Battle of the Sleepers! Serious Little Beemer - What Gives??

SleeperGT · 11-15-2002, 02:12 PM

So I'm coming home from the airport last night and as I exit up onto the highway home for me (9A for those folks from Jax) I give it the gas for a little fun, as this is one of the only curves on Jacksonville roads. I've now merged on the the highway and there is no traffic out and all of a sudden I see lights jump up on me from behind. I can tell it's some sort of sports car as there appear to be a decent set of fog lights on which are low to the ground. I drop her down a gear and punch it figuring I'd toast who ever the dude was. I wind it up to about 120 and god bless the car is still right on me. We come up on traffic and I slow her down and move over a lane to see what it is.....holy cow it's one of those little tiny BMW convertibles. I'm almost possitive it was not an M roadster because it didn't have the quad exhausts or steam roller tires. We drop it down to about 60 and and we're heading up the Dames Point bridge now (huge suspension bridge for those not from Jax) and both give it the gas and we run up to 130 or so. I can't pull on him and he can't pull on me. What the heck?!?!?! I'm pretty sure this was a new 2003 convertible and I think it comes stock with a 3.0 6 cyl with about 230 hp. The car looked completely stock from the outside (no exhaust mods, or wheel or tire mods). The guy driving the BMW gives me a huge grin and thumbs up before he exits, which I of course return. Has anyone else had a similar experience with these little BMW's?? I would have expected this from an M roadster which comes stock with over 300 hp in a car which would fit in my trunk. By the way it was very nice to see someone driving one of these BMW's for what they're worth, they really are awsome driving machines.

Hammer · 11-15-2002, 02:23 PM

Sleepers... They come in more forms than just Mustangs...

95ragtop · 11-15-2002, 04:34 PM

I think it did better than even an M would have done. Would have been cool to find out what he had. Are you sure it wasn't a Z8? http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/products/automobiles/z8/

400HP V8

7up · 11-15-2002, 06:18 PM

I was thinking it might be a Z8 too. Those things are sweet, but a little pricy at 130k.

typeR · 11-15-2002, 07:43 PM

the Z4 is out if im not mistaken and...the Mrodster is supposedly a low 13 sec car out of the box not sure on that...but i have my doubts a Z3 could break 13 ...where are you?...
ooops saw your sig ,thats Mrodster times for sure...certainly no Z3 ,short of custom turbo ,nos or SC , none of which id expect a BMW owner to add to that car, i dont see it hanging with you

SleeperGT · 11-15-2002, 08:21 PM

Hmmmmm a Z8, the whole race was pretty much a blur but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a Z8, but maybe. I've only seen a few in the day light and they have always been silver. This car was dark, I want to say dark green. I did get a pretty good look at it and I know it had a single exhaust outlet (dual tips)......no, now that I think of it more for sure it was the little guy, not the Z8 or M Roadster. The only thing I can think of was I was in 5th gear most of the race and maybe that had something to do with it.

The Deuce · 11-15-2002, 08:48 PM

Sounds like an m3. I know some of the older ones only had dual tips on one pipe.

SleeperGT · 11-15-2002, 09:08 PM

OK folks, next to Mustangs the only other cars I'd like to own one day would be a BMW, and that will only happen if my car tastes ever mature beyond a 16 year olds (no offense to anyone with that comment I hope). That being said I know this thing was one of the little convertibles, a Z3. Though the race was a blur because of the speeds, it was directly in the lane next to me and I had to look down to wave to the driver, and at that point we were doing reasonable speeds. It was no M3 or M5 or Z8. I'm telling you all, or I should say y'all since I now live in Jax, that this was one of the little guys with the new 3.0 6's in it. I know now that I should have followed the guy when he got off the highway to see what the heck he did to it. BMW's are really intended for serious drivers, they are great machines and have received unfair reputations because all the freaking yuppies always buy them. When you purchase them you can get them with all kinds of great sport options, which are intended for real drivers (not that BMW offers any sort of 100 hp upgrade from the factory). So I really would not doubt that someone buying one of these little cars for what they are intended for, would go out and do some serious mods to it, yet keep it low key because he holds some kind of "respectable" job (again no offense to anyone).

this is not cbring · 11-15-2002, 10:03 PM

z3's are real nice, the craftsmanship is remarkable.........it is really unfortunate that it has such a poor reputation among many enthusiasts (or maybe it isn't, the sleeper/underestimated thing can be pretty fun).......

if i liked convertibles and had the means, i'd get one..............but i don't like convertibles, so if i had the means, i'd prolly get an M-coupe (i really like "ugly" hatches)

srv1 · 11-16-2002, 09:14 AM

remember, Germans build thier cars for top end!

Green93notch · 11-18-2002, 09:17 AM

Quote:

remember, Germans build thier cars for top end!

couldnt have said it better.

