Learning to use an E90

[astroboy]

damn..got motorised folding mirrors....when off-engine.. i didnt know that..

what i know is..when i reversing, the mirrors will start turning n twisting so that u can see the belakang.

let me blog about this finding..*sigh*

Hahahahaa.... they r really a lot more interesting features to blog about and they are all jaw drop information to Japanese car owners.. That's why I started up this thread..

U know our engine don't have a dip stick to check the engine oil level?

U know our meter cluster do not have an engine coolant temperature gauge?

U know u need to reset the Run Flat Tyre indicator every time u inflate your tyres? U do know ur car don't have a spare tyre nor car jack do you?

... and many many more... I am still discovering new things after 3 months of ownership u know..

 

[Schwepps]

Yes, feature upgrades like the folding side-mirrors were introduced in 2H07. Further upgrades may be in the pipeline prior to the model facelift because the present BMW Malaysia situation is that the 325i has been discontinued, and production of the 325i Sports suspended for the moment (the official word is until Sept-Oct 08!)

When I heard this I was wondering what was going on. Now, you guys have me wondering whether they're waiting for supplies of the N53 because they said the suspension is due to production backlog of something. BlackE90, can you elaborate a bit about gasoline direct injection & stratified burn if you've researched the N53?

 

[manu3116m]

e90 325 fuel consumption

Hi Brothers,

After 2 months of driving my ride, I am still not getting good fuel consumption. For mixed driving, I am getting worse than 12 L/100km.

I do not have a heavy foot. Any brothers like to share their consumption experience? I am kinda worried that my ride is not properly tuned or run-in yet, only 5K mileage done on it.

Any advise?

 

[astroboy]

ok ma. 12L/100km. My 320i also about the same mileage and was registering 11.1L/100km with the counter never reset before. I just reseted it over the weekend and on the Sunday's drive of about 10 km around town, mostly "M" mode. The counter showed me 16.5L/100km

 

[racheltoh]

Okie after work, when balik-ing time...I carefully pressed one button ...after reading the post. i just tembak la. The side mirrors folded...*yah*..now i know which button to press for folding. why i say carefully... cos got once, i itchy hand. i played with some function and my mirrors didnt work while reversing liao.

2. is it neccessary to switch off the entertainment (CD player) & air-con when stop engine? when i was driving a jap car, it is a MUST...

3. dont u think the car dont have enough compartment to keep things? can i check check how u put yr stuff ???

4. so far, i put pterol..rm120 still NOT yet full tank..sigh.. does after 1st service make a difference (10k km)?

5. how to open the boot from inside the car? got button?

6. i still dunno how to use the idrive. the bulat thingy hates me. i cannot control wor..

hmmm

 

[danc]

Hi Rachel,

To get back the auto tipping mirror while reversing, just move your windows mirror adjust button to adjust the driver side of the mirror.

2. is it neccessary to switch off the entertainment (CD player) & air-con when stop engine? when i was driving a jap car, it is a MUST...

Not really as compared to jap cars. There was once even after the car's battery was disconnected, the radio/cd could still be turned on. Don't ask me how but it just did. You will notice that when starting even with the radio/cd on there is no interruption to the music.

3. dont u think the car dont have enough compartment to keep things? can i check check how u put yr stuff ???

Esp with the iDrive yup not enuf space. As for me well I really use up my glovebox and the door side pockets.

4. so far, i put pterol..rm120 still NOT yet full tank..sigh.. does after 1st service make a difference (10k km)?

Not really, I have now pass 27,000 ++ km and the FC is still about the same since day one, but the engine is much more smoother and more power after break in.

5. how to open the boot from inside the car? got button?

There is a button at the bottom right side near where you open your bonnet.

6. i still dunno how to use the idrive. the bulat thingy hates me. i cannot control wor..

All it takes is "kesabaran" and ..... read the manual lah :burnout:

Enjoy your ride.......

 

[E46Fanatic]

Hi Brothers,

After 2 months of driving my ride, I am still not getting good fuel consumption. For mixed driving, I am getting worse than 12 L/100km.

I do not have a heavy foot. Any brothers like to share their consumption experience? I am kinda worried that my ride is not properly tuned or run-in yet, only 5K mileage done on it.

Any advise?

For the 325i, 12L/100 km is pretty good, but as discussed it depends a lot on your commute pattern. Whats your average speed recorded on the OBC? For me, I'm getting 13.1-13.2 now with avg speed of 32+km/h. The higher the average speed, the better the FC will get. Still nowhere as good as the E46 325i FC tho.

 

[E46Fanatic]

Yes, feature upgrades like the folding side-mirrors were introduced in 2H07. Further upgrades may be in the pipeline prior to the model facelift because the present BMW Malaysia situation is that the 325i has been discontinued, and production of the 325i Sports suspended for the moment (the official word is until Sept-Oct 08!)

When I heard this I was wondering what was going on. Now, you guys have me wondering whether they're waiting for supplies of the N53 because they said the suspension is due to production backlog of something. BlackE90, can you elaborate a bit about gasoline direct injection & stratified burn if you've researched the N53?

I'm curious if the newer batches of 325i sport comes with the black engine valve cover instead of silver one? Saw a pic posted by Calvin and the 325i sport comes now with the black engine valve cover. I believe the N53 comes with black valve cover, also the uprated N52N on JPB's car.

 

[astroboy]

... Still nowhere as good as the E46 325i FC tho.

