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      12-30-2005, 05:45 PM   #1
Gavinw
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US v. UK 325i

These are the specs on the respective models. It looks like BMW uses different engines in the 325i in Europe and the US. I found it pretty peculair

U.S.
3.0L Inline 6
215hp @ 6250rpm
185lb/ft @ 2750rpm
0-60: 6.7(manual), 7.2(auto)

UK
2.5L Inline 6
218hp @ 6500rpm
185lb/ft @ 2750 rpm
0-60: 7.0(manual), 7.7(auto)


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      12-30-2005, 05:55 PM   #2
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Been thousands of threads on this since it was known in January 2005

USA gets a detuned 3.0L engine
For many reasons


Do a search, you will get many threads showing exact differences
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      12-30-2005, 05:57 PM   #3
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Europe does same thing with 323i

Its a detuned 2.5L engine
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      12-30-2005, 06:05 PM   #4
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wait a sec. so the 2.5L still makes 218HP?
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      12-30-2005, 06:10 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed_330i
wait a sec. so the 2.5L still makes 218HP?
The non-USA/Canada 325i is a 2.5L and makes 218HP

But do remember the USA and europe do have slight variations if HP measureing
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      12-30-2005, 06:58 PM   #6
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Asia gets the same 2.5L spec as UK.
RHD are made in SA.
218hp , yes, for same displacement, E90 325i has produced 26hp more than the E36 325i's 192hp.
2.5L consumes less fuel and much lower import tax for many Asia countries. It is the 'perfect' 325i specification goes to 2.5L , not the USA detuned 3.0L.
May be just USA fuel and car tax are low or in marketing view point, USA buyers are more attracted to larger displacement?
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      12-30-2005, 07:04 PM   #7
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Cool

Didn't you know?

the bigger the displacement, the bigger your dick is
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      12-31-2005, 06:12 AM   #8
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The US 325i has more torque below 2750rpm than the UK one does, which I guess explains the lower 0-60 times, especially for the auto. However, the UK spec 325i's three stage intake manifold makes the UK 325 hurl up to the redline once you pass 4000rpm!
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      12-31-2005, 08:52 AM   #9
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I think it's 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in 7.0s for the manual 2.5l version. I'd say the acceleration is identical between the euro and the US versions.
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      12-31-2005, 09:08 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hornet
I think it's 0-100 km/h (0-62mph) in 7.0s for the manual 2.5l version. I'd say the acceleration is identical between the euro and the US versions.
You're absolutely right, it's 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds. Does the extra 2mph take 0.3secs? As a whole I reckon the engines are very closely matched overall, but the characteristics are different - the US one has more low down torque whereas the Euro one has more high-end fizz.
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      12-31-2005, 11:45 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E90Fleet
Europe does same thing with 323i

Its a detuned 2.5L engine
Apparently, Europe do not have a E90 323.
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      12-31-2005, 12:08 PM   #12
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So the new 2.5 inline 6 is as powerful as the detuned 3.0 inline 6. Hm... now thats a mechanical miracle. Thats why we buy BMW's because they amaze us with automotive engineering.
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      12-31-2005, 11:27 PM   #13
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BMW's 2.5l engine makes nearly as much power (160 vs 175kw) as Holden's V6 3.6L used in our local Commodore (the base donor car for the Pontiac GTO, or our Holden Monaro).

Not so long ago, Holden sold a 5.0 V8 which did 165kw, of course it would out torque a 2.5l engine though...
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      01-01-2006, 11:20 AM   #14
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Can somebody tell me how high the European 325 revs. The american 325 revs at 7000 rpm.
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      01-01-2006, 11:29 AM   #15
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Comparisons like this have always been interesting from a marketing standpoint. It would be even more interesting to be privy to the thoughts of the decision makers who determine which models do and don't appear in certain regions (e.g., why the 1-series, cloth or M-sport e90 models are not sold in the U.S.).
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      01-01-2006, 11:51 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Juve29
Can somebody tell me how high the European 325 revs. The american 325 revs at 7000 rpm.
The Euro 325i redlines at 7000rpm also.
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      01-01-2006, 02:49 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Saintor
Apparently, Europe do not have a E90 323.
Not all countries get it, but some do

