What can 325i beat?

:eek7: I'm thinking of getting a 95 325i automatic. What do you think it can beat in terms of street racing? I want to know when to attempt a "race" and when to sit back and watch them. Also, is there any specific way to race automatics? Thanks :biggrin:

i am not sure what a E36 325i can beat, but i am sure it can run with most any make and model. i hope someone has a better answer for you on this tho. . .

my E30 325i's auto gearbox had a sport mode which does really well. that keeps it in 3rd gear, which is a 1:1 ratio. i can take off in that, or drop it in while im already in drive and i pretty much take off. . .still wish i had a manual tho . . .

not sure if the e36's auto gearbox has anything like this. . .

I don't recall the exact performance figures, but i think the 95 automatic will do 7.5 or 8 seconds to 60. Which isn't exactly a lightning bolt. You would get beaten by just about anything remotely sporty, except the odd MR2 or Miata, and even many sedans like Maximas or Accords. My one suggestion though is that you should try to get a later model year. The 95, if I remember right, had a bunch of probs that they fixed with later models. Go 96 or 97 if possible. If you want faster, for cheaper, you could go the E30 route (like '87-'91 325i, or 87-93 325i convertible). These are quicker, same engine but lighter. The only concern is that they are a little older. Good luck with your buy. No matter what you choose though, all bimmers are lots of fun to drive. A Maxima may be faster, but 325's are way more fun on a daily basis.

The E36 automatic does have some sort of manual mode...It has a button that lets you choose A or M (im guessing Auto or Manual). I heard that it does something like keep you at that gear or below? Any ideas? Also any more input on how well my 325i would do . Thanks:smile:

It does have a manual mode, but its still an automatic transmission. If you really want performance go with the manual transmission, its lighter overall, has more gears, and less driveline losses. When performance figures are given for automatics, typically the testers are using the manual mode of the automatic. BMW's 'sport' mode holds gears longer and allows for higher revs than a traditional automatic.

im still looking to hear of any specific models i can beat (i ended up getting a 95 325i auto)

havent raced yet cause i want to know when to just pass or when to go for it.

any other ideas?
:confused:

the only way to find out is to actually race some people:thumbsup: aint finding out anything by sitting behind the computer:grinno:

haha, thats true, you internet junkies. . .:icon16:

yeah, my advice is to slam down the gas pedal and see what happens...but if you are really serious about street racing then you really should have got a manual transmission. you need the control to be able to feel the power and get it when you need it.

i find 325's to be a little sluggish before about 3000rpm with the automatic transmission. that said, do you want to race for 20 seconds, or is it going to be something a little longer, because once the 325 hits about 3000rpm it really pulls hard. off the line...well, i usually put mine in manual mode and just go from there, but then again i use my car for cruising and touring, not short street battles.

get a K&N airfilter or a racing filter setup, a supersprint (or equivalent) exhaust, and that should give you a bit more power.

i guess it all depends on who you are racing. if dude beside you has a tricked out civic that only has the stickers on it and not the parts in it, you'll probably beat him. if he's got the mods and the stickers, you'll most likely lose.

why not just buy an M3 and then you know you can beat everything but porches? :iceslolan

I have also noticed that it is sluggish before about 3000 rpm. But once I hit that then I feel like it would fly by most other cars (i.e. start race at speed ! :wink: ) Or just hope that im not too far behind when my power kicks in.

As for manual mode...will that make it pull harder off the line? Cause i think i've tried it and it doesnt seem to really help. Maybe im doing it wrong?

And as for buying an M3.....if I had an extra 10 grand lying around....I would have an M3. :biggrin:

Here are some cars I thought of that you might be able to beat that you wouldn't expect: Chevy Monte Carlo SS, Lexus IS300, every other Lexus cept the SC430, MB C230 Kompressor, Merc Marauder, Celica GTS (toss up), in fact any Toyota, Acura 3.2TL typeS (maybe). Not sure how fast the E36 325i is, but I'm basing this off a guess of 7.5 sec 0-60 time.

Two things: (1) The other posts are right in that you really need a manual transmission if you're serious about street racing, and (2) unless you're willing to spend major $$$ to turn a 325i into something is was never really meant to be, go buy a Honda. You can satisfy that boy-racer hunger for a lot less money.

