Wife's 335ix accels harder/faster than my 135i - WTH?

[peeti]

So the 135 is new to me. Having had an M3, Z4 M Coupe and various sedate BMWs, I just bought the 135i vert a month ago. For a car that's about 120 lbs lighter than a 335i, I would have expected the same performance, but the 3 pulls harder, revs better and generally performs in a difference of 128 v 135.

Is it possible I bought the car (it came from a BMW dealer) with the dreaded n55 neuter software? How can I definitively tell that this is the case?

TIA!
Peet

I should add - her's is a 2010 n54 and the 135 is a 2011 n55

[Bavarian54bimmer]

Originally Posted by peeti

So the 135 is new to me. Having had an M3, Z4 M Coupe and various sedate BMWs, I just bought the 135i vert a month ago. For a car that's about 120 lbs lighter than a 335i, I would have expected the same performance, but the 3 pulls harder, revs better and generally performs in a difference of 128 v 135.

Is it possible I bought the car (it came from a BMW dealer) with the dreaded n55 neuter software? How can I definitively tell that this is the case?

TIA!
Peet

I should add - her's is a 2010 n54 and the 135 is a 2011 n55

u sure that n54 doesn't have any tune in it? or even a ppk??

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by peeti

So the 135 is new to me. Having had an M3, Z4 M Coupe and various sedate BMWs, I just bought the 135i vert a month ago. For a car that's about 120 lbs lighter than a 335i, I would have expected the same performance, but the 3 pulls harder, revs better and generally performs in a difference of 128 v 135.

Is it possible I bought the car (it came from a BMW dealer) with the dreaded n55 neuter software? How can I definitively tell that this is the case?

TIA!
Peet

I should add - her's is a 2010 n54 and the 135 is a 2011 n55

+1. That is what my money is on! I bet your car has the latest SW that kills throttle response and power(and that has the anti-tuner SW).

Perhaps a PPK1 is in your future?

[cadeucsb]

is it really only 120lb differential for not having a roof or awd system?

[onefast1]

Isn't the 135i vert still heavier than the 335xi? Or does AWD make up for that weight difference? But I do agree that you probably have the most recent software upgrade that puts a damper on the overall throttle response.

[Mr. Nice]

turn the traction control off in the 1er and try again

[BrokenVert]

Maybe its the increased grip of AWD off the line? despite the weight disadvantage AWD will typically be a bit quicker straight away because all 4 tires are providing grip instead of two.

Im assuming that youre simply going by the butt dyno. If you can pick up a vbox and compare numbers. Make this a bit more scientific

Originally Posted by Mark Attack!

Isn't the 135i vert still heavier than the 335xi? Or does AWD make up for that weight difference? But I do agree that you probably have the most recent software upgrade that puts a damper on the overall throttle response.

Ill direct you below

Originally Posted by cadeucsb

is it really only 120lb differential for not having a roof or awd system?

im really confused by this, but ill do my best to figure out what youre asking.

A 135 vert weighs in at about the same as a standard 335 coupe ~3600 pounds.
an xi coupe adds some weight on top of that ~ 200 pounds for the transfer case and foward driveshaft, running gear, etc...

On last check the 335xi coupe tips the scales at ~3800 pounds-ish.


These are all general average numbers. As a stripped out (in terms of options) 135 vert can weigh as little as 3500 or 3550 pounds. But optioned to the gills with power and heated seats - hk - active steering, etc you can easily add 150 pounds without trying. The same goes for the 3

[RnmEvo9]

N55...

[roo97ss]

Originally Posted by RnmEvo9

N55...

I agree here, probably the new software on the n55. When you look at the _35s in the car magazines, it seems 1/4 mile traps have dropped off a bit, esp in the newest models, meaning they've zapped some power out of it, something so easy to do with the tune these days.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Im assuming that youre simply going by the butt dyno. If you can pick up a vbox and compare numbers. Make this a bit more scientific

Agreed.

[AW128i]

Not really sure how accurate it is, but even BMW claims the 335i xDrive coupe is faster than the 135i convertible. I'm guessing the additional grip of the AWD in the 335 gives it a considerable advantage off the line with initial acceleration. Have you ever seen high-power Audis with quattro launch? They look like they could do a wheelie! An all-out launch in the RWD 135i 'vert is a balance of wheelspin and acceleration. In the 335i xDrive it's just mash it and hang on. I wouldn't be surprised if the 135i 'vert has a faster 1/4 mile time than a 335i xDrive because the drag and weight of the AWD has more of an effect the faster the car is going, however small it may be.

[jsmonet]

it's a sign. her car is better than yours.



also, "parasitic drag" of awd is a ricer excuse and not really a big deal.

