C43 better than M3
AMG power
That ladies and Gentlemen is the M3 that started this whole threat. Its a beutiful car, and the owner understands the power of the AMG's. Ill post pics of my baby when i get hewr cleaned up. If anyone has any great ideas on making the C36 faster drop a reply
AMG power
A few weeks ago, I went to a GTG of AMG's and M's. Alot of nice cars there and the people were great. I got the chance to look at a bunch of cars, E36M3's, E46M3's a CL55AMG, and another C43 like mine.
Anyway, on the way home I raced one of the guys (4 door E36 M3) while we were cruising at 70mph. It was clear and he pulled next to me and we both nodded. He downshifted and took off on me, maybe half a car or so. I just accelerated and pulled pretty good on him at about 90+. Anyway, I totally respect the M's power and the other guy totally respected AMG.
I think either way, the cars are great. It is hard to compare the two b/c there are so many differences. For one, an AMG is a combination of power and luxury. M's are pretty much race ready!
For me though, I like the MB. Just a preference. When I see other cars, be it a M3 or M5 or Ferrari or whatever, I know that my car can hang. Dont get me wrong, I know my place with many cars, but I like to have fun and show people that AMG is not an automatic slouch.
Regardless, I like the friendly competition. You'll never catch me bashing a M, unless it's whack.
Here's a link about what I am talking about. Read page two, look for what Veno said.

Click me
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
i definitely agrees with you Denlasoul. IMO true car enthusist will appreciate any car doesn't matter if it's a BMW or a MB or a Audi. People that constantly try to put down the M or whatever because they probably feel that they made the wrong purchase and say stupid things about the other to justify their purchase to make themselves feel better.
lots of morons out there
i definitely agrees with you Denlasoul. IMO true car enthusist will appreciate any car doesn't matter if it's a BMW or a MB or a Audi. People that constantly try to put down the M or whatever because they probably feel that they made the wrong purchase and say stupid things about the other to justify their purchase to make themselves feel better.
I agree....
frankly I am tired people trying to compare them as which is best... and trying to put down the other brand
in my opinion whatever car you ended buying is just a matter of opinion (let that be M3, C32 or S4)
I have drive them all (not the new S4 B6 thought
) and I know each car has its own characteristic ( compare to other)....M3's and c32 AMG are fast.....
if you like stick that you can't go wrong with M3, and if you like auto you can go wrong with C32 and if you must to have AWD car then go for S4....just that simple..
It just that a lot of people that are so narrow minded and so insecure about their cars, that's why they like to brag about their car and put down others...
just my $0.02
Regardz,
J Irwan
Last edited by Supersparker; Jan 1, 2006 at 05:35 PM.

I would have assumed that against the E46; surprised related to the E36.
Then of course you can do this to your C, CLK or older E...
The creator of that suspension was embarrasing race prepped M3s and Elises over the summer on the track with his C43 (of course, he's a pro racer so knows how to drive too!)

