new Z4's N52 engines - power output

J

jpapg

Member
If you carefully examine the power output data for the N52 engines (2.5l and 3.0l) found in the new Z4, you will notice that they are slightly detuned compared to the 3 series coupe. These engines in the 3 series coupe produce 218 and 272 hp, whereas in the new Z4 produce 204 and 258 hp respectivelly. The difference is the same: 14 hp.
I really don't understand this. Are the german engineers a bit crazy ?
Isn't the new Z4 a car with a definitely sports character ? Why have they detuned the engines ?
You can really tell there's a difference in the power output, if you drove the older E85 Z4 2.5si with the same N52 engine. (I own the new sDrive23i). The same stands for the 5 series, but in that case the detuned version (523i) comes with 190 hp. This makes sense.
Don't tell me that there will be a sDrive25i version, cause it'll drive me mad :headbang:.
I think a cheaper 2.0l/4cyl version is more possible, for target group/market reasons, especially in countries with high tax rates for high displacement engines.
 
Is it definitely de-tuned, and not just a difference caused by (for example) exhaust sizes?

The Z3M had a slightly lower hp compared to its equivalent M3 due to a shorter exhaust system.
 
Think the 330i uses the N53 engine not the N52, and the 325i with 218PS uses a detuned 3.0 engine, but is still 2996cc.
 
Wondermike said:
Think the 330i uses the N53 engine not the N52, and the 325i with 218PS uses a detuned 3.0 engine, but is still 2996cc.
Click to expand...

according to RealOEM it could be the N52N or the N53 in the 330i and 325i :?
 
Both 325i and 330i have lower emission, higher bhp and better mpg. Why did BMW not use those engines in new Z4?
 
Some intel here http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287001&highlight=n52

Email response from BMW UK -

BMW UK said:
The new BMW Z4 features a range of powerful and efficient six-cylinder petrol engines from a 204 bhp, 2497 N52 engine in the Z4 sDrive23i to the 2008 International engine of the Year, the N54 twin-turbo 2979cc masterpiece delivering, 306 bhp in the Z4 sDrive35i.

The N52 engine gives the Z4 Sdrive23i excellent performance figures and exemplary refinement, as well as very good levels of effciency and fuel economy. For this particular vehicle it was found in testing by BMW Germany that this engine performed more economically than the N53 engine, therefore the decision was made to use the N52 engine rather than the N53 engine.

Please do not hesitate to contact me again if I can be of further assistance to you.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah right ... my fault ...
The comparison with the 3 series doesn't make sense, cause these cars use different engine.

But in comparison with the previous E85 Z4 the N52 engines (N52B25, N52B30) ARE detuned and this doesn't seem to be due to different peripheral hardware (exhaust sizes, etc). It must be a software thing, like different mapping for example.
It would be very hard to find a tune these engines. I've searched a bit but found nothing. Even the most known tuners (Schnitzer, Hartge, etc) haven't released any performance upgrade package yet.

Here are the applications of the N52 engine from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N52
 
Ah yes - it's now 258 which is down from 265 on the 3.0 engine. Not sure why, probably emissions :idunno:

I'm not a big fan of tuning naturally aspirated engines anyway, the gains per £ never seem to stack up.
 
There are versions of N52/53 that are VERY different --- the US versions are NOT direct injection, whereas some are in Europe.
The normal aspirated engines have this "difference" due to varying sulfur levels in petrol. It has been stated that US petrol has too high a level of sulfur content and therefore use port injection. The DI engines in Europe extract more HP due to a lean-burn technology via direct injection. The range of HP in the 3 liter "top" normally aspirated engine ranges from 255 HP (port injection, US market) to 272 (Direct Injection, Europe markets).

Hope this helps
 
It's all about emissions (z4 complies with EURO5) and environmental regulations. The NON turbo direct injection engines do not comply with the new EURO 5 regulations. These engines do have a better performance and MPG but the emissions are still on EURO 4 level.
 
I confirm what EdP wrote....to respect emission for euro5 laws, they had to "kill "some horsepower....It's quite a big fuss, because 3 .0 engine started with 258bhp(in Italy,I dunno elsewhere)then I remember that 6 series had the 272bhp, then 3.0Si coupe had 265bhp....then bmw comes back to 258....
If you remember corectly the history of this engine, telling me model year bhp and euro# emission ......please tell me.....
Francesco
 
it's too bad emissions rules cut the power back in the same engine year to year... in Europe.
I do remember those power specs for the 630i. The 630i brought attention to the DI NA 3.0 liter engine specifically.
It does also explain perhaps the power reductions overall in the States as well...
 
If I compare the 'old' N52 265bhp version and 'new' 258 version, the old has some more torque between 1000-1700rpm (max diff ~50nm). I guess this is one of the emission issues. I guess a chip tuner could fix this difference. But between 1700-2500 the new one has more torque (max diff ~20nm). In the range 2600-3000, the old old wins with 5nm. In the range of 3000 up to 6000 there is no difference. Above the 6000, the torque of the new one drops earlier. Both engines has 250nm at 7000rpms.

For the torque at wheels freaks, a comparison of the 3.0si (RED) and sDrive30 (BLUE).

http://www.zroadster.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=74126&d=1243280157
 
EdP, that's a very interesting graph. Does the sDrive30 have a different final drive as it looks to have more torque at the wheels than the 3.0Si?
 
Wondermike said:
EdP, that's a very interesting graph. Does the sDrive30 have a different final drive as it looks to have more torque at the wheels than the 3.0Si?
Click to expand...

Yes, the E89's gearbox x differential ratio is bigger than the E85, so more wheel torque, less speed with idential RPM.
 
Just a note when comparing US specs to Euro specs. Europe uses bhp and the US uses SAE, so, my 3.0Si coupe generates 255 here and 265 there. Same engine, different rating system.
 
Smokin said:
Just a note when comparing US specs to Euro specs. Europe uses bhp and the US uses SAE, so, my 3.0Si coupe generates 255 here and 265 there. Same engine, different rating system.
Click to expand...

What about otance difference:

US 91-92 RON
EURO 98 RON - BMW states that their specifications are based on 98 RON fuel.
 
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