so ive been hearing some rumors lately here and on other forums that the lexus is350 could possibly take on the e46 m3 bmw in a drag race. Is this true for the most part. I would think that the m3 would eat the is350 each time but im a noob. What you guys think. Considering both are stock RWD. Thanks. Reason im asking is ill be getting a 350 within a few months and i am just trying to find out as much as possible before i buy something. Not that I really care if it smokes the m3 or not just trying to get a feel of how fast it might be, cause i know the m3 is a beast.

 

Can't really compare the IS350 to the M3

 

^ what he just said. You can compare Is350 to a m3 maybe an Is-F (even thou I would take the m3 over the IS-F personal opinion)

 

I know u can't really compar them but the question is who would win in a drag race from a complete stop? Are people wrong when they say the is350 can win in a race from a complete stop or will the e46 m3 take it every time?

 

Most likely the IS350 unless you can shift well.

 

The cars are almost identical 0-60 the is being .2 secs slower according to http://www.zeroto60times.com

 

I've raced the e46 from a dead stop with my 350 and beat it three times in a row.

I've also raced it from a rolling start and was 2-3 cars ahead by the time my speedo light came on.

Could be driver error, he was stick shift; I dunno, but there's no need to worry about that car in a straight line. Race track with turns, he'd probably eat the 350 alive.

 

I've also heard other people beating the e46 with their is350.

 

i really wouldnt see why the is350 wouldnt walk away from an e46 easily. im almost positive gearing and torque alone the 350 wins. thats not even a fan boy thing, thats just all honesty vs im sure if you asked this question on the bimmer forums they all would say the m3 would beat the 350 from a dig

 

Lol exactly, i was cruising the m3 forums and they all said that the 350 has no chance. I mean those are some Hardcore fan boys tho, I'm pretty sure if there was a guy on the street shooting a Tommy gun they would jump in front of their m3 to save it instead of hiding behind it lol.

 

yeah that site is packed with fan boys that believe the bmw is the end all be all. its only a select few vets on there who will acknowledge the cons of those particular cars or their short falls. i drove a friend of mines E46 M3 and in all honesty it didnt feel as fast as my is350. but then again thats comparing a 6spd manual vs the aggressively geared 6spd auto in the 350.

thats why i believe IS350 vs manual M3 = is350 walks away. but is350 vs smg m3 will be a closer race from a dig but i still believe the is350 would win ulitmately

 

I think it really depends on what M3 you are going against. The standard coupe e46 M3 is about 400lbs lighter with a few more HP than the is350. the convertible is almost the same weight +/- 50-100 lbs or so. Also SMG/Manual 6speed is a huge difference. Also depends if the M3 is tuned or bone stock. I've driven a few M3's and those things are pretty quick though.

Stock to Stock, SMG M3 vs IS350, I will give the is350 by a nose. Definitely wont walk a M3 but it could beat it. A modified IS350 I/H/full E vs a modified M3 I/H/full E I would say M3 all day. I've seen a couple baseline dyno's for M3 with full bolt ons and its pushing around 350-360hp (dyno numbers). I have yet to see a is350 anywhere near there power wise.

Also (pulled as a reference for I6 vs V6 engines) "For a V6 engine, there is an odd number of cylinders in each bank so by its inherit design, it is unbalanced. An inline 6 on the other hand is naturally balanced, only needing proper tuning and the correct firing order to maintain it. In addition, inline 6 cylinders produce more torque than V6 configurations"

 

m3 by a fender will win, it was SMG

 

 

I've owned both. I ran a 13.48 in my 2004 M3 and a 13.71 in my 2008 IS350. Both cars bone stock. If the M3 has a good driver, it should slowly pull away on top end. From a dead stop, they feel pretty close.
However if you look beyond drag racing, the M3 is the better car hands down.