2012 BMW 328i dyno run suggests it's underrated

BMW is earning quite the reputation of underrating its turbocharged engines. From the early days of the N54 twin-turbo inline six, through the later N55 single-turbo iteration and straight on to the 2012 M5's turbocharged V8, the crafty Bavarians have always erred on the low side with their factory-quoted power figures.

According to the dyno run that you'll see after the break, the tradition continues with BMW's new twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder inline N20 engine that sees duty in the 2012 328i. The mill is rated at 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque, and on at least one Dynojet dyno, a stock 328i put down 226 horses and 230 lb-ft.

Assuming that around 15 percent of power is lost to the various friction forces of the drivetrain, these results indicate that the engine is really spinning out 265 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Those are mighty impressive figures, and equal about 25 more horses than stock and at least 15 more lb-ft of torque. Suffice it to say, this engine is an extremely tempting proposition for future 3 Series owners.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=4U_CdQt6Mus

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/16/2...ts-underrated/

 

Underrated like its 335i brother, S4 3.0T and a bunch of others

 

Insideline dyno'd it and got 240/257 but all of their dyno readings seem to be inflated. Thats really go for BMW, its gonna be nasty when tuners get their hands on the 328.

 

This means nothing. This is not an accurate way to asses power output by assuming a 15% driveline loss. RWD can lose less or more. Im not saying the cars are not underrated on the power but to simply assume a 15% loss is not exact at all

Im pretty sure that Nissan has done the same thing with the GTR

 

They got 5.6 seconds 0-60 on the 328i.

Very impressive!

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...rt_first_test/

 

I think it was Fizz that posted the 328i is quicker and gets better MPGs than the 335d and he is right.
That's got to **** off some 335d owners.

 

<It's good that they tested it and I agree nothing surprising about the results.

I'm still not sold on a turbo 4 in a luxury car yet. I've said the same for years about the A4, which I'm a big fan of the car, and the same applies here too. Sadly the Lexus surveys I've been receiving have been hinting that they may be going this route for the IS.

 

That is impressive. I still remember destroying 328's and 330's in my old G35 back in the day. I8ABMR didnt come from no where. I used to wave at them from the sunroof as I pulled on them. It was a great feeling. Seems like they have reworked the 328 thankfully because in the past it was a girls BMW

WOW! even with all that torque that the diesel will put out?!

 

wow i learn something new everyday. Props to BMW for making good power, however, I too am not sold on a 4 cylinder

 

I'm with you there Larry. They are getting better and I guess I feel they are better with a hybrid or turbo/S/C though....just a plain I-4 is weaksauce to me.

This car also gets some great MPG, I think as good as the diesel.

Great job BMW

 

i am not a big fan of 4 banger in a luxury car, but i guess with the economy and fuel regulations, it's inevitable. just like hybrid, the FI is just another way for power. lexus is also rumored with es300h or something like that