330i Faster Than 330iPP?

Bryan330i · Oct 3, 2003

I was just reading a "first test" in the new Motor Trend (page 44) they are saying that the 330i Sport Package is a bit faster than the 330iPP. I thought this was strange, would they not at least be the same? They did say the most dramatic improvement for the pp was handling, sighting the "M Divisions sharper suspension."

The numbers listed are 6.1 for the PP and 5.8 for the 330i sport package.

MrElussive · Oct 3, 2003

Those numbers are very wrong. There is no way that 235hp will perform worse than 225hp. I don't understand why Motor Trend would publish information like that.

Average Jae · Oct 3, 2003

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=6978&page_number=2

maybe it was a misprint? i didn't know reg 330i ran faster than 6.0 sec..

eitherway car and driver tested 5.6 for the pp, so who knows ^^

brahtw8 · Oct 3, 2003

The numbers are probably accurate, but most stock 330i PPs will be faster than most stock 330s.

Different examples of the same model perform differently. Cars don't leave the factory with exactly the same horsepower. They have to fall within a certain range. One 1993 NSX may dyno at 238 to the rear wheels stock, another at 231.

Put together a weak 330i PP and a strong 330, and the 330 may win out.

Of course, there is also the variation in drivers, launch technique, tire grip/size, etc. There are a lot of factors involved in putting a particular number down on a particular day.

MrElussive · Oct 3, 2003

That used to be true, brahtw8, and it still is in a way. But now the differences are only 1-2hp (give or take) at most. Whatever the case, the difference is usually marginal and should not affect the 0-60 time. I think that when a magazine's 0-60 time is significantly different compared to the manufcaturer's 0-60 time, I conclude that the magazine was wrong. I find that magazines either give the car too much credit or are just hating on the car.

brahtw8 · Oct 3, 2003

I would accept that a particular magazine test driver/car combo may not always produce the optimal number for a car, but do you really believe that magazines are simply reporting (and inaccurately) a number for a car without really strapping on the equipment and testing it?

codex57 · Oct 4, 2003

I agree with Brahtw8. I think the numbers are right, it's much more likely to be a case of driver performance, weather, humidity, wind, altitude, etc. That and magazines to this day mention that they think they got a bad sample car b/c of an abnormal 0-60 time. The manufactured cars still vary to some degree. A tolerance of 1 hp is much too close to be believable. I mean, the Ford companies can't even manage to get reported and actual hp numbers even remotely close together (Mustang Cobra, Mazda Miata, RX-8 to name a few). How do you expect them to manage a 1 hp swing through all their cars.

lifewithbmw · Oct 4, 2003

Everybody Wrong

Well first of all. The 5.8 seconds is for the all wheel drive 330i. Second of all, how many times I have to say this to people?! The Horsepower rating for the 330i is 231hp and the 330 Performance package is 245hp. The stock 330i accelerate from 0-60 in 6.1s and the 330PP 0-60 in 5.8s. Its not that big difference. The main tthing is that the 330i has electronicaly limited speed at 155mph instead of 128mph for the 330i. There is the difference. And of course with the 14hp you get there faster. And everything depends also from the road condition, wind, humidity etc.

My 1994 325i has 210hp and 210 torque. 0-60 in 6.4s and I personaly have been doing on it 152mph [thumb]

Bryan330i · Oct 4, 2003

Re: Everybody Wrong

lifewithbmw said:

Where did you get those numbers? [???1] The published HP everywhere is 225 and 235 for the PP. Please advise on where you got this information because it is way off. The Motor Trend information is accurate on HP I just question the test numbers. You wont need to say this to people anymore when you back it up with a source.

Bryan330i · Oct 4, 2003

I guess the key here would be "test" and the many variables that go along with it. Those of us here may conduct the same test with very different results. Other reviews had indicated a slight performance increase with the 235-hp pp. The 10-hp diff on what is basically the same weight car should produce a slight performance increase in multiple test situations when looking at cumulative results. I think this test must be flawed or not performed enough to get a good average result.

andreyiv · Oct 4, 2003

What did you do to your 325i to achieve 210hp and 210 tourque? That's 21hp more than I thought it had.

lifewithbmw · Oct 4, 2003

My 325i

I have a Dinan Chip and a special V-Max module from Germany. Everything else is stock. But, you have to change the Lower control arms bushings for the M3 ones to have better stability at high speeds and cornering.

Article 330i and 330PP.

read here. This are numbers for Z4 but those are the same engines: http://autozine.kyul.net/html/BMW4.htm [rofl]

lifewithbmw · Oct 4, 2003

here you go.

Here are the numbers for the 3 series sedan.

http://autozine.kyul.net/html/BMW2.htm#330i [driving]

MrElussive · Oct 4, 2003

Dude, that's Euro-spec. Here in the US, 325 BMW's are 184hp and 330 BMW's are 225hp and 330i PP is 235hp. I just cannot believe that a 225hp AWD BMW 330 can be faster than a 235hp RWD BMW 330 PP. The 330xi has 10 less hp, additional weight, and additional drive stress (due to AWD). I think Motor Trend's numbers are as wrong as they are questionable.

frolf · Oct 4, 2003

MrElussive said:

Dude, that's Euro-spec. Here in the US, 325 BMW's are 184hp and 330 BMW's are 225hp and 330i PP is 235hp. I just cannot believe that a 225hp AWD BMW 330 can be faster than a 235hp RWD BMW 330 PP. The 330xi has 10 less hp, additional weight, and additional drive stress (due to AWD). I think Motor Trend's numbers are as wrong as they are questionable.

agreed

Bryan330i · Oct 4, 2003

MrElussive said:

I have looked at the article a few times and all I can think is the testing was bad or the numbers are reversed.

PuShAkOv · Oct 4, 2003

Weight could be different... just a thought.

brahtw8 · Oct 4, 2003

Re: Everybody Wrong

lifewithbmw said:

Per BMW USA, the 2004 330i has 225 hp and 214 ft/lb. The PP adds 10 hp and a six speed with lower rear axle ratio (among other things).

Unless you put it on a dyno, you don't really know how much power you have. You also can't trust a stopwatch estimation or g-tech accelerometer. You also can't trust what your speedo says. I doubt your 325i (or mine) could do more that a true 147 mph, even with 210 hp/ft/lb.

If I believe Dinan and B&B, I have a 210 hp, 210 ft. lb. 1994 325i. I don't think it is making quite that much power. I would guess 200 even.

MrElussive · Oct 5, 2003

brahtw8, why don't you purchase a G-Tech Pro to find out how much hp your 325i is pushing? Mad Mike had one on his M3 and on his M5 and he said that the G-Tech Pro was always within 2-3hp of dyno tests. I know that if I wanted to mod my car, I would definitely pickup a G-Tech Pro so I can actually know the increase in performance each part provides.

brahtw8 · Oct 5, 2003

MrElussive said:

Maybe someday. There are a lot of things that are ahead of the G-tech on my list.

330i Faster Than 330iPP?

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Member

Attachments

2

2

2

Member

Member

2

2

2

2000 Post Club

2

2

2