M4 Drag Races Two Older Bimmers, It's All About the Money

That's why I have mostly stopped watching 1/4-mile (402-meter) battles between street-legal vehicles. I still find purpose-built machines and challenges exciting, but I've also been watching fewer of those. I'm all about either Time Attack sessions or drifting. Everything is much more intense with these, and more accurate comparisons are possible here.

But I just couldn't skip watching this all-BMW race. The reason might sound silly, but I'll call it what it is. I have a huge crush on the BMW M3 E92. I drove it on the outskirts of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia a decade ago. I worked with an Italian pro drifter with a factory-spec GT4 model for several years. So I experienced his supercharged monster from the passenger seat several times, and it was one of the most visceral machines I've ever sat in. It just so happens that a similar vehicle shows up in this drag race, although it's slightly less insane overall.

You can pick up a stock M3 E92 for less than $30,000 if you are lucky. However, the ESS 625 supercharger kit will cost at least $10,000 more. And you must remember an additional list of upgrades if you're going down that route. Rolling with 625 horsepower is no joke, but the M3 E92 is heavy at 1,480 kg. Looking at the weight figures, you can see how the 3-series transformed over the years.

The E36 lined up against it today is only 2,777 lbs (1,260 kilograms) heavy. It packs a strong punch, as it ditched its original motor for an M3 E46 one, and it also has a supercharger for greater power and torque. It's slightly less than you get with the V8, but it wins the power-to-weight ratio battle.

Finding an E36 for less than $10K won't be a problem, but you might want a similar budget for the stock engine alone. If you wish for a first-gen M4 in your garage, you'll need around $40K. The good part is that you already have 425 hp at your disposal, and there are many options on the market to go higher than that.

So, the newer car is faster and easier to drive, and you have easy access to performance gains if money isn't an object. But you simply need to look at this video to understand a few things. Modern tech is better if you only care about being faster and more comfortable. But it won't get your blood pumping as fast as an older car will. Nostalgia or not, I hope I get to drive another M3 E92 soon.