BMW has phased out its N45 inline-4 engine family, currently used in the BMW 116i. The N45 is a rather basic engine compared to the rest of the BMW line-up, it doesn’t even have Valvetronic, which these days is only absent on turbocharged BMW engines. The only other application has been in the limited edition BMW 320si, which used an N45 engine with displacement increased to 2.0 litres. That one produced 173 PS at 7,000 and 200Nm at 4,250rpm, but the N45B16 in the 116i only produced 122hp at 6,000rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4,300rpm.
From this year on, the 116i will be powered by the more advanced N46, which produces the same 122hp, but torque has been upped to 185Nm between 3,000 to 4,250rpm. This is because the new engine is actually the same 2.0 litre engine that’s found in the 118i and the 120i, only with different tuning. This engine also has Valvetronic, which provides variable valve lift and operates without using a throttle plate.
This is also happening with many other BMW models. The numbers on a vehicle’s badge doesn’t necessarily indicate the displacement of the engine under the hood anymore. Alot of the x25i cars around are now running with 3.0 litre engines, tuned to produce the same power and torque as a 2.5 litre but with torque over a wider spread of RPMs, to improve driveability. This would be a problem in Malaysia because of the displacement-tied road tax (as opposed to power output or emissions tied), so expect the 325i to continue to be offered with a 2.5 litre engine for the moment.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
“because of the displacement-tied road tax…”
we shud change this system perhaps?
to what? COE like singapore? i dont think so.
we really need cars here, due to our crap ass public transport.
implementing COE will break more than help us.
haiya.. malaysia public transfer too inconvenient.. (although there is improvement over the year)…
so, everyone need a car to work etc… and having a fair & affordable road tax system is necessary for low & mid income users.
only future concern is maybe limited the car that can access KL city at certain day of the week. thus can eliminate lots of traffic congestion. its a grastic move, but it definately a must one day.
i have heard that the 1 series has a problem like the old audi tt (the first generation). it tends to oversteer with a little or no provocation. is this true? at least with the audi tt, only when it is going fast it does that, as explained by the little boot spoiler it has added on after a lot of users experienced it. so does the 1 series also have similar issues/traits?
if you want to buy a 1 series, get one in red.
Interesting BMW are going the oppisate direction to the likes of VW/Audi, who are replacing there N/A 1.6 units with turbocharged 1.2 and 1.4 units delivering far better torque and economy.