2K2SilverTL-S

My Friend got a new White BMW 330ci Manual (Sport model) with every option possible, including the Navi and the M3 seats (a trually gorgeous vehicle) a couple of weeks ago and we were talking about pulling with each other to really see which one is quicker off the line. So tonight we finally raced. We got to the light and I shut VSA off and put it in SS. We both get good launch but he really doesnt clutch drop it at a really high RPM. I raced the TL-S like I usually do, let the computer shift first gear in SS mode (since it goest to redline) and then shift myself the rest of the way. We ended up racing to 80 MPH and I HAD HIM BY THE WHOLE LENGTH AND ANOTHER FOOT OF THE TL-S. Me and my friend in the car were so hyped up at this point, so we pull up next to each other at the next light and talk. He claims that he initially "missed second," so we go at it again at this light. This time he clutch drops it hard and he had me by a foot to 60 MPH, and we kept going to a 100MPH. At this point, I STARTED TO PULL ON HIM IN 3rd GEAR OF THE TL-S, and his front bumper was at my rear tire by 100MPH. I guess Car and Driver was pretty right in claiming that the TL-S is quicker than the 330ci manaul to 100 MPH. Anyways, I'm sorry for the detail, but the adreniline is still rushing.

wakkolio

Good kill, i want to race one too

mikester

Just curious - did he have a passenger in his car as well? Having someone else in the car would definitely affect your results. If you had a passenger and he didn't, then these results are even more impressive.

2K2SilverTL-S

No, we both had one passenger in the car, so it was a fair race. I'm really impressed that my TL-S held its own and then some. Even my friend with the 330ci and his passenger couldnt believe how quick the TL-S really was.
BTW, just there is no disbelief, this kid is an awsome driver who had a 98 M3 manual before the 330ci, so he knows how to race BMW's well.

Turboara

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Those dang BMW's, they are just too much. Imagine if he had automatic like we do, he would have gotten smoked even worse!

Good post. Anyone can talk out of their butt, based on magazine figures and them thinking their car is the best, but when it comes to which car is faster, it all comes down to one car vs another (preferably on a race track - hint-hint) and the first car to the finish wins.:p

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

My experience w/ a 330Ci Convertible was nearly identicaly to yours. However, he got a better launch due to better rxn time to the green light --> thus, to 120 mph, he was about 1/2 length on me.

Just wait till 20,000 miles when your TL-S's VTEC is broken in, then enjoy pulling a little harder on the 330Ci (which, I suppose will be more broken in as well.)

Nice "kill".

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Hey, don't forget, that Beemer came dead-even (for all intensive purposes) w/ a 260hp, 232lb-ft. auto --> the 330 only has 225hp w/ 214lb-ft of torque -- not too shabby of a performance w/ 35 less hp, and 18 lb-ft. less torque. Yeah, yeah, it's the manual that does it -- but out on the street, it don't matter, if you're gunna race, there are no excuses for losing. You lose, you lose.

Robbdogg

My best friend has a 2001 3 series. I have yet to race him, but I know he will smoke me, since he has a Racing Dynamics 3-series with 300+HP, even if it is a automatic. Of course he paid close to 20k more than I did.....I'll let everyone know how the TL-S does.

city001

remem...BMW are shorter in length..and lighter..i believe than TL

G

sneuxstorm

nice kill!!

bricot

Peter,
Do you happen to know what the weight differences between the two are? Just curious if that would change the hp issue.

CH-TLS

Nice job - I can feel the seething already over at bimmer.org....

TL-S is a great package for a great price - what's not to like?

CarFreak

Good job! I wish I could find someone who will race me. I always look for someone at a light, but they never wanna race.

Now that I took off my 3.2TLS badge, I'm hoping someone will think it's a reg TL and wanna race.

seotaiji

well.. TLS Nav weights near 3600lbs.. and 330xi weights around 3400lbs.. 200lbs difference..

most unique about TLS is that it understeers... smooth..

car and driver stated that TLS is faster after 100mile.. and it goes up to 150 mile/h.. maximum speed for tls.. price wise tls is best choice..

Mr.T

Me tooooooooooooooooooooooo

bricot

I would guess the the HP difference is minimalized by the weight difference. Nice Kill.

SoundSpeed

Nice race!!

2K2SilverTL-S

Thanks for all the compliments on the kill. It just goes to show you that some magazines (a.k.a. Motor Trend, Road and Track) must really beat the living hell out of these cars to get the numbers they get or they are a little BMW biased (in a positive sense). I think its a little of both.

