6 or 4

jabber

jabber

Veteran
 Hampshire
Looking to change my e85 3.0 for an e89 so do I go for a 09-11 3.0 or a slightly newer 2.0 also bearing in mind it would be an auto
 
Smartbear will tell you the 4 pot is a great engine. Us uneducated old fashioned types, who have never driven an E89, will say the 6 is the only engine to consider. I know who I would listen too. I'd then by the 6 anyway. :wink:
 
buzyg said:
Smartbear will tell you the 4 pot is a great engine. Us uneducated old fashioned types, who have never driven an E89, will say the 6 is the only engine to consider. I know who I would listen too. I'd then by the 6 anyway. :wink:
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I have owned a 2.3i sdrive but returned to an e85 3.0 as I found it a bit of a cruiser in comparison but have read the new 4 pots are suitable for remapping
 
jabber said:
buzyg said:
Smartbear will tell you the 4 pot is a great engine. Us uneducated old fashioned types, who have never driven an E89, will say the 6 is the only engine to consider. I know who I would listen too. I'd then by the 6 anyway. :wink:
Click to expand...

I have owned a 2.3i sdrive but returned to an e85 3.0 as I found it a bit of a cruiser in comparison but have read the new 4 pots are suitable for remapping
Click to expand...

I heard my name mentioned? :P
Yep, the n20 engine takes to remaps like a duck to water, doesn't sound as epic as a six but goes like the clappers :driving:
IMG_0745.JPGIMG_0744.JPGIMG_0743.JPG
Rob
 
I've been in Smartbear's 4 pot and tbh it don't hang about (he has had it remapped) only thing it's missing is the roar of the 6, but it pulls like a train. Certainly wouldn't put me off getting one.

Stuart
 
Well I am been fighting the 4 pott corner for over 3 yrs - and it been a hard drum to beat.

However I am a car enthusiast at heart, my synopsis is very simple.

4 Pott for a daily driver was cost of ownership is important

6 pott for a weekend toy - was cost of ownership is less important

I came from an E92 335i - and loved the sound and the drama it gave. However, my Z4 28i is quicker - and a lot cheaper to run and own as a Daily.

However, I am saving over £2,500 a year in running costs

This is my 2ltr vs an M3 E92

https://youtu.be/xERJ0KPgsgM
 
Twin Turbo summed it up perfectly, For a weekender it has to be at least the 3.0 (No 2.3 please ) but as a daily and in an ideal world I'd rather have the 28i.

My daily is a 35i and you do (I) think about petrol - which is something I hate thinking about 28-29 mpg on average ! but again I am paying for the premium of having the magnificent straight 6 + the TWINS. Again, if it was cheap to run then it wouldn't be an exclusive/special machine.

So it all depends and what you want and how you will be using the car.

I had a test drive with the 28i Auto and to be franc, I wasn't disappointed at all...
 
I wouldn't bother with anything other than a turbo motor if you are considering a remap.

Turbo 4 (N20) gives a decent amount of power and will be cheaper to run. 290bhp without changing any hardware.
Turbo 6 (N54) is in a different league for tuning, you can get to 400bhp without any hardware changes. It also sounds amazing.

From what information I can see about real world MPG between the two engines it looks like the 28i only gets 4mpg more. Tax and insurance will also be lower on the 28i but I don't see running costs being that much different in the grand scheme of things.
 
R.E92 said:
From what information I can see about real world MPG between the two engines it looks like the 28i only gets 4mpg more. Tax and insurance will also be lower on the 28i but I don't see running costs being that much different in the grand scheme of things.
Click to expand...

Comming from an N54 to an N20 its more like 10mpg as an average.

I have completed a four or five times achieved over 500 miles out of a tank - however, I find it not easy to drive 10-15mph below national speed limits.

In my N54 I was achieving around 22 Mpg - and with the N20 average MPG 33+. However on longer trips, the different was a greater amount.

A friend of mine has an E85 3.0si - and my N20 is considerably more frugal and faster. However, it is his weekend toy - so MPG is not a real issue for him.

One factor that is not included in my savings - was £600PA for engine warranty I had on my E92 335i

But some one with experience of both engines, there is definitely savings to be made.

But as I said - weekend toy 3 Ltr - daily, then you may want to consider the N20. If you doing more than 12,000 miles a year.

Me personally I am thinking of an 35is next or G29 Z4 40i - as I am now more office based, and do less driving for work.
 
I'd go for the 35iS.

My consumption is in the low 20's. My mate C63 is in the high teens.

I love my 28i and I like a turbo 4 cylinder but if I was to do it again I'd get the 35iS.
 
