My first drive in our long-term 2002 BMW M3 came last night during a torrential downpour (not shown), and my first thought was: It sure doesn't have the rapid-fire off-the-line response of any BMW 335i I've ever driven.
This is absolutely true, of course: The M3's 3.2-liter inline six doesn't make its peak torque of 262 lb-ft until 4,900 rpm. The twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.0-liter in the 335i hits you with 300 lb-ft at just 1,400 rpm. (The weight difference between the cars appears to be a little over 100 pounds in favor of the M3.)
In retrospect, it's not as if I needed more torque on saturated streets...
Hopefully, my number will come up again when there's an opportunity to drive the M3 in drier weather -- and at higher rpm.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
drmillerM3 says:
06:25 AM, 02/12/09
Personally I haven't notice a lack of low range torque in my m3, especially in the wet. Off the line in the dry, rev to 2000-3000 rpms and you take off. More rpms and you leave tread behind. If you really want fun torque in the rain, turn off DSC and take a corner in 2nd and press down the accelerator (Just remember to counter steer!)