meem

may want to read this ... basically, the 3.91 differential shaves the 0-60 down from 4.7 to 4.5 seconds, though the extra shifts cause the 0-100 time to raise from 11.40 to 11.66 -- though the 3.91 is still faster (slightly!) in the 1/4 mile.<ul><li><a href="http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=76ce2321a248e5f315ede870a5bb93af& amp;threadid=121351">http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=76ce2321a248e5f315ede870a5bb93af& amp;threadid=121351</a</li></ul>

CarbonFibre

well maybe I do understand it but I don't think they should. They may have similar horsepower and price but the differences tend to drop off there. M3 is rear-wheel-drive whereas the S4 is awd. The M3 is a coupe and the S4 is a sedan. The M3 has a high-strung, high-winding inline-6 engine while the S4 has a small, mildly-tuned V8. The cars are quite differently styled as well. A person debating between the two would just have to decide on which would suit them better. The S4 is obviously more practical with AWD, more room, etc.

CoOlSlY

FOR ME, the S4 compares to S60r, 330xi, and nothing else since I need AWD !

sly1

<B>may want to read this ... basically, the 3.91 differential shaves the 0-60 down from 4.7 to 4.5 seconds</B>

I don't consider putting in a new differential as proving that a car is tuneable. Engine mods are generally referred to as tuneable mods. Sure putting in a lower rear end will improve the 0-60 times for any car, but there are a few drawbacks. Your top end speed will be considerably lowered and you better have a gas station nearby because you will be visiting it a lot more frequently.

JDBlueAudiS4

no AWD

BiggerTwin

I don't think BMW has anything that competes with the S4 for people who need AWD.

Alan

UrQ

Pretty much true for most cars. whats the point ?

meem

there's a small but vocal contingent of folks here who are obsessed with winning stoplight races and repeatedly dog the m3 as a car that they will not be able to extract improved numbers from. so, the point is that better numbers can be had, if you want them. yes, this is true with most cars, although the 3.91 diff seems to be much more readily available for the m3 than for most cars i've seen.

JDBlueAudiS4

You can get the S4 as fast as the M3, and the S4 will cost exaclty the same (assuming no discounts of course). The ~$1300 Miltek AmD kit will make an S4 as fast as the M3. Granted put the same ammount into an M and it will beat the S, but the S is still a little cheaper then the M making a kit like this that evens the cost kinda easier to deal with.

JDBlueAudiS4

I went into the local BMW shop to look at M3's just to see how the other half looks. Drove and M3 then asked about winter handeling with snows. They told me, "We do not suggest or recomend any M3's be driven in snow or harsh weather, even with winter snow tires on" they then tried to upsell me to a 330xi and an M3. Which I laughed at them for (No offense to beamer people) but I thought it was kinda arrogent especialy since I went into there saying to them "Convince me that the M3 is better then the new S4" all they really did was prove why I should buy an S4 instead of an M3. Just my recent experience.