We also get it here
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      01-01-2006, 05:04 PM   #18
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Yeah to what you all said!!!
The 2.5 litre engine is a gem
The 3.0 litre engine is a gem +

My car jumps off the mark VERY quickly when requested. Low down torque is very good.
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      01-01-2006, 08:53 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksfrogman
Comparisons like this have always been interesting from a marketing standpoint. It would be even more interesting to be privy to the thoughts of the decision makers who determine which models do and don't appear in certain regions (e.g., why the 1-series, cloth or M-sport e90 models are not sold in the U.S.).
I have thought the same thing. It would have been interesting to hear why they made the decision and how. They probably did research and used focus groups and the like becauase this would have been a crucial decision for them. Probably nearly as crucial as styling.

My guess is that (probably until recently when fuel prices hiked) people in the US did not like small cars (hence no 1 Series) or small engines. I Think the detuned 3.0 is just a "size" thing, as there appears to be little gain in having it and having another engine variation beyond that. North America is a big market for BMW so there are the economies of scale to do bespoke models for that market.

Same in reverse for the Euro market. They have an engine that still delivers the same goods, but is a smaller capacity engine and therefore more palatable in markets where smaller engine sizes are preferred due to fuel costs, taxes and the like.

I think the 323 engine is just because it is easier and cheaper to strip features off an engine and detune it, than to do another casting for another capacity.
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      01-02-2006, 01:01 PM   #20
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I suspect that the UK spec is 0-62 mph, since EU-spec cars are metric, hence the longer times.
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      01-02-2006, 01:46 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieA
I have thought the same thing. It would have been interesting to hear why they made the decision and how. They probably did research and used focus groups and the like becauase this would have been a crucial decision for them. Probably nearly as crucial as styling.

My guess is that (probably until recently when fuel prices hiked) people in the US did not like small cars (hence no 1 Series) or small engines. I Think the detuned 3.0 is just a "size" thing, as there appears to be little gain in having it and having another engine variation beyond that. North America is a big market for BMW so there are the economies of scale to do bespoke models for that market.

Same in reverse for the Euro market. They have an engine that still delivers the same goods, but is a smaller capacity engine and therefore more palatable in markets where smaller engine sizes are preferred due to fuel costs, taxes and the like.

I think the 323 engine is just because it is easier and cheaper to strip features off an engine and detune it, than to do another casting for another capacity.
I agree with the assessment on size perceptions. I was reading a British car magazine that had an article comparing the BMW 320d vs the IS250 or perhaps IS220d (which is not available in the US). I believe that Corporate probably decides which category for each country to pick and choose its battles based on the competition. For instance, most here in the U.S. would perceive the IS250 as an "also ran," and the IS350 as the real competition.

My feeling about M-sport is that the ultra-critical American public would simply marr the "M" marque with criticism about how this largely cosmetic option would not live up to the performance of an "M" model, and hence the name. Once the e90 M3 is released, it might be safer to offer the M-sport on the 325/330i or whatever permutation exists at that point.

Target market demographics probably also play a huge role in deciding what NOT to saturate the market with. In reading the polls on e90post, it is interesting to see how many young drivers actually own 3-series cars. A 1-series model offering might therefore dilute interest in the 3-series among younger buyers, which might be risky during the e90 introductory year. Furthermore, competition for the 1-series class is stiff with the VW, Audi, and other Japanese offerings. Perhaps BMW USA wouldn't want to introduce anything that might have the public question its Ultimate Driving Machine image? For instance, many have criticized Mercedes for introducing American made C-series that have been perceived by many as a "cheap" Mercedes line, thus marring the top quality, top-notch Mercedes image and its exclusivity.

I know many reading this will beg to disagree with some of what I am saying here, but this is a forum open to discussion, and I'm not afraid to assert my opinions, even if they are mostly conjecture.
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      01-02-2006, 09:50 PM   #22
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I heard it has to do with cost - the homologation cost of a new 3.0 litre engine and a separate 2.5 litre engine have been reduced by having one engine size, detuned for marketing purposes (the 325 and -in Canada- the 323). In Europe, there is more of a market for the lower displacement engines AND fuel economy of the 2.5 litre (the real one) is much more of a selling factor than here.
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