Well, I don't know a LOT about the BMW 'cars', but I do have a friend who had the 335 and slapped a chip in it. That thing was a BEAST and I loved the acceleration, so much so that I'd buy the 3 series (or any of the twin turbos) and get a chip. He now owns an M3.

Here is our opinion: The 335 was fast as hell with that chip, but the M3 is meant for the TRACK. So, when it comes to spirited driving, the chipped 3 series will certainly hold its own, but when it comes to the track, the M will trump.

Concerning upgrading a M3, all I've seen are supercharges like Harte, G-Power, ActiveAutowerks.

That's a joke right? maybe if BMW could put some brakes on it, then it'd be okay on track.

Have you ever driven one, or drive in one? I drive IN one every other week - car pool with my X5 on one week and his M3 on the next.

Do your research - check out the stats. I can feel the difference from his twin turbo 3 series and his M. His chipped 3 accelerated like a beast from 0-80. But after that, he said it didn't feel as planted to the road as his M does. Then there was all this talk about M buttons and other bottuns, etc. I agree with him. I liked the initial torque on the chipped 3, but overall, the M3 trupms it in handling. Therefore, a chipped 3 is for spirited driving while the M is for the track.

have you EVER compared teh way it handles from a regular 3 series? Do you go to BMW M meets and talk and share info with other M owners (not to mention all the car & body guys who visit the meets ... including Active Autowerks)?

Not arguing - we're all FAMILY here (Bimmer owners). But if you disagree ... you should disagree in the M forums that are floating around. Watch how quickly they all come out of the woodwork and actually agree with what I said. I know this not just from being in his car going to and from work, but also outside of work, even going to the S. Florida meets. ALL drivers who had 3 series to M3's say the same thing. Dunno why you'd disagree, but I'm interested to here why you disagree.

In fact, we have tracks and strips here in S. Florida. Guess what car typically dominates? :-) M3 of course.

It is all relative...

Powerchip is very popular on the E39 M5 forums, been using them for years.

I didn't realize that you could "chip" M vehicles. All the M owners that I know (and meet at MEETS) have a supercharger, not a chip. The regular twin turbos can be chipped ... but I've never heard of an M being chipped.

didn't you know that the X5/6M has a twin turbo engine?