Sold my M3 and grew a mullet

[blue flowers]

I loved my E90, and do miss some of it's street manners.





I started tracking it more often and realized that, as great as the car was, it would require a lot more attention if I was to continue pushing it to it's limits. Maintenance got expensive, and I always had lingering fears that I'd spin a bearing or something would happen to the trans (it occasionally went into limp mode at the track due to heat).

A friend of mine ultimately bought my M3 and I immediately picked up a 2015 Z/28.



It's violently fun. Better car out of the box IMO.

So I'll see you dudes at the track!!!

[mreed]

Wow, the new car looks like a beast. Enjoy the mullet!

[InspireSiR]

Naturally aspirated 7 liter heater!

I'd take that car too just for the motor alone. Congrats on the new ride!

[-BEASTMW-]

Dunno if you remember me... I'm the guy who spied your E90 in our work garage. Was wondering where it's been! Don't worry, I bought an AW E90 M3 last August so I'll carry the torch, haha.

Congrats, that's one mean track beast! Hope to see you at the track sometime soon.

[blue flowers]

Originally Posted by -BEASTMW-

Dunno if you remember me... I'm the guy who spied your E90 in our work garage. Was wondering where it's been! Don't worry, I bought an AW E90 M3 last August so I'll carry the torch, haha.

Congrats, that's one mean track beast! Hope to see you at the track sometime soon.

Right on! I think I've seen your new car in the garage a couple times. I'll wave you down next time I see you, hah

[-BEASTMW-]

Originally Posted by blue flowers

Right on! I think I've seen your new car in the garage a couple times. I'll wave you down next time I see you, hah

Lol I just saw you! I was walking along Park and I was like, "That's a nice Cama-- wait a second" as you made a U-turn. I have to park in the tower so you prob won't see mine often.

Just did my first auto-x in the M yesterday. Was fun but I can't imagine what 305 R-comps in front must be like

[New2Roundel]

Congrats---for track work there aren't many cars that compete. Is this your daily?

[roastbeef]

there is a guy i see at the track from time to time with a z28 that added cams and a tune. that thing is nasty fast. we are about the same in the turns/braking zones, but he is a rocket ship on the straights. very capable cars.

[blue flowers]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

there is a guy i see at the track from time to time with a z28 that added cams and a tune. that thing is nasty fast. we are about the same in the turns/braking zones, but he is a rocket ship on the straights. very capable cars.

Just one cam in these motors! And yea, I can imagine. Stock bottom end LS7 with an aggressive cam, light head work, long tubes, and a tune can make over 600 whp. The conservative settup I'm looking at is good for around 585 wheel

You're probably a very fast driver, and I imagine your car is modified and on r-compounds. I'm significantly faster in the Z/28 than I ever was in my E90 on my best day - especially in braking zones and turns.

[blue flowers]

Originally Posted by New2Roundel

Congrats---for track work there aren't many cars that compete. Is this your daily?

Yes and no - my office is roughly 3 miles from my home, and I also work from home pretty regularly. If I need to I can ride my bike to work, and my wife has a Jeep for hauling stuff around.

I'll more than likely lease something cheap in the next year or so.

Not that it needs to be said, but the M3 is -without question- the better STREET car.

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by blue flowers

Just one cam in these motors! And yea, I can imagine. Stock bottom end LS7 with an aggressive cam, light head work, long tubes, and a tune can make over 600 whp. The conservative settup I'm looking at is good for around 585 wheel

You're probably a very fast driver, and I imagine your car is modified and on r-compounds. I'm significantly faster in the Z/28 than I ever was in my E90 on my best day - especially in braking zones and turns.

Congrats on the z28! I love those cars. Not a fan of the interior, but love the single purpose all out performance design. I would expect it to destroy an m3 on the track. Enjoy it!

[dparm]

Originally Posted by blue flowers

So I'll see you dudes at the track!!!

You'll probably see us in your rear view mirrors.

Nice acquisition. I'm looking forward to in-car GoPro footage. Please get an external mic and tape it to the rear bumper!

[xander_g]

Originally Posted by blue flowers

I loved my E90, and do miss some of it's street manners.





I started tracking it more often and realized that, as great as the car was, it would require a lot more attention if I was to continue pushing it to it's limits. Maintenance got expensive, and I always had lingering fears that I'd spin a bearing or something would happen to the trans (it went into limp mode once at the track due to heat).

A friend of mine ultimately bought my M3 and I immediately picked up a 2015 Z/28.



It's violently fun. Better car out of the box IMO.

So I'll see you dudes at the track!!!

Damn!! That thing looks beastly!

Congrats on the new car.

[Rajmun340]

I never thought i would say this one day but i think getting out of bmw is a good move in the way it has declined in all aspects in the last 5 years while other companies are on the rise. A beastly GM is one way to do it.