The 325i is engineered to handle like it is running on rails an do it at high speeds. And, it will cruise at 100+ until you get tired of driving that fast and will do it long after the typical street racer has coasted to a stop on the shoulder of the road. It was never engineered to compete with the stoplight-to-stoplight crowd.

As Richard Petty is credited with saying, "Speed is money. How fast do you want to go?"
:loser:

I didnt buy a BMW just to race....but you can't deny that you enjoy the feeling of victory every now and then...so it's the best of both worlds.

As for the cars that I can beat....NO Way in hell can I beat a Type S...my mom has one and it would cream my car...also...I don't think I an take an IS300 cause they run with the 330i I believe.

All others...probably I can beat them

but this is cause I have an auto...not a manual

:wink:

There is unquestionably a sense of satisfaction in putting someone to bed without their supper. There is also a sense of satisfaction in knowing that they want to beat you because you're driving a BMW. They know there's a difference between big wood and brush.

It's not just about speed; it's also about driving.
:bigthumb:

There are far too many posts like this! Listen bro, maybe you should stop watching F&F so much - it's screwing up your head! Seriously, as someone said earlier, the 325 or any BMW is not made for street racing. They're better suited to autocross or racetracks. Street racing maybe fun, and all of us have probably done it before, but real racing is on a closed course where it's much safer and enjoyable (and legal). If you want straight line 1/4 mile type speed, then you should have bought a Z28 or Mustang GT. These cars are out of the box much faster, cheaper and easier to modify. BMW is called the ultimate driving machine because they extract so much driving pleasure for those who appreciate the finer points of driving (unfortunately, too many people buy them as a status symbols). In your case, I think you bought the wrong car for what you want. Not trying to bash you here guy, but nobody should be buying an automatic 3 series with street racing in mind. It's just not designed for it.

Like I said before....I am not a racer...and I didnt buy my car to race with it....I was just saying if I happened to be stared down for instance...what could I beat?

I know my car isn't built to dragrace...I know that and I am fine with it.

:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:


I love my car either way.

www.car-stats.com will tell you most car's 0-60

I don't recall the exact performance figures, but i think the 95 automatic will do 7.5 or 8 seconds to 60. Which isn't exactly a lightning bolt. You would get beaten by just about anything remotely sporty, except the odd MR2 or Miata, and even many sedans like Maximas or Accords. My one suggestion though is that you should try to get a later model year. The 95, if I remember right, had a bunch of probs that they fixed with later models. Go 96 or 97 if possible. If you want faster, for cheaper, you could go the E30 route (like '87-'91 325i, or 87-93 325i convertible). These are quicker, same engine but lighter. The only concern is that they are a little older. Good luck with your buy. No matter what you choose though, all bimmers are lots of fun to drive. A Maxima may be faster, but 325's are way more fun on a daily basis.


Right on man...................I love my B'Mer..............Best car i have ever had...............94 bmw is

Peace and yes it hauls ass...............BUT i dont race it and am not trying to be a hero. I know the speed is there when i need it but basically just cruise and have fun..........Peace

Yes, it definitely has power but I am a little dissapointed with its low end torque...Once you get past 3 or 4000 rpm it flies, but before that its kinda sluggish...This is why I was considering selling it and buying a 328i manual. I hear that even though they have the same horsepower the lowend torque is much better. What do you think?

Alright guys heres the deal... this car has 189 stock hp.. so if youre realyl serious you should get a performace chip ( Could add upt to 22 hp if you buy a nice one) You should also get a new intake which will add another 15hp but you need to remember that BMWs are geard for high speeds so ur best bet is like a 50 mph roll on but even then be careful who you race. The best was to learn what you can beat is to race! I meen what have u got to lose. ( just dont bet money until u know what ur car can do) Have fun ! Drive hard...

