[Thurman Murch]

I would say BMWs are the all around perfect cars... Fords are definitely getting better. I'd rather drive a new focus over a camry se

I would say an S4 felt as fast as my 335is with two clogged injectors... When I put PSS on the is and got new injectors I felt a glimpse into what I feel the next F8x will be

I still love the S65 and dread the carbon build up issues with these newer gdi engines... decarbonization will become mandatory to keep the performance

I've put significant miles on DCTs and drove them at the track and drove them hard no issues whatsoever... I'd rather have a manual but the DCT is years better than the 8AT that comes in a 550i... Both DSG and PDK can handle a beating... I think DCT is still better

My first mod to a car is always lighter rims and better tires

[FogCityM3]

Wow...the Streets of Willow looks like a dust bowl!! Can't believe how dusty the track was with all these cracks in the surface too....looks like a terrible place to track a car! Would think it's pretty hard to draw forgone conclusions about car vs car in those conditions. As far as not putting PSS on the 328i, the AD08s are a better tire grip wise, albeit somewhat heavier than PSSs, which can matter at 240 hp...but AD08Rs are as good as its gonna get grip wise without going to more extreme quasi-race rubber. At any rate think the 328 sedan did a very good job vs the 'Stang esp given the HP disadvantage, so don't know what everyone is all worked up about and the .5 secs difference or whatever could just be one dust patch's effect on lap times. Think I may try the AD08Rs next time around

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by drob23

No, although they tend to come with the pretty crappy conti tires. Michelin PSS are widely regarded as the best bang/buck, which is why I'm gonna wrap them onto my new wheels (which hopefully get here in the next week or so ).

Re11 better.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by FogCityM3

Wow...the Streets of Willow looks like a dust bowl!! Can't believe how dusty the track was with all these cracks in the surface too....looks like a terrible place to track a car! Would think it's pretty hard to draw forgone conclusions about car vs car in those conditions. As far as not putting PSS on the 328i, the AD08s are a better tire grip wise, albeit somewhat heavier than PSSs, which can matter at 240 hp...but AD08Rs are as good as its gonna get grip wise without going to more extreme quasi-race rubber. At any rate think the 328 sedan did a very good job vs the 'Stang esp given the HP disadvantage, so don't know what everyone is all worked up about and the .5 secs difference or whatever could just be one dust patch's effect on lap times. Think I may try the AD08Rs next time around

That track is a dump but fun!

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by DVC

The BMW 3-Series IS a performance car.

A performance "sedan", but performance-oriented none the less. The fact that it is routinely compared to more purpose-built sports cars is because it performs well enough to merit comparison. Does it carry a disadvantage due to extra size and weight? Yes. So does the 4300# Porsche Panamera, which - particularly in GTS or Turbo trim - is no slouch on the track, posting times among the 911s, Vipers, Corvettes, R8s, etc.

The problem with the 3-Series is that it wears many hats in an effort to please almost everyone. The stock suspension calibration is more toward the luxury end of it's potential than most enthusiasts would prefer. Let's not confuse stock suspension calibration and RF tires for lack of performance orientation. It doesn't take too much tweaking to bring out the real performance potential of a 3-Series... and once you've done so, you have a car that strikes an exceptional balance in terms of performance and practicality, luxury and fuel economy - with great looks to boot. I can't think of any other cars in a similar price range that do all of the above better.

So let's not be so quick to write-off the performance of the 3-Series just because - in stock trim - it's a few tenths behind more purpose-built cars with neither the practicality of seating 5 nor the luxury of driving comfortably when not in full attack mode.

Best post of the year

[e92_m3]

Great video! Very informative.

Thanks for sharing!

[buildbright]

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Re11 better.

Better for the track I agree. On the street PSS are better.

[rconti]

Originally Posted by buildbright

Better for the track I agree. On the street PSS are better.

I'd say maybe PSS is "best bang" but certainly not "best bang for the buck". They ain't cheap. My Coupe had a $1200/yr PS2/PS3 habit back when I autocrossed it a lot, and that's for 17" tires. I'd hate to think what people are paying for PSS in an 18 or 19" tire.

[newoldbeemer]

Since the mustang is a coupe, perhaps we should compare with the 4 series or the e90 328i coupe.

I don't know about you guys, but driving a mustang v6 just felt big and heavy, and driving an E90 coupe felt the opposite of that- nimble, chuckable and "perfectly in control". Regardless of test condition figures, I'd drive a 328i coupe over a mustang ANY day.

