M3 Nurburgring Time = 7:57

[imolazhp_ci]

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

Agreed.

I say no freakin way the E92 M3 did a 7:57. No way. Was it on slicks and stripped out? Has the track been changed allowing for faster times now? There is no way the improvement would be that great over the E46.

However, I have no problem admitting I'm wrong when we see an official time!

how do you figure, it isn't that much Heavier than the E46, it has a lighter engine and better engine placement, and almost 100 more hp.... and the E46 came before public ring times were a huge factor. so they can tune a little more suspension this time around. i think 7:57 is still a little slow. considering the CSL was 7:50.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by imolazhp_ci

.. i think 7:57 is still a little slow. considering the CSL was 7:50.

I am DEFINATELY not touching that one.

[devo]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Good discussion guys. Exactly for the reason that a BMW person did not say, "the time is X" I did not say in my post title nor body say that this was an OFFICIAL time. Richter is quite good at "talking in riddles" as 13eastie points out. The last riddle he gave us was X seconds faster than any previous M car. Not to mention his talk about the car being "lighter" (lighter than what). This riddle That got us down on the 8:0X range.

ajj: I am surprised there is a direct contradiction between senior M folks as you mention. I have tried two computers and 4 browsers and just can not get to the end of the 4th video. Can you please provide a direct quoation? I would have posted this contradiction for sure as it is a HUGE contradiction - 10 seconds. As far as comparing to the 911 I have not found a Sportauto time for the base 911 but I suspect 8:07 would be quite a bit faster. However it is not faster than the 911S whose time is 8:05.

I like Epacy's rational approach to placing upper and lower limits on the cars time given no official time. The best we have right now is a provisional time of 8:03 with Cups. I do hope to find out the whole story on whether Cups can be purchased on the car, in the showroom, and if not, what is the Sportauto time without Cups. Too many variables 6MT, M-DCT, Cups, no Cups, ugh.

Actually, I believe, a 911S w/x51 and 20mm suspension (both factory options; the latter being a Euro only option.) did it in 7:59; on PS2's.

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by imolazhp_ci

how do you figure, it isn't that much Heavier than the E46, it has a lighter engine and better engine placement, and almost 100 more hp.... and the E46 came before public ring times were a huge factor. so they can tune a little more suspension this time around. i think 7:57 is still a little slow. considering the CSL was 7:50.

Why would you think the 7:57 for a car that weighs 3648lbs is slow compared to a car that weighs 3150lbs??? That statement is absurd.

Nice discussion guys, I'm sorry I didn't get in earlier. I sure do hope to get some official times soon.

[ajj]

swamp:

ooops..meant 8:07..it's true..physicians can't do math .

in the faq section, someone asks what is the nurburgring lap time compared to RS4 at the very end of the video.

Lema??(technical director for M) responds: "audi rs4 and porsche 911 are no longer competitors as the new m3 is quite a bit faster"

"the new m3 is 15sec faster than its predecessor..its predecessor's time was 8.22....you can do the math..." yada yada yada

"we do not have factory nurburgring times, but we'll wait for sport auto or the such....we are confident we will end up on top."

almost exact quotes

[sdiver68]

7:35

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by devo

Actually, I believe, a 911S w/x51 and 20mm suspension (both factory options; the latter being a Euro only option.) did it in 7:59; on PS2's.

Sportauto time or unofficial? If it is not the former it is the latter.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by ajj

"the new m3 is 15sec faster than its predecessor..its predecessor's time was 8.22....you can do the math..." yada yada yada

"we do not have factory nurburgring times, but we'll wait for sport auto or the such....we are confident we will end up on top."

Indeed a direct contradiction between Richter and the Program Manager and a HUGE 10 second contradiction. I expect better from senior BMW M folks.

Nice statement that others on the forum need to take note of - OEMs/factories do not have Nurburgring times - they rely on Sportauto and those times are "official".