1969Mach1 · 11-18-2002, 12:34 PM

Don't doubt BMW's. I love the cars, and if I had the money I would buy one. I got to drive my cousins 323ci. It's one of the 'lower' end BMWs but that thing moves at top end speed. Of the line it's not that quick but once I was around 50mph it just kept pulling and pretty damn quick. I was on a side street and was with my dad so I couldn't test it's full capabilities, but I do admit it was a nice car. Do you know if it was a roaster (Z3, Z8 etc) or a cabriolet (3-Series, 5 Series, etc)?

§am.

Special K · 11-18-2002, 06:40 PM

BMW guys often do swap you know, just like honda boys!

slow98 · 11-18-2002, 09:32 PM

turbo kits are actually readily available for z3 i know...that might be your culprit

11-15-2002, 02:12 PM	#1
SleeperGT Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Posts: 122	Battle of the Sleepers! Serious Little Beemer - What Gives?? So I'm coming home from the airport last night and as I exit up onto the highway home for me (9A for those folks from Jax) I give it the gas for a little fun, as this is one of the only curves on Jacksonville roads. I've now merged on the the highway and there is no traffic out and all of a sudden I see lights jump up on me from behind. I can tell it's some sort of sports car as there appear to be a decent set of fog lights on which are low to the ground. I drop her down a gear and punch it figuring I'd toast who ever the dude was. I wind it up to about 120 and god bless the car is still right on me. We come up on traffic and I slow her down and move over a lane to see what it is.....holy cow it's one of those little tiny BMW convertibles. I'm almost possitive it was not an M roadster because it didn't have the quad exhausts or steam roller tires. We drop it down to about 60 and and we're heading up the Dames Point bridge now (huge suspension bridge for those not from Jax) and both give it the gas and we run up to 130 or so. I can't pull on him and he can't pull on me. What the heck?!?!?! I'm pretty sure this was a new 2003 convertible and I think it comes stock with a 3.0 6 cyl with about 230 hp. The car looked completely stock from the outside (no exhaust mods, or wheel or tire mods). The guy driving the BMW gives me a huge grin and thumbs up before he exits, which I of course return. Has anyone else had a similar experience with these little BMW's?? I would have expected this from an M roadster which comes stock with over 300 hp in a car which would fit in my trunk. By the way it was very nice to see someone driving one of these BMW's for what they're worth, they really are awsome driving machines. __________________ '00 GT 5-spd Vortech S-Trim 3.1" Pulley Paxton Air-to-Air Aftercooler 90 mm MAS 42 lb injectors Cobra Fuel Pump 70 mm AccuFab Throttlebody C & L Intake Plenum 2 1/2" X-pipes Anderson PowerPipe MagnaFlow Mufflers Diablo Custom Chip 3.73's Steeda Lower Control Arms 358 rwhp (Mustang Dyno) New Track Times Coming Soon

11-15-2002, 02:23 PM	#2
Hammer AKA "Dr. Evil" Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: South Fork Ranch Posts: 1,721	Sleepers... They come in more forms than just Mustangs... __________________ Uncle Sam "What the hell is up with all the gauges? Calling Captain Kirk, your ride awaits... Phasers on stun...."

11-15-2002, 04:34 PM	#3
95ragtop Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Palmdale, CA USA Posts: 59	I think it did better than even an M would have done. Would have been cool to find out what he had. Are you sure it wasn't a Z8? http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/products/automobiles/z8/ 400HP V8 __________________ Take Care, Dave 95 Mustang GT Convertible - SOLD 2000 Buick Regal GS (3.4 pulley, gutted airbox w K&N, U-bend, DHP PCM, TOG Headers. Pre-headers PB 14.81 @ 2700ft elevationw 2.25 60 ft) 1967 Electra 225 convertible (360hp)

11-15-2002, 06:18 PM	#4
7up Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 321	I was thinking it might be a Z8 too. Those things are sweet, but a little pricy at 130k. __________________ 91 lx convertible, Vortech a-trim, 2.87 blower pulley. 30lb injectors, 80 mm mass air, 255 fuel pump, flowmaster cat back, bbk long tubes and h pipe 299.3 hp, 355.5 tq(before h-pipe, headers) Ricer Hater's Club-member #16

11-15-2002, 07:43 PM	#5
typeR Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 111	the Z4 is out if im not mistaken and...the Mrodster is supposedly a low 13 sec car out of the box not sure on that...but i have my doubts a Z3 could break 13 ...where are you?... ooops saw your sig ,thats Mrodster times for sure...certainly no Z3 ,short of custom turbo ,nos or SC , none of which id expect a BMW owner to add to that car, i dont see it hanging with you __________________ '01 acura CL-S 260/232 (stock) 2500$ 3.5L short block 299$ cai 10 whp 299$ lowered 1.0/1.25 999$ headers 30 whp look on there face...pricless PB 1/4 13.794@101.54