[Damage Inc]

Originally Posted by Rajmun340

I never thought i would say this one day but i think getting out of bmw is a good move in the way it has declined in all aspects in the last 5 years while other companies are on the rise. A beastly GM is one way to do it.

+1 BMW has really lost their way, struggling with the new M formula. They've moved on to capture new customers who want different types of M car but I"m not one of them. Americans producing more raw, engaging, NA sports than BMW M. 10 years ago this would have been laughed at. Today its reality. Too bad for us.

OP: curious to hear your thoughts on the 2 cars?

E90 V8 FTW

[b4hand]

I was thinking about getting a z/28 but the 1LE is faster in almost every way and is much cheaper.

I've always loved the look of the z/28 though.

[blue flowers]

Originally Posted by MojorisinM3

+1 BMW has really lost their way, struggling with the new M formula. They've moved on to capture new customers who want different types of M car but I"m not one of them. Americans producing more raw, engaging, NA sports than BMW M. 10 years ago this would have been laughed at. Today its reality. Too bad for us.

OP: curious to hear your thoughts on the 2 cars?

E90 V8 FTW

If I could have both cars I would. Comparing them isn't really fair though.

In terms of everyday street driveability, the M3 wins hands down - even with coilovers, it rode considerably smoother on street than the Z/28 did in stock form. The DCT is surprisingly the thing I miss most - I feel like people forget how cool a sequential dual clutch transmission really is. That's real-deal race car shit! As cool as the S65 was, I don't particularly miss it. It definitely sounded cool though.

In terms of performance - the Z/28 wins by a humongous margin. The M3 straight up felt slow after I drove the Z/28 the first time. I think it mostly has to do with the huge torque deficit of the M3. Also, I personally think the LS7 is a better all around motor than the S65 (I know that's blasphemous to say around here). I get essentially the same fuel economy, if not better, have over 100 hp more, and way the heck more torque, and tuning potential is limitless. Plus, a cammed LS7 sounds cooler than any S65 (to me).

Bottom line is I ultimately wanted a no compromise performance car that I knew I could beat on at the track whenever I wanted, with reasonable maintenance costs that I could perform myself comfortably. The Z/28 fits that bill to a T. I'm in a position where I don't need to drive it every day, so it makes sense for me.

BUT... If I was limited to one car to both track and drive everyday, it would probably be an E90 M3 again.

[KevinGS]

At the track, the Camaro is a beast.

On the road, that claustrophobic GM interior grows tiresome fast. I've been in several, and I just couldn't stomach it. But EVERY time I slammed the gas pedal, I was impressed.

[b4hand]

Originally Posted by blue flowers

In terms of performance - the Z/28 wins by a humongous margin. The M3 straight up felt slow after I drove the Z/28 the first time. I think it mostly has to do with the huge torque deficit of the M3. Also, I personally think the LS7 is a better all around motor than the S65 (I know that's blasphemous to say around here). I get essentially the same fuel economy, if not better, have over 100 hp more, and way the heck more torque, and tuning potential is limitless. Plus, a cammed LS7 sounds cooler than any S65 (to me).

Nice comparing a 4L to a 7L.

I do think the LS7 is gm's best engine so far. The new twin cams will be better though.

[blue flowers]

Originally Posted by b4hand

Nice comparing a 4L to a 7L.

I do think the LS7 is gm's best engine so far. The new twin cams will be better though.

A 7 litre that manages to get better fuel economy than a 4 litre.

Displacement is just one attribute. The BMW also has individual throttle bodies, tuned length headers, dual overhead cams, and a bunch of other high tech bells and whistles, whereas the LS7 is a simple pushrod V8 with a throttle body and standard exhaust manifolds. The 4.0 doesn't get a "handicap" just because it's smaller.

[blue flowers]

Originally Posted by KevinGS

At the track, the Camaro is a beast.

On the road, that claustrophobic GM interior grows tiresome fast. I've been in several, and I just couldn't stomach it. But EVERY time I slammed the gas pedal, I was impressed.

To be perfectly honest, I actually like the interior in the Z/28 just as much as I liked the interior in the E90 M3. It may lack some of the sophistication found in European cars, but I really don't think it's as bad as everyone says it is. Haven't gotten tired of it.

The factory seats in the Z/28 are as good as any other OEM Recaro seat, and the alcantara accents look great. It's obviously on the spartan side, but thats what I prefer. My E90 was similar in that I had nav-delete, manual cloth seats, and no sunroof.



That said, I actually just picked up a set of custom upholstered Pole Positions for track utility (will post pics once I install).

[cliverman]

It's not a bad car - we shouldn't bash you too much. But this is a M3 forum.