proving some 1 wrong about BMW

[Gthree555]

Who besides me thinks that BMW 3 series is underpowered
sorry if this is a repost

[JDMan]

Well... there's a difference between "underpowered" and just "less powerful." The 325 I'd say is underpowered, yeah. The 330... well, here's the numbers against its closest equivalents:

330i: 225hp, 3285 pounds
G35s: 260, 3400
A4: 220, 3462
IS300: 215, 3255
C320: 215, 3430
X-Type 3.0: 227, 3516

So, power for pound, among its peers, the 330 is second only to the G. I'm definitely not part of the Bimmer set, but it'd be more fair to say that the G is "over" powered because it has a 3.5L engine whereas everyone else is running 3 liters (except the C320, which is 3.2L and still the least powerful).

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe (for sale)

[DHCrocks]

I may be wrong but from what I hear, even seen it on a TV car review program (might have been Car&Driver), BMW underates their engine outputs. I would tend to believe this as even the 325 which has only 180 or so hp can keep up with cars with 210+ hp. And the 330zhp is pretty damn quick considering it only has 10hp over the base 330, I think those are about equal to the G35 in accelleration.

[StudlyMobile]

people say the 330 with perf package is fast. what kind of things aside from weight would make a car with a normal sized engine faster?

everyone raves about the m3's speed, but isn't it's engine size comparable to ours?

04 6mtC, DG - possibly most babied G on the board.

[Rob_G35]

330 ZHP is a fast car it kept up with my coupe till about 115mph then I started to pull. M3 will walk the G all day long even with a bad driver.

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03 CB Coupe 6MT
www.itclan.com/g35

[kwakman]

Gear ratios help a LOT. I also do believe that bmw underrates their hp ratings, but the gear ratios are what helps them accelerate so fast compared to similar hp cars. If u race them from a roll at 80+, we'll walk them pretty good cause that's where their gear ratio advantage goes away as their latter gears aren't as close.

'03 G35c DG/G 6mt, full options

[Catatafish]

How many Ferrari owners here think the G is "underpowered"?

I feel the BMW is truly the ultimate driving machine and would own one if money were no object. The BMW fulfills its mission perfectly which is why so many car mags simply adore it. It's not a drag car but it's not intended to be. It's intended to provide ultimate feel for the road to the driver and it accomplishes that 110%. Problem is the premium in dollars they attach to it. Even my 1985 318is (about 20 HP) is simply a dream to drive. The feel for the road, the shift quality, the handling, the fit and finish, it's simply amazing. Yes, it is underpowered, but I doubt you'd call the M3 underpowered.

2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but front spoiler/Nismo CAI/Crawford V5

[xswl0931]

BMW does NOT underrate their engines. Just go to any BMW board and search for dynos. You'll see that they will have similar drive train loss as other comparable cars (15%-18%). They tend to be faster despite lower horsepower because of: power/weight, gear ratios, flat torque curve.

[frans119]

This makes no sense at all...if this is true then the G35 should me as fast as a 360 Modena because those engines are only 3.6 liter V8's. BMW's are "faster" because of all the R&D they do on there Trannys, They match there engines with there trannies perfectly, My brother has a 330ci with Dinan chip and he is just abit slower then my 350z (just Nismo exhaust). The cars weigh the same and he has less Hp then me.

[xswl0931]

You can't just compare displacement or even cylinders. Some American V8's barely put out 200 hp. Honda's 2.0 liter 4 cylinder in the S2000 puts out 240 hp.

[J_P]

BMW does underrate certain engines but not all. M3 dynos show it doesn't make more power than it should, but the 325 & 330 do put out more rwhp than they should. I don't know which board you go to but most 330 dynos show about 200 rwhp, which is about 10 rwhp more than they should dyno at.

[misterpib]

rob if you are going 115 on a public road just to prove a point you have a lot to learn. and do it quick because you might hurt someone else.

[Z06ified]

In reply to:

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Some American V8's barely put out 200 hp.

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In the 1970's and '80s I would agree. Today, you're wrong. Name one American V-8 sold today that barely makes 200hp. You won't find one.

The least powerful American V-8 sold today is the Ford 4.6L in the Ford Crown Victoria, which makes 224 hp.

2003 G35C, 6MT, DG/G, Aero/Nav/Premium
2002 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue/Black, headers, intake, exhaust, 380 rwhp

[browniesyummy]

I agree with Catatafish 100%....while all the 3 series are "underpowered" for the price tags.....they put out respectable numbers with much less HPs then many other cars. BMW does not design their cars for drag races(ie: corvette, vipers) Even a 330 MT can hang with a G35 C MT. It all comes down to the driver. The G35 C has HP powers far superior to 330s, but a 330 can still keep up with the G(not talking about silly drag racing)

[RSPDiver]

That is a wonderful post, and very mature. I will tell you, the 330 is recidulously easy to drive in a VERY sporting manner through tight turns. I haven't sport driven a G35 Sedan 6MT in quite the same way I have driven the 330i ZHP (Perf Pkg) through the mountains I live near, but I can say that the BMW felt bred for that type of driving. Can a G35 Sedan kick my butt? Well, I don't think it will kick my butt, however I do think that it has tons of potential to be a better straight line performer, and a better track/road course performer with mods.

Now, if you take your G35 up in the twisties and return with the same silly grin I do when I return in my car (whatever it may be), don't we both win? I love my car, and many can beat it, but this one is mine, and it's far more capable in skilled hands than in mine.

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Me failed English? That's unpossible!