[Hammerwerfer]

You can rest assured that the Sport Auto times are not the fastest achieved for virtually any car. Horst von Saurma is not exactly the quickest fellow out there, and often he has to test a car under less than optimal conditions. He is bound by deadlines, and the availability of press cars, whereas the factories can take their time and allow the likes of hired guns Walter Roerhl (Porsche), Hans Stuck (BMW),or Dirk Schoysmann (Nissan) to put up a rather impressive time.

[13eastie]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Nice statement that others on the forum need to take note of - OEMs/factories do not have Nurburgring times - they rely on Sportauto and those times are "official".

Since we know that this particular car has been tested extensively by BMW at the 'Ring, we really can't be sure whose laptimes Richter has been talking about though...

And since he did not actually give us a time, this can hardly be thought to be official...

Does anyone have any idea when Sportauto is expected to publish test results?

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by 13eastie

Since we know that this particular car has been tested extensively by BMW at the 'Ring, we really can't be sure whose laptimes Richter has been talking about though...

And since he did not actually give us a time, this can hardly be thought to be official...

Does anyone have any idea when Sportauto is expected to publish test results?

"October this year", directly quoted from a mail I received from Rolf Scheibner, Product and Launch Manager for the BMW M3 at BMW M GmbH

BMW does not publish official lap time statements from the Nürburgring - they also see sportauto times as the 'authority' on times

[ILC32]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Nice statement that others on the forum need to take note of - OEMs/factories do not have Nurburgring times - they rely on Sportauto and those times are "official".

That is what I have been saying for some time now. . .

[ILC32]

Originally Posted by ajj

Lema??(technical director for M) responds: "audi rs4 and porsche 911 are no longer competitors as the new m3 is quite a bit faster"

Is anyone else surprised by the statement above?

[southlight]

November issue of Sportauto is out which states that the December issue will feature the M3 Supertest. Magazine's coming out Nov. 23rd! So 1 month to go...

Best regards, south

[dechoong]

Originally Posted by devo

Actually, I believe, a 911S w/x51 and 20mm suspension (both factory options; the latter being a Euro only option.) did it in 7:59; on PS2's.

If I remember correctly, it was a standard 911S with the optional Sports suspension (20mm lowered) that did 7:59. The X51 Power Pack wasn't available yet when this time was posted.

[dechoong]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Sportauto time or unofficial? If it is not the former it is the latter.

It was Walter Rohl's official time quoted by Porsche. This guy is a driving god... I've seen videos of him driving a GT3 in delicately controlled powerslide around tightly spaced cones... amazing.

[888]

Originally Posted by ILC32

Is anyone else surprised by the statement above?

Lema??(technical director for M) responds: "audi rs4 and porsche 911 are no longer competitors as the new m3 is quite a bit faster"

He is plain and simply talking Sh1t.

[devo]

Originally Posted by dechoong

It was Walter Rohl's official time quoted by Porsche. This guy is a driving god... I've seen videos of him driving a GT3 in delicately controlled powerslide around tightly spaced cones... amazing.

All the better that it was achieved on PS2's with "only" 355 hp and the optional 20mm susp. Which means that the facelifted, power bumped, 911S should run sub 7:59! Add x51 (400 hp+) to that car and you're likely in the low 7:50's. Add Cup tires and the M won't touch it.

BTW, you're right Rohrl IS a God. I watched the GT3 video and the 997 turbo vid; absolutely amazing. He is so delicate, smooth and relaxed.

[JEllis]

This thread sounds like a group of bickering old ladies....

Looking forward to something official

[devo]

Originally Posted by swamp2

Sportauto time or unofficial? If it is not the former it is the latter.

(Wheels 6/04), Walter Rohrl, PASM setting "Performance" (7:59), without x51, as Dechoong has posted.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by devo

(Wheels 6/04), Walter Rohrl, PASM setting "Performance" (7:59), without x51, as Dechoong has posted.

This time doesn't suit for comparisons unless you get Röhrl in an M3!

Best regards, south

[devo]

Originally Posted by southlight

This time doesn't suit for comparisons unless you get Röhrl in an M3!

Best regards, south

Nor, does the "unofficial" 8:03 count for the M3, unless you put Cup tires on the facelifted 911S!