I would have assumed that against the E46; surprised related to the E36.
Then of course you can do this to your C, CLK or older E...
The creator of that suspension was embarrasing race prepped M3s and Elises over the summer on the track with his C43 (of course, he's a pro racer so knows how to drive too!)I have a 96 M3, which is the 3.2L OBD2. I have an intake, which is a piece of **** but still..., the m50 manifold (it is the manifold from the 95 M5s which has wider runners, allowing about 100 cfm more in each runner), a catback (which seems to just add sound), and a mis-matched chip. What I mean by mismatched is it is programed for no modifications, when my car has a few things done.
I'd just like to clarify a few things. The M3 holds up very well... though I have some rattles... I probably shouldn't have gutted the thing and put it back together again (half assed lol). I've got 156k miles on the car at the moment. It was beat to death before I got it at 90k, and I know that the 70k I put on it I've run it hard enough to make people wonder why it hasn't blown up. But the engines and the ZF transmissions are great, just like the mercades.
I've raced a C36 on the highway from about 80 mph to 130 mph. It did not stand a chance. But it was fun. The C43 surely shocked me with how damn close everything was. I'm interested in the C43 so much that I HAD to get on the forum. I'm wondering what can be done to the car, what kind of power gains are available for bolt on things, how expensive is it. How quick can you get it without going FI or Cams? How much with all that jazz. And if anyone has any questions about the M3 or just want to shoot the **** I'll be checking in every so often.
Last edited by 96M3Power; Jan 23, 2006 at 02:56 AM.
Member coolcarlskic43 here did the motor swap before me and is the one that hooked me up with his mecanic. He's got a bunch of cars, one a E36 he swapped a M3 motor into. He's a real smart car guy and is the most educated IMO to speak about comparing and contrasting the two. I'll PM him to check in.
Regarding 4.3L, Jeff Short (speedybenz) was getting just about 300hp to the wheels from all his external modz to intake, exhaust, whatever; just before he slid it off a ravine. He's a power mod'ing powerhouse in the 202 scene.
He still has a desire to build a 4.3L internally to produce 400hp crank; and I trust that out of anyone, he could achieve that. ...Though now that he's probably moving to a 5.4L...
Follow this thread for a readers digest version of what he's done to his car. http://www.club202.com/forums/showth...&threadid=8650
When you hear about "camber arms" on this board, he's the guy that makes them for everyone.
) but I've driven them quite a bit. I must say that I my C43 will walk all over stock M3s. its quicker off the line, it pulls harder, etc. But then again i did swap in a 5.4l into my C43. So its not completely stock. I haven't been in anything thats felt faster. Even my brothers STi doesn't feel as fast. I haven't driven anything that felt as fast as my car. And at highway speeds nothing has kept up with me. That being said. I love M3s and feel like right out of the box they handle extemely well. But I feel like if I go from my C43 to a M3, I'm downgrading and its a slow lump of steel. They just don't feel that fast to me (not saying they're not fast tho).Steve, Jeff is definetly going 5.4l, but which one is a different story
As for the '43, my answer to the question is that I bought the AMG...and spent several grand more doing so. You just can't top that V8 torque and growl. The car will pull hard whenever you want it to.....even at low rpm. Its not quite as quick as the M3, but it is fast enough for me....and its got 4 doors, is more comfortable (IMHO) and has a nicer interior altogether. The auto trans is not entirely desireable, but with all that torque, you don't necissarily have to keep the engine at its "sweet spot" to get good performance. It would be nice to have in the twisties though, and I don't really feel like using the gated shifter too much from all of the stories I've heard about tranny problems. I will definitely be picking up an e36 M3 coupe in the future as a second car, but I am very happy w/ the '43. So my vote still goes for the C43
Unless something is wrng with the MAF in the C43,there should be a noticeable difference in topend power delivery between both cars.The MAF can either make or break the C43 if it's on it's way out.Steve and I can vouch for this.A good driver in a properly tuned C43 can run high 13's like in a stck well driven E36 M3.
PS No offense but the C36 to me seems like a pig,BUT it's the pioneer to my car.My friend(Ralston) ran consistent low 15's high 14's in his at E-town.
Last edited by ProjectC55; Jan 23, 2006 at 10:12 PM.
I have a 96 M3, which is the 3.2L OBD2. I have an intake, which is a piece of **** but still..., the m50 manifold (it is the manifold from the 95 M5s which has wider runners, allowing about 100 cfm more in each runner), a catback (which seems to just add sound), and a mis-matched chip. What I mean by mismatched is it is programed for no modifications, when my car has a few things done.
I'd just like to clarify a few things. The M3 holds up very well... though I have some rattles... I probably shouldn't have gutted the thing and put it back together again (half assed lol). I've got 156k miles on the car at the moment. It was beat to death before I got it at 90k, and I know that the 70k I put on it I've run it hard enough to make people wonder why it hasn't blown up. But the engines and the ZF transmissions are great, just like the mercades.
I've raced a C36 on the highway from about 80 mph to 130 mph. It did not stand a chance. But it was fun. The C43 surely shocked me with how damn close everything was. I'm interested in the C43 so much that I HAD to get on the forum. I'm wondering what can be done to the car, what kind of power gains are available for bolt on things, how expensive is it. How quick can you get it without going FI or Cams? How much with all that jazz. And if anyone has any questions about the M3 or just want to shoot the **** I'll be checking in every so often.
And NO Way is a C36 gonna run circles around an M3 and the M3 tears the C43 a new ***! Not happening! C43 > than both in terms of topend pwr.
Last edited by ProjectC55; Jan 23, 2006 at 10:16 PM.
Now keep in mind I have the 3.2L with the runners from the 3.0L which are wider. I get a lot better top end with them, but lose low end and a little bit of mid-range... however in racing speeds you are always in the top end. 4500 rpms to redline at 7000 is just gold. I think the manifold is what made the difference when it came into the higher speeds racing the C43. With the right software I'll regain mid-range and gain more top end, however... I'm pondering a supercharger for it.
My rear shock tower failed, BMW didn't make the mounts well enough, they needed a little more buffering to spread the pounding across. I had it welded back in and got a new suspension... the stock suspension cause with the tower failure I couldn't afford the new suspension anymore hah.
So my question is for the C43... how much are power worthy upgrades? How reliable is the overall car? What are the faults? Thanks a ton guys



AMG 



