BMW compact 1.9??

[Chuckyjlw]

Hello there,
bought myself a 316i compact, 1999.

From 94-98, the compact had a 1.6 (or 1.8 - 318), then in 1999 both models were given identical 1.9 engine's for the last few years of production. However the 316 has 105 BHP, the 318 has 140 BHP...

My question is, if they have identical engines, this must meen that BMW has limited the 316, is it then possible to unlimit it and improve performance by 35 BHP?

Thanks for any help...

[TheEnd]

The 140hp 318iS had a twin cam M44 engine, the 316i and 318i had a single cam M43 1.9

[Chrisw666]

316i had the 8 valve 1.9 and the 318ti had the 16v 1.9 so the engines are more than a little different.

[Chuckyjlw]

Oh ye hadnt noticed that one, I suppose the turbo injection on the 318 makes a bit of a difference aswell. (courtesy of parkers)..........

Never mind, my 316 is fast enough anyway.

[Twincharged]

Chuckyjlw said:

Oh ye hadnt noticed that one, I suppose the turbo injection on the 318 makes a bit of a difference aswell. (courtesy of parkers)..........

Never mind, my 316 is fast enough anyway.

[TheEnd]

Yea, I've seen a few people thinking they have a turbo, without realising that an 140bhp 1.9 litre turbo would have to be a pretty lazy engine!

[Twincharged]

Ah, you mean the designation "ti"?

That means "Turismo Internazionale" and referred to the more powerful engines in the range going back a few years (like the 2002ti). It was only ever for "warm" cars rather than the full-on sporty ones though.

[Leins]

Chuckyjlw said:

Oh ye hadnt noticed that one, I suppose the turbo injection on the 318 makes a bit of a difference aswell. (courtesy of parkers)..........

Never mind, my 316 is fast enough anyway.

The "t" actually stands for "touring" from the old 2002tii days, even though in more recent times the actual name "Touring" has been used for estate variants of the 3-series

I'm not entirely sure why the E36 316i Compact never had a "t" in its name, other than possibly to differentiate the 8v 1.6 from the 16v 1.8 in its original incarnation

Great little cars btw, and while they don't have a huge amount of power they are great fun. I never liked the E46 316ti I replaced my one with all that much though, but absolutely loved the E46 325ti I then had for a number of years after that