CarFreak

I was driving at night and these two kids in a hooked up jetta VR6 (stick) pulled up next to me. They looked at me an nodded and I nodded back. When the light turned green we both peeled out. I was going from 0-60 and I got him about 2 car lengths. I saw that he gave up when I hit 80 and he was left behind. I guess he thought I was a reg TL.

It was my first race w/my TLS! I'm happy now!

RUF87

Boy I'm envious. Nice Race and great job because you as much as your TLS beat him!

I've been looking for a good run myself. Almost got a M3 to run me yesterday. We hit it three times, once from around 50 and twice from around 30. We had to slow down because of traffic, but all three times it appeared that I was holding even and quite possibly ever so slightly gaining. We got up to 80 or so on two of the attempts. I tried to get him to turn down a empty street, but he wouldn't even look at me. Probably embarrassed that he didn't blow me away.

RUF

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

Bricot --

More than anything, the 5-speed manual in the BMW is putting a greater Percentage (%) of power down to the wheels than our TL-S is. The TL-S is averaging about 200 -> 205 hp to the wheels (calculating an approximate 23% power loss) while the BMW is putting nearly 186-> 190 hp to the REAR wheels (better launching characteristics by simple physics --> powered wheels have the redistributed weight transfered to them upon launch --> all weight wants to shift to the rear --> the exact thing impeding the off-the-line performance in a FWD auto). Further, the BMW's five speeds are closer ratio, and not as tall as the TL-S. 100 --> 300 lbs. really doesn't make a huge difference in terms of 0-60 figures, they do add up to a loss of a few ticks in the 1/4-mile (usually), however.

Torque, as many have mentioned before, wins stop-light races. I don't mean to preach here, but it's the honest truth, the faster you can get to the peak torque in your powerband (around 3500 --> 5300 for the TL-S), the quicker you'll be outta the hole. That's why "peeling" out is actually a good thing if it's done right; ideally you'd like to finally lock-up the wheels to the pavement w/in the powerband. Though you really don't have much control over peeling out in an auto (asides from brake-torquing the vehilce), in a manual, you can usually launch at different rpm's to negotiate a sweet spot for launching (factoring in road/track conditions (sticky/slick)). A friend of mine has an M3 ('98) and usually launches at 3500 rpms to achieve the best launch. That's why I keep insisting that the TL-S w/ a close-ratio, 6-speed tranny would be every so sweet -- to be able to launch and get into the VTEC zone w/in fractions of a second, rather than seconds. Come on Acura!!! We know you can do it!

Pete

AC

Our freakin 4th Gear!

thejavagod

Yesterday afternoon on the freeway, had this GS300 repeatedly trying to race me...decided I had enough, put the TLS in sportshift...downshifted to 2 > 3 > 4.... he was pushing his GS300 very hard but I very very easily was able to beat him....Thanks to the incredible SportShift, this is FUN

Red Hot TL

nice kill! can't wait til the TL-S with 6-speed tranny

d_rock69

Last week a mid-90ish Mustang GT pulled up next to me at a traffic light. His engine was gurgling, so I assumed he had mods. He beat me by a nose when we both slowed down (about 80's). I was surprised that I was able to keep up with him...I think he was more surprised!

jcrist

I'm a 32-yr old car enthusiast (like you all) and don't want to be a party pooper, admiting having gone through that "street racing" phase in my teens and twenties. I still like to have a car that is faster than most of the majority on the road, but that is for MY driving pleasure, not for some ego contest at the stop light.

Bottom line in retrospect is, it is kind of stupid to put so much money in a car (especially in aftermarket perf. parts) with the main intent of trying to impress people and race on city streets and highways and endanger people's lives. You would be much better off and have a lot more fun getting into Cart racing at the local track. (Of course you can't lease your go cart and impress all your friends.)

Of course this is all about growing up. When we are older, we look back at how we acted 10, 20 years ago and wonder how we could be such Dorks driving around in our dropped Hondas or Acuras with the 6" tailpipe that sounds like a lawn mower without a muffler. (Not that I ever had a 6" tailpipe or dropped my car but I bought the wheels, headers, etc. etc.)

It's all in good fun until you or someone else crashes. Take it to the track. Heck you can even run the TL-S in SCCA events at the track.

Your sermon for the day.