[96_Impreza]

We just ordered our first BMW, a white 2011 X3 35i, and while there learned that the 28's displacement is 2996 cc and the 35's is 2979.
So, what do the "28" and "35" mean, if anything?

[rest0r]

I've also wondered this and apparently there is no technical reason for the name. It just indicates an improvement over the 2006 '25' and '30' models.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by 96_Impreza

We just ordered our first BMW, a white 2011 X3 35i, and while there learned that the 28's displacement is 2996 cc and the 35's is 2979.
So, what do the "28" and "35" mean, if anything?

They simply reflect that BMW and Mercedes think their buyers are too stupid to understand what a "t" means. Way back when, the last two numbers of any BMW indicated engine displacement. Then it got confusing with turbos, so they tried to approximate the equivalent naturally aspirated engine required for similar stats. So a turbo (single or double) 3.0 liter became a 3.5 in BMW Marketing Land.

Unless you buy a 6er or 7er, where a turbo 3.0 liter gets another half liter of fake displacement to become a 4.0 liter.

Prior to the advent of turbos, the two motors were a 2.8 liter and a 3.0 liter, so as not to confuse the idiots, they chose to retain the 2.8 moniker even while increasing displacement to a true 3.0 liters. In the near future, a 2.0 liter turbo four cylinder will retain the 2.8 name. Make sense?

[96_Impreza]

Thank you, Red Bread.
"Equivalent" displacement I understand. I had no luck finding meaning for 28 and 35 in vehicle specs. Not even beverage cup holder capacity or oil dipstick length were matching 28 & 35.

[Lotus7]

Originally Posted by 96_Impreza

Thank you, Red Bread.
"Equivalent" displacement I understand. I had no luck finding meaning for 28 and 35 in vehicle specs. Not even beverage cup holder capacity or oil dipstick length were matching 28 & 35.

If you find a spec. for the oil dipstick length for a 28i or a 35i, please publish it. The oil dipstick specs. for the 28i and 35i are a high-level trade secret at BMW. You need a BMW "Level-5" security clearance plus knowing the secret handshake, to even be told the dipstick location on these engines. Owners and typical service advisers are not given the dipstick location information at all. Just check the X3 owners manual under checking oil level, and you will find no mention of the existence of a "dipstick".

[tagz]

Originally Posted by Lotus7

If you find a spec. for the oil dipstick length for a 28i or a 35i, please publish it. The oil dipstick specs. for the 28i and 35i are a high-level trade secret at BMW. You need a BMW "Level-5" security clearance plus knowing the secret handshake, to even be told the dipstick location on these engines. Owners and typical service advisers are not given the dipstick location information at all. Just check the X3 owners manual under checking oil level, and you will find no mention of the existence of a "dipstick".

+1

Impressed by the wealth of information you have Lotus7

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by tagz

+1

Impressed by the wealth of information you have Lotus7

And wit.....

[Beyu]

Originally Posted by tuco44

And wit.....

Mostly wit for this one lol. Isn't it a sensor instead of a dipstick?

[jsublime]

Good thread

It didn't just start with the turbos though, I have a 325 that has 3.0L.

[XRP]

interesting....

[dandanio]

All 3 liter in-line 6s are:
-25, -28, -30, -35 and -40.
First 3 models are naturally aspirated, -35 and -40 are turbo'ed.
It only means that -25 is less powerful than the -28, which in turn is less powerful than the -30.

The difference is mostly in engine tuning and materials. Also, -30 had a different fuel pump (3-stage) and some other tweaks.
-35s and -40s are turbo'ed, N54 or N55 engines, just a matter of tuning (boost and ECU programming).

Oh, and now... the best part, all future -28s (and some current ones like in 5-series and Z4) are 2.0L in-line 4 turbo'ed cranking out more ponies and ft-lbs'es than the current in-line 6 -28s.

Hope that confuses you even more...

[d]

[raleedy]

28 = 3.0 L
35 = 3.0 L
Clear now?

[Lotus7]

Originally Posted by tagz

+1

Impressed by the wealth of information you have Lotus7

My "wealth of information" is worth about as much as the gains in the DJIA this week.
As you know, if it's published on-line, it must all be true.

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

They simply reflect that BMW and Mercedes think their buyers are too stupid to understand what a "t" means. Way back when, the last two numbers of any BMW indicated engine displacement. Then it got confusing with turbos, so they tried to approximate the equivalent naturally aspirated engine required for similar stats. So a turbo (single or double) 3.0 liter became a 3.5 in BMW Marketing Land.

Unless you buy a 6er or 7er, where a turbo 3.0 liter gets another half liter of fake displacement to become a 4.0 liter.

Prior to the advent of turbos, the two motors were a 2.8 liter and a 3.0 liter, so as not to confuse the idiots, they chose to retain the 2.8 moniker even while increasing displacement to a true 3.0 liters. In the near future, a 2.0 liter turbo four cylinder will retain the 2.8 name. Make sense?

Except the N20 F10 5er in Australia is going to be the 520i. The 125i with the 3 litre N52 engine same as the 128i in the US. While I believe the 325i retained the old 2.5 litre inline 6. The 7er 40i actually had the updated N54 with better cooling to produce 245kw. While the same engine in the 3er is a 335is . I guess it does get confusing with the old Audi speak and trying to explain why the 1.8T is more expensive than the 2.0. So, I don' think equivalent displacement really make sense - it is more like marketing speak.

[tagz]

Originally Posted by Lotus7

My "wealth of information" is worth about as much as the gains in the DJIA this week.
As you know, if it's published on-line, it must all be true.

Now, this is wit

[TuffLittleUnit]

It works both ways. The 318d loaner I have whilst waiting for my X3 is actually a 2 litre diesel but most people (including me before I received it) think it's a 1.8l engine. Still, I'm not complaining when it gives me 55mpg on long motorway trips (note this is UK gallons)