[CurbBender'90]

Amazing

[jon328i]

nice dyno results!

[Nero7]

Awesome, but why did BMW underrate the numbers, they must know how much power they have in their cars?

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by TreDirtyFive

Ahhhh...the ever precariously uber high reading dyno at MD. Hmmmmm.

Yep easy to "Fix" the power/torque on that.
But who knows.

[Otago]

i don't like the sound.

[CombatNinja]

Inside Line's dyno tends to read notoriously high for whatever that's worth. That said, the N20 does look like an underrated engine, more so than Audi/VW's 2.0T. The performance numbers alone suggest that this thing is making well over the advertised 240bhp--some publications are seeing 0-60 as low as 5.3s. Dyno variations aside, I think one factor at work here might be the drivetrain efficiency. With the looming CAFE increases and every manufacturer pushing the envelope to eke out more MPG, I don't think it's unreasonable to figure the engineers have worked out some ways to reduce parasitic losses and deliver more of the engine's power to the wheels. I'm not knocking the engine in any way mind you, just pointing out one of the possible reasons why this engine looks like such a freak. I'd put some money down that this setup is closer to a 10% correction factor than the "traditional" 15%.
What is most curious is that unless the newer N55s are stouter than previous (and early numbers suggest they aren't), then it is pretty clear that there is only 20-25bhp between the base car and the 335. Even with the N55 being more limp-wristed than the N54, BMW maintained a healthy 70bhp spread between the cars. This made marketing the expensive car easy. Sure it was $5000 to step up to a 335 but the difference was clear. Now, not so much. I'll grant that the new turbo four sounds terrible but I could overlook the soundtrack in exchange for 36mpg.
The more I read about this platform, the more intrigued I am. If BMWNA does decide to bring the F31 stateside in non-xi guise, it might be impossible for me to resist.

[J3FF3RSON]

Looks like the new 335i will need a more powerful engine. Impressive numbers.

[maswastage]

Originally Posted by Rickster311

Not only is the HP rating and mpg rating inpressive separately, but when you put the two together and see the mpg you get with power - it's incredible.. Almost no point in getting the 335i...?!

Problem is it's probably tuned to the max potential without a lot of upgrades (if you're a tuner).

Comments like these make me just a little frustrated. Don't get me wrong, I love that the 328 has stepped up its game. I just wish people would have given the old D the same credit when it put up similar numbers in performance and efficiency (even better in fact, according to the first test from MT), and did so 3 years ago with 6 year old technology. Maybe if people had gotten as excited then about the efficiency and performance combo as they are now then BMW would have considered bringing over more, fully modern, diesels in the F30.

[Thud]

Originally Posted by Rickster311

Not only is the HP rating and mpg rating inpressive separately, but when you put the two together and see the mpg you get with power - it's incredible.. Almost no point in getting the 335i...?!

If the 335i can be bumped to comparable hp/liter, then it'll make sense again! (Or if sound is a high priority)


Or, better yet, the new BMW diesels that are making 300+ hp.

[CombatNinja]

Originally Posted by maswastage

Comments like these make me just a little frustrated. Don't get me wrong, I love that the 328 has stepped up its game. I just wish people would have given the old D the same credit when it put up similar numbers in performance and efficiency (even better in fact, according to the first test from MT), and did so 3 years ago with 6 year old technology. Maybe if people had gotten as excited then about the efficiency and performance combo as they are now then BMW would have considered bringing over more, fully modern, diesels in the F30.

The reason people didn't get that excited by the 335d was that a) it cost $50K for a typical car and b) didn't return huge MPG, at least on the sticker.

The 335d is a cool car but only to a select few. I think one shortcoming was the power:efficiency ratio was skewed too far toward the power. BMW needed "40mpg" on those window stickers to justify the price and they didn't deliver. Now you've got the mainstream gasser that gets the same "official" highway rating at $6000 less and it will be a homerun.

[Imola.ZHP]

NICE!