[drob23]

Originally Posted by rconti

I'd say maybe PSS is "best bang" but certainly not "best bang for the buck". They ain't cheap. My Coupe had a $1200/yr PS2/PS3 habit back when I autocrossed it a lot, and that's for 17" tires. I'd hate to think what people are paying for PSS in an 18 or 19" tire.

PS2 or PS3 are around $350/tire for a 255/35x19. PSS for the same fitment are $260/tire, which in my opinion is a significant difference. Plus, buy at the right time of year and you get the $70 rebate for 4 tires, which equals $970 for a full set, not a bad deal for a high quality performance summer tire.

[Matski]

So, better rubber = faster times... Who'd have thunk it!

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by buildbright

Better for the track I agree. On the street PSS are better.

Pss are great but any abuse and they chunk. Not too much rain in la so i go with re11 and im gonna try ad08 next. My cousins brand new pss in the front got chorded in 2 sessions.

[buildbright]

Originally Posted by pkim1079

Pss are great but any abuse and they chunk. Not too much rain in la so i go with re11 and im gonna try ad08 next. My cousins brand new pss in the front got chorded in 2 sessions.

The only thing I really hate about the RE11 is the weight. They are heavy. Let us know how AD08 work out.

[JPToadstool]

I'm glad I went for Michelin Pilot Super Sports on my 330D, but I can't help but feel that this test should have been done on the same wheels.

[///M_Power]

Originally Posted by DVC

These comparos are always interesting, but I don't get too worked up when the F30 comes up short of our high expectations. Even the M Sport comes spec'ed to be equal parts luxury and sport... which is why even though I haven't even taken delivery of my 335i yet (any friggin' day now... ) I have already gotten PPK/MPE, OE camber knuckles, Apex ARC-8 9" wheels... and an appointment for an LSD install. Once Dinan releases their Shockware tune, I think I'll have the car that BMW "meant" to offer us enthusasts from the start.

Now that sounds good! I want a ride!

[t335xi]

This is terrible news I want my stock 335 to easily beat a mustang or suby.... Hopefully in 2015 the 335 will come with a meth kit, dct, and large twin turbo package while still maintaining 24mpg... Lol

Wish dinan would get off their butt and come up with a fix for us 2013 f30s

[Imola.ZHP]

Love my Pilot Super Sports, I know they are expensive, but they have saved my @$$ so many times.

[Imola.ZHP]

Originally Posted by t335xi

This is terrible news I want my stock 335 to easily beat a mustang or suby.... Hopefully in 2015 the 335 will come with a meth kit, dct, and large twin turbo package while still maintaining 24mpg... Lol

Wish dinan would get off their butt and come up with a fix for us 2013 f30s

What are you talking about? The video had a 328i in it, not a 335i.

[rconti]

Originally Posted by drob23

PS2 or PS3 are around $350/tire for a 255/35x19. PSS for the same fitment are $260/tire, which in my opinion is a significant difference. Plus, buy at the right time of year and you get the $70 rebate for 4 tires, which equals $970 for a full set, not a bad deal for a high quality performance summer tire.

Holy crap, I had no idea they brought the price down so much. That's amazing. I don't think they offer a fitment in my preferred rear size 265/40/17, but then again ,virtually nobody does (I have Star Specs right now, the Z1 has that size but Z2 does not).

Might end up on PSS with a 255 rear for my next set.

[RussRamz]

It's not about the car, it's the tire. Yokohama tires are not up to par with Michelin. Slap a set of PS Cups on that 328i, and it would be ridiculous.

[JMK007]

I have driven all three of these cars in anger. Each does something much better than the others. The Mustang is the fastest in a straight line but handles like crap relative to the other two. The BRZ, with sticky tires (rather than Prius ones that come with the car), can handle nearly as well as a Ferrari 458 but is dog slow in a straight line. The 328i performs handles almost as well as the BRZ and accelerates almost as well as the Stang. Thus, the 328i strikes an excellent balance between the two others (in addition to much better refinement), making it a much better all around package compared to the others. (Of course, it is considerably more expensive than the other two.) As for Randy Pobst, he is among the most respected American road racers in the country whose opinion carries considerable weight among those who are knowledgeable on American road racing.

[DVC]

Originally Posted by JMK007

I have driven all three of these cars in anger.

LOL... Don't drive angry

http://youtu.be/uBpw1sdFu2w