Ok here is the scenario, I own a 2006 IS 350 and my uncle owns a 2001 e46 m3 (manual).....now given that both cars are stock, how can I beat him, or make it close in a 1/4 mile race? Dont worry were going to go to a race track (meaning no street racing!). I would appreciate some pointers...since i've never been to a race track before and he's a better driver. What should I do about the VDIM? or how much gas should I have (full tank or 1/4?)....Any information is appreciated.


P.S. I didnt post this on the racing forum because I think I would get better advice, such as VDIM, from people that own the ISx50 rather than other cars.

 

LSM intake.. you should be pretty close... won't be embarrassin' VDIM off.... in the racing forum it's putting 13.3*

if you read around .. e46 and is350 have been compared

 

Cheat....BUt really it doesn't matter either way the M3 is suppose to be the faster car anyway. Oh and remember to punch the gas on the 3rd yellow.

 

if your car is stock, turn off trac control. The race will be very close since his car is manual and unless he's a very good driver he should beat you by at least 1 car. Weight removal is good but it doesnt really make a big difference since I ran a 13.6 in my stock IS with a full tank of gas. Don't worry about the tree on your first time when you take off as long as you don't take off too early. Your reaction time will be subtract from your ET so even if he takes off and get to the finish line before you do but your ET is better than him you will win. Remember to go AROUND the water box and do a little burnout as you get up to the tree just to warm up the tires a bit to get better traction. If you go through the water box you will have a very bad 60'. Enjoy and have fun

 

I've never been to the track. So, why do they have a 'waterbox', if it slows you down?

 

NO...
The waterbox is for cars that have drag slicks. Drag slicks need to be warmed up to become sticky. In order to do that you drive through the water to enable a better burnout. Then you back up in your "sticky" tire residue and wait to launch you car!

You have street tires so driving through the waterbox will be like driving on a wet street and hitting the gas vs on dry pavement. A simple "no waterbox" burnout will warm a pair of street tires up just fine. You can also lower the psi of your rear tires to make a bigger tire "patch" on the ground. Just remember not to drive home until you fill the tires back up again.

Also I would take out your spare tire and all of the extra stuff in the car including anything in the trunk/glovebox as well as all of the floor matts in the car and all of the engine bay covers. Run with no more than a 1/4 tank of gas OR run your car until it is almost empty and use the 100 octane unleaded at the track. You will only need to buy about three gallons max...it is a bit expensive and drag racing will not take that much. Also make sure your a/c is turned off .

I would run against some other cars before him to "warm up" to the racing a bit so you are not too nervous. You do stand a chance against him IF you do these things. An M3 is a fast car But on a drag track the IS350 has a VERY good chance of giving him a run for his money. You can run 13.3 all day long under the right conditions and remember you will NEVER slip a gear in an IS350

Here is the 1/4 mile time for a stock 2005 M3...which is faster than a stock 2001.

http://www.dragtimes.com/BMW-M3-Timeslip-5454.html

Here is the technical data on a 2002 M3.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2001/bmw...054/specs.html

Notice the o-60 time is 5 seconds...that is on a PERFECT launch. The IS350 can do a 5.2 with just jamming the pedal down without VDIm on.

Let us know how it turns out!

 

I'm not sure what you meant but I don't think his stock IS can do 13.3 all day long.

 

When the IS was first being tested, edmunds got a 6.1 sec 0-60 and Car and Driver got a 5.1 sec. I don't think you can get any faster than 5.1 with stock setup. Try to remove as much weight as possible. If the M3 is being driven by an average driver, the race will be close to a draw, IMO.