2001 BMW 330i vs 240SX

[240cracker]

I recently bought a 2001 330i BMW sport and premium package as a daily driver instead of another truck or 240. Overall the car has been great but I never really unleashed the full potential until the other night and now im losing faith in my S13...

Long story short I went to my local mountain but in my bmw not the 240. It's not as fast as far as hp but there is no way I could beat it in mt 240 down the hill. And my 330i is all stock just with some really grippy tires. On my 240 I have pretty much all the bolt on suspensions parts and all top notch name brand stuff too. 17x9 -5 offset wheels with similar tires and fully gutted interior so super light. The only things it could use is some better brakes.

My question is the 240 really that outdated even when highly modified? I understand that the bmw has great brakes, suspension and a lot of electronic driving aids to help but come on it's so damn heavy and stock! It feels like all that work wasn't worth it besides being able to drift it.

If I were to go with some really agressive wheels and tires set up and huge brakes would it be enough? I am just really fustrated and want to hear some feed back from some people who actually know about set up, racing and performance.

for reference..

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r59/TonKpilS14/IMG_1681.jpg

[whiterps13]

Yes. This thread is stupid.

[Nick_04K]

Wow. Can't believe a premie... also with 1100 posts... that has been a member for 3+ years... posted this.

[240cracker]

Yes. This thread is stupid.

man whats up with zilvia? all everyone does it talk shit. how is it stupid i am talking about real performance and racing.

[Martins13]

i drive a mazda rx-8 and i live in glendale and drove a lot of bimmers and i ve drove some s14s and s13

there cars are in different classes the car is dated and will not keep up with the electronics of today, and bmw pretty quick but heavy
s13 is meant to go sideways

[franklin93zx]

seeing as you live in la habra i'm guessing you took it through hacienda heights?

[bigs]

stretched tires on a 9 inch rim probably has something to do with it.

[xpertsnowcarver]

Eh. I don't really think this thread is stupid.

You shouldn't frustrate yourself with the thought that a 9 year old German car handles much better and a 20 year old Japanese car. You're also comparing a $40k luxury sports car to a.... $20k semi-sports car. (I'm just throwing numbers.) The German car has twice the engineering and more up-to-date engineering technology. I don't see why you would get frustrated. I would be more frustrated in the BMW if it didn't handle better than the 240.

Something to note. Suspension links and coilovers don't make much of a difference to improve your handling. Regardless of the brand. It's mostly about tires and suspension geometry.

You should read through this thread to get a better understanding of suspension and handling and how to improve them. http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/296725-roll-center-suspension-pickup-steering-angle-modification-thread.html

[Bumnah]

An e36 chassis is superior to an s13, let alone a modern BMW chassis like yours.

The s13 is a car with a lot of potential for low buck. The BMW is a car with a lot of potential, but it already has a ton of potential stock. And, it does cost more than the s chassis to buy into.

It's all about the chassis. The BMW is blessed with a fantastically stiff chassis, and great suspension from the factory.

To give you an idea of how flimsy of a chassis the s chassis is, my full aluminum bushings, full spherical bearing (even in the uprights) suspension is still a softer ride than some modern cars I've driven on the street. What that basically tells you is all the force that isn't being absorbed by the metal bushings is being absorbed by the car's chassis. It is flexing that much. Obviously a cage will help a lot, but it does remove a bit of the street-ability then.

Continue to dumb more money into the s chassis and it will get better, but eventually you have to realize that you could simply bought a better car to begin with. It's not uncommon to see people put in $20k plus into an s chassis. With that price you can own an NSX.

[OBEEWON]

one simple thing to note: open the hood of the BMW and the S13 and compare the position of the engine in relation to the front struts.

Also the BM is a 3L I6. I assume your S13 is an SR? Even if you have more HP in the SR the power delivery is going to feel different.

[97240TB]

I love how some of you guys get butt hurt when someone says they purchased a better handling car then a 240sx.

You have to take into account the lack of rigidity in the S-chassis vehicles... It's a dated vehicle at this point. We just simply refresh the cars with better parts. The driving feel you get from a newer better made vehicle is something I'd expect, It is a sport sedan after all and a BMW no less. Bumnah is correct in stating a caged 240 would certainly feel a bit better, You also have to take into account your car isn't necessarily set-up for grip but drift. The set-up's are quite a bit different and to me it looks like you've maxed your coilovers out. If you revised your set-up and made some adjustment to the suspension and yes used better tires infront you could very well end up with much better response from your 240 then the bimmer.

[omgRWDgoodness!]

This is why S14s is mo' bettahhh!

