how to tell a 335 engine from 328?

lemmyboy · 03-14-2008, 08:10 PM

this might sound like a very stupid question but how can i tell 335's engine from 328's engine? ie how can i visually confirm its a 335 engine and not a 328 engine in a 335's body... is that even possible?

yes, i know i can drive to test it (but 328s are pretty peppy too) or read the badge on the back (but hey, how hard is it to change a badge?) but i would feel much better visually inspecting the engine to comfort myself.

Taittinger · 03-14-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemmyboy

this might sound like a very stupid question but how can i tell 335's engine from 328's engine? ie how can i visually confirm its a 335 engine and not a 328 engine in a 335's body... is that even possible?

yes, i know i can drive to test it (but 328s are pretty peppy too) or read the badge on the back (but hey, how hard is it to change a badge?) but i would feel much better visually inspecting the engine to comfort myself.

The N52 is peppy; the N54 is potent. You can also look for the turbos themselves.

lemmyboy · 03-14-2008, 08:22 PM

thanks, knowing nothing about cars, is this (twin turbos) an easy thing to inspect by just opening the hood? what should i be looking for? whats a tell-tale sign of n54?

halB · 03-14-2008, 08:25 PM

Don't have to open the hood, just look for the dual tailpipes one on each side.

Taittinger · 03-14-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halB

Don't have to open the hood, just look for the dual tailpipes one on each side.

Or the intercooler in front but neither really confirm the engine. Not sure what raised this question though.

Heat00 · 03-14-2008, 09:42 PM

if you have to worry about that, buy the car from someone else.
or just drive it, you can hear the turbos...
in fact if you are worried, you should drive it first.

lemmyboy · 03-14-2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taittinger

Or the intercooler in front but neither really confirm the engine. Not sure what raised this question though.

reason is to inspect and verify a car from a used car dealer. lets just say i dont really trust them due to a bad experience in the past. i would like to confirm the twin turbo engine by visually inspecting it if possible.

HyperM3 · 03-14-2008, 09:46 PM

If you see a pipe with two diverter valves on the right side of the air box you should know what youre dealing with.

lemmyboy · 03-14-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

If you see a pipe with two diverter valves on the right side of the air box you should know what youre dealing with.

is this easy to see just by popping the hood or do i need to get a mechanic to inspect it by taking off the plastic casing?

ArmyBimmerDude · 03-14-2008, 09:55 PM

First is a 328, Second is a 335.

lemmyboy · 03-14-2008, 09:56 PM

thank u, i guess that solves that

ArmyBimmerDude · 03-14-2008, 09:57 PM

No problemo

demosthenes · 03-14-2008, 10:47 PM

ArmyBimmerDude,

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Is the big flat box in the middle of the engine with BMW on it the intercooler?

Thanks.

Taittinger · 03-14-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demosthenes

ArmyBimmerDude,

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Is the big flat box in the middle of the engine with BMW on it the intercooler?

Thanks.

The intercooler is in the front of the engine below and behind the front license plate, if you have one.

demosthenes · 03-14-2008, 11:08 PM

Thanks Taittinger. It makes sense that it needs to be up front to get lots of air flow. Sorry about asking a dumb question.

mtndog · 03-14-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemmyboy

reason is to inspect and verify a car from a used car dealer. lets just say i dont really trust them due to a bad experience in the past. i would like to confirm the twin turbo engine by visually inspecting it if possible.

lemmy, You are looking at a used car from guys that you don't trust and had a bad experience with in the past? Doesn't sound like a good idea.

Take it over to your local BMW dealership and have them inspect it. At the very least get the VIN numbers from the front window and check the service records. Call me crazy but I think you need to look somewhere else for a used car!

SLCGoonski · 03-14-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demosthenes

ArmyBimmerDude,

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Is the big flat box in the middle of the engine with BMW on it the intercooler?

Thanks.

Air filter box...

mfstout · 03-15-2008, 09:43 AM

Big smile on your face, 328. Big smile on your face, sore neck from having head thrown back into headrest, 335.

