Unleashing the 128...

[m_thompson]

Originally Posted by aesthetect

you didnt look very hard in the 128i Engine (N52), Exhaust and Drivetrain Modifications subforum, did you?

Well, yes I did. I also looked on some of the German and Swedish WWW sites, the E90 forums, realoem, etc.

[kb2dhg]

My 128i is fast enough.. The turbos are great but really, are they worth the extra money for a second faster? I think not and truly, with some fine tunning the 128i can realy be a contender!

[AlBel1214]

Originally Posted by kb2dhg

My 128i is fast enough.. The turbos are great but really, are they worth the extra money for a second faster? I think not and truly, with some fine tunning the 128i can realy be a contender!

That is exactly why I bought the 135i for the power and torque and the cheap ability to squeeze out even more power...

So to me definitelly worth it..

[aesthetect]

Originally Posted by m_thompson

Well, yes I did. I also looked on some of the German and Swedish WWW sites, the E90 forums, realoem, etc.

word.. i was saying that Evice hadn't..

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by kb2dhg

My 128i is fast enough.. The turbos are great but really, are they worth the extra money for a second faster? I think not and truly, with some fine tunning the 128i can realy be a contender!

With that fine tuning you're looking at the efficiency of a 135i without the same speed.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by kb2dhg

My 128i is fast enough.. The turbos are great but really, are they worth the extra money for a second faster? I think not and truly, with some fine tunning the 128i can realy be a contender!

I have always said I like the 128i, but your 1 second number is off.
The fastest I've seen for a 328i, manual, is 5.9, the fastest for the 135i is 4.7.
That's a 1.2 sec difference. Doesn't seem like much, but in reality, it's quite a bit. Also, the 0-100 numbers are WAY different. The 128is is a big distance behind.

In the world of "fast" comparisons, top speed is not the number most look at.
Sure, the 128i will get to the 135i's top speed, but it will take a longer time, and that is what "fast" is, time to distance and/or speed.

I like the 128i and it's a great engine to drive, but let's be honest, it's no where near as "fast" or quick as the 135i. And, if your 128i is an auto, it's even slower as it's not the quick sportronic that the 135i auto has either.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by BForbes

With that fine tuning you're looking at the efficiency of a 135i without the same speed.

And, put that money into the 135i tuning, and the 128i is even slower again.
You get more from a turbo for the dollar than you do from a NA engine.

[m_thompson]

Originally Posted by aesthetect

word.. i was saying that Evice hadn't..

Ooops, sorry.

[Monterra]

RPM90:
From C/D Aug 08 short take road test of 128:

"The 128i saves not only money but also weight. Our 3197-pound car was 223 pounds lighter than the 135i we tested, with a more even front-to-rear weight distribution as well. And it certainly feels plenty powerful, with 0-to-60-mph acceleration happening in 5.8 seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.5 at 96 mph. Both those times are 0.3 second quicker than a 328i."

...And that was with Goodyear NCTs which is a touring tire. I'm sure the Pzeros(used in 09 128 sport) although not exclusively (I was lucky enough to get them) shave off the extra tenth easily while we're splitting pubes.
But no, I won't be racing any 135s or any bimmer ending in 35. If my goal was to smoke everyone all day I would just get a sport bike. I think what we're saying here is for everyday spirited driving the 128 delivers for less on less gas. FWIW C/D editors seem to agree...

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Monterra

RPM90:
From C/D Aug 08 short take road test of 128:

"The 128i saves not only money but also weight. Our 3197-pound car was 223 pounds lighter than the 135i we tested, with a more even front-to-rear weight distribution as well. And it certainly feels plenty powerful, with 0-to-60-mph acceleration happening in 5.8 seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.5 at 96 mph. Both those times are 0.3 second quicker than a 328i."

...And that was with Goodyear NCTs which is a touring tire. I'm sure the Pzeros(used in 09 128 sport) although not exclusively (I was lucky enough to get them) shave off the extra tenth easily while we're splitting pubes.
But no, I won't be racing any 135s or any bimmer ending in 35. If my goal was to smoke everyone all day I would just get a sport bike. I think what we're saying here is for everyday spirited driving the 128 delivers for less on less gas. FWIW C/D editors seem to agree...

Ok, 5.8, that's till 1.1 seconds slower, again, that's a LOT in a race of what is fast. And, as shown by your post, the 328i and 128i are similar in speed. THEY had their 328i at 6.1, but others have it at 5.9.
I still think that's really quick for the NA 3.0.

Also, look at the 1/4 times and trap speed. The 135i smokes it easily, and afterall that is the point. The 128i isnt anywhere near "almost as fast" as some want to think.

You can't say that better tires would improve times either. If traction is adequate for the power output a stickier tire could improve braking, but not necessarily accel times. In the 135i a stickier tire will improve accel, and that's due to the huge amount of torque it produces off the line.
The 128i doesn't have that much.
Also, if the tested 128 used the base wheel/tire pkg, then going with the sport pkg. includes larger and heavier wheels and tires, which could even SLOW it's accel off the line.
So, if there is a traction advantage with stickier tires, it'll probably be negated by the heavier wheel/tires.
I think the smaller and lighter wheels/tires help the base 128i's accel times.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by kb2dhg

My 128i is fast enough.. The turbos are great but really, are they worth the extra money for a second faster? I think not and truly, with some fine tunning the 128i can realy be a contender!

If I had the money it'd be worth it. I don't so I will have to live without for a while. Its still a beauty to drive on the highway where I can't drive that fast without getting a fat ticket and a trip to the impound lot...other things to consider sometimes

[Monterra]

RPM: The point as I see it has nothing to do with the 128 being almost as fast and I don't recall anyone saying that here. You called someone out on numbers and cite the heavier 328's time as your case? My point was not to say the 128 is almost as fast, it was to say that you need to check your facts and look at details before calling someone out on a 2/10s 0-60 time which IS pretty much insignificant to probably everyone but you (and me if someone gets it clearly wrong.)

As for wheels/tires: the 128's sport wheels on the coupe are the same diameter as nons, yes the rears are a full half inch wider so I'd say (although don't have the wheel specs) that wouldn't amount to much if anything. The Pzeros are not only stickier, they actually REDUCE the unsprung weight versus the G'year base tires by 10lbs. and the G'year sports by 6, the Eufori's by 8 and all 8 are on the rears. A stickier tire along with less rotational mass on the drive wheels WILL improve acceleration as well as braking and slalom times without question AND they're lighter. Stinger headed your way, wait for it.....
Edmunds (one of the few to actually test BOTH cars) has numbers to suggest maybe kb2dhg was even a tad conservative:
135: 5.0/13.3@104
128: 5.9/14.3@96.5

128 slower than 135? yes, no question, significantly. 1.2 seconds slower to 60, nope sorry and as Edmunds has it your money bought you a shade LESS than 1 second quicker to 60.

[m_thompson]

Originally Posted by Monterra

128 slower than 135? yes

I konw that you are talking about acceleration, but my M-Sport 128i is just as fast as a 135i, 155 MPH limit.