[DaveCM5]

I was cruising down the interstate when I noticed a black car come up behind me with the Mercedes emblem on the nose. I was following some cars in the passing lane (left) and he pulled into the right lane and accelerated. I pulled in behind him and followed since the lane was clear. Once we got out in front of the pack he pulled into the left lane and slowed down. I pulled up beside him and he looked over and smiled. It was on!

We both punched it from ~ 75mph. I pulled out on him to where his front end was at my rear bumper. He stayed there all the way to ~135 when we started to come up on traffic. He slowed and then pulled in behind me as we were slowing down. (There was traffic in his lane).

We drove for a while then normally in traffic, sometimes he would lead and sometimes I would lead, until he took the exit and flashed his brake lights as a goodbye sign. He was cool.

I came home and looked up the specs on the SLK350 sine I hadn't seen one before. It turns out that they are supposed to have 268HP and only weigh ~3200lbs. His was apparently an auto by the way it was shifting (no jerking to indicate a stick shift) I was amazed that I was able to hold a lead on him like that. The only thing I can think of is the drag coefficient (0.30 for the 330i vs. 0.34 for the SLK350)

I just thought I'd share as I was pretty surprised and happy after I read the specs on the car. Not bad for a 4-door, 255HP sedan! Kudos, BMW!!

-Dave C. '06 330i

[Ewrek]

Excellent!!!.....

[mac5217]

....definiately the drag coefficient....and MAYBE the alignment of the moons, gravatational pull could have had an influence on the outcome as well.

Mac

[MPowerE90]

[res_ipsa]

Gonna be cool to start hearing more and more kill/race stories But be safe all.

[Mark]

this is what we like to hear

[bzzbenz]

hot!

[Robin_NL]

Nice story! But the 14BHP difference is 'nothing' in racing so the cars should be rather equal(as they are)

Drag coefficient is indeed very important, more than weight(on speed, not on acceleration)

[DaveCM5]

Another note is that I had a passenger in my car, as well as some luggage in the trunk. (Passenger ~125lbs, luggage ~40lbs)

There was no passenger in his car.

-Dave C. '06 330i

[arnie]

any one with info regarding the E90 330i power to mass ratio compared to the slk350. would be interesting.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by arnie

any one with info regarding the E90 330i power to mass ratio compared to the slk350. would be interesting.

What transmission is yours? I think the power to wheels is really important. Even if you have a 300hp car, without an efficient transmission, u'll loose tons of hp when the power gets to the wheels.

[arnie]

automatic

[arnie]

specs: sportpak, 162 wheels, sunroof, sparkling graphite, black leather, rain & light sensors, keyless entry and exit, extended light package, auto, 6cd shuttle, pdc, rear window elec blind, extended mirror package. who else have ordered similar?

[DaveCM5]

Mine is the 6-speed automatic with steptronic.

-Dave C. '06 330i

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

What transmission is yours? I think the power to wheels is really important. Even if you have a 300hp car, without an efficient transmission, u'll loose tons of hp when the power gets to the wheels.

You're right about that... Look at the new AMG SLK 55. It has a 7 spd auto that rocks!!! :rocks: It puts out less power than a Vette (and the Vette weighs less) and it is still faster than the Vette. Cool technology...

[DaveCM5]

Originally Posted by arnie

any one with info regarding the E90 330i power to mass ratio compared to the slk350. would be interesting.

330i = 3450lbs/255HP = 13.5 lb/HP
SLK350 = 3250lbs/268HP = 12.1 lb/HP

Unless the BMW might be underrated or something, it seems as though the SLK should have the advantage. Of course the drag coefficient is something to consider, as well as the 6-speed transmission gearing.

Does the SLK350 have a 6-speed auto?

-Dave C. '06 330i

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by Dave C. '06 330i

330i = 3450lbs/255HP = 13.5 lb/HP
SLK350 = 3250lbs/268HP = 12.1 lb/HP



Does the SLK350 have a 6-speed auto?

-Dave C. '06 330i

6 speed manual or 7 speed auto....

[LOLrance]

my sister has a slk350 and im planning to get my e90 within the next month. nice to hear i can keep up. I've driven it before and that car isint as fast as i thought it would. Its more of a show-off car i think personally but i guess its nice to have your gas cap automatically open when you push on it and if you hold the unlock button your roof folds down but for $57,000 out the door ill pass

[DaveCM5]

Originally Posted by l4wr3nc3

my sister has a slk350 and im planning to get my e90 within the next month. nice to hear i can keep up. I've driven it before and that car isint as fast as i thought it would. Its more of a show-off car i think personally but i guess its nice to have your gas cap automatically open when you push on it and if you hold the unlock button your roof folds down but for $57,000 out the door ill pass

On my 330i, if you hold the unlock button down on the remote it will roll down all the windows and open the sun roof. I'm not sure if that's standard equipment or an option, but it's pretty cool.

And if you push on the gas door it will pop out. You have to manually unscrew the cap though.

-Dave C. '06 330i

[RedStripe]

Originally Posted by Dave C. '06 330i

On my 330i, if you hold the unlock button down on the remote it will roll down all the windows and open the sun roof. I'm not sure if that's standard equipment or an option, but it's pretty cool.

I have been told at the dealership that this function is standard, at least with US spec cars.

[jiggax23]

and if u roll them back up with the key your mirrors will fold in as well (assuming u have power folding mirrors)

[silverado]

Originally Posted by jiggax23

and if u roll them back up with the key your mirrors will fold in as well (assuming u have power folding mirrors)

How do you roll them back up with the key? I tried holding down the lock button but it doesn't close the windows.