution 49/51 vs C55's 55/45. Better traction.

5) M3 is lighter. UK specs show it is 143lbs lighter.

I have a M3 and C32. So I can only compare them:

M3 can stay quite close to C32 from stand still to 120mph. After that AMG walks.

C32 has even more advantage in a rolling start situation.

NayC55

what would be the best tires to put on a c32 or c55?

i didn't realize tires would effect the performance that much..

AaronC

Tires are the number 1 safety and performance part on your car. As far as what is best, it depends on your needs. For straight line only get some Drag Radials, for good wet and dry go with Michelin PS2s.

cntlaw

Wow ! A lot of information here!
I am glad that I only paid for one car (C55) and get the best of two cars (C55 and M3). Not v.v. :p

Here, we really don't see many C32/C55, M3 on the roads ( even I have seen planty of M3s and C32s parked still).We have more S500s, Subaru and Toyota Racer here; and they won't stand a chance

Back to the reality, how often ppl here with C32/C55 race a M3?

cntlaw

thanks...I been asking many times and no answer, what are the major differences between the stock Pirelli Pzero Losso and PS2 on the C55?
It's a bit early for me to change tires at 8000km; unless the PS2 does much more than my stock tires.

ctC230K

You mean you see plenty of Toyota Ricers there?

doofoo

I live in the Washington DC metro area where I always see M3's on the road. However, I have only run into 3 so far while in my C32... And only 1 would run, which I pulled on him a bit from a roll.

Wish I ran into more fast cars..

-Mike

SolidGranite

In terms of tires, the C55's biggest disadvantage isn't the tire brand but the size. The C55 puts on 245s in the rear which just isn't enough rubber on the ground to support all that torque, hence wheel spin.

AaronC

I have never tried the Pzeros in person, but in reviews the PS2s are given much higher marks.

You can compare them by looking at these marks:
PS2: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....ort+PS2#Survey
Pzero: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....metrico#Survey

steve s

i would take s-03, ps2, or gy f1 d3 over any of the pirelli tires... just my pref..

MikeL

Tires are one of the most important factors. Never ever cheap out on tires its your life were talking here. Especially on cars with a lot of HP, you need good rubber. I would recommend getting some S03's or PS2's. You cant go wrong with either.

1313

I was also curious which one is faster. That's why I raced my own C32 and M3 with a help from a friend. We did quarter mile, rolling start and highway runs on numerous occassions. C32 has an edge over M3 especially on highway runs.

My C32 recently put in a pulley kit. Now it smokes the M3, especially on high speed.

I'm not putting down M3 nor BMW. I'll still buy MB/AMG and BMW/M in future. They are two great german car makers.

Kompressor Man

Does anyone have any stock 1/4 times for the C55? I'm not talking magazine times. I did a search and didn't find anything.

xscream

The M3s seem to be very diffrent in power. And if you dont have a experienced driver behind the wheel, there is no chance that you could use its full potential.

I have a video of a 480hp RS4 racing a stock M3, and sure, the RS4 walks away, but the M3 isnt that much slower...
I know that my C32 and RS4 woudnt win against that M3, with that driver
But then, there is also videos of this M3 beating Mitsu Evo6's streetracing, and chasing porsches on nürnburing...

Btw. I killed 2 M3s with my C32 and a few more with the RS4, so generally speaking, the C32 and C55 is faster than the M3.

J Irwan

Any chance you could email this video to me.. ?


Regardz,

J Irwan

xscream

Here is the video:

http://members.ij.net/gg/rs4vsm3_2.mpeg

And I also found part of the article from rs6.com/bmwm5.com

http://www.bmwm5.com/articles.php?id=16