Model name question

[BMWVERMONT]

I recently bought a 1998 323i convertible. It has a 2.5 motor. I'm not up on BMW models but I thought that the 323 meant 2.3 motor, 318 meant 1.8 motor and so on. So why wouldn't this converitble with a 2.5 be a 325i instead of 323i? Which engine would be in a 325i? Is there any appearance diffences between the different models or does the model name just denote the engine size?:confused:

Also, isn't there some way to find out what options would have been on this particular car? Does any one know of a website where I can enter my serial number and get details of what options would have been on this car when new?

This is a fantastic forum. I've learned so much about bimmers already in just a few weeks. Thanks for any who reply.:)

[Andycapps]

You are right. The Model number 323 =3series 2.3L. Unless someone did a 2.5 swap, which could be the case, you have a 2.3L. You can do a carfax report with your VIN. I think this will show you the options that the car has too.

[DominguesE30]

You are right. The Model number 323 =3series 2.3L. Unless someone did a 2.5 swap, which could be the case, you have a 2.3L. You can do a carfax report with your VIN. I think this will show you the options that the car has too.

Ur wrong there buddy, the e36 323i has a 2.5L motor.
I have a 318is and its got a 1.9L
My e30 is a 325e but its got a 2.7L motor
U just gottah know ur bmw's, the badging can be deceiving at times.

[Pirate_copy]

BMW are very clever in doing this, think about it

Instead of people having a 325i with a very decent 2.5 engine, they have a 323i with a very decent engine that they think is a 2.3.

Thus, all other 2.3's seem slow in comparrison!

[Andycapps]

My bad. I didnt know they had a 2.5 in a 323..thats really weird. Didnt know that. What was the point of making it a 323?

[zoevans]

Ur wrong there buddy, the e36 323i has a 2.5L motor.
I have a 318is and its got a 1.9L
My e30 is a 325e but its got a 2.7L motor
U just gottah know ur bmw's, the badging can be deceiving at times.

I agree, right on the money!

As for the 323i (with the 2.5) its is actually more powerful than the 325i. According to the Bentley Manual, the 2.5 in the 323i (M52 engine) has a compression ratio of 10.5/1 where the 2.5 in the 325 (M50 engine) as a ratio of 10.0/1. This also states the 10.5/1 ratio engine creates 58 more hp than the 10.0/1.

As for the 318i, the earlier 92-95 models were 1.8 then they bumped up to the 1.9 1996-98

[KrisL]

My bad. I didnt know they had a 2.5 in a 323..thats really weird. Didnt know that. What was the point of making it a 323?



///Marketing. They need to make the difference between the 323i and the 328i sound larger.

[LDV330i]

Just like last year BMW sold a 325i and a 330i that in the US both were equipped with 3.0 liter engines. :tsk: In the rest of the world the 325i did indeed have a 2.5 liter. engine. This year they are marketing a 335i that also has a 3.0 liter engine, albeit with twin turbos. :confused: :confused:

[KrisL]

Just like last year BMW sold a 325i and a 330i that in the US both were equipped with 3.0 liter engines. :tsk: In the rest of the world the 325i did indeed have a 2.5 liter. engine. This year they are marketing a 335i that also has a 3.0 liter engine, albeit with twin turbos. :confused: :confused:



335d / 535d also have a 3.0L diesel.

[TD]

///Marketing. They need to make the difference between the 323i and the 328i sound larger.
It was especially odd on the Z3. The Z3 with that same 2.5L engine was badged a Z3 2.3.

I never understood that one.

[Pirate_copy]

i think it maybe cos everyone assumes that the last 2 digits of a bimmer model means the engine size (and it GENERALLY does), so when you see what you think is a 2.3 fly off into the distance, you think "WOW, i want one of them, BMW make amazingly fast cars".....and they do!!!

hehehe

[Andycapps]

I agree, right on the money!

As for the 323i (with the 2.5) its is actually more powerful than the 325i. According to the Bentley Manual, the 2.5 in the 323i (M52 engine) has a compression ratio of 10.5/1 where the 2.5 in the 325 (M50 engine) as a ratio of 10.0/1. This also states the 10.5/1 ratio engine creates 58 more hp than the 10.0/1.

