M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: jake_9685 on June 23, 2007, 04:40:14 PM

Title: max power of a stock 318is
Post by: jake_9685 on June 23, 2007, 04:40:14 PM

I was looking through some of my old total bmw magazines and found an article about a group of e30 owners who were getting together to dyno their cars. They dynoed three 318is's and they all claimed the standard 136 bhp. None of the cars came to that power. Here is what they came out to.

first car-147 bhp
second car-152 bhp
third car-151 bhp.

I have searched the site and seemed some interesting dyno charts, My question is what is the power of a stock 318is? I also am wondering how an engine can make more power than the factory says it makes?

Title: max power of a stock 318is
Post by: gearheadE30 on June 24, 2007, 12:14:01 PM

I think I have the same article. These were Euro-spec cars that didn't have the american emissions controls, which sap a good bit of power. American models all make about 130-140 at the crank depending on the condition of the engine. This equates to about 120 hp at the wheels. I thought the power difference was rather large, though. There's probably something that I am missing.

Title: max power of a stock 318is
Post by: silverblades181 on June 24, 2007, 02:14:38 PM

Some factory claims are very conservative. The new 335i is rated at 300hp but many independent tests claims closer to 350hp.

Title: max power of a stock 318is
Post by: johna on June 24, 2007, 05:15:44 PM

I would say most likely they are dynoing at the rear wheels then using a very optimistic calculation to convert it to at the flywheel figures.