Hoonigan’s “This vs That” has given us some of the most epic drag race battle, we have ever seen. If a build is crazy fast and weird, it’s bound to show up on their channel, and this time, we have two very different BMWs squaring off against each other. The first bonkers machine is a BMW M2 Formula Drift car while the second one is a BMW E36, built specifically for Time Attack. Neither of the cars is meant to race on a drag strip, so it should be very interesting.

BMW M2 Formula Drift

The BMW M2 was actually bought as it is, from a company in Latvia, called NGK, which specializes in 3D printing, and building Formula Drift cars. Nima (@nimavoss) – the current owner of the car – bought the retired Formula Drift car from Formula D driver, Yves Meyer. Underneath the carbon-fiber hood is a 427 cubic-inch (7.0-liter) LS7 engine, built by MAS Motorsports, good for 800 rear-wheel horsepower.

The transmission is a six-speed sequential, by Samsonas. The build features all supporting mods, done by HGK and Helftec. Inside, there’s a “full”, race-spec interior as in everything is gutted out and replaced by a carbon-fiber dash, roll-cage, racing seats, and everything else you may need for racing purposes. It also has its own VIN number, from HGK. The car, which is also known as the F22 Eurofighter, tips the scales at 2,800 pounds (1,270 kg).

BMW 318is E36 Time Attack

What started out as a 1994 BMW 318is has been transformed into a full-on Time Attack monster, by Caliber Customs. It features the obligatory for a time attack car, radical body kit, with lots of functional aero, including canards, a big front splitter, tall rear wing, flared fenders, and a complete underbelly, all built in-house. There’s also a big rear diffuser that looks like it’s ready to plow the fields.

Underneath the hood is a built LS2 V-8, with a stock block and crankshaft, but everything else. By that, we mean connecting rods, pistons, MSD ignition, “hotter” camshaft, dry-sump lubrication, and a centrifugal supercharger, running on the lowest possible setting, which is good for 670 horsepower. Power goes to the rear through a Tremec T56, six-speed manual. The car weighs 3,050 pounds (1,383 kg). The Time Attack BMW runs on “fat” slicks – 335mm at the front and 345 mm at the rear, which could give it an advantage, off the line.

The races

As always, the first round is a heads-up race at 1,000 feet. The E36’s tire advantage allowed it to make a better start. Just as the more powerful Formula Drift car was about to start catching up, the race ended, and the E36 Time Attack car won by about three car lengths.

Despite the result, the second round is done in exactly the same manner. The Time Attack BMW E36 beat the lighter and more powerful F22 Eurofighter, by four car lengths this time.

As this is Hoonigan, there has to be a bonus round. This time, it’s a rolling race from 30 mph (48 km/h). Even that wasn’t enough to give the Formula Drift car enough of an advantage to score a win. The BMW E36 was built for speed while the F22 Eurofighter - for crazy angles. At the end of the day, both cars put on a show, especially the Formula D BMW. It’s also worth noting that for all the hype surrounding BMW cars, neither of the two had BMW engines.