Carbon Fibre Wing Mirrors

[02_lsb]

Lol!!!!

I actually like that this forum people can have opinions and not get exhiled for it.

With the weight reduction I've done on my car, plus the go fast parts, my car will hang with an M2 CS in a straight line. I have a buddy with one (he also has a 1M, that SOB!). My car will also out corner his M2 because it weighs hundreds of pounds less.

I was just having this discussion with another forum member. It's hard to argue against the performance of a new car if speed is the only thing that matters.
But man they all feel just so damn bland to me. They feel like they are doing all of the hero work for you... because they are. There's a numbness to them that simply doesn't exist with the E46 M3 that's been breathed on a little. Investing in the right parts with the right chassis tuning and coupling that weight reduction, it is always going to benefit the car in every possible metric.

That said... I fully understand your point. Also, the amount of effort and time it takes to elevate an E46 M3 is enormous. But to me, that's exactly the point.

my car is not stock, per se, I have bbs, brembos, tck, supersprint, and some other bits.. I just don’t think engine upgrades are an upgrade on this car. I’m also not a fan of any CSL bits.

[bigjae46]

I just don’t think engine upgrades are an upgrade on this car.

Agreed. Lose weight in a way that maintains the balance and then throw in a mechanical clutch LSD with shorter gearing...two biggest upgrades for performance.

[Casa de Mesa]

My vantage point is always the system as a whole. In the case of the engine, I view that as anything that changes how it makes power: pulleys, intake, exhaust, cams, tuning, etc. In my case, going from 330 crank HP to 330 rwhp all with bolt-ons is a material change. That's not just peak, but usable power across the power band. When coupled with weight reduction (~200lbs), it certainly feels like a meaningful upgrade to me

Genuinely curious what your perspectives are on why you see it differently.

[Bimma360]

My vantage point is always the system as a whole. In the case of the engine, I view that as anything that changes how it makes power: pulleys, intake, exhaust, cams, tuning, etc. In my case, going from 330 crank HP to 330 rwhp all with bolt-ons is a material change. That's not just peak, but usable power across the power band. When coupled with weight reduction (~200lbs), it certainly feels like a meaningful upgrade to me

Genuinely curious what your perspectives are on why you see it differently.

I am sure in part it at least the value proposition. I spent 600 bucks on a tune for my X3M and the car went from 470hp to 690hp. Modern cars ruined the HP chase, and I get it.

I, however, am totally with you on your approach.

[Casa de Mesa]

Yeah fair point. I get the modern turbo whiz popper counterpoint (if that's actually the reason), but short of the new electrically driven / whatever-volt turbos Porsche is putting on their upper echelon cars (that I haven't driven - but the "no lag" proposition is appealing), newer forced induction cars with a billion HP couldn't interest me less. Unless they are NA. But then all those screens annoy me. Soap box much, Casa?

For me, squeezing power from an NA powerplant is where the magic lies. It also lies in the challenge of the build itself (the whole car, back to my overall systems comment) and because it's hard... that is what attracts me to this particular problem.

Back on topic. About how many grams will those carbon mirrors save us?

[bigjae46]

Yeah fair point. I get the modern turbo whiz popper counterpoint (if that's actually the reason), but short of the new electrically driven / whatever-volt turbos Porsche is putting on their upper echelon cars (that I haven't driven - but the "no lag" proposition is appealing), newer forced induction cars with a billion HP couldn't interest me less. Unless they are NA. But then all those screens annoy me. Soap box much, Casa?

For me, squeezing power from an NA powerplant is where the magic lies. It also lies in the challenge of the build itself (the whole car, back to my overall systems comment) and because it's hard... that is what attracts me to this particular problem.

Back on topic. About how many grams will those carbon mirrors save us?

I just got a 2026 330i M-sport for my wife before the fugly neue ass cars take over. For the base engine...wow! Driving it? It is nice, comfortable and smooth but it has an appliance feel to it. I can't explain it. I have no itch to drive it and this is the first new car we've bought since 2018.

Being a former service advisor, I've driven just about every variant of the F and G platforms. None of them have made me consider selling or trading my E90 M3.

[9kracing]

Being a former service advisor, I've driven just about every variant of the F and G platforms. None of them have made me consider selling or trading my E90 M3.

Look, I bought my E46 because I love classic design and analog vehicles. They're awesome.


But when you drive a S58 based X-drive car in Sport+ ... it's incredibly impressive. Like, it's probably arguably one of the best vehicles on the road right now. We're talking supercar level of performance once you throw on a $600 tune like Bimma said.

People are free to do what they want, that's what makes this county great.

I just need people to understand, the whole "it's numb there's no feeling" argument is silly when you're really pushing these cars. Trust me, they are anything but numb.

https://youtu.be/BBAExGsmonU?si=PISPkdovWXWe48Jk&t=1

[02_lsb]

Agreed. Lose weight in a way that maintains the balance and then throw in a mechanical clutch LSD with shorter gearing...two biggest upgrades for performance.

I also love the s54 rasp. I know dudes on this forum go above and beyond to make this car sound like something it is not - why? Rasp is awesome!!!

[Bimma360]

I also love the s54 rasp. I know dudes on this forum go above and beyond to make this car sound like something it is not - why? Rasp is awesome!!!

I am with ya! What I would love hear, though, would be a factory spec inconel section 2. Won't get rid of the rasp, but super curious on how it changes the tone.

[bigjae46]

I just need people to understand, the whole "it's numb there's no feeling" argument is silly when you're really pushing these cars. Trust me, they are anything but numb.

I've driven and rode in every non-SUV F and G chassis M car on the racetrack. They are fast but I've never jumped out and thought "I have to have one!" The engine is a monster, agree on that. The rest is...so what? And that goes for a lot of cars nowadays. Maybe I'm getting old. Maybe it's the astronomical cost to operate a G chassis M car on a track. From a cost to fun perspective, not worth it.

My E46 still runs faster lap times than G8X cars with tunes and all sorts of other mods at most tracks. The one exception is COTA.

[oceansize]

I've driven and rode in every non-SUV F and G chassis M car on the racetrack. They are fast but I've never jumped out and thought "I have to have one!" The engine is a monster, agree on that. The rest is...so what? And that goes for a lot of cars nowadays. Maybe I'm getting old. Maybe it's the astronomical cost to operate a G chassis M car on a track. From a cost to fun perspective, not worth it.

My E46 still runs faster lap times than G8X cars with tunes and all sorts of other mods at most tracks. The one exception is COTA.

Last week my brother ordered a brand new manual M3. All the “cool” bells and whistles so I’ll finally get some serious seat time. I’m interested to see how it feels.

[Bimma360]

Last week my brother ordered a brand new manual M3. All the “cool” bells and whistles so I’ll finally get some serious seat time. I’m interested to see how it feels.

May not apply to you, but it took me a week of driving to really appreciate it. And a month before I was like, yeah this is pretty awesome... holy crap how good must the G8X be then?! What I don't know is though, how the manual would be keeping the car on boost.

[Casa de Mesa]

I couldn't have said what bigjae46 said better myself.

I'm not saying the newer crop of cars (or SUVs) aren't impressive as hell. They just aren't for me.