As for the 318i, the earlier 92-95 models were 1.8 then they bumped up to the 1.9 1996-98

The M50TU(With Vanos)engine has 189hp/181ftlbs torque. So you're saying the M52 has 247hp? That's more than the S50 M3 engine@240hp.

[MN325iSedan]

I agree, right on the money!

As for the 323i (with the 2.5) its is actually more powerful than the 325i. According to the Bentley Manual, the 2.5 in the 323i (M52 engine) has a compression ratio of 10.5/1 where the 2.5 in the 325 (M50 engine) as a ratio of 10.0/1. This also states the 10.5/1 ratio engine creates 58 more hp than the 10.0/1.

Nope, you are wrong.

M50 = 189-192hp* 181lb ft. torque.
M52 = 168-170hp* 181lb ft. torque.

M50>M52.

*Depending on source.

[Andycapps]

The M50 compression ratio is 10.5:1 BTW

[zoevans]

My apologies. I was simply stating what I read in the Bentley Manual, assuming it was accurate. Guess it was wrong.

[KrisL]

Nope, you are wrong.

M50 = 189-192hp* 181lb ft. torque.
M52 = 168-170hp* 181lb ft. torque.

M50>M52.

*Depending on source.



Not quite correct there either.

The USA published numbers are:
E46 323i: 170hp/181ft-lb
E46 325i: 184hp/175ft-lb



In comparison:
E46 328i: 193hp/206ft-lb
E46 330i: 225hp/214ft-lb


I ran the E46 FAQ during this transition - I can absolutely guarantee them. You could probably use archive.org on bmwusa.com to verify...

[DominguesE30]

u guys really know ur engine stats!

[Andycapps]

Not quite correct there either.

The USA published numbers are:
E46 323i: 170hp/181ft-lb
E46 325i: 184hp/175ft-lb



In comparison:
E46 328i: 193hp/206ft-lb
E46 330i: 225hp/214ft-lb


I ran the E46 FAQ during this transition - I can absolutely guarantee them. You could probably use archive.org on bmwusa.com to verify...

We're talking about E36 Models.

[Pirate_copy]

This any help?

http://www.bmwworld.com/engines/m52.htm

[DominguesE30]

m44 all da way!!!!!
140hp not bad for a 4 banger ei

[thebigbr]

apparently it was a replacement for the 318..dunno if its true but either way...

http://www.dealtime.com/xPR-BMW_1999_BMW_323_Series~RD-94294609540



"I found out some interesting things about it. For starters, this car was going to be the replacement for the 318, as BMW's new policy of no more 4-cylinder cars. My father owns a 318, and quite frankly, how the 323 can be remotely considered a replacement is laughable because it is a far superior car. Next though its displacement is a 2.5-liter, BMW wanted to distinguish the car from the previous 325, but renumbering its designation to 323. Next, even though the displacement would indicate that it would have the basic 2.5-liter engine, it in fact is a modified 2.8-liter, sharing most of the engine's components with a modified head."

[DominguesE30]

Buhhh. I got it in my 318is and it boogies!

[MN325iSedan]

Not quite correct there either.

The USA published numbers are:
E46 323i: 170hp/181ft-lb
E46 325i: 184hp/175ft-lb



In comparison:
E46 328i: 193hp/206ft-lb
E46 330i: 225hp/214ft-lb


I ran the E46 FAQ during this transition - I can absolutely guarantee them. You could probably use archive.org on bmwusa.com to verify...

As Andycapps said, we are talking about E36 models.

[SILVER318IS]

the 323i , is the convertable bmw , as some of you mentioned the last 2 digits do not necessary indicate the capacity of the motor , the 323i had 170HP , althought it had a 2.5L engine the difference compared to the 325 with the 2.5L engine is in HPO and torque and the difference between the 325 and 328 is in torque only they have the same HP 192 HP bmw did that to keep a distance between the 323i and 328i ,