Autoweek's BMW N20 Engine Review -- four cylinders, more power

M3 Adjuster · 02-27-2011, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weaselboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canexican

Sound generator? You kidding me?

I'm having flashbacks of my old 3-speed bicycle from childhood with a playing card clothes pinned near a wheel spoke. Good times.

Lol

maswastage · 02-27-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

The power delivery is uncannily like that of a modern-day diesel, with particularly strong low-end attributes and impressive flexibility across a wide range of revs.

So....it drives like a diesel (which is a good thing, mind you) but without the diesel's fuel economy advantages. Why not, then, bring over an actual diesel? It'll still drive like a diesel, only it would actually get good fuel economy as well.

gian p.r. · 02-27-2011, 02:42 PM

looks like the same cheap intercooler and wastegate from n54

Saintor · 02-27-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmin

Also, Canada is in North America and you could get the E46 in a 4 cylinder. I assume you could in central america as well (which is also part of North America).

We never got an E46 with a 4-cyl. The 320i had a 2.2L I6

IIRC, the last 4-cyl. BMW was the Z3 1.9 by late '90s.

In Canada we had E30 318i(s) up to 1991.

Saintor · 02-27-2011, 02:55 PM

As for this 4-cyl. turbo, color me as very skeptical. If it sounds like an Audi 2.0T, *no way*.

volsfan0911 · 02-27-2011, 04:16 PM

My 2010 GTI was the last year of the "growler" - a pipe that bleeds off a small amount of boost from the inlet pipe and feeds it into a resonator up against the firewall. Absolutely worthless - many folks (including me) ripped the damned thing out and replaced with a Tiguan pipe. Saves a few pounds, cleans some plumbing out of the engine compartment making access to your oil filter MUCH easier, improves the throttle response a little and lets you hear the actual engine noises. VW must have agreed - 2011 GTI's don't have them.

blue2fire · 02-27-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canexican

It's sad that even BMW corporate doesn't think I4T's sound good.

There are many good reasons for turbos but production Turbo I4's sound like shit, without the character. It even partially muzzles the normally fabulous Honda K Series.

IancoleTX · 02-27-2011, 09:54 PM

A fucking sound generator? What?

Augenbrauezug · 02-27-2011, 10:13 PM

Lol, we're getting all worked up about a sound generator that we know nothing about? Yall need to chill out a little bit until more information is released.

SteVTEC · 02-28-2011, 11:35 AM

I posted previously my speculation that BMW would use some sort of electronic noise cancellation gadgetry to deal with the nasty sound and vibration characteristics of Inline-4 engines. This confirms that. Once again, no thanks. How bout just putting a good engine in the car that doesn't need that kind of crap? Even the Japanese have had trouble getting these technologies to work well, so does anybody think BMW will get things exactly right with this? Hoping to pickup the last of the 3.0L NA Inline-6 powered 528i's this summer before this trumped up 4-banger arrives. I want the engaging and fun to drive NA I6 that BMW has been known for for decades. If this thing really drives more like a diesel, I'd rather just have a diesel since it'd get way better mileage.

OrangeOne · 02-28-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augenbrauezug

Lol, we're getting all worked up about a sound generator that we know nothing about? Yall need to chill out a little bit until more information is released.

+1

But still, hopefully the I4T promises some tuning capabilities

bimmin · 02-28-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saintor

We never got an E46 with a 4-cyl. The 320i had a 2.2L I6

IIRC, the last 4-cyl. BMW was the Z3 1.9 by late '90s.

In Canada we had E30 318i(s) up to 1991.

Oh, is that right? I live near Quebec and I see E46 320i's from time to time. I thought they were 4 bangers like a current "20i" would be. And Canada didn't get the E36 318i like we did in the US? Seems like Canada always gets a smaller engine choice than in the US like previous mentioned E46 320i and the E90 323i.

kyleb350 · 02-28-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmin

Also, Canada is in North America and you could get the E46 in a 4 cylinder. I assume you could in central america as well (which is also part of North America).

lol, what?

bimmin · 02-28-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyleb350

lol, what?

North America is a continent. Central America is not a continent. Its a region with a collection of countries, and all of those countries are in North America. Its kinda of like how Scandinavia is a collection of countries which are in the continent of Europe. All the countries from Panama north to Canada is North America.

kyleb350 · 02-28-2011, 04:00 PM

Son of a... just realized that, lol. I've been used to my company's definition of "North America" (stopping at Mexico) for so long I forgot about that.

Moving on!

IancoleTX · 02-28-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmin

North America is a continent. Central America is not a continent. Its a region with a collection of countries, and all of those countries are in North America. Its kinda of like how Scandinavia is a collection of countries which are in the continent of Europe. All the countries from Panama north to Canada is North America.

LAWYERED!

Saintor · 02-28-2011, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmin

And Canada didn't get the E36 318i like we did in the US?

Yes it did.

simianspeedster · 03-01-2011, 01:43 AM

This review basically confirms everything I was expecting and it reaffirms my position on this engine.