M4TW · 03-15-2008, 10:30 AM

Someone should photoshop a picture of 'twins' into the 328 engine bay picture.

raleedy · 03-15-2008, 10:30 AM

Are you sure it's a BMW?

ubern00b · 03-15-2008, 10:45 AM

you could always check the vin

e90driver · 03-15-2008, 11:41 AM

check the size of the rotors, 335 has larger front and rear- as someone else said, split exhaust, larger air intake box, turbos, if you drove it, you would most certainly know if it is a 335. If it's fast and fun, it's a 328, if it takes off like a rocket- it's a 335

03-14-2008, 08:10 PM	#1
lemmyboy New Member 1 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	how to tell a 335 engine from 328? this might sound like a very stupid question but how can i tell 335's engine from 328's engine? ie how can i visually confirm its a 335 engine and not a 328 engine in a 335's body... is that even possible? yes, i know i can drive to test it (but 328s are pretty peppy too) or read the badge on the back (but hey, how hard is it to change a badge?) but i would feel much better visually inspecting the engine to comfort myself. Last edited by lemmyboy; 03-14-2008 at 08:23 PM.. Reason: more informative title
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03-14-2008, 08:22 PM	#3
lemmyboy New Member 1 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	thanks, knowing nothing about cars, is this (twin turbos) an easy thing to inspect by just opening the hood? what should i be looking for? whats a tell-tale sign of n54?
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03-14-2008, 08:25 PM	#4
halB Colonel 53 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: W211 E350 4M MkV GTI 987.2 S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Just north of Toronto iTrader: (0)	Don't have to open the hood, just look for the dual tailpipes one on each side. __________________ 07 E93 335i - Returned at lease end 09 W211 E350 4Matic Avant Garde - Blk/Blk, AMG pkg w/18". Sport Susp. F1 Asym. Debadged. 09 MkV GTI w/Leather & 18" Huffs. F1 Asym 10 987.2 S w/Leather sport seat, Sport Chrono, 19" Carrera S II wheels
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03-14-2008, 09:42 PM	#6
Heat00 Major 51 Rep 1,027 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Weston, Florida iTrader: (0)	if you have to worry about that, buy the car from someone else. or just drive it, you can hear the turbos... in fact if you are worried, you should drive it first. __________________ 08 - M3 Sparkling Graphite/blk leather/tech/6 speed 08 - 335i Sport/Prem/Auto White/Terra - AA Exhaust 07 Acura MDX Tech, 07 G35S /Nav
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03-14-2008, 09:46 PM	#8
HyperM3 Too many Alex's, from now on, call me Beaufort 342 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: See Sig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (8)	If you see a pipe with two diverter valves on the right side of the air box you should know what youre dealing with. __________________ 13 HD FatBob 17 A4 Glacier/Black 1st Edition/Pre+/Sport/EurocodeTMD/Racechip 16 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),13 S6 (gone),10 S4 (gone) 07 335i(gone)
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03-14-2008, 09:55 PM	#10
ArmyBimmerDude Major General 152 Rep 5,501 Posts Drives: Lola Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Georgia iTrader: (3) Garage List 02/2007 E92 335i [0.00]	First is a 328, Second is a 335. Attached Images __________________ 2007 E92 Montego Blue 335i
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03-14-2008, 09:56 PM	#11
lemmyboy New Member 1 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	thank u, i guess that solves that
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03-14-2008, 09:57 PM	#12
ArmyBimmerDude Major General 152 Rep 5,501 Posts Drives: Lola Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Georgia iTrader: (3) Garage List 02/2007 E92 335i [0.00]	No problemo __________________ 2007 E92 Montego Blue 335i
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03-14-2008, 10:47 PM	#13
demosthenes Major 48 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i sedan [0.00]	ArmyBimmerDude, Thanks for posting the pictures. Is the big flat box in the middle of the engine with BMW on it the intercooler? Thanks.
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03-14-2008, 11:08 PM	#15
demosthenes Major 48 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i sedan [0.00]	Thanks Taittinger. It makes sense that it needs to be up front to get lots of air flow. Sorry about asking a dumb question.
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03-15-2008, 09:43 AM	#18
mfstout Lieutenant 21 Rep 429 Posts Drives: e92 328i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Big smile on your face, 328. Big smile on your face, sore neck from having head thrown back into headrest, 335.
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03-15-2008, 10:30 AM	#19
M4TW ///M Uber Alles 332 Rep 1,601 Posts Drives: '15 MW M4 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: GSA iTrader: (1)	Someone should photoshop a picture of 'twins' into the 328 engine bay picture.
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03-15-2008, 10:30 AM	#20
raleedy Colonel 160 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 2016 228i 6-speed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	Are you sure it's a BMW?
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03-15-2008, 10:45 AM	#21
ubern00b First Lieutenant 5 Rep 370 Posts Drives: 06 325i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: tn iTrader: (1)	you could always check the vin
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03-15-2008, 11:41 AM	#22
e90driver Lieutenant 14 Rep 502 Posts Drives: 06 325i, 08 328xi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	check the size of the rotors, 335 has larger front and rear- as someone else said, split exhaust, larger air intake box, turbos, if you drove it, you would most certainly know if it is a 335. If it's fast and fun, it's a 328, if it takes off like a rocket- it's a 335 __________________ see ya 06 325i. IT'S HERE!- 08 E92 328xi, Premium, Auto, Cold- Montego Blue
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