[diablo2112]

Been enjoying the 328d all week, fabulous car. This is my 4th 3-series, my last 2 were 335i's. Anyway, been looking at performance options for the diesel, and done a bit of research and reading. I've got a theory. The PPK is already installed on the US spec 328d. Here's my reasoning:

1) The PPK intercooler and fan are standard on the US spec 328d. If you look at this great review of the 320d PPK, there's clear pictures of the PPK upgraded fan and intercooler. I just closely inspected both items on my 328d, and it's 100% in-the-bank that the 328d has the upgraded intercooler, and I'm nearly certain its has the upgraded fan. This is real money to BMW. Why install these parts if you aren't going to use them as engineered? All that remains is coding the ECU, which is no-cost to BMW; the ECU is the same hardware just different software. It's really a no-brainer to have the PPK equivalent in the 328d.

2) The timing is right for BMW to have added the PPK to the US spec. The 320d PPK came out in September 2012; production of the 328d began in July 2013

3) US customer expectations. BMW is swimming upstream to sell diesels on a performance car in the US market. The outstanding 335d not withstanding, BMW knows that penetration of the US market with diesels will not be easy. CAFE standards provide an enormous motivation for BMW and other high-end makers to bring diesels to the US market (in fact, CAFE essentially requires this strategy). With all that said, BMW knows that US buyers will test drive and compare the 328d to both the 320i and 328i. I test drove all three. The 328d was ever so slightly less punchy than the 328i in highway passing, and clearly outperformed the 320i at all RPMS. Juicing the 320d performance for the 328d in the US market by addition of the PPK (or its equivalent in hardware and software) makes lots of sense to help US market acceptance.

4) BMW has a history of understating performance figures. For various reasons, I can see why BMW would map 320d performance figures straight-over for the 328d. Insurance, etc. That said, BMW has released previous models that were well under-specced in actual performance. The 2007 335i is a great example. That car was specced at 300 HP. Various dyno tests showed that model throwing 289 HP at the wheels! This puts output closer to 350-360 HP on that model. To give another, more recent example there's pretty good evidence that BMW has under specced the current model 328i. If BMW juiced the 328d for the US market compared to the 320d, it wouldn't be the first time they made a stealth update to performance and didn't advertise it.

5) Lack of availability of the PPK for the 328d in the US. Why offer this if the car already has the equivalent installed?

6) Seat of the pants. I've owned and driven a lot of cars, including 3 series BMWs. The 328d really does seem to outperform its 180 HP/280 ft-lb specs. The car is really quite punchy and wonderful. If you want passing power, click into sport mode and go. You want to cruise, just set it in comfort or eco, set the cruise control, and it eats highway miles. I just did 70 miles on the interstate in the Southwest, 85mph cruise control and ECO mode, and I got 49 mpg over this distance. Amazing!

None of the above is definitive. I'd like to see dyno results of a 328d, especially compared to the euro-spec 320d. Until then, it's something to consider.

[stevehecht]

Great minds think alike. You may have already seen my threads on the same subject:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...861&highlight=

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=928426

I don't agree that the PPK is "already installed"--in that case we'd be seeing the numbers associated with the 325d, 218hp/332 lb-ft or thereabouts. Remember the 325d has a twin turbo and the 320/328d has a single-scroll (variable vane) sequential (I think I have that right), so it looks as if the PPK in the 328d won't go that high--probably to the 197hp/310lb-ft of the 320d PPK. I guess you're saying that BMW will no doubt give us a flash and we'll have our PPK. I think so too, sooner or later. But if it's not soon enough, I'll be going with a Kelleners Sport tuning box to get the 325d numbers. Kelleners Sport, Schnitzer, Hartge, etc. all feel comfortable putting the 325d numbers into the 320/328d, so I do too!

Edit: Oops. I just noticed you linked to the same review article I quoted.

[diablo2112]

Originally Posted by stevehecht

Great minds think alike. You may have already seen my threads on the same subject:

Indeed I have. Thanks tons for this info, you've been a great source regarding upgrades for the 328d. Just wanted to publicly thank you for the work and research on this topic.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by diablo2112

Indeed I have. Thanks tons for this info, you've been a great source regarding upgrades for the 328d. Just wanted to publicly thank you for the work and research on this topic.

You're welcome!