• Two stock/baseline 91 octane N20 dynographs from the new 2012 F30 BMW 328i - Yes, it is underrated

                    
      		   
      Published on 02-18-2012 08:42 PM
      34 Comments Comments
      We already knew the BMW N20 four cylinder was underrated from its 240 horsepower rating as we saw in a dynotest of the Z4 sDrive28i which put down 233 to the wheels. That dyno was done by Insideline who recently did a dyno of the new F30 328i and overlaid it with the Z4 dyno. As luck would have it, EAS also did a dynotest of the F30 328i so we have more than one graph to go on. For the record, Insideline was wrong about claiming they exclusively had the first 328i dyno.



      First, let's take a look at the EAS graph. On their dynojet and with 91 octane pump gas they hit 226.51 wheel, strong:



      Here is the graph from Insideline also with 91 octane but on a different dynojet, 240 whp:



      So, why the disparity of about 14 whp? Well, the dynojet Insideline uses is routinely seen providing optmistic numbers. Yes, all dynojets are not created equal. We feel the numbers from EAS are for more realistic and will be much closer to what others will be hitting with their baseline graphs.

      Notice when the Z4 dynograph and the 328i dynograph are overlaid they basically mirror each other with the same dips and same curve. No change in tune in stock form, all N20's should look basically the exact same with variances due to wheel weights and transmission choices:



      The N20 is underrated quite a bit. This is likely done to keep 335 owners happy as the N20 does not give up all that much to the N55. This is going to be an exciting platform to tune and we should see the 300 whp barrier passed with this motor fairly quickly. 300 crank will be passed basically instantly with the very first set of tunes meaning an N20 with a tune will be a 335 killer in stock form.

      Dyno video:

      This article was originally published in forum thread: Two stock/baseline 91 octane N20 dynographs from the new 2012 F30 BMW 328i - Yes, it is underrated started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 34 Comments
      1. Q4P's Avatar
        Q4P - 02-18-2012, 08:53 PM
        Good numbers (certainly an improvement over N52) but it still won't make power as easy as an N55 nor will it probably be as responsive. Let's remember this is not an Evo type 4 banger with a huge stock turbo but instead a motor made for fuel efficiency. It certainly is a great base motor but i highly doubt it will make any type of serious power, let's just say I doubt that it is over engineered like the sixes.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-18-2012, 08:54 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Q4P Click here to enlarge
        Good numbers (certainly an improvement over N52) but it still won't make power as easy as an N55 nor will it probably be as responsive. Let's remember this is not an Evo type 4 banger with a huge stock turbo but instead a motor made for fuel efficiency. It certainly is a great base motor but i highly doubt it will make any type of serious power, let's just say I doubt that it is over engineered like the sixes.
        The N55 isn't exactly making huge power. The aftermarket may pay more attention to this motor due to its volume. Everyone will be able to have one, this is now the cheapest BMW motor to own.
      1. Q4P's Avatar
        Q4P - 02-18-2012, 09:03 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        The N55 isn't exactly making huge power. The aftermarket may pay more attention to this motor due to its volume. Everyone will be able to have one, this is now the cheapest BMW motor to own.
        Very valid points but the N54 will no longer be produced in new cars fairly soon so we can forget about anything of that sort... The N55 makes decent power (370 WHP with meth), it's just waiting for a turbo upgrade. You are right though, since there will be high volume for this motor, chances are that someone may build a turbo upgrade soon. It is important to also remember that the internals of this motor may be made like pretzels so power capabilities may be limited.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-18-2012, 09:09 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Q4P Click here to enlarge
        Very valid points but the N54 will no longer be produced in new cars fairly soon so we can forget about anything of that sort... The N55 makes decent power (370 WHP with meth), it's just waiting for a turbo upgrade. You are right though, since there will be high volume for this motor, chances are that someone may build a turbo upgrade soon. It is important to also remember that the internals of this motor may be made like pretzels so power capabilities may be limited.
        The internals may not be strong or may be super strong, who knows.

        We may see this motor get a lot more attention than the N55. I would expect Cobb to tackle it for one.
      1. Forced Air's Avatar
        Forced Air - 02-19-2012, 11:27 AM
        Looks like a great daily driver setup. Or maybe a ride for the wifey that i can still drive w/o hating my life while i do it.
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 02-19-2012, 05:22 PM
        i didnt even know the dyno started... that engine is pretty quiet.
      1. yandizzle's Avatar
        yandizzle - 02-20-2012, 12:42 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        The internals may not be strong or may be super strong, who knows.

        We may see this motor get a lot more attention than the N55. I would expect Cobb to tackle it for one.
        You never know with this motor. It could be maxed out from the factory, but i dont think so. I think it will give the N55 a run for its money, but only time will tell. It would be nice to put in the M when the S54 goes... I mean the S54 is great, but the dollar per hp gained ratio is pretty high. Probably less than the HPF Stage I kit price to do if you could. Something about DI and HP fuel rails may prevent it from ever happining tho...More power and less weight...hey a man can dream right lol.
      1. M3_WC's Avatar
        M3_WC - 02-20-2012, 02:51 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        The internals may not be strong or may be super strong, who knows.

        We may see this motor get a lot more attention than the N55. I would expect Cobb to tackle it for one.
        If I remember that thread you posted on the N20. It shares tech/parts with the N55.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-20-2012, 03:59 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by M3_WC Click here to enlarge
        If I remember that thread you posted on the N20. It shares tech/parts with the N55.
        Lot's of good details in there. Too many pages, I didn't read the whole thing myself.
      1. Puerto Rican 335d's Avatar
        Puerto Rican 335d - 02-23-2012, 08:28 AM
        WOW excellent motor, not to bad for a 4 banger with the heavy weight of the car!!!
      1. SlicktopTTZ's Avatar
        SlicktopTTZ - 02-23-2012, 11:28 AM
        Wonder what it does on a Mustang Dyne. I've come to find that motors usually come a lot closer to their rating on a load-based dyne.
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 02-23-2012, 02:13 PM
        Is the internal forged in these 4 bangers?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-23-2012, 08:32 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sorena Click here to enlarge
        Is the internal forged in these 4 bangers?
        The info you seek is likely somewhere in here: http://www.bimmerboost.com/content.p...N52-comparison
      1. jspirate's Avatar
        jspirate - 03-16-2012, 08:08 PM
        That charts show a really nice low torq beast. I wonder what options will be available to give it a lil more ummmph at the higher RPMs?

        I guess time will tell. I am excited to be following this car closely. It really looks like a winner Click here to enlarge
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-16-2012, 10:21 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by jspirate Click here to enlarge
        I wonder what options will be available to give it a lil more ummmph at the higher RPMs?
        How about a big single?
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 03-17-2012, 04:05 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        The info you seek is likely somewhere in here: http://www.bimmerboost.com/content.p...N52-comparison
        $#@!, i'm not interested in that info anymore.
      1. jspirate's Avatar
        jspirate - 03-17-2012, 08:51 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        How about a big single?
        Thats what I did to my current car. Fun stuff!
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2012, 12:53 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by jspirate Click here to enlarge
        Thats what I did to my current car. Fun stuff!
        Current car is what?
      1. jspirate's Avatar
        jspirate - 03-20-2012, 05:20 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Current car is what?
        Actually, it would be more technically correct to say I went with the "medium," not the "big." Its a VW CC.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 03-20-2012, 06:03 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by jspirate Click here to enlarge
        Actually, it would be more technically correct to say I went with the "medium," not the "big." Its a VW CC.
        Nice, trying hard to get more VW owners.
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