SteveSmith said:
I'd go for the 35iS.

My consumption is in the low 20's. My mate C63 is in the high teens.

I love my 28i and I like a turbo 4 cylinder but if I was to do it again I'd get the 35iS.
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Wow, what sort of driving do you do Steve? I get 40mpg+ from mine on my commute pretty easily :?
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
SteveSmith said:
I'd go for the 35iS.

My consumption is in the low 20's. My mate C63 is in the high teens.

I love my 28i and I like a turbo 4 cylinder but if I was to do it again I'd get the 35iS.
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Wow, what sort of driving do you do Steve? I get 40mpg+ from mine on my commute pretty easily :?
Rob
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I do like sports mode and using the paddles! I'm heavy footed, never get anywhere near quoted figures from any car but I have to drive like a total granny to get over 30mpg or sit at 60mph for eternity!
 
Twin Turbo said:
R.E92 said:
From what information I can see about real world MPG between the two engines it looks like the 28i only gets 4mpg more. Tax and insurance will also be lower on the 28i but I don't see running costs being that much different in the grand scheme of things.
Click to expand...

Comming from an N54 to an N20 its more like 10mpg as an average.

I have completed a four or five times achieved over 500 miles out of a tank - however, I find it not easy to drive 10-15mph below national speed limits.

In my N54 I was achieving around 22 Mpg - and with the N20 average MPG 33+. However on longer trips, the different was a greater amount.

A friend of mine has an E85 3.0si - and my N20 is considerably more frugal and faster. However, it is his weekend toy - so MPG is not a real issue for him.

One factor that is not included in my savings - was £600PA for engine warranty I had on my E92 335i

But some one with experience of both engines, there is definitely savings to be made.

But as I said - weekend toy 3 Ltr - daily, then you may want to consider the N20. If you doing more than 12,000 miles a year.

Me personally I am thinking of an 35is next or G29 Z4 40i - as I am now more office based, and do less driving for work.
Click to expand...

I think your 335i had issues though. From a brief look through Fuelly figures and forums it looks like 32mpg for the 28i and 28mpg for the 35is.
 
R.E92 said:
Twin Turbo said:
R.E92 said:
From what information I can see about real world MPG between the two engines it looks like the 28i only gets 4mpg more. Tax and insurance will also be lower on the 28i but I don't see running costs being that much different in the grand scheme of things.
Click to expand...

Comming from an N54 to an N20 its more like 10mpg as an average.

I have completed a four or five times achieved over 500 miles out of a tank - however, I find it not easy to drive 10-15mph below national speed limits.

In my N54 I was achieving around 22 Mpg - and with the N20 average MPG 33+. However on longer trips, the different was a greater amount.

A friend of mine has an E85 3.0si - and my N20 is considerably more frugal and faster. However, it is his weekend toy - so MPG is not a real issue for him.

One factor that is not included in my savings - was £600PA for engine warranty I had on my E92 335i

But some one with experience of both engines, there is definitely savings to be made.

But as I said - weekend toy 3 Ltr - daily, then you may want to consider the N20. If you doing more than 12,000 miles a year.

Me personally I am thinking of an 35is next or G29 Z4 40i - as I am now more office based, and do less driving for work.
Click to expand...

I think your 335i had issues though. From a brief look through Fuelly figures and forums it looks like 32mpg for the 28i and 28mpg for the 35is.
Click to expand...

R.E92 you normally talk a lot of sense - but on this matter, I have to completely disagree

My experience of the N54 was based on three years of ownership and over 50,0000 miles - that was served and maintained by BMW.

The big factor in difference MPG figures is the driver and the roads they used. This can fluctuate massively when comparing like for like.

From my personal experience, and not based on making an assumption that you can get incorrect conclusions.

Same Driver, same roads - different car
 
R.E92 said:
I wouldn't bother with anything other than a turbo motor if you are considering a remap.

Turbo 4 (N20) gives a decent amount of power and will be cheaper to run. 290bhp without changing any hardware.
Turbo 6 (N54) is in a different league for tuning, you can get to 400bhp without any hardware changes. It also sounds amazing.

From what information I can see about real world MPG between the two engines it looks like the 28i only gets 4mpg more. Tax and insurance will also be lower on the 28i but I don't see running costs being that much different in the grand scheme of things.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I'd run an N54 at 400hp without any hardware changes, the engine would be fine but extra cooling capacity would be a must, surely?

As for the original question, I hear the argument for the 4 pot's but if you can stomach the extra running costs of the big engines why wouldn't you?
A straight six is a rare thing these days and that makes it worth it for me.
 
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