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Thread: Why isn't 320i faster than e90 330i?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Va
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    96 328i

    Why isn't 320i faster than e90 330i?

    Recently got to drive a friends 2006 330xi 6spd. Was faster than I expected. That got me thinking about the new 320i.

    Official:
    E90 330i
    255hp @6600rpm
    220ftlb @ 2750rpm


    F30 320i
    180hp @5000rpm
    200ftlb @1250-4500rpm

    Real world:
    E90 330i
    192whp
    179wftlb
    0-60: 6.2s
    1/4: 14.8@95.1
    3425lb
    Link: http://oetuning.com/blog/?tag=n52-dynograph
    http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...2006_bmw_330i/

    F30 320i
    183whp
    209wftlb
    0-60: 6.7s
    1/4: 15.2@90.1
    3318lb
    Link: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=849566
    Link: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...0i_first_look/

    Sorry for the short post. Tablets are a pain. The only thing I can figure is the 320makes its power a little sooner and falls off while the 330 keeps going to redline. I have not yet investigated final drive and trans gearing either. It just seems that it should score a little better.... Thoughts/Answers?
    Last edited by havand; 01-04-2014 at 08:33 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Media, Pennsylvania,
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    4,699
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    1991 325i
    so the car that makes 9 more hp and is .4 seconds faster in the quarter is the faster car? shocking news.
    1991 BMW 325i(Current Daily) (S52)
    I have carburetors, and I'm not afraid to use them!
    There are always other fish (engines) in the sea (Craigslist)
    Life is about enjoying the engine you are sitting behind.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Rochester Hills MI
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    98 M Rdstr
    The E90 330i was the top dog in '06, the 320 is the BASE engine for the F30.

    Shouldn't you look at lower engine offerings to compare?

    But as said above, it is likely the power delivery of the two engines. The 320 is very ecu crippled with only 8psi stock. It's neutered. The 330 pulls to redline.

    '98 RMS stage 2+++++(491whp/390tq VAC cams, CES Cutring-9:1, Built blower, Meth etc)
    '09 Saab 9-5 Combi 5mt 1 of 1(Built Motor, Brembos, LSD, the works!)
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  4. #4
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    You are very right. That is part of why I started looking at this. What many would consider unacceptable is very close to the best you could get in '06. The 320i in particular interests me because of the higher compression ratio. I'm curious if it helps minimize turbo lag by any noticeable amount compared to the 328. A chipped 320i may feel closer to a naturally aspirated motor.

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by havand View Post
    You are very right. That is part of why I started looking at this. What many would consider unacceptable is very close to the best you could get in '06. The 320i in particular interests me because of the higher compression ratio. I'm curious if it helps minimize turbo lag by any noticeable amount compared to the 328. A chipped 320i may feel closer to a naturally aspirated motor.

    Nah, the higher compression helps compensate a bit for such low boost, but also handicaps the tuning potential a bit because high CR+high boost=no beuno.

    '98 RMS stage 2+++++(491whp/390tq VAC cams, CES Cutring-9:1, Built blower, Meth etc)
    '09 Saab 9-5 Combi 5mt 1 of 1(Built Motor, Brembos, LSD, the works!)
    '22 Cadillac CT4-V BlackWing 6mt
    '22 Cadillac CT4 2.0T Sport AWD (wife's)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
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    60
    I know my 328i is wicked fast and when you give it some gas, you really hear that turbo.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Cairo, Egypt
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    F30 and E60
    I am sorry to revive such an old post, but I've recently been considering trading in my F30 316i for an E90 330i not only for the more luxurious finish, but also for the bigger and faster engine. I am not sure if the gas consumption will be too much for me on the 330i, but my Dad has an E60 525i and it's not too bad, considering it is a 6-cyl engine moving such a heavy weight car.

    What do you guys think? I have the base 316i and it's very lacking in terms of options and adding an NBT iDrive and bi-xenon headlamps, for example, will cost me an arm and a leg. The F30 320i is too expensive over here, especially because of the recent financial crisis my country is going through, so my only option would be to trade in my F30 for the E90 330i.

    Would that be a smart option or should I just leave things as they are for the time being? And I thought the F30 320i would actually be faster than the E90 330i considering it has a turbo and is lighter.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    2011 E90 328i
    In general, you take the square root of the horsepower ratio. For example, doubling the horsepower, with weight remaining the same, would result in a 0 to 60 time of, say 10 seconds, dropping to about 7 seconds.

    Regarding weight, a 10% increase in weight, would result in a 10% increase in 0 to 60 time.

    A driverless car would be faster than a car with a driver!

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