e90 330i vs e46 330ci

Narbeh Davidian · 03-19-2006, 01:40 AM

On my way home tonight, and a red e46 330ci pulls next to me trying to rev his engine and get me going. He seemed to have a bunch of mods on his car including an exhaust, so I got to thinking that this guy knew what he was doing. Next thing I know I'm down shifted to 3rd pushing towards redline and blasting ahead while I am a car ahead already. I thought it was over, but he had other plans. So we go at it again and this time all the way to 150 mph. Wow, to my surprise the e46 was left in the dust about 5-6 cars behind. He passed by and gave the thumbs up and seemed shocked, but the one who was really surprised was me. I had no idea the e90 could pull on him like that. Really makes me proud, just thought I'd share. Cheers :rocks:

yujini · 03-19-2006, 02:22 AM

Considering the e90 is lighter and has more power, you shouldn't be shocked

r3amir · 03-19-2006, 11:03 AM

According to Car and Driver even E90 325i is faster than E46 330i

So I am not surprised with you being in E90 330i

Going all the way upto 150MPH, a NO NO on street roads

TD · 03-19-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r3amir

According to Car and Driver even E90 325i is faster than E46 330i

So I am not surprised with you being in E90 330i

Going all the way upto 150MPH, a NO NO on street roads

Um, drive both. The E90 325i is definitely NOT faster than an E46 330i.

BMW F22 · 03-19-2006, 11:52 AM

dont both 325 and 330 have the same 1/4 mile?? 0-60 the 325 is a slower but it's pretty quick after that. Maybe the gearing for the new 3 is what makes it faster. I dont know about the E46 but the new 3 gets it's peak torque at just 2750 RPM so it might be quicker than the E46. Also the new 325 has 215 compared to 225 on the E46 330. So with the 330 you already have the HP and Torque advantage.

Narbeh Davidian · 03-19-2006, 12:39 PM

Yeah, it should be an easy race stock. I was sure his car was not stock though. The exhaust I could hear and I could be certain it was coupled with an intake and a few other additions. Also, his front bumper was the sport package one on the e46 330ci which I think boosts the car up to 235hp?

SRT · 03-19-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yujini

Considering the e90 is lighter and has more power, you shouldn't be shocked

E90 is heavier than the E46 equivalent, is it not?
Besides, it's down to driver technique

E90Fleet · 03-19-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RR

E90 is heavier than the E46 equivalent, is it not?

No

Romulus · 03-19-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narbeh Davidian

Yeah, it should be an easy race stock. I was sure his car was not stock though. The exhaust I could hear and I could be certain it was coupled with an intake and a few other additions. Also, his front bumper was the sport package one on the e46 330ci which I think boosts the car up to 235hp?

since when can you hear intake mods?

Narbeh Davidian · 03-19-2006, 03:59 PM

Since when they gun it you hear a certain suction noise when the windows are down. An engine with an intake sounds different.

r3amir · 03-19-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWE90

dont both 325 and 330 have the same 1/4 mile?? 0-60 the 325 is a slower but it's pretty quick after that. Maybe the gearing for the new 3 is what makes it faster. I dont know about the E46 but the new 3 gets it's peak torque at just 2750 RPM so it might be quicker than the E46. Also the new 325 has 215 compared to 225 on the E46 330. So with the 330 you already have the HP and Torque advantage.

E46 330 as mentioned has 225HP, just 10 more than E90 325i whereas the peak torque of E90 325i is at just 2750 RPM, I do't have the numbers for peak torque of E46 330i, probably at much higher RPMs!!!!!!

