It's quite strange how come BMW on their international website lists the 0-100km/h time for the 130i as 6.1 seconds and for the Z4 3.0si Coupe or Roadster, 5.7 seconds. I have been timing my new 130i M Sport with a G-tech and a regular clock, and I can't drive under 5.8s 0-100 with the DTC/DSC/ASC off, even with 2 passengers on. I mean, 130i has drag of 0.32 and Z4 probably something around 0.3 (it's messed up on their site, as are the fuel consumption figures)

Both have the same N52B30 with 195kW/315Nm and I've driven a Z4 3.0si and it didn't feel a bit different (except for the uncomfortable noise and horrible side view with the top up).

I'm saying this is a BMW marketing section way to justify especially Z4 Coupe buyers why they're shelling out $10-20k more. Especially since the 130i is second most rigid chassis in the BMW lineup after the Z4 Coupe - so no big difference there either (and the Roadster's rigidity is horrible, as can be expected.)

But it's not the first time. My 330Ci could do regular 6.3s 0-100 runs timed with GPS, G-tech and all possible means, while it was listed 6.5s, so I understand they need to promise something that the car can do "at least", but it would be interesting to know which circumstances they test the number at. With full load on wet surface for the 130i? I just whipped a new Alfa Romeo Spider's ass one wet day (second or third day I had my 130i M Sport) even though it has 4WD, 322Nm and 260hp... Well, 4WD always sucks in distributing the actual power to the wheels compared to RWD.

Soon I'll be putting in a new software that should give me 210kW and 340Nm, and at the same time the guys will install a new pair of exhaust pipes straight from the engine. I'm optimistic that should give another 15-20kW/Nm, even though I am sure the 130i is a good breather by default.

By the way, what kind of RPMs do you people get to be your max redline RPMs in debug mode? Mine seems to redline at around 6870rpm, which is way less than the 7000rpm is paid for. I wonder why. I'm thinking of asking the software people to increase the redline another 300 rpm. With 6870 the second gear just annoyingly pulls you up to about 98km/h real speed when hitting readline, so it slows down 0-100km/h pulls. Perhaps this is the reason why Z4 has 5.7s - they have a higher REAL redline so they can pull to 100km/h with just 1st and 2nd gear. Of course, in reality you'd keep pulling way past 100km/h so it wouldn't matter... but just wondering.

And oh by the way, here's a summary:

BMW 130i: 1450kg, 195kW/315Nm, drag 0.32
BMW Z4 3.0si Roadster: 1395kg, 195kW/315Nm, drag (with top open) probably around 0.36?

So how in hell the people at BMW think they could tell us with a straight face that the Z4 could ever be 0.4s faster in 0-100 runs?

And now that the E92 is out (which I didn't have the patience for, and I'm happy I didn't, it's like an old peoples car inside, just test drove it this weekend, just like the E90), they claim 6.1s for the 330 with a 200kW/315Nm version of the N52B30. And the weight is 1540kg.

Even on the net I've read about E90 330i owners who have been clocking their 190kW/300Nm versions of the N52B30 at 6.0-6.1s 0-100.

Checking this site out:

www
rri
se

(Why the hell can't I still post URLs??)

it seems like the E90 has slightly more power loss from the engine to the wheels than the E87 (logical, really), with E87 losing only -4% on torque and -8% on power, giving it actual torque of 303Nm and power of 180kW on the road. (which explains my de-javu experience with M3 when driving the 130i for the first time.) However, they don't have any Z4's tested.

So, any experience, thoughts, real life tests done besides my own?

Best regards,

Jussi

Jussi, I can't understand why do you bother with 0-100km/h times ?
For the Z4 Si and 130i with the same final diff. (3.46) the Z4 is slightly faster from stand or through the gears up to 150-km/h due to lower weight. When you pass 160km/h the 130i is slightly faster due to aerodynamics.
The E90/92 may by heavier but the final gear is 3.15 so you need only one gear change to reach 100km/h

If you like drag racing the real test is 1/4mile (402m) time. This is what really counts.
In every day driving or track days it's more enjoyable a lighter car with shorter gear ratios.

As for the rev limiter don't change it, IMHO BMW have figured out that that's the limit for the Valvetronic for this engine.

Vasilis

As a matter of fact, in BMW's own propaganda leaflet when the N52 engines came out, they said that with the new second generation valvetronic (which the N52 has), the valvetronic is more RPM-capable and rev-happy compared to the first gen (the V8 valvetronics they used to have with low rev limiters) and they promised 7000rpm + 500rpm from the N52B30 easily.

The reason I am wondering is: why do they advertise these times. Of course I know 0-100 is not a real test, but it's still often the only comparable figure that's available from all automakers across the world.

I'm sure as heck that the 55kg weight difference does not translate to 0.4s better 0-100 time! That was my point number one.

And the aerodynamics don't either, that is my point number two. I can't run my 130i with two persons on board under 5.8s in 0-100 test, so BMW has grossly underestimated the figures.

And once I get my 210kW/340Nm software, the 130i will be pretty close to the 321hp/350Nm E36 M3 engine as far as initial accelleration, trusting that the powerloss figures of -4% / -8% remain the same.

Anyway, any experiences racing against the new Z4 3.0si:s with 130i or ideas why BMW would screw their Z4 customers this much (since with the Z4 the 5.7s is pretty much the real figure, but us 130i folks get almost 0.5s extra for free)

Best regards,

Jussi

BMW has always been VERY conservative in their *estimated* 0-62mph (0-100kmh) figures. Deal with it.

Also, besides the weight, there's the tires.
The rear tire on a 130iM is a 235/35 R18.
The rear tire on the Z4 3.0si sport is a 255/35 R18.

They're lighter and have wider rear tires? What do you have a hard time accepting?

And once I get my 210kW/340Nm software, the 130i will be pretty close to the 321hp/350Nm E36 M3 engine as far as initial accelleration, trusting that the powerloss figures of -4% / -8% remain the same.

When I had recently my own M3 in service.
I got 116i for four days free of charge in use.
And honestly I can´t even mention those two in same sentence.:rolleyes
The 1-series had easily most cramped on limit behavior in any bmw I've ever driven. having beefier engine and brakes in same car does propably just highlight more the weak points of it's poor chassis and high center of gravity.
M3 is like from other planet, and when 1XX might feel like a blast for conventional driving, it has very few to do with Ultimate Driving M...
Not to mention difference what 56hp and 35Nm more, 6speed close ratio box and Diff do.


I'm saying this is a BMW marketing section way to justify especially Z4 Coupe buyers why they're shelling out $10-20k more. Especially since the 130i is second most rigid chassis in the BMW lineup after the Z4 Coupe - so no big difference there either (and the Roadster's rigidity is horrible, as can be expected.)


ehh, how to say this nicely... there might be something else too than 0-100, propably bmw feels comfier to cash more with car which seems to be a proper sportscar, compared to a hachback lunchbox...

no pun intended. just told my personal opinion.;)

Hi,
I just ordered my new 130I sport a week ago and will take delivery in the third week of January. The test cars I drove were awesome. They only sell the fully specced version with the M Sport suspension here in Oz. I have optioned mine with the 18" wheels.
I'd like to know what mods are available to suit the 3 litre and who are they available from.