335i coupe, dynamic advantages over 335i sedan??

Which one do you think looks better?
Do you live in a cold climate in which the sedan would be the better choice?

— mstangpny07 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 7:43:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I'll have to verify, but I believe the e46 sedan had a stiffer chassis over the coupe. Something about having a B-Pillar; I read it on roadfly, so take it for what it's worth. There was some math and calculations involved and some data from BMW. I'll try to track it down.

— Agent004 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 11:45:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Agent 004 is right. The e46 sedan had better torsional rigidity than the coupe.

I remember reading about it before as well on another forum.

I did the digging for you.
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe 27,000 Nm/deg
Aston Martin DB9 Convertible 15,500 Nm/deg
Audi TT Coupe 19,000 Nm/deg
BMW E36 Touring 10,900 Nm/deg
BMW E36 Z3 5,600 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Sedan (w/o folding seats) 18,000 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Sedan (w/folding seats) 13,000 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Wagon (w/folding seats) 14,000 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Coupe (w/folding seats) 12,500 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Convertible 10,500 Nm/deg
Chrysler Crossfire 20,140 Nm/deg
Chrysler Durango 6,800 Nm/deg
Dodge Viper Coupe 7,600 Nm/deg
Ferrari 360 Spider 8,500 Nm/deg
Ford GT40 MkI 17,000 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang 2003 16,000 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang 2005 21,000 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang Convertible (2003) 4,800 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang Convertible (2005) 9,500 Nm/deg
Jaguar X-Type Sedan 22,000 Nm/deg
Jaguar X-Type Estate 16,319 Nm/deg
Lambo Murcielago 20,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Elan 7,900 Nm/deg
Lotus Elan GRP body 8,900 Nm/deg
Lotus Elise 10,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Elise 111s 11,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Esprit SE Turbo 5,850 Nm/deg
McLaren F1 13,500 Nm/deg
Mini (2003) 24,500 Nm/deg
Pagani Zonda C12 S 26,300 Nm/deg
Porsche 959 12,900 Nm/deg
Volvo S60 20,000 Nm/deg

Rolls Royce Phantom: 40,000 Nm/deg
BMW E90: Supposedly 25% higher than E46, look above
BMW Z4: 21Hz... Now I just need to figure out how to convert that...
Audi A2: 11900 Nm/deg
Audi A8: 25,000 Nm/deg
Audi TT: 10,000 Nm/deg (22Hz)
Golf V GTI: 25,000 Nm/deg
Chevrolet Cobalt: 28 Hz
Ferrari 360: 1,474 kgm/degree (bending: 1,032 kg/mm)
Ferrari 355: 1,024 kgm/degree (bending: 727 kg/mm)
Ferrari 430: supposedly 20% higher than 360
Renault Sport Spider: 10,000 Nm/degree
Volvo S80: 18,600 Nm/deg
Koenigsegg CC-8: 28,100 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo 996: 27,000 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo 996 Convertible: 11,600 Nm/deg
Lotus Elise S2 Exige (2004): 10,500 Nm/deg
Volkswagen Fox: 17,941 Nm/deg
BMW Z4: 14,500 Nm/deg
Ferrari F50: 34,600 Nm/deg
Lambo Gallardo: 23000 Nm/deg
Ford GT: 27,100 Nm/deg
Mazda Rx-8: 30,000 Nm/deg (hard to believe)
Mazda Rx-7: ~15,000 Nm/deg

Alfa Romeo 159: 31,400 Nm / deg
BMW Z4: 14,500 Nm / deg
Ferrari 360 Modena: ~ (Nm/deg 21680 - Nm/deg 23000)
Ferrari 360 Modena Spider: ~ (Nm/deg 13008 - Nm/deg 13800)
Ferrari 430: ~ (26016 Nm/deg - 27600 Nm/deg)
Fiat Grande Punto: 19,700 Nm/degree for the 3-door and 16,500 Nm/degree for the 5-door
Ford GT: ~ (29000 Nm/deg - 30352 Nm/deg)
Pagani Zonda S 7.3: 26,300 Nm/deg
Koenigsegg CC8S: 28,100 Nm/deg

The source is from a racing forum: http://forum.rscnet.org/showthread.php?t=210895

They explain that the data was collected from various books, internet forums, and press kits.

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 11:23:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Nice find! thanks

— Agent004 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 2:30:44 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I would bet tested back to back the sedan is not faster the to coupe to 60mph. those results were probably taken seperatly, it's difficult to duplicate test conditions and launch styles.

Plus the coupes slicker surface will probably give it the advantage when speeds rise!

