[The Economist]

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Link to a doubler: 328i v. 335i Acceleration Video

The 0-60mph officially quoted numbers for the 328i is 5.9s (auto) / 5.7s (manual) and for the 335i is 5.4s. If the doubler doesn't load both videos at the same time, just refresh by hitting the "Double up" button.

Interesting to see the "real world" difference between the two cars, especially to the 130 km/h mark (don't often venture beyond that speed). I guess there's a lot to be said about intangible qualities like "feel" and sound which sway some, but not others.



Admin Edit:

For more looks at the in-car acceleration between the 2012 328i and 335i, here are a few from our F30 press drives. We used the same video camera for all the videos.

[AWF30MSPORT]

That's pretty cool, thanks for posting.

[bcl0328]

they sound similar.

[MikeVictor]

I'll take the 28i for the smoother ride :P

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

they sound similar.

They don't in the real world, my car is N55 powered and we also have an N20 powered 328i. The 328i doesn't sound bad, but it's not a very exciting sound and you can barely even hear it.

The N55 on the other hand is pure music, very angry music especially after you open up the exhaust flap (both of our cars have the flap always open but it barely makes a difference on the 328i, on my 135i it actually bypasses the muffler)

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

they sound similar.

What?

No, not similar in sound and tone at all.

[dmontic71]

Awesome videos. You can really see the power difference at higher speeds...

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by RPM90

What?

No, not similar in sound and tone at all.

if you turn the volume down on the 335i video it does have the same tone. i didn't say they were the same, just similar. the 335i might sound a little deeper, but they share a similar growl.

it might be hard to do, but if you get it at the right volume and press pause on the 335i video, i couldn't tell a difference in the sound when it stopped.

[tuned2ride]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

if you turn the volume down on the 335i video it does have the same tone. i didn't say they were the same, just similar. the 335i might sound a little deeper, but they share a similar growl.

it might be hard to do, but if you get it at the right volume and press pause on the 335i video, i couldn't tell a difference in the sound when it stopped.

Not even close.

[Ron Scott]

If you're gonna do it, do it.

335.

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by tuned2ride

Not even close.

i don't know how you can say that. obviously they are different, but it's not like we are comparing a mustang to a civic. there are differences that are subtle and also some similarities. just saying flat out 'not even close' is ridiculous.

[Elk]

They both possess a similar non-intimidating midsize displacement sedan sound. However, they are easily distinguishable.

Summary: Same family of friendly noises, clearly different. You are both right.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

if you turn the volume down on the 335i video it does have the same tone. i didn't say they were the same, just similar. the 335i might sound a little deeper, but they share a similar growl.

it might be hard to do, but if you get it at the right volume and press pause on the 335i video, i couldn't tell a difference in the sound when it stopped.

I'm talking about actual driving experience with both engines.
The N20 is a great engine but it's tone and volume simply do not compare to the N55.
The N20 has a slight growl at higher rpm, but it's quiet and subtle.
It's not a dig at the N20 at all.
N55 is very different, but that's for obvious reasons.

[WilliCO]

Did someone actually say "if you turn down the volume, they sound the same"?

[ManiacGT]

As someone else said, if you're going to do it, do it... 335 all the way. From those videos, while they might look close-ish, in real world terms the 335i will be way ahead (on the road).

[MrClean335i]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

As someone else said, if you're going to do it, do it... 335 all the way. From those videos, while they might look close-ish, in real world terms the 335i will be way ahead (on the road).

If you are going to do it, go all the way and get the F80 M3 which will blow both F30s out of the water.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by MrClean335i

If you are going to do it, go all the way and get the F80 M3 which will blow both F30s out of the water.

Well since you can't get the F80 yet, I'd say get the E92 M3 and listen to it scream at 8000rpm to embarrass both the N20 and N55

[tuned2ride]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

i don't know how you can say that. obviously they are different, but it's not like we are comparing a mustang to a civic. there are differences that are subtle and also some similarities. just saying flat out 'not even close' is ridiculous.

The N55 sounds like a BMW should, but not the N20 (that sounds more like a Civic IMO). Hopefully a Performance Exhaust or aftermarket will come quick for the N20, but then its cost will offset a significant part of the 5K$ between a similarly loaded 335i vs 328i.

[Diver]

I find it a bit hard to understand why the sound of the engine matters so much. Then again, lots of people buy Harley's to get that sound.

[Cortexiphan]

Before I bought my M3, I drove 328i and 335i back to back; and the feeling of the car is way more different than it is on paper. 335i feels like an entirely different and superior experience to me. I'd say even the old I6 328i felt way better than this 328i because of the characteristics of the engine.

[Q4P]

Originally Posted by SamS

Well since you can't get the F80 yet, I'd say get the E92 M3 and listen to it scream at 8000rpm to embarrass both the N20 and N55

I say get an N54 335i with full bolt ons and tune, and embarres that M3...

[BeachsideF30]

These videos have been out for months...