Last month, Automobile magazine reported it managed to record 275 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque at the wheels in a dynamometer test of BMW’s new 335i coupe. Based on these impressive wheel-horsepower numbers, the magazine reckoned the Bimmer makes close to 350 horsepower at the crank, rather than BMW’s official 300 hp figure. Following the publication of this data, many skeptics question the accuracy of the dynamometer readings. Now, the magazine reports retesting the 335i with surprising results. After a number of consistent peaks at 285 horsepower at the wheels, the testers managed to record an impressive 287 horsepower. Amazingly, the car even managed to peak briefly at 299.93 wheel horsepower after shifting to fourth. The magazine insists it wasn’t additional torque from a rough shift, but rather momentary turbo spike afforded by the computer. So far, no one has attempted to measure power at the crank, but we suspect Automobile is correct when they say it would be a great deal more than the advertised 300 horsepower.
Zero obligation price quote from a trusted local dealer.
09/22, 11:18 AM
posted by:
MyGodBeatsYourGod
I realize some car manufacturers will understate HP for ‘insurance puposes’, but can that come back to bite them when some dweeb plants his 3 series into a highway divide and claims the car has more power than advertized…
Trial laywers drool over this kind of stuff.
09/22, 11:19 AM
posted by:
British_Rover
Now to put that motor in a lighter, better looking chassis like the http://www.pistonheads.com/news/images/7308-110911.jpg
Weisman roadsters
09/22, 11:23 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
BMW’s 3-series continues to kick ass. Awesome.
09/22, 12:07 PM
posted by:
BrokenCadillac...
What a kicka$$ ride.
Nice job on this one guys.
09/22, 12:40 PM
posted by:
pirelli
What’s truly impressive here is the estimated 75hp loss from the crank to the wheels. Talk about efficiency…
09/22, 12:47 PM
posted by:
Me
I want.
09/22, 1:12 PM
posted by:
(V)ike
I think I am going to go get one of these today… yeah, that’ll be a good idea.
09/22, 2:20 PM
posted by:
Asher
This is exactly how manufacturers satisfy the enthusiast – underpromise and over-deliver…it even creates an aura of mystery like the old Japanese method of claiming 275-300hp even when they knew it put out 50+hp more(i.e. Skyline)…
09/22, 4:11 PM
posted by:
Don
RDX is also underrated
09/22, 4:20 PM
posted by:
A4
so does it have less horsepower than advertised or more? im not following
09/22, 5:57 PM
posted by:
Asher
A4, it has much more than advertised. In general, cars lose 20% of the engine power due to the inefficiencies of getting the power from the engine to the wheels. So a car that is advertised as 300hp by an automaker(bhp) in an ad is really only getting about 250hp to its wheels(whp), which is what counts.
This 335i is rated at 300bhp, so youd expect it to dyno at 250whp but it dyno’d TWICE now at 287+whp, which indicates close to 340hp!!
09/22, 8:05 PM
posted by:
Webran61
Using these same theories, I wonder how fast the Lexus IS350 really is???
09/22, 11:56 PM
posted by:
mblommel
Sweet, now when can I buy a 1-series with this drivetrain?
09/23, 5:11 PM
posted by:
Foster
BMW 335i 38500 Sedan 335icoupe 41000 US IN SHOWROOMS NOW
0-62 4.9 Coupe manual
0-62 5.1 Sedan Manual
0-62 5.1 Coope Automatic Steptronic
0-62 5.5 Sedan Automatic Steptronic
M3 Times? 0-62 but not top end
3 seconds slower at Notingburg GRermany but for 20$$ lease deal
09/23, 5:11 PM
posted by:
Foster
IS350 to slow to care or compare goodbuy Japs
09/23, 5:12 PM
posted by:
Foster
less sorry 20000$$ less
09/24, 9:52 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
Webran61: this is a story about a BMW. Stop polluting this thread with Toy Ota and their crap.
09/24, 11:08 AM
posted by:
Renton
I drove a manual and an autobox of the 335i. As far as seat of the pants testing goes, this thing has tremendous reserves of power. The automatic is very nice, in fact it is one of the nicest slushboxes I’ve ever driven, but the munual is still the one for me.
It feels a lot more powerful than my dads 2005 M3. It definitely has more power than advertised.
The new 3.0 liter in the X3 3.0is makes around 260 bhp. Is BMW going to go through the trouble of making a unique twin turbo motor and only gain 40 bhp?
mblommel — that would be rediculous. I hope they make it, and I hope it makes it to the US. A 135i sedan would be the ultimate BMW street car.
Something tells me they will never import this car the US though.
I hope they put it in the X3 as well.
09/26, 8:59 PM
posted by:
LamborghiniZ
1c3d0g, he just asked a question about the IS. stop this “Toy Ota” bull****, you sound like an idiot every time you put it like that. You can’t seem to post on any article without mentioning toyota and using that dumb ass spelling. get over your little bias.
10/20, 3:50 PM
posted by:
ANONYMOUSPSYCHOPATH
IT’S ABOUT TIME. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS TO HAVE A TWIN TURBO BMW STRAIGHT SIX WITH MORE TORQUE THAN HORSEPOWER! THANKYOU!
10/23, 1:59 PM
posted by:
dedication
you guys must be blind this car is beautiful….!!!!