C43 better than M3
Stock W202 C36 AMG- 276HP
Stock W202 C43 AMG- 305HP
If the M3 is a manual tranny it has a gearing advantage over the Mercedes. The C36 is in the middle, but is not faster then an M3 due to the automatic tranny. The C43 has the electronic tranny and has alot more engine torque which helps alot, along with having another 60Hp then the M3.
It also depends on the driver, and what mods were done to each car.
perhaps ur car is a little tired? how's the mileage?
If you are heavy footed on take off all the time then it will respond on demand. C43 is a 'SLEEPER". My son and I have totally different driving habits and I hate having the car back after he has driven it because it "Hammers" me at every green light for a day or so.
You have to take the c43 on the highway from time to time to blow it clean.
An M5 would need a great gear shifter not to loose to an OEM C43.
As for the M3 - I would say it does have the gear advantage. On the highway - however - the C36 did stay side -to-side with the M3 (NOT 2002 M3).
As for the the C43 - I have only had one side by side confrontation and the C43 edged in front of the C36. It was at full throttle - speeds over 130 on a light traffic highway.
Bottom Line: I would feel safe and excited driving any of the cars.
The M3 is a great car. So is the C36 (very clean). But the C43 wins. period.
LADD
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much better gearing helps the launch of the M3 and more torque helps the C36/43 get going at speed.
Modded E36 M3 might be a different story. All depends on how much $$ they put into their cars.
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I hear you on the $$ issue, but to really make improvements you will have to shell out the dough. To be on the budget side, I would suggest upgrading your intake to an HKS or make your own. There are several people doing this right now with their C280's and C36's. Next I would go with a chip of some sort. You will have to do your research on this too, there are many companies out there saying we have this much hp and tq gain...blah blah blah. I would suggest finding someone with a particular chip and ask them questions. I bought a chip a few months ago but havent had the time to install it yet. (UpSolute, btw)
As for changing your exhaust, I wouldnt suggest it. AMG does a fairly good job in fine tuning their engines and exhausts. If you chage it, you might actually lose hp. With the non AMG cars you might get a little difference, but I doubt you will get anything significant with a new exhaust. Think about it, an exhaust might run you about half the price of a chip!
Good luck,
DLS
Even basic mods for Mercedes are pricey.
if u r serious. maybe u should visit renntech sometime, helmut used to work for amg before forming renntech.
What year is you friend E36 M3
if he has the 3.0 L motor, the $1000 intake he is taking about is the kit which include (euro HFM, cold air take system, and chip-software)
on the 3.0L OBD I a healthy E36 M3 proven to have around 270 hp
so don't feel so bad about that..
As for improving your C36
I would get a chip and intake
I have Powerchip .
Here is their website Powerchip Au.
Regardz,
J Irwan
That would be in Europe.
US spec E36 M3...240hp (5spd)...E46 M3 333hp
Euro spec E36 M3...321hp (6spd)..E46 M3 343hp
US E36 M3 (95) 3.0L 240 HP (OBD I)
US E36 M3 (96-99) 3.2L 240 HP (OBD II)
Euro E36 M3 (93-95) 3.0L 286 hp
Euro E36 M3 Evo (95-98) 3.2L 321 hp
US E46 M3 3.2L 333 HP
Euro E46 M3 3.2L 343 HP
On E36 M3 US spec and Euro Spec have totally different engine.
Where E46 US and Euro Spec has the exact same engine.
Lower HP output on US E46 M3 due to catalytic converter.
However the best E36 M3 to be tuned is the OBD I (3.0L version)
With the Euro HFM, chip , intake, cam, and injector it will produces 300hp at crank.
Check out some back issue on the European car.
Hope this clear some confussion.
Regards,
J Irwan
Last edited by J Irwan; Feb 17, 2003 at 11:21 PM.
i thought the number difference between Euro and US E46 M3 is because of the calculation differences. So what you said applys to C32's Euro 354 and US 349, right?
)For example my C36 Euro spec 280hp but US spec is 276 hp
However E46 M3 due to some restriction on the cat to meet certain EPA requirement the HP shrink from 343 DIN HP to 333 hp

I am not sure about C32 though.
As far as I have read so far, I don't recall hp being shrank to meet certain EPA requirement
It could be due to the lower emission the C32 and other AMG model has.
Since the BMW M car engine seems to be more high-strung NA engine (highly tuned), it is possible they have higher emission than AMG model. (just my thought $0.02 )
Regardz,
J Irwan
Last edited by J Irwan; Feb 17, 2003 at 11:38 PM.
you mean blk out the slate on the front end? yeah, that would look tight. There's a guy on the 208 forum blk out his 430's front slate too. It looks pretty nice.






