Question about the e46 M3 and the V8s...

Ryan · #1 (**permalink**) 01-14-2002, 09:00 AM

Ok so from what I have heard/read online from various sites the e46 M3 had a slight understeer. I have also read that more weight up front results in understeer. Clearly the V8 is heavier than the I6 so that added weight would make the understeer of the M3 even worse. Is my thinking correct or no? If so why are these various tuners dropping the 5 liter V8 into the M3? I know its for speed mostly but why sacrafice BMW handling if its got a little understeer already. I don't know maybe its just my thinking but what do you guys think?

Thanks, Ryan.

klasic951 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-14-2002, 09:34 AM

It is true that the e46 M3 has a tendancy to understeer, but this has less to do with the weight distribution than it does the suspension. The combination of sway bars and spring rates give the car its handling characteristics. I am saying weight distribution has nothing to do with handling, no that is not it at all, but if Porsche can make a 911 understeer (to a point) then a lot is possible with suspension tuning.

The reason for M3 understeering is simple, BMW does not want to sell a car that has a tendancy to Oversteer. In general it is much easier to control a car that is in a state of understeer, but put a driver in a state of oversteer and odds are that driver would not bring the car back under control.

So if the people putting the V8's in the car do some work playing with spring rates and maybe some adjustable sway bars setting then I'm sure they can get the car to exibit less understeer than the original.

dram- · #3 (**permalink**) 01-14-2002, 09:34 AM

im sure they will fix the suspension to handle the v8,,

i doubt they will just drop the motor in and leave everything else the same

m3supercar · #4 (**permalink**) 01-14-2002, 10:45 AM

We've got a V8 in ours and the understeer isn't really any more noticeable than the 6, it is true that manufacturers build in understeer for safety purposes or as they say "make them idiot proof" but you can easily get rid of it in the V8 with a little right foot! now getting rid of oversteer, there's a problem!

Ryan · #5 (**permalink**) 01-14-2002, 11:53 AM

Ok so basically its all about the suspension and spring setup.