330i - Engine Noise - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

Nohedes · 08-26-2007, 06:25 PM

Like a lot of people (I expect!), I test drove several E90 engine variants before settling for the 330i.

The main reasons for me were a combination of the improved economy and excellent CO2 rating (for company car tax - 22%!!) and the fantasic noise of the 330i I test drove (06reg 330i M-Sport E90 auto):rocks:

I had assumed that the MY2008 engine that my car will have was just a tweaked version of the existing engine - having done some searches on this site, I now realise it is a Direct Injection unit without valvetronic.

So my question is - does anyone know how the sound of the new engine will compare?

If the noise is less pine tingling then I might just change my order for a 330d.

Thanks in advance

mjh93sa · 08-26-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nohedes

So my question is - does anyone know how the sound of the new engine will compare?

If the noise is less pine tingling then I might just change my order for a 330d.

Thanks in advance

One of the members with an E93 would be best to ask as they already have the DI engines. I can't see how it would change the engine note by any noticable amount. If you are concered though get down the dealer and test a DI E93 and a 330d.

I'm sure it'll sound great, even in the forest

Nohedes · 08-27-2007, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjh93sa

One of the members with an E93 would be best to ask as they already have the DI engines. I can't see how it would change the engine note by any noticable amount. If you are concered though get down the dealer and test a DI E93 and a 330d.

I'm sure it'll sound great, even in the forest

Cheers, I thought that the E92 330i wasn't DI (i.e. it is an upgraded N52 rather than the new N53)?

Everything sonds good in the forest

lol

miopyk · 08-27-2007, 06:16 AM

I've got an e93 325 which has the same direct injection 3.0 unit (albeits detuned to 218hp) and I have to say that the engine note is not that great. I had an e46 325 vert a few years ago and that sounded wonderfull on full song.

We've just come back from a trip to Italy where they have a lot of tunnels and a few times with the roof down I changed down gears and let rip but it wasn't that impressive. My 15 year old now calls it the milkfloat because the noise it made was so poor.

I was looking for a sports exhaust to see if this would make any difference but to date no joy.

My advice if the exhaust note is important to you is try before you buy.

Miopyk

Terza · 08-27-2007, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nohedes

Cheers, I thought that the E92 330i wasn't DI (i.e. it is an upgraded N52 rather than the new N53)?

Everything sonds good in the forest

lol

You are right, the 2007 E92's have the N52 engine.
But the E93's have had the N53 from the launch.

Nohedes · 08-27-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miopyk

I've got an e93 325 which has the same direct injection 3.0 unit (albeits detuned to 218hp) and I have to say that the engine note is not that great. I had an e46 325 vert a few years ago and that sounded wonderfull on full song.

We've just come back from a trip to Italy where they have a lot of tunnels and a few times with the roof down I changed down gears and let rip but it wasn't that impressive. My 15 year old now calls it the milkfloat because the noise it made was so poor.

I was looking for a sports exhaust to see if this would make any difference but to date no joy.

My advice if the exhaust note is important to you is try before you buy.

Miopyk

Bugger!! :mad: I'll try and arrange a test drive in an E93 330i, otherwise it might have to be a diesel...

Thanks for the feedback

mjh93sa · 08-27-2007, 11:49 AM

Diesel! Diesel! Diesel!

The forces of the dark side are gathering!

It's an important decision so make sure you test all the options that you're considering.

NFS · 08-27-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjh93sa

Diesel! Diesel! Diesel!

The forces of the dark side are gathering!

It's an important decision so make sure you test all the options that you're considering.

Never underestimate the power of the dark side .. it will consume you ...

Even if the N53 doesn't sound quite as lovely as the N52 ... it'll still sound nice.

mjh93sa · 08-27-2007, 06:14 PM

The M57 doesn't sound that bad either

booforty · 08-27-2007, 06:24 PM

What about the Millennium Falcon, that sounds awesome!!

NFS · 08-28-2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beauforty

What about the Millennium Falcon, that sounds awesome!!

The Tie Fighters are more 'high revving', but the falcon does make a lovely deep rumbling noise.

Shame you can't actually hear any sound in space, but hey ho.

I remember Ewan McGregor saying that he was so exited to have a light saber that he kept making the swoosh noise when he was filming episode one.

Eventually they took him aside and told him that they would put the noise on afterward.

Nohedes · 08-28-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beauforty

What about the Millennium Falcon, that sounds awesome!!

Yeah I did test drive a Millenium Falcon (sport model of course) but the fuel economy was lousy, especially if you use the light speed function!

Booked an E93 drive for the weekend, just to be sure

mjh93sa · 08-28-2007, 03:10 PM

Should have tried the diesel (Millenium Falcon), does 45 light years to the gallon.

Z4 Beemer · 08-28-2007, 03:17 PM

On the BMW site, the 325i E92 now claims to do 39.8 mpg whereas my 325i is around 33 mpg. See attached pic. I know this is partly due to the efficient dynamics and also the new type injectors?? However, is this figure calculated using the new auto start/stop feature?

mjh93sa · 08-28-2007, 03:38 PM

I think that the auto start-stop is only on the four cylinders.

Z4 Beemer · 08-28-2007, 03:44 PM

So it really is just a better engine then?

mjh93sa · 08-28-2007, 03:48 PM

I think it's just direct injection, intelligent alternator control and variable flaps behind the kidney grilles if it's the full "intelligent dynamics" stuff.