Replacing the N52 inline 6 with a turbo 4 may make sense in BMW's bread and butter models where driving pleasure is not the ultimate goal (X1, X3, etc.) but a turbo 4 should not eliminate the N/A inline 6 option in BMW's enthusiast models (Z4, 3 Series Coupe, etc.)

Please, BMW -- feel free to offer this engine in your volume cars and for people who value efficiency over driving pleasure, but don't eliminate the inline 6 choice for those of us who know the difference and really, really care. Oh, and the same goes for manual transmissions...

And it has to be said: I would be *embarrassed* beyond words to drive a BMW that tries to mask its real exhaust noise with electronics. The thought alone saddens me.

SteVTEC · 03-01-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simianspeedster

This review basically confirms everything I was expecting and it reaffirms my position on this engine.

Replacing the N52 inline 6 with a turbo 4 may make sense in BMW's bread and butter models where driving pleasure is not the ultimate goal (X1, X3, etc.) but a turbo 4 should not eliminate the N/A inline 6 option in BMW's enthusiast models (Z4, 3 Series Coupe, etc.)

Please, BMW -- feel free to offer this engine in your volume cars and for people who value efficiency over driving pleasure, but don't eliminate the inline 6 choice for those of us who know the difference and really, really care. Oh, and the same goes for manual transmissions...

And it has to be said: I would be *embarrassed* beyond words to drive a BMW that tries to mask its real exhaust noise with electronics. The thought alone saddens me.

+1

Same exact thoughts here.

02-27-2011, 02:42 PM	#25
gian p.r. Private First Class 22 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Puerto Rico iTrader: (1)	looks like the same cheap intercooler and wastegate from n54
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02-27-2011, 02:55 PM	#27
Saintor Banned 89 Rep 2,446 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MTL, Canada iTrader: (1)	As for this 4-cyl. turbo, color me as very skeptical. If it sounds like an Audi 2.0T, no way.
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02-27-2011, 04:16 PM	#28
volsfan0911 Private First Class 28 Rep 135 Posts Drives: 2017 VW GTI Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD iTrader: (0)	My 2010 GTI was the last year of the "growler" - a pipe that bleeds off a small amount of boost from the inlet pipe and feeds it into a resonator up against the firewall. Absolutely worthless - many folks (including me) ripped the damned thing out and replaced with a Tiguan pipe. Saves a few pounds, cleans some plumbing out of the engine compartment making access to your oil filter MUCH easier, improves the throttle response a little and lets you hear the actual engine noises. VW must have agreed - 2011 GTI's don't have them.
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02-27-2011, 09:54 PM	#30
IancoleTX Dillo boxers 272 Rep 3,360 Posts Drives: 2019 M5C Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (14)	A fucking sound generator? What? __________________ 2019 M5C Matte MBB / Tartufo
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02-28-2011, 11:35 AM	#32
SteVTEC Captain 493 Rep 605 Posts Drives: G07,G05,E93 Join Date: May 2006 Location: DC burbs iTrader: (0)	I posted previously my speculation that BMW would use some sort of electronic noise cancellation gadgetry to deal with the nasty sound and vibration characteristics of Inline-4 engines. This confirms that. Once again, no thanks. How bout just putting a good engine in the car that doesn't need that kind of crap? Even the Japanese have had trouble getting these technologies to work well, so does anybody think BMW will get things exactly right with this? Hoping to pickup the last of the 3.0L NA Inline-6 powered 528i's this summer before this trumped up 4-banger arrives. I want the engaging and fun to drive NA I6 that BMW has been known for for decades. If this thing really drives more like a diesel, I'd rather just have a diesel since it'd get way better mileage. __________________ 2022 G07 X7 Tanzanite Blue / Ivory White \| 2022 G05 X5 40i Phytonic Blue / Ivory \| 2011 E93 335i Deep Sea Blue / Oyster 2018 Chevy Suburban (ret) \| 2012 E70 X5d Deep Sea Blue / Sand Beige (ret)
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02-28-2011, 04:00 PM	#37
kyleb350 Brigadier General 428 Rep 4,709 Posts Drives: '21 X3MC Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Milwaukee iTrader: (6)	Son of a... just realized that, lol. I've been used to my company's definition of "North America" (stopping at Mexico) for so long I forgot about that. Moving on!
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03-01-2011, 01:43 AM	#40
simianspeedster Captain 62 Rep 631 Posts Drives: 2020 840i Coupe Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Vast Interwebs... iTrader: (0)	This review basically confirms everything I was expecting and it reaffirms my position on this engine. Replacing the N52 inline 6 with a turbo 4 may make sense in BMW's bread and butter models where driving pleasure is not the ultimate goal (X1, X3, etc.) but a turbo 4 should not eliminate the N/A inline 6 option in BMW's enthusiast models (Z4, 3 Series Coupe, etc.) Please, BMW -- feel free to offer this engine in your volume cars and for people who value efficiency over driving pleasure, but don't eliminate the inline 6 choice for those of us who know the difference and really, really care. Oh, and the same goes for manual transmissions... And it has to be said: I would be embarrassed beyond words to drive a BMW that tries to mask its real exhaust noise with electronics. The thought alone saddens me.
	Appreciate 0 Quote