The 125i/128i Truth.

[VanillaRush]

Ok... so we all know what engine really lies under the bonnets of our 125i/128i.

What I would like to know is, if you guys openly share our 3.0 litre I6 secret, and brag to your friends, or do you quietly keep it to yourself and unleash its beautiful song and performance as a surprise?

In my opinion, I rather just let it be... it is too tiring explaining that even though it is a 125/128i, that it doesnt mean it I have a 2.5l engine.

Would like to hear your thoughts.

[Notion-Za]

Another 125 from S.A!! cool man

Well it really depends. My gf and close friends no its a 3 litre because I have the patience and time to explain to them but if its some random ill just say a 2.5L

Oh and when playing with other cars. Its a 2.5!!!! makes the ego feel a little better

[halcon1]

I say it's a 3L - people don't really get it but who cares.

[Guildenstern]

Never come up in conversation. Ever.

[hector]

Originally Posted by VanillaRush

Ok... so we all know what engine really lies under the bonnets of our 125i/128i.

What I would like to know is, if you guys openly share our 3.0 litre I6 secret, and brag to your friends, or do you quietly keep it to yourself and unleash its beautiful song and performance as a surprise?

In my opinion, I rather just let it be... it is too tiring explaining that even though it is a 125/128i, that it doesnt mean it I have a 2.5l engine.

Would like to hear your thoughts.

brag about it???? hardly! if anything one should lament that they have 3ltr. engines detuned to mimic the performance of 2.5 and 2.8ltr. engines respectively. if my 128 had 255hp/220tq. that would be another story.

[backtoreality15]

Originally Posted by hector

brag about it???? hardly! if anything one should lament that they have 3ltr. engines detuned to mimic the performance of 2.5 and 2.8ltr. engines respectively. if my 128 had 255hp/220tq. that would be another story.

+1. Where's the extra power BMW! The X3 can do it!

[Monterra]

word 25 more woulda been great but too close to stepping on 35is toes I guess. X3s do it cuz they need it, Zs are priced high enough... I would've gone an extra k or 2 for the top na 3L offering.

[Notion-Za]

dont we have the same engine as the 130/330? just detuned? bring on the chip

[jksgoh]

its only come up a couple of times, and i've simply said its a detuned 3L.
but it is confusing, as some of the earlier 325's (e92) had 2.5L engines.

[m7ammed]

how come BMW are calling them 128/125 when they are really a 3.0

[jksgoh]

adood84, although its a 3.0L its a detuned version of the 3.0L engine.
if you look at other X30 models they are producing 190+ kw where as the 125i produce around 160kw...

[moff]

Originally Posted by adood84

how come BMW are calling them 128/125 when they are really a 3.0

It's always been the same, BMW don't always name the car after the engine e.g. 135, 125, 125, 325, 328, 750 (new one), 550 etc etc

Not sure why so many people are worrying about it.

Who cares, it's 125i and you have a 3 litre engine... what do you expect BMW to do when there is already a 128i and a 130i (worldwide)?

It a lot of cases it is not just a detuned ECU, there can be mechanical differences too e.g. different strength pistons, smaller / larger intercoolers etc.

[BrokenVert]

The crank shaft and connecting rods are different between the 125i's engine and the X3's/Z4's

[lib]

Originally Posted by VanillaRush

In my opinion, I rather just let it be... it is too tiring explaining that even though it is a 125/128i, that it doesnt mean it I have a 2.5l engine.

Would like to hear your thoughts.

Most people don't know the history relating model number to displacement. They think the model number is just a random number.

[VanillaRush]

Originally Posted by lib

Most people don't know the history relating model number to displacement. They think the model number is just a random number.

I disagree? Most car models are a representation of engine size.
Mercedes C350 = 3.5 litre engine.
BMW 120d =2.0 litre diesel.

When variants have another engine size despite its model no.,then I feel this is the exception. eg: 125i, Mercedes C180 (actually a 1.6l).

This is feel is the general understanding of most people with regards to model number.

[jb2178]

Originally Posted by VanillaRush

I disagree? Most car models are a representation of engine size.
Mercedes C350 = 3.5 litre engine.
BMW 120d =2.0 litre diesel.

When variants have another engine size despite its model no.,then I feel this is the exception. eg: 125i, Mercedes C180 (actually a 1.6l).

This is feel is the general understanding of most people with regards to model number.

Since BMW said F the model number meaning S about the engine size years back with the 3 series, nobody cares... it used to be a standard but it's not like a 135 has a 3.5 liter engine.

My personal preference is that they would have continued to mean something but marketing is a bitch and that is life. (We should all have a 130, some should be 130tt and other's just 130i but I don't make the decisions at bmw)

[lib]

Originally Posted by VanillaRush

This is feel is the general understanding of most people with regards to model number.

Most people don't know the difference between a 5-series and a 7-series. You can't expect them to know the engine displacement. Yes, if someone cares, the BMW designation system is easy to learn. Most people simply have better things to worry about.

Edit:
One problem is that there is no consistency between brands and often none even within a single brand.

• C350 may be 3.5L but if you were using the BMW system that would indicate 5.0L - you need to know the MB and BMW numbering systems to know the difference.
• What about the G6 & G8? Those numbers have nothing to do with the engine and if you don't care about cars you won't know that.
• X1, X3, X5, X6 and Z4? Oh, those are on a completely different system - the average person wouldn't know that.

In essence, you have certain knowledge that makes determining engine displacement a simple task. You're assuming others have that knowledge when very often they do not.