Ha, we did go off topic. Its an M3 though, it deserves all of the attention.

 

Congrats man! The exterior looks cleannnn! Lets go for a drive when the weather gets nicer!

 

I don't think you saw it but there is a reason there was 2 classes. One was unlimited and one was modified.

Porsche and BMW competitors would of been more than welcome to modify the cars they had to their hearts content and they probably did. It was probably too costly with little gains for some or too risky for some to compromise reliability and lose entirely.

This is the one thing I can agree with. That 600whp graph was to simply prove how much power a stock VQ37 can hold. It doesn't mean it should be driven at that boost setting daily.

I'm sure it will do just fine at 450-500 whp for many more miles than just 20k.

 

You can think that and it's fine. I like to think of it as having enough common sense to pick the car with the most value and potential. The links I posted so far show which car that is.You're welcome.

 

I spent the last hour or so looking for proof that the VR and VQ share more than just a few bolts.

And the truth is that even a VR that's pushed for more than 600-650+ whp which a VQ37 can get to stock, needs some better internals. http://www.injectedblog.com/2009/04/...nd-cp-pistons/

Pictures courtesy of Injected Performance.

The similarities are just big coincidences. There is nothing going on here.

 

As others have said, the G should give you more hassle free ownership, but the M is a bit more fun to drive. The M is definitely a hot car though. Love the pics.

 

I'm going to agree with the general opinion. The M3 is a drivers car, its more responsive, and you'll feel the road a lot more. Its going to do exactly what you want it to do when you want it, assuming you keep it well maintained. I went from a 1998 E36 M3 to my 2004 G35 Sedan, not by choice lol but it has been more relaxing on the wallet with just the first month of the G. If you want a good baseline track type car, get the M3 but be prepared for pricey BMW parts, and labor if your not good with a wrench. If you want that good ole *** reliability, get a G. Personally if my pockets were deep enough, I'd of gone with another E36 or searched for a good E46, but the market is rough and I can't afford to refresh a beat up one.

 

Andrei, those two blocks look like two different castings. One is open block and the other isn't. Looks like one block is cast alot thicker also.

 

^Exactly. The only simularities between these two motors are that they both are Nissan V6s and have 24 valves. That's about it. The VR uses a much stronger closed deck design where as the VQ is an open deck design. Also noted is how much beefier the block looks, in general. Just because a VQ37 can make 600whp with no internal work doesn't mean it's going to last. There are countless forced induced stock VQs that have died very early deaths. The cars make big numbers and then died within 3K-20K miles. Usually either a rod snaps goes through the block or the rings start to fail. Overheating is a common problem as well.

 

That is true. The VR is closed and the VQ isn't but that's pretty much the only difference I see.
IP:
"While building two Nissan engines for our customers we took advantage of the great opportunity to make side-by-side comparisons of these two modern day Nissan super-motors. The R35 Nissan GTR’s VR38 shares a lot in common with the Nissan 350Z/370Z’s VQ35 HR engine as seen below. The most notable difference is the closed deck on the GTR’s VR38."

To get a VQ to be equal in strength or stronger it has to look like this.

 

Not really. I mean you can see the family resemblence but the fact that they look to be two completely different castings make these two engines pretty much two different engines.

 

Well BMW is giving out $50 to test drive their cars.

https://www.bmwusa.com/secured/conte...ElpyRVVaZPEQ==

 

I find it funny that GTM says in order for the VQ series to be strong like the VR, it needs a lower gridle. Why do I find this funny? Because the VQ comes with one as stock and a pretty stout girdle at that. I guess they're just preying on people's ignorance.

 

so what can the a vq35 handle on stock internals? hp numbers that is and boost??

 

400whp and 390+rwtq respectively for a VQ35DE with a twin turbo. Tims sedan was running a stock engine at that power level but I don't know for how long before he built it.

Revup DEs are slighter better. Last I've seen was 400+whp stock on my350z.

VQ35HRs can get up to 500+whp stock. AuburnZ has been running a stock motor with a GTM twin turbo kit at that power level since they bought the car. http://www.mygfrenzy.com/forum/showp...58&postcount=9

VQ37s max is 600 like I posted.

The fact is that each motor got better leading up to the VR. But it's just a coincidence.

All numbers I listed will be lower with a single turbo.

Isn't the stock girdle cast? I think the billet one would do much better. And that GTM one is needed to stroke the engine so you don't have to mod the stock girdle.

And GTM didn't say "it will be just as strong or stronger than the VR." But SP and IP both agree a billet girdle is stronger than a cast one. I don't think SP would of been able to get to 1200+ whp with a stock girdle.

And this is definitely not running a stock girdle. It runs 6sec with a VQ still.