So don't under estimate E90 325i also. It rocks :rocks:

BMW0 · 03-19-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yujini

Considering the e90 is lighter and has more power, you shouldn't be shocked

Yup, you can spoil a car full of wealth and in the end lose to a newer version of your car. It just seems smarter to just buy the better car instead of making a car better.

windnsea00 · 03-19-2006, 05:13 PM

"Considering the e90 is lighter and has more power, you shouldn't be shocked. "

Peculiar since bmwusa.com quotes the E90 330i manual at 3417lbs. and the E46 330ci manual at 3285lbs. In the past decades, usually the new generations BMW's commonly outweigh the older generations.

shimshimhada · 03-19-2006, 05:59 PM

the E90 is HEAVIER than the E46 equivalent...what are some of you smoking?

RichReg · 03-19-2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

the E90 is HEAVIER than the E46 equivalent...what are some of you smoking?

In this case it depends on what options were in the 330Ci. A lot of what is now standard in the E90 330 may have been added to this particular E46 330Ci, which could make the weight difference a lot less than what's on paper.

shimshimhada · 03-19-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichReg

In this case it depends on what options were in the 330Ci. A lot of what is now standard in the E90 330 may have been added to this particular E46 330Ci, which could make the weight difference a lot less than what's on paper.

I'm not denying that the E90 will pull on the E46, but come on, we all know that BMWs get fatter over time. Do you really think options will make THAT much of a weight difference?

RichReg · 03-19-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

I'm not denying that the E90 will pull on the E46, but come on, we all know that BMWs get fatter over time. Do you really think options will make THAT much of a weight difference?

Yes, that indeed they do.
But I'm just saying that some of that fat is due to extra standard equipment on the E90 which may or may not have been added to the E46 330, that's all. Then this weight difference COULD become smaller than what is published as stock. How much of a difference, I don't know. Its not a lot to begin with.

Narbeh Davidian · 03-20-2006, 12:41 AM

I forgot to mention that I had a full house (4 peeps in the car) and the guy was alone. So the weight factor did come into play aside from the cars themselves.

SRT · 03-20-2006, 01:13 AM

The E90 is newer engineering from the ground up, so it's far more efficient about the way it gets power to the ground but you've got too many factors effecting the outcome. Weight of options doesn't make that much of a difference, you could make up for it by going on a diet for a couple of weeks and shedding a few pounds.

Besides, the redline in 3rd gear and only 1 car length ahead, is not all that impressive, but is probably down to the fact you had 4 people in the car. If you were going solo, it would be a better comparison.

a burrito · 03-20-2006, 01:14 AM

Came from a e46 330ci and i can definitely say that that car is nothing compared to this car performance-wise. The e90's gearing and 7k redline contributes a lot to its performance and it is a HUGE improvement over the e46.

findtom · 03-20-2006, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narbeh Davidian

I forgot to mention that I had a full house (4 peeps in the car) and the guy was alone. So the weight factor did come into play aside from the cars themselves.

Damn, racing up to 150mph is crazy enough... but with a full carload??

