N20 4 cylinder 328i within 1 second of N55 335i Lap Times
Lucky media from the US have spent the last few days testing the 2012 F30 328i and 335i. Part of the event being put on by BMW includes track time in the latest 3 series. I have a feeling that timed laps are something that BMW frowns on. However, our spies have been timing the laps and you're not going to believe the results!
Lap after lap the 328i with a 60 horsepower and 40 ft-lbs (or there abouts) deficit to it's big brother, the 335i, is hanging in there. The 328i is lapping within 1 second of the 335i at the track! That's a very close margin considering the difference in power and torque. My spies, with extensive racing knowledge were extremely surprised and impressed. Apparently the 328i is the four cylinder that could when it comes to the track.
2012 F30 328i Specifications
Horsepower - 245 at 5000 RPMs
Torque - 258 lb-ft at 1250 RPMs
Power to weight - 3318/245 = 13.5 lbs per HP
0-60 - 5.7 manual / 5.9 auto
Weight - 3318
Engine - 2.0 liter inline 4 / TwinPower-twin scroll single turbo / 245 horsepower at 5000 RPMS / 258lb-ft torque at 1250 RPMs /10.0:1 compression ratio / engine code N20
2012 F30 335i Specifications
Horsepower - 306 at 5800 RPMs
Torque - 295 lb-ft at 1200 RPMs
Power to weight - 3494/306 = 11.4 lbs per HP
0-60 - 5.4 manual / 5.4 auto
Weight - 3494
Engine - 3.0 liter inline I6 / TwinPower-twin scroll single turbo / 306 horsepower at 5800 RPMs / 295lb-ft torque at 1200 RPMs / weight 427lbs / 10.2:1 compression ratio / engine code N55
Compare more F30 328i and 335i specs here
There are a lot of variables that go into the lap times but this was a pattern noticed over a series of laps with different drivers. It could be the tires, or that journalists were not feeling brave enough to wring top performance out of the 335i at a media event. Only time will tell how the 328i and 335i shake out at the track.
What do you think, is the 335i not as fast as it should be or was it the event that slowed it down?
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February 2, 2012, 4:52 pm
Lap after lap the 328i with a 60 horsepower and 40 ft-lbs (or there abouts) deficit to it's big brother, the 335i, is hanging in there. The 328i is lapping within 1 second of the 335i at the track! That's a very close margin considering the difference in power and torque. My spies, with extensive racing knowledge were extremely surprised and impressed. Apparently the 328i is the four cylinder that could when it comes to the track.
2012 F30 328i Specifications
Horsepower - 245 at 5000 RPMs
Torque - 258 lb-ft at 1250 RPMs
Power to weight - 3318/245 = 13.5 lbs per HP
0-60 - 5.7 manual / 5.9 auto
Weight - 3318
Engine - 2.0 liter inline 4 / TwinPower-twin scroll single turbo / 245 horsepower at 5000 RPMS / 258lb-ft torque at 1250 RPMs /10.0:1 compression ratio / engine code N20
2012 F30 335i Specifications
Horsepower - 306 at 5800 RPMs
Torque - 295 lb-ft at 1200 RPMs
Power to weight - 3494/306 = 11.4 lbs per HP
0-60 - 5.4 manual / 5.4 auto
Weight - 3494
Engine - 3.0 liter inline I6 / TwinPower-twin scroll single turbo / 306 horsepower at 5800 RPMs / 295lb-ft torque at 1200 RPMs / weight 427lbs / 10.2:1 compression ratio / engine code N55
Compare more F30 328i and 335i specs here
There are a lot of variables that go into the lap times but this was a pattern noticed over a series of laps with different drivers. It could be the tires, or that journalists were not feeling brave enough to wring top performance out of the 335i at a media event. Only time will tell how the 328i and 335i shake out at the track.
What do you think, is the 335i not as fast as it should be or was it the event that slowed it down?
February 2, 2012, 6:45 pm
That is pretty impressive....
It has seemed like BMW is more aggressively pushing the 328i model this time around. Where I live, all I see are 328xi E90s so I guess it makes sense for them to really put emphasis on development of the 328i. It does just keep looking better and better. I can't wait to put the long term review 328i through a workout!