[peeti]

Thanks for all the opinions gang. I'll try and get some sort of measurements on the accels. But even when running between 20-30 and accelerating there, it just pushes you into the seat, the 1 accelerates happily, but not with the same drama so to speak. And yes, I actually dug out the curb weights for the specific models and it's 120 lbs. Kinda funny - for a car that's so much smaller. Though frankly the shorter car handles better. And yea, her car is MUCH nicer, has M package, idrive and all the toys, my 135 only has premium.

I'm still torn on tuning the 1 - would love the gains of a JB but don't want to deal with that insane N55 harness. 15 minutes to add/remove my eye, maybe after the 10th time.

I'll report back after I can get a measurement. At least try to do a 0-60 with a stopwatch and see what we get.

[SRT-What?]

Originally Posted by jsmonet

it's a sign. her car is better than yours.



also, "parasitic drag" of awd is a ricer excuse and not really a big deal.

STi have always been super slow on the highway and they have 300 horses...
(was racing them with a 230hp neon)

[bradford]

Originally Posted by peeti

And yes, I actually dug out the curb weights for the specific models and it's 120 lbs. Kinda funny - for a car that's so much smaller. Though frankly the shorter car handles better.

Dig them out again. The 335ix is quite a bit heavier than a 335i. Probably 200-250lbs, without looking it up. I'd guess there's somewhere between 250-350lbs difference.

If the 335ix doesn't have a DME tune, I'd chalk it up to the down low grunt of zero traction loss. If it feels the same at speed (assuming the same trans), your car is borked.

[1speedbike]

Funny, because I just received a sport package 335i xDrive coupe (guess that's what they call the xi's now) as a loaner for the weekend.

At first, I thought the 335 was definitely faster than my JB4 135i. I don't know. It just felt like it was going somewhere, in contrast to my 1 where I'd have to feather the gas to get anywhere or else spin like crazy. Then I noticed other things. It felt flatter in the corners with the stock sport suspension. It was quieter and more comfortable. It just seemed better, especially in comparison to the 328i non-sport sedans I always get, but surprisingly better than my 135i. That was day one.

Now I'm on day 2. It's slow. Compared to what I'm used to at least. Both my car and this one had steptronic transmissions, but this one is terrible. Took a full 2-3 seconds to shift in manual mode. What the hell? Then I started noticing how soft and bouncy the suspension was. Maybe the body roll was just because the car is so much wider. Over road bumps where my car would just "thump" and keep going, I was getting 3 or 4 residual bounces like I was on a trampoline. Sure, the initial shock was much softer, but then I'd keep bouncing along. Then I tried accelerating fast on the highway. Man it's slow. I think the all wheel drive just made it so freakin' easy to accelerate from a stop versus the ballet that I have to perform just to get a half-decent launch with my car. I think the 335xi just FEELS fast, even though it actually isn't that fast. You can mash the pedal without worry, and focus on how fast you're going.

However, I should mention my car is N54 and this is a 2011 335xi which I think came with N55. Maybe this 335xi also got the horrible software as well. Pretty slow to shift, very terrible throttle response... sounds like it.

[jsmonet]

Originally Posted by SRT-What?

STi have always been super slow on the highway and they have 300 horses...
(was racing them with a 230hp neon)

if you were beating them, the drivers were idiots who couldn't drive.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by bradford

Dig them out again. The 335ix is quite a bit heavier than a 335i. Probably 200-250lbs, without looking it up. I'd guess there's somewhere between 250-350lbs difference.

If the 335ix doesn't have a DME tune, I'd chalk it up to the down low grunt of zero traction loss. If it feels the same at speed (assuming the same trans), your car is borked.

I dropped the weights for everyones use in an earlier post.

And somebody quoted them so I know you can all see them

<-- I never get to use that one!

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by 1speedbike

I think the 335xi just FEELS fast, even though it actually isn't that fast. You can mash the pedal without worry, and focus on how fast you're going.
.

This is what I think also.

It takes more driving finesse to get the most out of the 135, while the x-drive takes that out of the equation.

To OP, can't you just line both cars up at a light and let them rip?

[b00st]

Originally Posted by jsmonet

if you were beating them, the drivers were idiots who couldn't drive.

STI's are not impressive on the highway usually. Not to mention a Neon probably weighs 500 lbs less than one. That's a lot of weight to make up for. Not to mention the crappy gearing on STI's. Don't want to jack this thread, but it's not so cut and dry, even with a large horsepower difference always.

[KingOfJericho]

My buddy has a 335xi purchased the same week as my 2010 135i. He acknowledges readily that my car is faster in every way. I've driven his car numerous times and can affirm that sentiment. That makes me think it's the N55 as both of our cars are N54.

[Dackelone]

Some engines are just put together better than others - off the production line. Somtimes you get a "lucky engine" that just rips, while the car behind that one gets a "normal" output engine. Luck of the draw. (and maybe break in technique?).