Passed by Z3 can't figure out what was going on. The car had no engine number on rear end, 2.3 or

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Mar 3, 2000 | 06:40 AM

Jim TT

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Passed by Z3 can't figure out what was going on. The car had no engine number on rear end, 2.3 or

2.8 so dose thst mean it is a 4cyl? I was on my way back from Mich. City on I94 and this z3 passes me doing 110? I follow, and for about 15 miles I an trailing this guy ( no real traffic). So I can pull up and close the distance and gain on the car when I want but if this is a 4 cyl it's way faster than I would have thought. I drove a 4cyl. Z3 for many miles a few summers ago and no way could that car run like this one did(at least I don't think it could). But if it was a 6cyl, say a 2.3 I am a little surprised the TT could real it in the way my car did. At one point I was at an indicated 130mph, the TT was very stable the whole time. Did BMW make a Z3 6 with no badge, or was this a de-badged car or just a rockin 4cyl? Anybody have any idea? JIM

Mar 3, 2000 | 06:52 AM

braTT Miller

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AFAIK, on the older Z's...

...the only way to tell them apart was the 4cyl had a single port exhaust while the 2.8L 6 had a twin port. Its only the 2000 Z's that have 2.3 or 2.8 on the back...and both I think have twin port exhausts.

My guess? It was probably a 2.8L 6. If you were surprised that the TT could reel it in, perhaps he/she was letting you close so they could ogle your TT. You were certainly giving a hint you wanted to play.

According to my sister-in-law, her 2.8 Z had a lot of the performance characteristics of their M roadster.

-Jeff (who knows scary stuff about BMW's)

Mar 3, 2000 | 07:15 AM

Jim TT

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Ok that makes sense- but I sure that he was full on the gas and was not toying. I say this because

...the exhaust was smoking briefly like a car does when under full throttle. And if there is car body language, and I say there is, then this car was hard on the gas at certain times during our 15 miles of driving. If this was a 2.8, and I do think it was, then the TT will run very strongly against one and may, and I do say my, pull harder at speed. At one point we were even and I pulled away from him. BTW the car did have two exhaust pipes. JIM

Mar 3, 2000 | 08:05 AM

Giles (UK)

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probably an M class...but most cars can go 110 !!!!!!!!

Mar 3, 2000 | 08:50 AM

Jim TT

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I know the M class well that wasn't it.

Mar 3, 2000 | 09:16 AM

braTT Miller

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Fair enough :)

It wouldn't surprise me if the Z was running out of steam compared to the TT at those speeds. My 325 has good torque over 4500, but I think it falls off pretty sharply above 6000...and at that speed I'd think he was getting up there in revs.

I agree as well, don't think it was an M. Their styling is too different, with those gill-rakes and the twin tailpipes on both sides of the rear.

Jeff

Mar 3, 2000 | 10:30 AM

DavidR

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Re: AFAIK, on the older Z's...

Z-3 2.8 is 190 hp, M roadster app. 240 hp. 2.8 isn't much faster than TT, if at all. Both are governed at about 130. Z-3 is a little quicker 0-60 but I don't think its appreciably faster on the highway.