agree with Dvst8 100%. i have seen it many times, besides all the fancy calculations and theory.
A healthy modded e46 can keep up if not even or beat a e92..like Neesh's.
Some of my experiences, wins and losses.
i have raced a a few e92's and been ahead to varying degrees and 2 or 3 runs with each car..from the line as well as rolling. in some cases neck and neck then me pulling away from 3/4th strangely.
In JHB.. ran a manual e92 from the line and he won about 6 six times. Later found out it was modded (he said it was stock). But had a stint with a dct e92..stock and honestly could not catch the guy.. wasn't head to head or from the line, think it was every gear from 2nd he just kept pulling away. I was chasing but his car was clearly faster IMO.
In kzn..no setup runs, but have had 2 random runs and both times had bags and at least 2 people in my car and the same with the m3's. E90 m3, chased on highway, they had to move over and i was passing until we needed to break. (their car was pretty full tho). e93 m3 this Dec, i was in front, car came up behind, we had a few spirit stints and i was pulling away, looked like 20's on the car and had a loud exhaust. i was definitely faster on both occasions. So would really like to have a proper run with one at the coast as i think the m3 should be ahead. (as it should be)
m135is, i got completely killed at Tarlton by one.. literally left for dead and maybe 2/3 cars. In saying that, a pvt meet, i had 3 people in the car (big guys) and i pulled away a few times very strange.
I would be keen to test as well if this is going to happen, nice to see the differences with properly driven cars, m135i, 1m, stock e92, will be interesting.
my car has PPK. There are videos for most of the runs above. I have raced Crash's e46 m3 as well, rolling (without SC) and was ahead and the difference was not the same as a e92.