BMW M3 vs Audi RS4 Avant

Picture of BMW M3 (E46)
Picture of Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
Category BMW M3 (E46)Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
Engine layout 3.2 l R62.7 l V6
Max power (ps / bhp) 343 / 338380 / 375
Max torque (Nm / lb-ft) 365 / 269440 / 325
Curb weight (kg / lb) 1569 / 34591680 / 3704
Power / tonne (ps / bhp) 219 / 216226 / 223

Acceleration

Speed & distance BMW M3 (E46)Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
0 - 40 kph 1.8 s1.2 s
0 - 50 kph 2.1 s1.7 s
0 - 60 kph 2.8 s2.2 s
0 - 80 kph 3.7 s3.6 s
0 - 100 kph 4.8 s4.7 s
0 - 120 kph 6.9 s6.8 s
0 - 130 kph 7.9 s7.7 s
0 - 140 kph 8.9 s8.6 s
0 - 160 kph 11.4 s10.9 s
0 - 180 kph 14.2 s14.1 s
0 - 200 kph 16.8 s17.0 s
0 - 220 kph 23.9 s23.8 s
0 - 240 kph 31.1 s29.8 s
1000 m 24.1 s23.5 s
0 - 60 mph 4.5 s4.8 s
0 - 100 mph 11.2 s11.0 s
Est. 1/8 mile 9.4 s @ 91.3 mph9.2 s @ 93.2 mph
1/4 mile 13.1 s @ 107.5 mph13.0 s

Rolling acceleration

Speed BMW M3 (E46)Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
60 - 100 kph (4) 5.7 s4.5 s
60 - 100 kph (5) 7.0 s7.0 s
80 - 120 kph (4) 5.2 s4.5 s
80 - 120 kph (5) 7.0 s5.9 s
80 - 120 kph (6) 9.7 s8.2 s
Est. 100 - 140 kph 3.8 s4.0 s
Est. 100 - 200 kph 12.6 s12.7 s

General performance

Category BMW M3 (E46)Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
Top speed 280 kph (174 mph)274 kph (170 mph)
Est. max acceleration 0.59 g (6 m/s²)0.64 g (6 m/s²)
18m slalom 67.8 kph (42.1 mph)64.8 kph (40.3 mph)
Fuel economy 7.9 l/100 km (30 mpg US / 36 UK)8.7 l/100 km (27 mpg US / 33 UK)
100 kph - 0 35 m (114 ft)36 m (118 ft)
200 kph - 0 151 m (496 ft)151 m (496 ft)

Summary

Category BMW M3 (E46)Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
Track Performance 400379
Straight line speed 34043772
Total 38044151

Verdict

RS4 Avant is the fastest by a small margin.

This comparison has been viewed 3.7k times.

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hostboy  2y ago

Contrary to popular belief, Audi and BMW are not direct competitors to each other. In fact, BMW's only real competitor is Mercedes-Benz. Audi may build "powerhouses" but they tend to be very heavy with a much more stale ride quality in comparison. BMW makes Audi look either like Lexus or Maserati depending on the circumstance.

The RS models today barely beat the mid-range M models, most specifically M240i vs RS3, M340i vs RS4, M440i vs RS5, M550i vs RS6, M850i vs RS7, and even the new 760i vs S8.

Mercedes is alright but more of a car for Brad Pitt and Justin Bieber types, but BMW really provides the best bangs-for-bucks.

If you look back to the 1980s and especially the '70s, Audi's technological advancement and sporty enhancement both were closer to that of Peugeot, Renault, and Alfa Romeo (which back then actually wasn't a luxury brand at all).


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Lel  8y ago

audi series 4 b5 is 1994
bmw series 3 e46 is 1998, there is 4 years of difference.


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Karthick01  11y ago

BMW M3 E46 wins.


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nutyde  14y ago

One size down wheels and -0.2s on a 0-100kph. of course.

If 4.8s and 4.2 with a M3 and RS4 is real and proved, so the quarter mile and the 0-200kph is completely wrong.


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Anonymous  15y ago

@nutyde
These results are only your estimations and claimings without source they don't have any sense:-) Try to find something to confirmed them. You seem to be selfexpert or jerk.



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Georg  15y ago

you are wrong
e46 M3
sportauto 3/2003
5.0s 19" optional wheels standart Michelin tires
auto motor und sport 1/2003
4.8s 18" standart wheel/ Michelin tires
sportauto 1/2005
4.8s 19" optional wheels standart Michelin tires

Audi RS4
sportauto supertest 10/2000
4.2s 18" standart wheels with standart Pirelli P zerro tries

GPS tested numbers by car magazines


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nutyde  15y ago

Nobody could fall below 5.2s in 0-60mh with an e46 even with R888 tires...
So 4.8 is an unreal dream.

On the B5 RS4, the best you can reach is about 4.85 timed on a quarter mile /w pzero corsa tires.

Some optimistic chronos...