February 2, 2012, 6:49 pm
Puts a big smile on my face
If you didnt tell someone it was a4cylinder, i doubt they would know. N20 has so much more torque than the N52.
February 2, 2012, 7:03 pm
So true. Many people I know have no idea about what engines are in BMW's. This may be my next purchase. With that M sport package, it should be a wolf in wolfs clothing.
February 2, 2012, 8:17 pm
Glad I put my order in for the 328i
February 4, 2012, 5:07 pm
very impressive performance for the new 328! really harks back to the original 2002tii
Nice car!
February 4, 2012, 5:45 pm
with all the reviews coming up lately, it seems the verdict is the same across the board regarding the N20 not being smooth when idling and sounds like diesel on low rpms. This alone makes me want to order a 335i instead. Besides, the price difference is minimal when both have been fully loaded (3K?).
will be getting a 335i m-sport I guess.
February 4, 2012, 7:05 pm
will be getting a 335i m-sport I guess.
As to engine sound at idle... I can't tell you what any of my cars ever have sounded like at idle. I know my ZHP growled nicely on start up but my e90s (330i and 335i) never had an impressive exhaust and never seemed to make any sounds ever at a light (like all cars today).
February 4, 2012, 7:18 pm
As to engine sound at idle... I can't tell you what any of my cars ever have sounded like at idle. I know my ZHP growled nicely on start up but my e90s (330i and 335i) never had an impressive exhaust and never seemed to make any sounds ever at a light (like all cars today).
If engine sound at idle is the biggest criticism to be siad, thats fine with me. Personally i have th volume cranked so high i cant even hear the car...
328 is the way to go unless you cant live without an I6
February 4, 2012, 7:47 pm
Just imagine what'll be the case w/a Kelleners piggie-back module installed...
February 4, 2012, 7:49 pm
February 4, 2012, 8:41 pm
I'd still go 335i all the way - better brakes, better sound, and still more powerful with headroom available. The 4-cylinder just doesn't interest me. In any event, I'll be getting an F32 coupe in late 2013 and I'll bet the N55 engine sees a power bump by then, similar to the Power Kit my E92 335i has now.
February 5, 2012, 2:11 am
Lap after lap the 328i with a 60 horsepower and 40 ft-lbs (or there abouts) deficit to it's big brother, the 335i, is hanging in there. The 328i is lapping within 1 second of the 335i at the track! That's a very close margin considering the difference in power and torque. My spies, with extensive racing knowledge were extremely surprised and impressed. Apparently the 328i is the four cylinder that could when it comes to the track.
What do you think, is the 335i not as fast as it should be or was it the event that slowed it down?
There were traffic is some of the video, so section time without traffic is more reliable than lap time.
February 5, 2012, 9:00 am
There were traffic is some of the video, so section time without traffic is more reliable than lap time.
February 5, 2012, 9:43 am
Yeah, maybe I myself will wait for the power bump. Hopefully it's standard on the 335i or whatever they call it in the 2013 MY. Hopefully the m-sport will have it by release as 16n9n claims. That would be a win win.
And really, with the 328i actually much slower than the 335i on a moving acceleration ( I think the 5-60), it's more logical to go with the 335i with only a $3K difference in the fully loaded. Besides, who completely stops in the middle of the highway just to accelerate to 60 mph?
February 5, 2012, 9:53 am
And really, with the 328i actually much slower than the 335i on a moving acceleration ( I think the 5-60), it's more logical to go with the 335i with only a $3K difference in the fully loaded. Besides, who completely stops in the middle of the highway just to accelerate to 60 mph?
February 5, 2012, 10:03 am
accdg to this thread it seems like the gap betweeb 0-60 and 5-60 is much narrower in the 335i than the 328i. I Believe I read somewhere that it's around 7.1s for the 328i.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?p=6607927
February 5, 2012, 10:09 am
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?p=6607927
February 5, 2012, 10:31 am
And really, with the 328i actually much slower than the 335i on a moving acceleration ( I think the 5-60), it's more logical to go with the 335i with only a $3K difference in the fully loaded. Besides, who completely stops in the middle of the highway just to accelerate to 60 mph?