11-15-2002, 08:21 PM	#6
SleeperGT Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Posts: 122	Hmmmmm a Z8, the whole race was pretty much a blur but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a Z8, but maybe. I've only seen a few in the day light and they have always been silver. This car was dark, I want to say dark green. I did get a pretty good look at it and I know it had a single exhaust outlet (dual tips)......no, now that I think of it more for sure it was the little guy, not the Z8 or M Roadster. The only thing I can think of was I was in 5th gear most of the race and maybe that had something to do with it. __________________ '00 GT 5-spd Vortech S-Trim 3.1" Pulley Paxton Air-to-Air Aftercooler 90 mm MAS 42 lb injectors Cobra Fuel Pump 70 mm AccuFab Throttlebody C & L Intake Plenum 2 1/2" X-pipes Anderson PowerPipe MagnaFlow Mufflers Diablo Custom Chip 3.73's Steeda Lower Control Arms 358 rwhp (Mustang Dyno) New Track Times Coming Soon

11-15-2002, 08:48 PM	#7
The Deuce Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,325	Sounds like an m3. I know some of the older ones only had dual tips on one pipe. __________________ 1997 Mustang GT "The Freak" - 13.80 @ 101.70, 2.07 60' 1995 Honda VFR750 - not much @ really fast (actual data pending.) 1964.5 Mustang 289 Rice Haters Club Member #13

11-15-2002, 09:08 PM	#8
SleeperGT Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Posts: 122	OK folks, next to Mustangs the only other cars I'd like to own one day would be a BMW, and that will only happen if my car tastes ever mature beyond a 16 year olds (no offense to anyone with that comment I hope). That being said I know this thing was one of the little convertibles, a Z3. Though the race was a blur because of the speeds, it was directly in the lane next to me and I had to look down to wave to the driver, and at that point we were doing reasonable speeds. It was no M3 or M5 or Z8. I'm telling you all, or I should say y'all since I now live in Jax, that this was one of the little guys with the new 3.0 6's in it. I know now that I should have followed the guy when he got off the highway to see what the heck he did to it. BMW's are really intended for serious drivers, they are great machines and have received unfair reputations because all the freaking yuppies always buy them. When you purchase them you can get them with all kinds of great sport options, which are intended for real drivers (not that BMW offers any sort of 100 hp upgrade from the factory). So I really would not doubt that someone buying one of these little cars for what they are intended for, would go out and do some serious mods to it, yet keep it low key because he holds some kind of "respectable" job (again no offense to anyone). __________________ '00 GT 5-spd Vortech S-Trim 3.1" Pulley Paxton Air-to-Air Aftercooler 90 mm MAS 42 lb injectors Cobra Fuel Pump 70 mm AccuFab Throttlebody C & L Intake Plenum 2 1/2" X-pipes Anderson PowerPipe MagnaFlow Mufflers Diablo Custom Chip 3.73's Steeda Lower Control Arms 358 rwhp (Mustang Dyno) New Track Times Coming Soon

11-15-2002, 10:03 PM	#9
this is not cbring Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 380	z3's are real nice, the craftsmanship is remarkable.........it is really unfortunate that it has such a poor reputation among many enthusiasts (or maybe it isn't, the sleeper/underestimated thing can be pretty fun)....... if i liked convertibles and had the means, i'd get one..............but i don't like convertibles, so if i had the means, i'd prolly get an M-coupe (i really like "ugly" hatches) __________________ 2002 vw gti 1.8T

11-16-2002, 09:14 AM	#10
srv1 Get down..... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Room 103 Posts: 2,095	remember, Germans build thier cars for top end! __________________ Cobra brakes are on! Finally..... ------------------------------------------------

11-18-2002, 12:34 PM	#12
1969Mach1 HEY I CAN SET A NAME NOW! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,556	Don't doubt BMW's. I love the cars, and if I had the money I would buy one. I got to drive my cousins 323ci. It's one of the 'lower' end BMWs but that thing moves at top end speed. Of the line it's not that quick but once I was around 50mph it just kept pulling and pretty damn quick. I was on a side street and was with my dad so I couldn't test it's full capabilities, but I do admit it was a nice car. Do you know if it was a roaster (Z3, Z8 etc) or a cabriolet (3-Series, 5 Series, etc)? §am. __________________ 1969 Mustang Mach 1Sold 351-4V Windsor, 4 Speed MACH 1 - Moving At The Speed Of Sound. 1979 Mustang Indianapolis 500 Pace Car For Sale - Email me for Info 302-2V, 3-Speed Auto One of 2,106 made One of 405 sent to Canada. Yes those are caution lights, and No you can't pass me when there on. Ricer Hater's Club - Member #4

11-18-2002, 06:40 PM	#13
Special K Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Montreal, Quebec (Canada) Posts: 246	BMW guys often do swap you know, just like honda boys! __________________ 2000 Honda Civic SiR @ 6psi 13.738 @ 102.943 mph 1989 Ford Mustang LX Coupe 5.0L (RIP)

11-18-2002, 09:32 PM	#14
slow98 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: draper,va,us Posts: 206	turbo turbo kits are actually readily available for z3 i know...that might be your culprit __________________ 1998 mustang gt/manual..373s,bbk offroad h pipe,flowmaster cat back,c&l 80 mm maf,steeda triax,eibach springs,steeda ud pulleys,upr timing adjuster,screamon demos coil packs,motorsports 9mm plug wires,steea aluminum lca's,steeda heavy duty uca's and just over 100 k on the clock