ZHP can kick E36 M3 arses at AutoX!

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

As implied somewhere on bimmerfest of course. ZHP egoism strikes again.

What's the deal here really? TD, Doug care to comment? Sorry if this sounds annoying (will delete if requested). But I have been in a situation where I have outdone a M5 on the tracks. Still, I never imply that my 325 is anywhere better than a M5. :roll:

If BMW NA did one thing right about the ZHP is that they market the damn package too well. To the point of having an illusory effect on the owners that the package is REALLY an E36 M equivalent.

[TD]

Hell, I am a novice autoxer and I've posted better times than E46 M3s. Is my car faster?

I've driven a ZHP. Is it the best 4-door E46 made for import into the US? By a large margin (IMO). I think the package really changes the character of the car. But when you look at the relative weights, HP and gearing, there is no way you can say, ceteris peribus, that the ZHP is going to be as fast as an E36 M3. And that extra weight will definitely have an impact through turns (read- autox). Oh, and it's still too isolated, quiet and numb.

It's a great car. Hell, in one C&D comparo back in 1999, the S4 beat the E36 M3. Which car would you rather have? Sometimes the whole is more than just the sum of the parts.

[dredmo]

FWIW, there is a large portion of people at my local events who swear that any 330 e46 can beat a equally talented driver in a e36 M3.

As a matter of fact, if you remember the photos of the mora colored e36 M3 at our last tour of the coast I posted, that driver even swears he does better lap times in an e46 330ci. Don't know how knowledgeable he really is, but he came across as pretty knowledgeable.

[Doug]

I'd think the E36 would have the edge, lighter and more power. My guess is that they are fairly even given an equal driver...

[Nick M3]

Frankly, after driving one, the only reason to get the ZHP IMHO is for the interior.

The suspension is still REALLY soft, the exhaust has an annoying low rev drone without any of the high rev benefits, and it just doesn't feel ANYTHING like the hype makes it. That said, it feels a lot more planted than the E36 which is probably why people post faster times in it. The E36 much more readily transitions to oversteer, making it tougher to control.

[ZHPhil]

Frankly, after driving one, the only reason to get the ZHP IMHO is for the interior.

The suspension is still REALLY soft, the exhaust has an annoying low rev drone without any of the high rev benefits, and it just doesn't feel ANYTHING like the hype makes it. That said, it feels a lot more planted than the E36 which is probably why people post faster times in it. The E36 much more readily transitions to oversteer, making it tougher to control.

Have to disagree with you Nick and compliment TD on his response. The ZHP is a notch above regular E46 sedans. Not a leap but enough to make it worth my while, especially since I only paid $1,200 for the package :twisted: Thanks to BMWNA for the trunk cash bue to my xiT issues :worshipb:

[The HACK]

[quote=Nick325xiT 5spd]Thanks to BMWNA for the trunk cash bue to my xiT issues :worshipb:

Don't forget BMWCCA discount too. Add the CCA Discount, I got the Z4 for 5,200 under inovice. :paranoid:

[clyde]

The ZHP is a notch above regular E46 sedans.

It's a very small notch. Very small. $1200 is way too much to pay for a notch that small.

[Nick M3]

The ZHP is a notch above regular E46 sedans.

It's a very small notch. Very small. $1200 is way too much to pay for a notch that small.

It depends. If you're autoxing (assuming classing stays the way it is), the ZHP is a competiveness DOWNGRADE in the stock classes. However, outside of that province, or in mod classes, the ZHP is well worth the extra $23 or so a month.

[Nick M3]

I should note, though, that I do not thing it comes even close to worth the $20k it'd cost for me to upgrade to it. :p

[Trance]

In my 330, I am always just behind the E36 M3s. I don't see why a ZHP could not be equal to a M3. Mind you, not better, just equal.

[Nick M3]

IMHO, the difference in stock classes is about 2%. The LSD and far more sophisticated level of development makes the M3 quite a lot faster in mod classes.

[SpaceMonk]

IMHO, the difference in stock classes is about 2%. The LSD and far more sophisticated level of development makes the M3 quite a lot faster in mod classes.
I definitely agree with that. Perhaps even slightly less than 2% on an autocross course, stock from the factory.

And yeah, once modded, e36 M3's are a LOT faster.