In all seriousness though, you kinda have to look at it this way: BMWs are and always will be high-performance luxury vehicles (most of the time) built in a country with places such as the Autobahn and Nürburgring, so of course they're going to outclass an at least 12 year old Japanese car in some areas. In the end I still prefer the 240SX for the fun factor and potential that it possesses, along with the little bit of rarity that comes with having one. I see BMWs, Benzes, Porsches, blah blah blah on a daily basis. Ferraris and Lambos maybe every other week.

[DrftKingIII]

I have a 01 330i and a 99 M3 and a 97 240.

I drift the 240, grip the M3 and take the lady out/daily commute the 330.

Certain cars are for certain things. HOoooooraaayyy.

[OBEEWON]

^^bINGO bAnGO


Yeah Ferraris are a dime a dozen. I would rather Rodeo drive it up in a S13. pssssshhhhhhhh

[5pecialist]

Perhaps you need to upgrade to an S14? My S14 seems to handles just as well as my previous e46 M3!

[DataXUnknown]

Just to point out, the reason why you were getting a bit flamed in the beginning of this thread was because you posted you were racing in the local mountains. Although many people do that, it is illegal and should not be discussed.

As for your little battle here, thats just it. The Nissan 240SX personally, I only see it as a car for drifting. Most 20 year old cars are meant for one thing, as newer cars seem to be universal for various motorsports. That is just the way it seems and my opinion.

And as for the poster above me^ he may be true. S14's handle better and pretty much drift themselves, which is a reason why when people do 5-lug conversionsa lot of times they use the S14 uprights.

[mrflip69]

All in the setup. Obviously you're starting out at a higher level, but you don't really have to pour THAT much money in an s-chassis to compete with the bigger dogs.

If they can build rusty Datsuns to take out Vipers on a road course, then an s-chassis shouldn't be that much harder.

A couple guys here, but mostly on NRR, regularly embarrass EVOs, Corvettes, and Porsches.

What mods do you have on your S13? I hope you don't have something like Megan Coils and hope to compete with your Bimmer.

[Matej]

Can anyone explain to me why my new Porsche performs better than my Nissan 240SX?
Kind of upset that my expensive new vehicle is superior to my cheap old one. I bought it hoping it would be a terrible car. :-/

[DisEpyon]

Nice cars.

Any reason why you didnt go with the face lift version of the bmw. I just cant stand the looks of the front end of that 330i. But none the less great car.

Like everyone else says, its a newer sports car, so it better out handle the 240sx.

[nightferret]

i dont understand why you are frustrated that your bmw is quicker than your 240sx? although i do love driving my s14 those bmws out of the factory just are very good cars. my old 97 318i sedan impressed me, its was completely stock besides wheels and an airfilter. friends of mine have had bmws from e30 e36 e46 3 series and some 5 series sedans and thay are just awesome cars.

[hOngsterr]

s13 is meant to go sideways

that is not true fanboy.

[roboticnissan]

Well friend as I've seen you drive, you need to learn how to handle your s13 better to make a educated decision as to what is a better car. The fastest line for yourBMW compared to your s13 is way different. I don't think you are taking the correct line in your s13. And your BMW is being thrown into traction control mode everytime you turn because of the way you drive.


Learn the road first, then the line.

[240cracker]

Well friend as I've seen you drive, you need to learn how to handle your s13 better to make a educated decision as to what is a better car. The fastest line for yourBMW compared to your s13 is way different. I don't think you are taking the correct line in your s13. And your BMW is being thrown into traction control mode everytime you turn because of the way you drive.


Learn the road first, then the line.

who r u lol?
and when have u seen me drive?

thanks for all the positive feed back people. i was fustrated because i thought i had put in enough effort into my s13 to atleast be close to a e46 chassis. obviously not.. but i see its possible through more work time and $

imma try some of thoughs ideas and in the end if im not satisfied ill just keep the s13 to slide and buy a updated chassis for grip

thx

[Bushido]

for the price of a new 330i, it wouldn't be hard to build an S13 that would out perform it.

but a race car it's not going to be as conducive to getting road head...

[driftsilvias13]

You can get an e46 2001 330ci for like $5-6k these days...

[angelus erratus]

ok, i was too lazy to read the other the post, but you can't trust your experience. You need to rely on data. you are comparing two cars with different characteristics. Do a miata and mr2 feel the same? hell no, but can they be driven fast? hell yes, with the right mods, and right driving application.

[aNskY]

a properly set up 240 with a competant driver will outhandle that car easily.

if your 240s tires are stretched and you made this thread... :rofl:

[240cracker]

You can get an e46 2001 330ci for like $5-6k these days...

really? id like to know where u can get that kind of deal hahahahah


a properly set up 240 with a competant driver will outhandle that car easily.

if your 240s tires are stretched and you made this thread... :rofl:

read the hole thing

i posted it was stretched cuz i know that isnt helping. :dead:

i think i got all the info i needed. thx again to people who helped.

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