SRT · 03-20-2006, 02:19 AM

Yeah, that's irresponsible in my view

03-19-2006, 01:40 AM	#1
Narbeh Davidian Private 7 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 330i SP, PP, Active Steer, Nav Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: california iTrader: (0)	e90 330i vs e46 330ci On my way home tonight, and a red e46 330ci pulls next to me trying to rev his engine and get me going. He seemed to have a bunch of mods on his car including an exhaust, so I got to thinking that this guy knew what he was doing. Next thing I know I'm down shifted to 3rd pushing towards redline and blasting ahead while I am a car ahead already. I thought it was over, but he had other plans. So we go at it again and this time all the way to 150 mph. Wow, to my surprise the e46 was left in the dust about 5-6 cars behind. He passed by and gave the thumbs up and seemed shocked, but the one who was really surprised was me. I had no idea the e90 could pull on him like that. Really makes me proud, just thought I'd share. Cheers :rocks:
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03-19-2006, 02:22 AM	#2
yujini First Lieutenant 57 Rep 326 Posts Drives: G05 X5 30d, Boxster GTS (981) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seoul, Korea / Cupertino, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Porsche Boxste ... [0.00] 2019 BMW G05 X5 30d [0.00]	Considering the e90 is lighter and has more power, you shouldn't be shocked
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03-19-2006, 11:03 AM	#3
r3amir Lieutenant 90 Rep 592 Posts Drives: 2023 X2 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	According to Car and Driver even E90 325i is faster than E46 330i So I am not surprised with you being in E90 330i Going all the way upto 150MPH, a NO NO on street roads __________________ 2018 540i Mineral White/ Cognac 2015 435i GC Midnight Blue Metallic, Saddle Brown 2011 535i Alpine White, Oyster/Black leather 2006 325i Arctic Metallic
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03-19-2006, 11:52 AM	#5
BMW F22 Major General 3588 Rep 9,788 Posts Drives: ///M235i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (8)	dont both 325 and 330 have the same 1/4 mile?? 0-60 the 325 is a slower but it's pretty quick after that. Maybe the gearing for the new 3 is what makes it faster. I dont know about the E46 but the new 3 gets it's peak torque at just 2750 RPM so it might be quicker than the E46. Also the new 325 has 215 compared to 225 on the E46 330. So with the 330 you already have the HP and Torque advantage.
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03-19-2006, 12:39 PM	#6
Narbeh Davidian Private 7 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 330i SP, PP, Active Steer, Nav Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: california iTrader: (0)	Yeah, it should be an easy race stock. I was sure his car was not stock though. The exhaust I could hear and I could be certain it was coupled with an intake and a few other additions. Also, his front bumper was the sport package one on the e46 330ci which I think boosts the car up to 235hp?
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03-19-2006, 03:59 PM	#10
Narbeh Davidian Private 7 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 330i SP, PP, Active Steer, Nav Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: california iTrader: (0)	Since when they gun it you hear a certain suction noise when the windows are down. An engine with an intake sounds different.
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03-19-2006, 05:13 PM	#13
windnsea00 Lieutenant 447 Rep 447 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	"Considering the e90 is lighter and has more power, you shouldn't be shocked. " Peculiar since bmwusa.com quotes the E90 330i manual at 3417lbs. and the E46 330ci manual at 3285lbs. In the past decades, usually the new generations BMW's commonly outweigh the older generations. __________________ 2020 M2 CS AW 6-spd Previous M Cars: M2C, M2, F80 M3, E46 M3, Z3M Coupe, E36 M3...and some other fun rides.
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03-19-2006, 05:59 PM	#14
shimshimhada Brigadier General 443 Rep 4,838 Posts Drives: Portal Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portal iTrader: (2)	the E90 is HEAVIER than the E46 equivalent...what are some of you smoking?
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03-20-2006, 12:41 AM	#18
Narbeh Davidian Private 7 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 330i SP, PP, Active Steer, Nav Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: california iTrader: (0)	I forgot to mention that I had a full house (4 peeps in the car) and the guy was alone. So the weight factor did come into play aside from the cars themselves.
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03-20-2006, 01:13 AM	#19
SRT Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 297 Posts Drives: BMW 5 Series Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	The E90 is newer engineering from the ground up, so it's far more efficient about the way it gets power to the ground but you've got too many factors effecting the outcome. Weight of options doesn't make that much of a difference, you could make up for it by going on a diet for a couple of weeks and shedding a few pounds. Besides, the redline in 3rd gear and only 1 car length ahead, is not all that impressive, but is probably down to the fact you had 4 people in the car. If you were going solo, it would be a better comparison.
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03-20-2006, 01:14 AM	#20
a burrito Lieutenant Colonel 56 Rep 1,962 Posts Drives: Urus, 958.2 TTS, 997 S Join Date: May 2005 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (1)	Came from a e46 330ci and i can definitely say that that car is nothing compared to this car performance-wise. The e90's gearing and 7k redline contributes a lot to its performance and it is a HUGE improvement over the e46. __________________ Peanut Butter Chunky
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03-20-2006, 02:19 AM	#22
SRT Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 297 Posts Drives: BMW 5 Series Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Yeah, that's irresponsible in my view
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