E85 3.0is vs E89 28i similar but so different

Twin Turbo

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Well I was take the pish out of @Mac Romans about weight of his 6 pot E85 3.0is and he was taking the pish out of my 4 pot - general banter. Anyway I did not know how similar they actually are!

As the E89 is often refereed to been much heavier than its older brother - but when you bring in an 4 pot - is surprised me how similar they are.

E85 3.0si 2006–2008 3,086 lb (1,400 kg)
E86 3.0si Cpe 2006–2008 3,075 lb (1,395 kg)
E89 28i 2011-16 3086lbs (1400kg)

E85/86 265 PS (195 kW; 261 hp)@6600 315 N·m (232 lb·ft)@2750
E89 180kW/245PS/245hp@5000-6500 350Nm (258ft-lb)@1250-4800

REMAPED E89 211kW/286PS/283hp@5200-5500 350Nm (300ft-lb)@5200-6200

Both very different cars - however very similar power and weight levels
 

EnthuZiaZT

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As far as I can remember TT, 0 to 60 on a E85 3.0L is quoted at 5.08 seconds. 0 to 60 on a standard E89 28i is, 5.07 seconds

Mike
 

EnthuZiaZT

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Except when you get to the MPG figures TT, then there is no comparison.

Mike
 

Mac Romans

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My s***'s custom!
But answer me this Q:
You're in a supermarket buying beer. Is a six pack or a four pack better? Haha!
 

EnthuZiaZT

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Just remember the extra weight of that 6 pot has to be hauled round corners, Mac

Mike
 

billz

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Yet the E89 3.0i is fractionaly slower than the E85 3.0si work that out
 

Redline

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I'm surprised that the E89 28i is the same weight at the E86 3.0si.
Having (between us) an E89 20i and an E86 3.0si, I just presumed that because of the additional weight in the roof that it was heavier.

I believe that the 28i has upgraded disks etc so that might account for a little more weight, but, in most other respects other than mapping, the 28i is similar to the 20i.

Clearly the E89 20i is much slower than the E86 (if you can call 1 sec 0-60 much slower - how often are you going to use that in real life? Yes - Ok - you do...more than you'd like to admit). The E86 (even my Auto), is insanely quick (I haven't driven an ///M yet though). But, the quickness of the auto to change probably matches the ability of most of us to slam a manual up the box - only the real experts I guess will get the max out of a manual.

I can see that the standard 28i mapping delivers much more power throughout the revs so making it close to the E86 3.0si, but not quite - you're still 20bhp short. A tweak on the mapping will get you above that, but then a change to CAI on the E86 will soon recover that difference.

How do they compare to drive - The 4 pot has surprisingly smooth power delivery due to the FI - Its set up to be a flat power band throughout the revs, even from pick up (when in Sport of course). This is more common now with twin scroll turbos - I have seen the same on other cars I've driven recently. The E89's fuel usage in normal use is much better than the E86 though. A much cheaper car to live with - a difference I'd expect on the 28i too.

The E89 is also a much more refined cabin than the E86 and is much easier to drive (not that the E86 is any way hard), but, the E89 is an unforgivingly hard crashy ride on 19" RFTs. The E86 on 18" non-RFTs is much more comfortable which is a bit surprising as on the E86 you're sat virtually over the rear wheels and on the E89 you're a good 10-12" further forwards. The E86 is much easier to place in bends but that doesn't mean the E89 is bad. The E89s light steering is great at low speeds, but it doesn't give the feedback that the E86 gives.

Would I give up my E86 3.0si for an E89 28i? Thats a very hard question to answer.
 

EnthuZiaZT

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Well Redline, next time we meet I'll take you for a ride in mine. I'm sure you'll appreciate the difference between the E85/86 and the E89

Mike
 
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