Z4 Beemer · 08-28-2007, 03:52 PM

So those of things would get the combined mpg up from 33 to 39?

mjh93sa · 08-28-2007, 04:02 PM

Depending on the conditions of the test. If you have all electric ancillaries (including the power steering) and run these from the battery during the testing because you've used the intelligent aletrnator stuff to cram the battery full then you would maximise all of the potential savings.

See here for more detail on the test procedure.

Nohedes · 08-29-2007, 02:53 PM

Test drove an E93 330i today wih the new DI engine.

I have to say, miopyk (^^^) is right in that it is less vocal than the the N52 engine (as in the E90 330i I had driven previously).

That said, it did still sound good and was very cultured.

On balance I think I'll still go for it.

Thanks to everyone for the advice and pointers

08-26-2007, 06:25 PM	#1
Nohedes Private First Class Drives: E92 330d M-Sport (2008) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 102 iTrader: (0)	330i - Engine Noise Like a lot of people (I expect!), I test drove several E90 engine variants before settling for the 330i. The main reasons for me were a combination of the improved economy and excellent CO2 rating (for company car tax - 22%!!) and the fantasic noise of the 330i I test drove (06reg 330i M-Sport E90 auto):rocks: I had assumed that the MY2008 engine that my car will have was just a tweaked version of the existing engine - having done some searches on this site, I now realise it is a Direct Injection unit without valvetronic. So my question is - does anyone know how the sound of the new engine will compare? If the noise is less pine tingling then I might just change my order for a 330d. Thanks in advance
	Tweet

08-27-2007, 11:49 AM	#7
mjh93sa Major General Drives: M135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 5,075 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [5.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [2.75]	Diesel! Diesel! Diesel! The forces of the dark side are gathering! It's an important decision so make sure you test all the options that you're considering. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman Now: M135i with lots of toys

08-27-2007, 06:14 PM	#9
mjh93sa Major General Drives: M135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 5,075 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [5.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [2.75]	The M57 doesn't sound that bad either __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman Now: M135i with lots of toys

08-28-2007, 03:10 PM	#13
mjh93sa Major General Drives: M135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 5,075 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [5.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [2.75]	Should have tried the diesel (Millenium Falcon), does 45 light years to the gallon. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman Now: M135i with lots of toys

08-28-2007, 03:17 PM	#14
Z4 Beemer Colonel Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 23i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Posts: 2,353 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E92 [0.00] 2004 Z4 2.2i [0.00]	On the BMW site, the 325i E92 now claims to do 39.8 mpg whereas my 325i is around 33 mpg. See attached pic. I know this is partly due to the efficient dynamics and also the new type injectors?? However, is this figure calculated using the new auto start/stop feature? Attached Images __________________ E89 Z4 sDrive 23i... for the more discerning driver

08-27-2007, 06:16 AM	#4
miopyk First Lieutenant Drives: 987 Boxster & R56 Cooper S Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: UK Posts: 351 iTrader: (0)	I've got an e93 325 which has the same direct injection 3.0 unit (albeits detuned to 218hp) and I have to say that the engine note is not that great. I had an e46 325 vert a few years ago and that sounded wonderfull on full song. We've just come back from a trip to Italy where they have a lot of tunnels and a few times with the roof down I changed down gears and let rip but it wasn't that impressive. My 15 year old now calls it the milkfloat because the noise it made was so poor. I was looking for a sports exhaust to see if this would make any difference but to date no joy. My advice if the exhaust note is important to you is try before you buy. Miopyk

08-27-2007, 06:24 PM	#10
booforty Major General Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,813 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	What about the Millennium Falcon, that sounds awesome!!

08-28-2007, 03:38 PM	#15
mjh93sa Major General Drives: M135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 5,075 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [5.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [2.75]	I think that the auto start-stop is only on the four cylinders. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman Now: M135i with lots of toys

08-28-2007, 03:44 PM	#16
Z4 Beemer Colonel Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 23i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Posts: 2,353 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E92 [0.00] 2004 Z4 2.2i [0.00]	So it really is just a better engine then? __________________ E89 Z4 sDrive 23i... for the more discerning driver

08-28-2007, 03:48 PM	#17
mjh93sa Major General Drives: M135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 5,075 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [5.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [2.75]	I think it's just direct injection, intelligent alternator control and variable flaps behind the kidney grilles if it's the full "intelligent dynamics" stuff. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman Now: M135i with lots of toys

08-28-2007, 03:52 PM	#18
Z4 Beemer Colonel Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 23i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK Posts: 2,353 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E92 [0.00] 2004 Z4 2.2i [0.00]	So those of things would get the combined mpg up from 33 to 39? __________________ E89 Z4 sDrive 23i... for the more discerning driver

08-28-2007, 04:02 PM	#19
mjh93sa Major General Drives: M135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 5,075 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW M135i [5.00] 2011 Mini Countryma ... [2.75]	Depending on the conditions of the test. If you have all electric ancillaries (including the power steering) and run these from the battery during the testing because you've used the intelligent aletrnator stuff to cram the battery full then you would maximise all of the potential savings. See here for more detail on the test procedure. __________________ Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman Now: M135i with lots of toys

08-29-2007, 02:53 PM	#20
Nohedes Private First Class Drives: E92 330d M-Sport (2008) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK Posts: 102 iTrader: (0)	Test drove an E93 330i today wih the new DI engine. I have to say, miopyk (^^^) is right in that it is less vocal than the the N52 engine (as in the E90 330i I had driven previously). That said, it did still sound good and was very cultured. On balance I think I'll still go for it. Thanks to everyone for the advice and pointers

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