Quote:
Originally Posted by Riick
It doesn't "run out of steam" at 70mph. Stop making stuff up. The N20 on the dyno it makes around 230whp and 270ftlb torque. The inline 6 n/a 3.0 it replaced only makes around 190whp and 190ftlb torque. The N20 runs circles around the N52. Quit being a BMW elitist saying they're only supposed to have inline 6. You do know the most famous BMW of them all, that started it all, was a 4 banger right?
A Burger tune brings it to 260whp.
A stock X3 35i makes around 250whp.
The X3 isn't a drag race car. It's a 4500lb SUV. On the used market the 35i easily brings $3000 premium over a 28i. Why spend $3000 for 250whp when you can save $2800 and have 260whp.
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What I mean by "Runs out of steam" is that after 70 MPH, the car is sluggish and passing power sucks. And it's not 4500 pounds, not even in it's heaviest form. It's just over 4000 in the sDrive 28i trim. Furthermore, the X3 is the F30 chassis and is quite fun to drive for an SUV. The 35i makes it even more fun to drive and the engine noise actually sounds fitting for the nearly 60k vehicle it is.
The N20 is a terrible motor, it sounds weak, and has several known issues. The first BMWs could get away with a 4 cylinder because they were small and light, they weren't SUVs. I'd take an N52 over the N20 any day and most people would agree with me. The smoothness of an inline 6 is something truly special.
I wouldn't want to tune the N20, it's already a budget engine as it is with known weak points.
Buy the 35i, you'll regret it later.