Prior to going all turbocharged on us, BMW used to make cars with naturally aspirated engines that somehow also had plants under the bonnet that matched the number on the boot. For example, back then the 328i had a 3-liter inline 6-cylinder engine under the bonnet instead of a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder.
Power outputs were close though, with the E90 models having 231 HP at their disposal as opposed to the 245 of the F30. However, in terms of torque, forced induction will always take the win. In this particular case we’re talking about 350 Nm vs 270 (or 258 lb-ft vs 199).
That’s the big issue, as most petrol driver will complain about a lack of torque on atmospheric engines, especially after driving turbocharged ones or diesels. Well, if you truly love your car and don’t want to give it away, the solution is pretty straightforward: fix what BMW failed to.
This guy, for example, went in at European Auto Source and got himself an ESS supercharger kit for his E91 328i Touring. The end results is a car that puts down 288 HP and 247 lb-ft (335 Nm) of torque at the wheels.
With a 10 percent transmission loss that would add up to over 300 HP at the crank which is roughly what a 335i would have. On top of that, he still gets to listen to that beautiful inline 6-cylinder whine that we all love.
His ride is also a manual so you know that he’s going to have everything he needs: power, rear-wheel drive and practicality due to the Touring body style. The price he had to pay? Well, the kit is around $4,500 but we say it's worth every penny as it will completely transform your ride.
After testing the car, the mechanics over at EAS that also know a thing or two about E46 M3s claimed that the E91 felt the almost the same, despite the obvious different weight. You can even hear it on the dyno in the video below. Check it out!
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