M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: e30Andym42 on June 14, 2009, 09:59:20 PM
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I have a pretty much stock e30 318is with about 100K miles. I drilled the airbox, K&N filter, and plenty of refreshments, nothing serious. I was aware this isn't the fastest car in the world, but I was happy with it. I've driven Porsche 911's, Corvette Z06's, 475 hp Cobalt SS, Mitsu Evo 8 MR FQ 400, Saleen S7, blah blah blah. I never felt slow in my e30. I always felt like I had power, even though I had 135 hp back in 1991. I was so excitied when I ran an 8.52 0-60 and I ALWAYS have fun driving, and get many compliments.
Not fitting the title well, so here's the "BUT". I was in the right lane, which ended after the light. I saw the light for the cross road turn red, so I released the brake and built up the revs, but damn the guy behind me. I was on an incline and was rolling backwards, I had to release the gas and press the brake because he pulled up on my ass at the light (didn't think to use the e-brake at the time). The light turned green, and I got a bad start obviously, reaction time was bad due to checking my mirror to see how close I was to the guy behind me. I floored the gas and released the clutch at about 2K. I was loosing, and I slammed it into 2nd, with the tires screaming. I couldn't keep up. I lost to a newish Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel. That was the only time since I owned the car I did not have a smile on my face after driving fast. :(
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be ware of any of those turbo-diesel trucks, some of them will light you up. The dyno shop i hang around has a diesel performance shop across the way that uses the dyno sometimes and on several occasions they have overloaded the dyno which will handle up to 1200ft/lbs of torque. And yes, I have been beaten by one too.
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We all have... hell I was eaten by one of them in my '01 GT Mustang, let alone the 318is.
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I have a totally stock 2005 Ram 3500 (1-ton) with the Cummins Turbo Diesel - only 325 HP but over 600 ft-lb of torque at 1600 RPM. It's a surprising beast, particularly for those who haven't driven one before. Off the line, with no load, I'd be surprised if a 318is could take it. Top end is nothing to write home about (not that I would bother, it's a work truck after all!), but there is power aplenty down low. I am intentionally NOT modifying it - I don't need another toy!
Anyway, off the line is not where our cars shine - the rotating mass is too great for the low torque the stock or near-stock M42 produces.
Don't sweat it.
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Buy my M50 & beat him...
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yeah but can he touch you in the corners?
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Do the math...that truck will beat you every time. High torque over a wide powerband is the holy grail of automotive design. And guess what? The diesel is far superior to the gas engine. However, we have much more top end. You'd likely be able to catch that truck within the first mile. That Cummins is a remarkable engine...but it's not the scalpel that the M42 is. It's redline is only like 3k, IIRC. You have 3000+ spare RPM to catch up with.
Could be worse...you could have been next to a Tesla Roadster...they have 200 ft-lb torque at 0 rpm! And they redline at 14k or so...
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in a straight line , my sons dually dodge ram diesel is damm fast
but like his dad, it aint stock
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I had a modified GM diesel have a go at me. I was just driving away and already shifted to second when I heard the truck roar. I managed to pull ahead by the top of second gear. I was also in my CTS-V which has 400/400hp/torque.
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don't worry man, if you don't know anything about those diesels, they are going to get you every time off the light. i have friends here in town who specifically look for people who don't know about diesels and then get them to bet big money in light to light races. its how htey pay for their new turbos and performance mods. my friends wally has 900 hp and 1600 pounds of torque in his dodge and in four wheel drive it smokes the 38s all the way through the intersection. not a single car here in town beats his or his two buddies diesels. they run 9 and 10 in the 1/4 with a 2 to 3 ton four door pick up.