BMW 335i sedan: 0-60 in 4.8 sec
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
Turbo- Super- charged engines are always a breeze to pump up IF (and that's a big if) there is a dedicated tuner base willing to hack the computers to make it work. There will always be more tuners working on BMWs and Audis because the likely customer base (youthful cranks with money) will be larger. Lots of tuners and lots of buyers means cheap upgrades. You can buy 60HP for $400 with an Audi S4, and to match that in a Benz C32 you need to spend 10X that amount.
Of course, in both cases, there's the hidden cost of forfeiting warranty coverage for drivetrain failures, unless the tuner provides a warranty.
Of course, in both cases, there's the hidden cost of forfeiting warranty coverage for drivetrain failures, unless the tuner provides a warranty.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,517
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From: Ohio
...
i ran into a 335i twin turbo on the highway today, very nice looking car...looks like a 6 series from a distance...anyways, tried to get him to run me just to see what it could do, but he wouldn't...i did inadvertantly antogonize a G35 that i proceeded to obliterate, he didn't like me much after that...
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From: Long Island, NY
08' BMW E92 Coupe
Sounds like the best of all worlds to me
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From: Australia/Hong Kong
05 E55, R33 GTR, R33 GTS-t
sounds completely awesome.. if only the e55K motors were TT instead of K. Getting significantly more power out of factory turbo cars is so easy its not funny!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Seattle, WA
'09 911 C4S
i ran into a 335i twin turbo on the highway today, very nice looking car...looks like a 6 series from a distance...anyways, tried to get him to run me just to see what it could do, but he wouldn't...i did inadvertantly antogonize a G35 that i proceeded to obliterate, he didn't like me much after that...
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
A new 335i was on static display at the mall here this weekend, and I took a looong look. My first impression is that the car needs to go on a diet. It just looks fat in almost every way. I also noticed no door window frame, and the glass tucked neatly under a chrome strip at the top (between A and B pillars) when closed. I assume that this means the windows do that same annoying down/up movement when opening and closing that has been on 3-series coupes since E36? I hated that on mine - it made the door operation sound and feel cheap. The back end and taillights are also a little too Honda Accord for me. Other than those gripes, the car is actually quite handsome in person. The interior is better than most BMW products I've seen in recent years, and it's Bangle-ization is much more subtle than on the other BMWs. I think I'm going to have to go drive one!
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Joined: May 2006
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From: 08 ALHAMBRA 08, CA
WALD out w210 and w203 daily grinder
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Member
Joined: Sep 2004
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'05 MB CLK 320A; '06 BMW X5 4.8is
BMW intentionally put on a restrictive transmission that can only hold around 340 hp crank, so there's not much left in it without major modifications. Although I still want to go drive one.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,466
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From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
you mean to the wheels?
The marketing propaganda reads 300hp under the new SAE ratings.. which is about 310 to 315 under the old guidelines
However the engine is actually making 270 to 280 to the wheels based on 2 different 2 different dyno test by Automobile Mag and by a Nor Cal tuner (Vinshu) which they have a ECU project on going. That puts the crank power 330 to 340+ (safely)
Maybe 340 to the wheels sounds more realistic.
But I'm really interested to find out where you got that information?
Knowing the transmission can only handle so much power, will keep me from buying one next year.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 52
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From: ATL.GA.
01 C320, 07 Tacoma, 67 F100, 08 boxter S
I am not very impressed by any of the BMW Transmissions I have experienced (i have not experienced the new E90s though). Every BMW I have ever owned- had a cheap feeling tranny. E46 3-series transmissions are pretty much the weakest I have experienced GM or ZF (steptronic). I surely hope the E90s have better ones. I am so impressed by the MB tranny in the C-class. I just like the way it feels. (I am quite sure the transmission in Cylinder Heads sexy M5 is great though- I would give my left nut for that car.)
Last edited by gcwaterski; Oct 17, 2006 at 01:29 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 10
From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
I am not very impressed by any of the BMW Transmissions I have experienced (i have not experienced the new E90s though). Every BMW I have ever owned- had a cheap feeling tranny. E46 3-series transmissions are pretty much the weakest I have experienced GM or ZF (steptronic). I surely hope the E90s have better ones. I am so impressed by the MB tranny in the C-class. I just like the way it feels. (I am quite sure the transmission in Cylinder Heads sexy M5 is great though- I would give my left nut for that car.)
The 5sp MB transmission is bullet proof. Atleast on the AMG line up.
It can handle some serious power. Its a good fit for these cars.
I just wished the new 7sp MB was as robust and a bit more aggressive. 2 Extra gears are really not helping as much as we thought.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,469
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From: Hong Kong
C55AMG W203; 330i E90
I am not very impressed by any of the BMW Transmissions I have experienced (i have not experienced the new E90s though). Every BMW I have ever owned- had a cheap feeling tranny. E46 3-series transmissions are pretty much the weakest I have experienced GM or ZF (steptronic). I surely hope the E90s have better ones. I am so impressed by the MB tranny in the C-class. I just like the way it feels. (I am quite sure the transmission in Cylinder Heads sexy M5 is great though- I would give my left nut for that car.)
My 330i e90 6sp auto tranny is crab ( fair enough to say it is a very smooth tranny suitable for daily commute but not for racing ). The 335i e92 auto tranny is a complete redesign and it should be 30% more responsive than the e90's. The C55 auto still has its good characters (e.g. downshift is fast) even though it is 5sp.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,441
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..
BMW shifters have way too much SLOP. I thought BMW would have fixed that issue but nope still the same.