How come E46 325i FC better? What's the different? I thought every newer generation BMW engine will give 15% more power and 15% more economical to run?

Some of the advance engine features being adopted by BMW is:

1. Auto Start Stop (For Manual), where engine cuts off during idling, cabin temperature attained, engine warmed up, plus few other condition and restarted when clutch is pressed.

2. On demand electric water pump to reduce load to engine and will only work when water rotation is necessary (when engine temperature is above the threshold)

3. Electric-hydraulic power steering. Like number 2, will reduce load to engine because most of the time, car travel straight and don't need the pump keep pumping in the conventional way, this will increase engine efficiency.

4. Auto aerodynamic flap which will shut the radiator inlet, brake cooling duct to improve aerodynamic when the working temperature is below the threshold.

5. Even the alternator is smarter now and only work when car slowing down, or when brake depressed or battery has reach low battery warning.

6. Lighter engine, lighter crankcase... bla..bla..bla..

I think even the oil pump also will be driven by electric, which I don't buy the idea because u need oil circulation at all times. Once the pump fail, engine must stall or else hancur, same like the on demand water pump... sounds scary.. that's why people add ancillary fan in the engine bay.. How to use these car when so kiasi..

Looks like the engine is relieved of all other functions except driving the wheels. The rest are on electric power.. this gives additional burden to the battery and alternator. I can foresee the newer generation BMWs comes with even bigger battery (now 90AH ) and bigger alternator...

More power, better FC but expensive alternator and battery.. Semua ada trade-off..

 

[dannis]

Hi Brothers,

After 2 months of driving my ride, I am still not getting good fuel consumption. For mixed driving, I am getting worse than 12 L/100km.

I do not have a heavy foot. Any brothers like to share their consumption experience? I am kinda worried that my ride is not properly tuned or run-in yet, only 5K mileage done on it.

Any advise?

Sometimes is not really bad to get a 2 litre engine. When come to fuel consumption is the time I can raise my hand.
Mixed driving: 9.2-9.5 L/100km
Highway: 7+ L/100km @ 140kmh

 

[astroboy]

Wow!~ dannis, that's impressive!

That's more economical than my 1.3(A) Toyota..

 

[ALBundy]

Dude, you are talking about Efficient Dynamics.

AS for Item 1, Malaysia will not have this function due to our climate.

 

[astroboy]

Check out the new 4-cylinder engine.. pay attention to the electric water pump underneath. And hey, where's the power steering pump? Look how short is the V-Belt, its just driving the huge alternator and aircond compressor..

They are also talking about the "detaching" the aircond pulley from the V-Belt when deactivated to free the engine... I wonder how it works..

Hey! That looks like a diesel engine la.. Must be the 320D But the last picture got steering pump nia..

Dunno what engine is this but the additional cover over the oil filter sounds like BlackE90's engine.. which gave him more work when removing the oil filter.. I'm glad mine not like that.. It too has a funny water pump..

..and this I believe is David's silver top engine.. :love:

Yes! Finally found my engine (N46B20) in Japan 2007 Motor Show.. :love:

The O2 sensors are very difficult to reach le.. at the back of the engine next to the transmission.. How to DIY ??

 

[BlackE90]

Yup, your are right...This is the type of cover that I am having.

This is David's N52B25 engine.

Your N46B20 have a smaller cover, easier to change oil filter.

You can become the E9X engineer la....

 

[BlackE90]

BlackE90, can you elaborate a bit about gasoline direct injection & stratified burn if you've researched the N53?

Bro Schwepps, answer to your question on Gasoline Direct Injection & stratified burn, here's the link :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_Direct_Injection

Have fun reading about it....

 

[astroboy]

Schwepps.. check out the fuel rail and in injector that's extended into the combustion chamber, next to the Spark plugs.. That's GDI.. It enables stratified charge (ultra lean burn) combustion for improved fuel efficiency and emission levels at low load.

This technology was made famous by Mitsubishi in their Galant in the late 90s, thus their are not the "founder" of the technology...

 

[Schwepps]

Thanks guys, but that's not what I meant. Gas Direct Injection is not new technology, it's been around for yonks. I'm interested to know the comments and feelings of BMW enthusiasts to the introduction of GDI in the N53, advantages/disadvantages etc....if you've already researched it.

 

[manu3116m]

Fuel consumption

For the 325i, 12L/100 km is pretty good, but as discussed it depends a lot on your commute pattern. Whats your average speed recorded on the OBC? For me, I'm getting 13.1-13.2 now with avg speed of 32+km/h. The higher the average speed, the better the FC will get. Still nowhere as good as the E46 325i FC tho.

For me my avg speed is almost 37+km/h. The thing is that e46 325 can average 10L/100km over the same kind of driving as my neigbhour and I compared notes and we use the same roads to work.

The manual says Urban is 12.9L, extra-urban is 6.7L and combined is 9L/100km and I cannot see how that 9L/100km can be achieved.

Like Astroboy said, these generation of engine are supposed to be more fuel efficient and powerful. Wonder if some of these technical data provided are just marketing gimicks????

 

[astroboy]

Easy manu3116m, swap car with your neighbour for a week and truth will reveal itself..

 

[MSport]

Not sure if it's me or the car, but when I engage DS mode, the car feels like 4WD, tighter grip and excellent maneuvering, when compared to D mode, which I feel the grip is not really tight.

Comments?