Is my E46 330i engine much different to the z4 3.0 engine?
Discussion
This might be a stupid question, but is there much if any difference between the E46 330i engine set up and that of the z4/z4coupe 3.0 engine from the same era? My 330 is quoted at producing around 230hp, but the z4 is around 265, can this 30ish hp gain be made relatively easily? More than likely not, but thought I'd ask...
Just my 2p worth.
Current mooch-about is an E46 330i, however a car or so back I had a 130i with the 265bhp engine. Differences...erm, quite a lot IMO. The newer engine is smoother, sounds better and has a lot more top-end than the 231bhp engine. Obviously my sampling of these engines was in different vehicles, but to me the 265bhp engine was a definite improvement in terms of performance feel.
Current mooch-about is an E46 330i, however a car or so back I had a 130i with the 265bhp engine. Differences...erm, quite a lot IMO. The newer engine is smoother, sounds better and has a lot more top-end than the 231bhp engine. Obviously my sampling of these engines was in different vehicles, but to me the 265bhp engine was a definite improvement in terms of performance feel.
ghibbett said:
Just my 2p worth.
Current mooch-about is an E46 330i, however a car or so back I had a 130i with the 265bhp engine. Differences...erm, quite a lot IMO. The newer engine is smoother, sounds better and has a lot more top-end than the 231bhp engine. Obviously my sampling of these engines was in different vehicles, but to me the 265bhp engine was a definite improvement in terms of performance feel.
Sounds better ?!?! Gadzooks. The newer engine is mighty fine but sounds like a fecking diesel imho - the old one must have been bad !Current mooch-about is an E46 330i, however a car or so back I had a 130i with the 265bhp engine. Differences...erm, quite a lot IMO. The newer engine is smoother, sounds better and has a lot more top-end than the 231bhp engine. Obviously my sampling of these engines was in different vehicles, but to me the 265bhp engine was a definite improvement in terms of performance feel.
siwebster said:
LC23 said:
The Z4 Coupe had the uprated 3.0 litre engine in with around 265bhp.
It's the differences in this engine I'm interested in - is it the same block as the 330, if so where is the extra 35hp gained? Induction? Exhaust? ECU?The E46 330i engine is the M54. The 265Bhp Z4C engine is the N52.
Apart from the block being lighter, the main difference (and the power differential) is the use of the Valvetronic system on the N52.
Both engines use VANOS (variable valve timing). Valvetronic adds variable valve lift to the equation which can be used to control fuelling ot the extent that the N52 doesn't actually have throttle butterflies of any description, I think I'm right in saying.
So the engines really are quite different.
As it happens, in the engines that came after the N52 (i.e. N53) I think Valvetronic was dropped but Direct Injection was introduced instead. I guess there's only room for so much stuff on the head!
Apart from the block being lighter, the main difference (and the power differential) is the use of the Valvetronic system on the N52.
Both engines use VANOS (variable valve timing). Valvetronic adds variable valve lift to the equation which can be used to control fuelling ot the extent that the N52 doesn't actually have throttle butterflies of any description, I think I'm right in saying.
So the engines really are quite different.
As it happens, in the engines that came after the N52 (i.e. N53) I think Valvetronic was dropped but Direct Injection was introduced instead. I guess there's only room for so much stuff on the head!
DaveR said:
The E46 330i engine is the M54. The 265Bhp Z4C engine is the N52.
Apart from the block being lighter, the main difference (and the power differential) is the use of the Valvetronic system on the N52.
Both engines use VANOS (variable valve timing). Valvetronic adds variable valve lift to the equation which can be used to control fuelling ot the extent that the N52 doesn't actually have throttle butterflies of any description, I think I'm right in saying.
So the engines really are quite different.
As it happens, in the engines that came after the N52 (i.e. N53) I think Valvetronic was dropped but Direct Injection was introduced instead. I guess there's only room for so much stuff on the head!
Thought this might be the case, I knew someone round here would know !Apart from the block being lighter, the main difference (and the power differential) is the use of the Valvetronic system on the N52.
Both engines use VANOS (variable valve timing). Valvetronic adds variable valve lift to the equation which can be used to control fuelling ot the extent that the N52 doesn't actually have throttle butterflies of any description, I think I'm right in saying.
So the engines really are quite different.
As it happens, in the engines that came after the N52 (i.e. N53) I think Valvetronic was dropped but Direct Injection was introduced instead. I guess there's only room for so much stuff on the head!
ghibbett said:
dibbly dobbler said:
Sounds better ?!?! Gadzooks. The newer engine is mighty fine but sounds like a fecking diesel imho - the old one must have been bad !
As MattUK rightly points out, there is a difference with the pre/post DI engines. Mine was a pre DI engine and sounded lovely 
(even if it does sound like a diesel 
)Have posted a video of myself doing a lap of Brunters in my old 2005 130i M-Sport. Just listen to that (pre-LCI) engine!!
Oh, and apologies for the boring chat and wee bit of swearing at the end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je3JQFkwwwA
Oh, and apologies for the boring chat and wee bit of swearing at the end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je3JQFkwwwA
The M54B30 (2000-2006) was all alloy, not steel. It developed 231bhp.
It's successor, the N52, was first introduced in circa 2004. It develop power outputs from 258bhp to 272bhp in various states of tune. It is a different engine to the M54, it is not simply a remapped M54.
Interestingly though the M54B30 and the N54B30 - which is the twin turbocharged engine found on the 335i etc - are far more closely related as the M54 was considered a better base for turbocharging.
It's successor, the N52, was first introduced in circa 2004. It develop power outputs from 258bhp to 272bhp in various states of tune. It is a different engine to the M54, it is not simply a remapped M54.
Interestingly though the M54B30 and the N54B30 - which is the twin turbocharged engine found on the 335i etc - are far more closely related as the M54 was considered a better base for turbocharging.
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