February 5, 2012, 10:38 am
^good point. Bottom line both cars have a lot of torque down low. I was really surprised with the torque on the n20, coming from a N54, i felt there was enough torque there for me. Cant wait to drive this thing
February 5, 2012, 11:05 am
Regardless of the 50/50 weight distribution if there's less weight over the axle, especially the front one then the car can attack to corner with more speed without the rubber scrubbing it off during the corner. The only time the 335i can make its extra performance felt is on the straights. I'm sure that when Sportauto test both their times quite close around Hockenheim due to the nature of the track and it's relatively short straights but on the Nurbergring the gap will be more pronounced because greater speeds can be achieved more often here. Laguna Seca is a track I have little knowledge of other than what I see on EuroSport, it is a track where high speed is generally unachievable?
February 5, 2012, 11:23 am
February 5, 2012, 11:32 am
Rolling acceleration and quarter mile times are actual benchmarks. 0-60 and 5-60 are fairly pointless in the grand scheme of things, in comparison.
And, of course, lap times are the gold standard whenever possible. If the f20 328i is really only 1-second slower, then adding 30hp to the 335 isn't going to do much - and it may be caught or exceeded on the track by a mildly tuned f30 328i regardless.Now that would be interesting.
February 5, 2012, 1:41 pm
It sounds like the 328 is a bit more nimble in the corners, so on a track that strength in magnified. As for me the power numbers I care about go more to merging on the interstate and passing on two lane roads. So straight line acceleration is what I care more about, just not 0-60. I am sure the 335 will get a 20-30 HP/Tq boost in the next couple of years, since it seems that it can be done without much expense already at your BMW dealer. The new 328 does sound like a big step up from the e90 328. N4S
February 5, 2012, 2:04 pm
February 5, 2012, 2:27 pm
February 5, 2012, 2:43 pm
Typical 0-60mph published is done with abuse that most people won't reproduce regularly, dropping clutch from 3500-4000rpm, not 5-60.
So the 5-60mph is the most interesting to most people.
February 5, 2012, 4:08 pm
So the 5-60mph is the most interesting to most people.
February 5, 2012, 5:01 pm
February 5, 2012, 6:03 pm
February 5, 2012, 6:52 pm
If you want real performance BMW is telling us to get the 335is, the 335i to be 1 sec faster than the 328i and the base price difference between the 335i and 328i is over $8k, doesn't make much sense to me.
February 5, 2012, 7:09 pm
This depends so much on the track. What track is this? If it's that close it's probably a lower speed track without a lot of long straights for the 60hp difference to mean much.
I test drove an F10 528i with the N20 and there's no way I could ever buy the thing simply because the engine sounds exactly like old Toyota Camrys with the iron block 5S-FE engines. Not the least bit inspiring.
February 5, 2012, 8:17 pm
will be getting a 335i m-sport I guess.
We were looking to replace our 2000 323is we had since new with a current model. We were going for a 335D but decided to go for the 328i instead. Fuel efficiency and better weight distribution changed our mind, because as much as we liked the 335D, it seemed bulky after driving our 323is. I'm thinking the new 328 is lighter and better balanced than the 335, and the "diesel idle" doesn't worry me much... it can't be much worse than an actual diesel motor.
February 5, 2012, 10:54 pm
Typical 0-60mph published is done with abuse that most people won't reproduce regularly, dropping clutch from 3500-4000rpm, not 5-60.
So the 5-60mph is the most interesting to most people.
February 7, 2012, 5:41 pm
Its good to see the N20 perform well, but honestly the track matters, if its a tighter track with lots of turns I'm not surprised. Tracks with mild sweepers and longer straights would favor the 335i. Needless to say the numbers are impressive either way for the turbo-4. I wouldn't have expected less than this from a just marketed engine vs the 5 year old marketed N54/N55.
In long run, I'm sure what they're doing is setting up the mid-life 335i power bump or M335i (no change to engine), but an 'is'-like package to move the 335i to closer to 360hp and charge more. Then you can have your 3 series in 3 flavors (328i @ 245 hp/258 lb-ft, 335i @ 306 hp/ 295lb-ft, M335i 360hp/350 lb-ft) with virtually no additional cost for BMW to deliver it to us. Which doesn't mean we won't pay for it, it will be a cash cow for BMW though. Since I'm thinking the new M3 will probably end up pushing north of $60k to start