Wow, I can't wait to drive them both, with comments in other threads talking about the nose being lighter in the 328i, that might be the way to go!

[maswastage]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

The reason people didn't get that excited by the 335d was that a) it cost $50K for a typical car and b) didn't return huge MPG, at least on the sticker.

The 335d is a cool car but only to a select few. I think one shortcoming was the power:efficiency ratio was skewed too far toward the power. BMW needed "40mpg" on those window stickers to justify the price and they didn't deliver. Now you've got the mainstream gasser that gets the same "official" highway rating at $6000 less and it will be a homerun.

According to the mt test, a similarly equipped 328i costs about the same as a 335d did (roughly 50k). The same test also has the 328i performing slightly worse and returning slightly worse mpg.

That's kind of the feeling I get, that the D did everything the 328i does, and even a little better, for a similar price, only it never got credit solely because it was a diesel.

[justinnum1]

not to mention the weight of the 335d

[Neph]

some anti 328 folks need to drop the 50K argument. if you want a pure driving experience, you don't need the fancy options. All you need is:

-Sport package
-maybe leather

this puts you at $42K. for those who really want a true driving experience, that is not a bad price to pay. you do not need some twat packages like Parking Assist etc...

[Diver]

Once upon a time all small BMW's had 4 cylinder engines. They were great and this one will be great.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by Neph

some anti 328 folks need to drop the 50K argument. if you want a pure driving experience, you don't need the fancy options. All you need is:

-Sport package
-maybe leather

this puts you at $42K. for those who really want a true driving experience, that is not a bad price to pay. you do not need some twat packages like Parking Assist etc...

this...my car was 42K and has leather, sport, sport auto, and ZPS, what more do you really need? headlights, and technology wont affect how the car drives, they are nice goodies that will add 100 bucks on your monthly payment.

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by maswastage

Comments like these make me just a little frustrated. Don't get me wrong, I love that the 328 has stepped up its game. I just wish people would have given the old D the same credit when it put up similar numbers in performance and efficiency (even better in fact, according to the first test from MT), and did so 3 years ago with 6 year old technology. Maybe if people had gotten as excited then about the efficiency and performance combo as they are now then BMW would have considered bringing over more, fully modern, diesels in the F30.

Maybe if diesel wasn't $4.39 at my local station, it would make sense.

This isn't europe, where diesel is cheaper than petrol.

Originally Posted by maswastage

According to the mt test, a similarly equipped 328i costs about the same as a 335d did (roughly 50k).

Umm, you are completely biased by owning a 335d.

The 2011 335d mrsp is $10,000 more than 2012 328i msrp. You can get into a 328i much cheaper.

$44,150 to $34,900 - most people buying 328i's will not be loading it with options.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Maybe if diesel wasn't $4.39 at my local station, it would make sense.

This isn't europe, where diesel is cheaper than petrol.


Umm, you are completely biased by owning a 335d.

The 2011 335d mrsp is $10,000 more than 2012 328i msrp. You can get into a 328i much cheaper.

$44,150 to $34,900 - most people buying 328i's will not be loading it with options.

No one is selling 335d for msrp, you can get at least 5k off, but residuals do suck on 2011's

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

No one is selling 335d for msrp, you can get at least 5k off, but residuals do suck on 2011's

Tells you something, doesn't it.

But really you won't be paying msrp for a 328i either. A lot of people will be getting into a 328i for under $40k.

[Voltigeur]

-

Rocks

[ORIGIN M.]

Really strong numbers compared to the Yellow Z4 sDrive28i w/233hp/249tq on the same Dyno @ MD Automotive many months ago.

Here is the link to that story...

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=593583

[MonsterM]

Originally Posted by Neph

some anti 328 folks need to drop the 50K argument. if you want a pure driving experience, you don't need the fancy options. All you need is:

-Sport package
-maybe leather

this puts you at $42K. for those who really want a true driving experience, that is not a bad price to pay. you do not need some twat packages like Parking Assist etc...

Screw the leather. Give me the sport package and I know this will likely never happen, LSD!