We finally managed to squeeze in a real world "performance test" last night after a long overdue rematch. The cars which showed up were:
1) E90 330i + HiOP tune
2) E90 330i + BMW Performance Intake (+ spare tyre)
3) E46 330ci - spare tyre
4) E90 325i + BMW Performance Intake
5) E90 325i + Sprint Booster
All cars were on non RFTs, and 3/4 tank of VPower except for mine (just slightly below 1/2 tank of vpower). All cars shod on 18' OEM BMW staggered wheels except mine which was 18' Volks and DY's on aftermarket staggered 18's. All cars were lowered with a combo of M sport suspension, Eibachs, to KWv3 and KWv2.
The 3.0 Ltr Tests:
The HiOP tune 330i is the fastest of the 3.0 ltr class test. From 0-100 its got a slight edge with the E90 with BMW Performance Intake, but after 140km/h onwards the HiOP tune 330i with the additional ~10hp + ~7NM torque will have the advantage and will keep pulling away.
The E46 330Ci (facelift) was bone stock with just the spare tyre delete mod
. On paper the E46 330ci has 231hp some 30hp less than the E90 330i's but similar amt of torque. The E46 also has some ~70kgs weight advantage over the E90s as well, but on 5 spd gear ratios while the E90's were on 6 speed gearbox ratios. Tests revealed that the E46 330i vs. the E90 330i + BMW perf intake to be quite even (E90 slight edge) till ~140 km/h whereby the E90 330i with its added horses, will start to pull away from the E46 330i. When they hit 180-200 km/h, the E90 330i is ~ 1-2 cars ahead of the E46 330i.
The 2.5 ltr tests:
Unlike the previous matchup with DY's famed freaky fast car, this time, I was on VPower with the new BMW Performance Intake. Previously I was running Primax + a K&N drop in filter. This time around, from a stand still, the E90 325i with the Performance Intake gets an advantage over the sprint boosted E90 325i, off the line and pulls ahead ~1/2 ->1 car length till ~100km/h. Overall, even in the top end,the BMW Performance intake advantage shows, and keeps the car pulling gradually over the "stock" 325i.
The 2.5 ltr vs. E46 330ci test:
So we matched up the E90 325i + BMW perf intake with the E46 330ci. Well with 0.5 ltr displacement disadvantage, and some ~10hp, and ~50NM down, it was kinda expected that the E46 330ci was gonna be quicker. I got a better launch, and jumped the E46 330i by ~1/2 car. Was still ahead through 1st, and by 2nd, the 330i was reeling me in, and by 3rd, the 330Ci passed my car and will keep pulling away. Moral of the story, no replacement for displacement.
Summary:
Overall assessment. On previous matchup's all E90 325i which ran with DY had aftermarket intakes, K&N drop in element and the Simota intake. DY's intake was stock. Every car was slower compared to DY's car in our test, which could mean that the cars loss power after the intake mod (some speculation in German forums this is due to turbulent airflow in the intake and ECU cuts back power as a result) DY's car was always noticably faster in these tests. The BMW Performance intake however, does give real claimed gains by BMW, and it's shown this time around to give that added advantage. So the butt dyno was validated, last night, and the BMW Performance intake for the E90 325i is really a good performance mod for our cars. The HiOP tune is also a good mod, and will really show towards the top end as well as seen in the 330i matchups.
I have a feeling after these revelations, more folks will be ordering in the BMW Perf intake
. Not just more garang sound from the intake but real perf gains as well. Well done to the BMW performance team for designing a great intake
.
