I'm a owner of a 2003 M3 and 2005 545i, and let me tell you something the 545i has no chance to win 1/4mile with the M3 from the stop, and if any of you think you can take M3 with 550 in a 1/4 mile from the stop you must wake up now!!!

 

In the convertible it's not as clear cut as you suggest. If you had a coupe, I might agree with you. Plenty of tales on here about the 545 matching the convertible - it's not as quick as the coupe.

 

Well, first, no one claimed anything about which car would beat which in a 1/4th mile--except you. But, the one I raced, a possibly modded one, was not overly special. While not the best source of info on who would beat who, the auto mags give these values.

BMW 545i R&T 6/05 5.2 13.7
BMW 545i MT 8/04 5.4 13.7
BMW 545i MT11/05 5.5 13.8
BMW M3 SMG R&T 12/03 4.8 13.5
BMW M3 C&D 5/03 4.8 13.6
BMW M3 Comp Pkg MT 5/05 4.8 13.3

My calculations show that my 545i's lbs/HP ratio (see Post # 19) is very comparable to an M3 and imply, given the mag results and especially given my real-world results, that my car and an M3 would be pretty much even in a 1/4. That goes for the 550i's too although they are about 100 lbs heavier than my car as they come from the factory.

 

I'm not even going to mention M3 couple, 545i and 550i have no chance going against the M3 couple. I had M3 couple, and now I have M3 vert. In a 1/4 mile I can take 545i by 2 cars, with the vert. We can all here argue which car is faster, and which car is better, and we can all show the numbers, but on the end we have to go on the track and see what our cars can do against different cars. There is a guy on Bimmerforums that hit a 12.4 with a stock E46 M3. There is also a guy there that is telling everybody that he killed 545i with his 1995 stock e36

 

Would that e36 "kill", by any chance, be the post from the gentleman claiming to have beaten a 545 in his 318ti????

 

Do you distinquish between stock and non-stock 545i's in stating, in effect, that M3's will beat 545i's? And, what are you so excited about? The issue is worth talking about, but not getting all stressed-out about. And, deep down, who really cares?

 

Stressed out??? We both agree that E60 it's a great car, and every car it's different so you never know what will happen.

 

I agree. Here are the best times for apparently stock current M3's that have been recorded at Dragtimes. The times are quite good, but these guys are serious. I don't have any idea what serious stock 545i drivers could get. No 545i times have been reported at Dragtimes.

12.980 109.300 8.429 85.770 1.954 BMW M3 SMG Coupe (modded N/A) 2003 Scott
13.052* 107.840 8.465 85.750 1.965 60.0 BMW M3 SMG II (stock) 2005 Pete
13.100* 107.400 8.520 84.400 1.970 65.0 BMW M3 Coupe 2004 Adel Malek

I take it back. For some reason, the 545i times below did not come up when I tried to compare 545i's and M3's at Dragtimes. Both cars are Steptronics. Also, mag times had been entered, but I ignored them.

13.700* 104.100 BMW 545i Sport 2005 NA
13.800* 103.200 BMW 545i 2004 Daddy

 

Agree on the 545 vs M3. Buy you're wrong on the 550. Th 550/M3 will be a drivers race. Same HP/weight ratio with the 550 having better torque. Basically too close to call. With even drivers, I'll take the auto 550 a street race.

 

Agree on the 545 vs M3. Buy you're wrong on the 550. Th 550/M3 will be a drivers race. Same HP/weight ratio with the 550 having better torque. Basically too close to call. With even drivers, I'll take the auto 550 a street race.
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I still disagree on the convertible M3. Even if the specs do show some advantage to the convertible M3 it's also a close call. I've kept up with a convertible M3 myself, some posts here suggest that there would be no contest, and that's not at all clear cut - even with the 545.