— vin1 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 9:15:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

i dont understand why you are asking every1 on here in 10 different articles. goto a freakin dealership and have a proffesional answer your questions, that is if you are seriously looking to buy one. its their job. ever since you found out that the sedan was .1 sec faster 0-60 you went ape shit about it.

and remember its just a car, it wont last you a lifetime, and you can pick again in a few years if you really want to.

i could see if you were weighing the differences between makes where you would want help from both say, MB and BMW drivers, but its the same freaken car, ones a coupe and ones a sedan. JUST PICK ONE!

— bigslick83 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 10:11:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Guy at work has an '01 BMW 328i coupe. Steering just went out 6 months after warranty coverage. $4,500 to fix. True story!

— bmtrblu (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 11:08:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

why is everybody so concerned about .1 seconds? Are you really drag racing the car that often that it is going to matter? Most drivers probably couldn't even duplicate those numbers so I don't know what the fuss is all about. Why everybody is so concerned with 0-60 really blows me away.

— phantom330 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 11:52:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

i want coupe but the sedan will do. hope to get it...!!-sigh-

— 1relenthless5 (View Profile)

Posted on 9/29/2006 6:14:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The coupe is better-looking to most, but the sedan is available with AWD, which really is the only better thing about the sedan. But most people here are from CA-AZ area, and if you are too, you obviously don't need AWD.

If so, go for the coupe. I see it as a more dignified car than the sedan. However, have you considered waiting for the hardtop convertible?

And yes, you won't notice .1 seconds of difference in 0-60mph for crying out loud!

— S4cabriofox (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 12:12:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Photos in the auto show gallery prove it as well! Good job on BMW fitting the e92 with AWD.

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 1:36:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

i heard that europe will get a 330d xdrive coupe.
not sure if we'll get it in the uk though, we don't get many all wheel drive saloons (bmw and merc don't sell any xdrive 3/5/7 or 4matic c/e/s here)

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 5:33:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Rupert
The E-Class 4-Matic is available here in the UK, Most iv'e seen are Wagons.

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 6:06:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

GermanNut
If you are buying the car for Bragging Rights, Buy the Faster One.
But if you just want the better one get the one that makes sense.

Coupe if you don't have to haul people around or already have a people hauler

Sedan if you frequently have to carry others and dont have another car.

0.1 sec difference in accel times means nothing in the real world as a good driver would be able to dismantle any such advantage 99% of other road users might have in their vehicles, most races ive won were because of Late Braking and choosing your racing lines between lanes of traffic as opposed to Red light Standing Start Quarter Mile Races

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 6:12:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Perfect Example

Last week on my return from Brussels i was Driving a rental SEAT LEON 2.0TDI and raced an E36 M3 Coupe for about 64 Miles through france and not once could he get away from me (Max Speed Reached On LEON 132mph)

He had to Stop at a Gas Station and ask me if i had modified the vehicle, he could not understand how he had not blown me away.

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 6:17:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

195,
i am certain we don't get the 4matic.
we did once, on the old 80s-96 version, but no more.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 6:35:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

its eye-95 for Interstate-95 in the USA :-)

ever since i moved back to the UK i have not been able to get my clock to adjust so sleep between 5/6am-9/10am

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 7:46:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

who cares?

the coupe looks twice as good as the sedan.

— minimalist (View Profile)

Posted on 9/30/2006 9:10:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Rupert, we aren't all just Americans or British here. ;)

I am Canadian.

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2006 12:13:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I believe huu76 is also Canadian from Toronto.

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2006 12:13:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

not to cause offence, but over here canada = america with a bit more culture.
and ice hockey.
otherwise we think they're pretty much the same.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2006 3:00:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Hey no worries! I was just kidding.

Regardless, Canada is American really, just not part of the United States of America. American could really refer to both North and South Americans. Although, American usually is used to describe the people who live in "The States".

You are right, Americans and Canadians are pretty much the same. There are idiots in Canada and idiots in America!

If you want to see culture and a beautiful city, go to Vancouver; one of the most beautiful cities in the world. :)

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2006 9:28:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

.... I live in Winnipeg, the birthplace of the person James Bond was based on.

"Sir William Stephenson (aka Intrepid), spy, man on whom the character of James Bond is based"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg#Born_in_Winnipeg

— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 10/1/2006 9:33:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

apparently argentinians also call themselves americans.

i'd like to see vancouver (or just north america at all), its on the west coast, right? i might be going to toronto next year though, which should be fun.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 10/2/2006 2:30:53 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

having poutine doesnt mean canada has more culture.

we call them wet fries in the us. lol. :p

— minimalist (View Profile)

Posted on 10/14/2006 9:01:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1