It's pretty sad when installing an aftermarket shortshifter in a BMW only gets you close to the feel of a factory Acura Integra shifter. That's how much slop it has.
It's pretty sad when installing an aftermarket shortshifter in a BMW only gets you close to the feel of a factory Acura Integra shifter. That's how much slop it has.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 3
From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
it already makes 340 to the crank...
you mean to the wheels?
The marketing propaganda reads 300hp under the new SAE ratings.. which is about 310 to 315 under the old guidelines
However the engine is actually making 270 to 280 to the wheels based on 2 different 2 different dyno test by Automobile Mag and by a Nor Cal tuner (Vinshu) which they have a ECU project on going. That puts the crank power 330 to 340+ (safely)
Maybe 340 to the wheels sounds more realistic.
But I'm really interested to find out where you got that information?
Knowing the transmission can only handle so much power, will keep me from buying one next year.
you mean to the wheels?
The marketing propaganda reads 300hp under the new SAE ratings.. which is about 310 to 315 under the old guidelines
However the engine is actually making 270 to 280 to the wheels based on 2 different 2 different dyno test by Automobile Mag and by a Nor Cal tuner (Vinshu) which they have a ECU project on going. That puts the crank power 330 to 340+ (safely)
Maybe 340 to the wheels sounds more realistic.
But I'm really interested to find out where you got that information?
Knowing the transmission can only handle so much power, will keep me from buying one next year.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,469
Likes: 1
From: Hong Kong
C55AMG W203; 330i E90
+1
Even though how much I love to have 7 gears for distributing my C63's 420hp , I know, one day, I 'm gonna miss the AMG 5sp SpeeShift on my C55. This transmission is flawless, zero problem, it is all under control no matter in what situations. I still remember last week, my wife was screaming
when I was trying to pull out to another lane after braking behind a slowing down taxi, within fraction of a second, I shifted from 4th to the 3rd with the tip and all that engine power surged instantly and more than enough for me to handle that situation I had wanted.
I do not think a manual 335i can get that power surge within the same instant if he was at 4th gear and downshift to 3rd. It would be worse if he was at 5th and trying to pull out. I have yet to find out how much improvement on the auto tranny of the 335i in my next test drive.
Last edited by cntlaw; Oct 17, 2006 at 10:49 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 491
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From: Florida
Don't have a Mercedes right now...
As far as the 335i, I test-drove it ina BMW dealership with a friend of mine last week. The car was fantastic. I couldn't detect any turbo lag at all, it was pulling hard from low rpm, it seamed as a normally aspirated V8. Part of the reason that I liked it so much could also be that I was always into manual transmissions and it's been a while since I drove a fast car with a stick shift. I love my car and MB cars in general but somehow I can't get over the fact that they don't offer manuals. The driving experiance is soooooo much better.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,466
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From: Southern Cali (Ontario)
[QUOTE=kchristos;1798796]The 7sp IS more aggressive! I drove both 55 and 63 cars (E55, CLS55 and E63) at the AMG Challenge in Miami a couple of weeks ago. The trany on the 55's seamed that it had a slight 'pause' during the gear changes. The 7sp on the E63 was changing the gears a lot faster w/out that small pause. In addition to that the E63 is a much better handling car than the 55's (that's what the pro driver in the 63 said as well).
QUOTE]
the handling is a separate topic all together.. so let's leave that remark out. We all know the E63 will be better in braking and handling vs a E55.
However to your comment about the 7sp box. When I mean aggressive, I'm not talking about shifting quicker or faster, I'm talking about the gear ratios.
Here is my argument.
I have personally seen or witness a E63 run a 1/4 track about 10 to 15 passes.
On the same day, on the same track, same conditions, I also saw 2 Stock E55, M6, M5, and 2 great 55k Stage 2. (Fontana MBWorld event on 9/15)
The E63 runs very similar to the E55 (I would call them even). I feel that they are too close in straight line performance.
But with a car with 2 extra gears, 507 (new SAE ratings) which equals to about 515 +/- under old ratings, it does NOT trap any faster than a stock E55 or clock any faster to the 1/4.
What is the problem?
Less torque?
Well the M5 traps much higher and it has less torque than the E63?
Bottom line, its the ratios of the transmission. They made the 6th and 7th gears, cruising gears and really didn't change 1 thru 5 as much as they needed.
I'm a big fan of the new motor and new look, and I will own one soon. I'm just waiting for aftermarket support and tuning.
QUOTE]
the handling is a separate topic all together.. so let's leave that remark out. We all know the E63 will be better in braking and handling vs a E55.
However to your comment about the 7sp box. When I mean aggressive, I'm not talking about shifting quicker or faster, I'm talking about the gear ratios.
Here is my argument.
I have personally seen or witness a E63 run a 1/4 track about 10 to 15 passes.
On the same day, on the same track, same conditions, I also saw 2 Stock E55, M6, M5, and 2 great 55k Stage 2. (Fontana MBWorld event on 9/15)
The E63 runs very similar to the E55 (I would call them even). I feel that they are too close in straight line performance.
But with a car with 2 extra gears, 507 (new SAE ratings) which equals to about 515 +/- under old ratings, it does NOT trap any faster than a stock E55 or clock any faster to the 1/4.
What is the problem?
Less torque?
Well the M5 traps much higher and it has less torque than the E63?
Bottom line, its the ratios of the transmission. They made the 6th and 7th gears, cruising gears and really didn't change 1 thru 5 as much as they needed.
I'm a big fan of the new motor and new look, and I will own one soon. I'm just waiting for aftermarket support and tuning.
Last edited by TopGun32; Oct 19, 2006 at 12:06 AM.