Alright guys heres the deal... this car has 189 stock hp.. with a 0-60 in aorund 7.1 so if youre realyl serious you should get a performace chip ( Could add upt to 22 hp if you buy a nice one) You should also get a new intake which will add another 15hp after these mods you should be somewhere near 6.5. but you need to remember that BMWs are geard for high speeds so ur best bet is like a 50 mph roll on but even then be careful who you race. The best was to learn what you can beat is to race! I meen what have u got to lose. ( just dont bet money until u know what ur car can do) Have fun ! Drive hard...

I have to agree with the 325i not being for stoplight racing. IF that is what you want, then get a big block American ride. BMW is the ultimate driving machine, not the ultimate stoplight machine. I learned quickly that BMW excels on the highway NOT the city street.

One more point, what have you got to prove to anyone??? You are driving a BMW so what have you got to gain by racing a Honda, etc... You can only lose face if you lose, if you 'win' then big deal I got beat by a Bimmer!

ok 1st off the lexus comment is totally wrong i have a 95 325i conv. and a 98 lexus ls400 and a 325 will not beat a ls400 or a gs300/400 my ls has 290 hp 300 Tq and the 325 has 189 hp and 181 tq
if you wnat to argue with me about it i'm here



Here are some cars I thought of that you might be able to beat that you wouldn't expect: Chevy Monte Carlo SS, Lexus IS300, every other Lexus cept the SC430, MB C230 Kompressor, Merc Marauder, Celica GTS (toss up), in fact any Toyota, Acura 3.2TL typeS (maybe). Not sure how fast the E36 325i is, but I'm basing this off a guess of 7.5 sec 0-60 time.

my b, kapone. i checked http://www.albeedigital.com/supercoupe/articles/0-60times.html, and it shows the 98 ls 400 doing 6.3 sec to 60. Your 95 325 conv is also shown to do it in 9.1 sec. A big difference between your two cars, but your bmw conv is slower than the non-conv model of the same year. see that the non-convertible model does it in 7.7 sec, much faster due to less weight and possibly a manual-vs-auto shifter. The numbers I was referencing in my orig post were from the back of Car and Driver mag.

on a related note, horsepower isnt everything. my 189 hp e30 regularly beats cars with 50+ more horsepower cause they're fat around the middle.

My sister has a'93 325is auto/manual, I asked her about it yesterday and she said it was tiptronic but I doubt that it is, I was thinking about buying it from her cause she is selling it, and possibly putting a chip in it and a cold air intake, nothing for riced out street racing b/c it is auto but just for performance....funny thing is my '95 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited is .2 seconds slower then the bimmer.

Hello,

I just bought my first 325 and I must disagree with makeminebmw. I must agree that an automatic bimmer may not make a good street racer, and ofcourse a stock car will not do, but if you look at Eurotuner magazine you will find plenty of examples of 325's that are serious street racers. I am about to increase heavily the horsepower on my baby and think that I can beat a lot of cars out there. Specially if your engine can handle NOS.

1. Street racing is DUMB, but we all do it. Be safe, you only get one life, dont spend it paying fines or in a hospital.

2. My daughters '77 Nova will cream you BAD,and it may take therapy to get over it. Yes she is hot, no you can't see a pic.

3. My V8 Astro will tow your car faster than it can go...just dont head for the corners.

4. Most drag cars use an auto, very few manual trannys...no one shifts that well, consistiently. if ya wanna get some better throttle response, get a higher stall torque converter. You will probably have to have it custom made.

5. My current driver is a '95 Escort wagon (auto)...your car is way faster, I promise. That is why I am building an '87 325is. With a 5 speed, thank you. I wanna have fun driving the thing, I wanna learn all the back roads for a 100 mile radius of my home. Except the straight ones, of course.

If ya wanna go fast, buy almost any pre '80 american RWD V8 car, yank all the smog off of it, build your basic 400 HP small block, put a well built tranny behind it with a 3000 stall, 3.73 or 4.10 gears and a posi. You can do this for less than $3000 and turn 12 second 1/4 mile times. It is a heck of a bunch of fun. Towing it to the dragstrip behind your BMW will not be fun, though. I know you wanted us to tell you what it is safe to race against...sound to me like you are afraid to lose.
I can promise you will learn more about life by losing than by winning, especially if you know you are gonna win. Gather your courage, young man.

Fear not the spanking! Fear a shallow soul, instead.

Luke