E46 320i vs 323i
Discussion
Thanks.
How different was the latter 325? Was it the same engine as the 2.5 323? Because the latter seemed to have more power. I wonder if the 323's hp was downplayed by BMW? So as to not appear too close to the 328i of the time.
Recently someone told me a 328i made more power than what BMW claimed for insurance purposed.
I can see the logic that the 2.8 made 210-212hp (as claimed by someone recently), the 323 making 190 odd hp and the 320 170. Yet if they marketed the 328i as 193hp, then you'd have to distance the 323.
How different was the latter 325? Was it the same engine as the 2.5 323? Because the latter seemed to have more power. I wonder if the 323's hp was downplayed by BMW? So as to not appear too close to the 328i of the time.
Recently someone told me a 328i made more power than what BMW claimed for insurance purposed.
I can see the logic that the 2.8 made 210-212hp (as claimed by someone recently), the 323 making 190 odd hp and the 320 170. Yet if they marketed the 328i as 193hp, then you'd have to distance the 323.
300bhp/ton said:
Thanks.
How different was the latter 325? Was it the same engine as the 2.5 323? Because the latter seemed to have more power. I wonder if the 323's hp was downplayed by BMW? So as to not appear too close to the 328i of the time.
Recently someone told me a 328i made more power than what BMW claimed for insurance purposed.
I can see the logic that the 2.8 made 210-212hp (as claimed by someone recently), the 323 making 190 odd hp and the 320 170. Yet if they marketed the 328i as 193hp, then you'd have to distance the 323.
Sorry, but I find this very unlikely to be true!.How different was the latter 325? Was it the same engine as the 2.5 323? Because the latter seemed to have more power. I wonder if the 323's hp was downplayed by BMW? So as to not appear too close to the 328i of the time.
Recently someone told me a 328i made more power than what BMW claimed for insurance purposed.
I can see the logic that the 2.8 made 210-212hp (as claimed by someone recently), the 323 making 190 odd hp and the 320 170. Yet if they marketed the 328i as 193hp, then you'd have to distance the 323.
For a start, the 2.8's were not restricted for insurance reasons, it was to keep it in a lower tax bracket in Germany.
Next, considering how strict the Germans tend to be when it comes to their laws and how draconian the penalties for failing to comply can be , I highly doubt that any of the German car manufacturers would have attempted to falsify the outputs of their engines as it would be far too easy for the authorities to then catch them out and would cost the manufacturer dearly.
Whilst the E46 328i is theoretically easily capable of making 210~212 BHP (I'd say it's nearer to 220 BHP TBH), My monies would be on them only making a genuine 190~193 BHP to comply with the law in Germany.
At the end of the day, BMW just wouldn't risk it!.
I've been told that 2.8's do generally make around their quoted power or a tiny bit more. They were deliberately strangled to keep power below a (193 bhp I assume?) tax threshold. Consequently the addition of a 2.5's inlet manifold and throttle body liberates a chunk more horse power. In a standard 2.8 power seems to fall away quite dramatically over 5500 rpm or so, I'm assuming because of the restricted inlet. It's a damn fine engine though, standard or modified.
I've got to ask though 300, why not go the whole hog and get the 3.0? Best of all worlds and no worse on fuel.
I've got to ask though 300, why not go the whole hog and get the 3.0? Best of all worlds and no worse on fuel.
300bhp/ton said:
How different was the latter 325? Was it the same engine as the 2.5 323? Because the latter seemed to have more power. I wonder if the 323's hp was downplayed by BMW? So as to not appear too close to the 328i of the time.
The E36 & E46 323i used a 2.5 litre capacity variation of the M52 engine family, the 325i that replaced it was from the M54 family that replaced it. These were more economical and gave more power and torque for their given displacements. One characteristic way they feel distinctly different is in the M52s using a cable operated throttle, the M54s were electronic so there's no real "weight" to the throttle pedal. Another change was that the M54s featured forged connecting rods and crankshaft, so have a stronger bottom end and certainly seem to rev more keenly. Drive both, you'll probably find the M54 2.2 engine feels keener to rev and more responsive, but less torquey than the M52 2.5. Fuel consumption IME is actually worse in the 2.2 as it has shorter gearing than the 2.5 to make the most of the lower amount of torque on hand. The M54 2.5 feels noticeably gruntier than both, with again no real detriment to fuel consumption - but much better performance. 323is tend to make around 180-185bhp and 328is 210-215 when dynoed. I gather the officially quoted figure could well appear to be homologated at a lower value because that will be the power the engine makes on the lowest grade fuel it can take, running in a high temeperature, high altitude climate etc as the engines are supplied to a wide variety of world markets. Just as ALPINA tend to quote minimum outputs for their engines too (as do other manufacturers - Jag XFRs seem to make around 530bhp from the factory when dyno'd in the UK against the "official" 503PS/500bhp).
Edited by Zwoelf on Sunday 10th July 15:15
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