Engine Spec difference between North America and Europe
 

What's the deal with that? I'm talking about the gasoline engines.

European spec'd 3.0si and 4.8i have 272 and 355 horsepowers respectively.

North American models have 260 and 350 horsepowers.

Does BMW tune these engines differently for each market? Or is it just because European countries have access to higher octane rated gasoline and higher octane makes these engines give out more power?

There is no actual difference in power (I think), it's just the different rating systems used by the continents.

If I'm wrong, then it's because they do tune engines differently--Europeans prefer sportier vehicles.

Tuned differently for emissions.

^ Aye.

It's the conversion difference.

Germany and most of Europe go by PS, or bhp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#PS

That's why I mention the 335i has 306bhp and 306 PS, which is approx 300 US hp.

It may also be a different octane rating of gasoline,
Supreme gas in Europe is 95, sometimes even 98...

No, the fuel is the same. It is the measurement that is different. 98 RON = 92 AKI in North America.

AzN had it right, the spec is different for hp measurement in Europe and North America. The tune is the same, they make the same actual power. Think of the Euro horses as smaller than the North American ones.

I see. But then why is there a bigger difference with 3.0si engine (12HP difference) than 4.8i (5HP difference)? If Euro horses are smaller, shoudn't 4.8i have a lot more than 355 since even the 260 American horses have 272 horses in Europe? If the number is bigger, then the discrepency should also increase...:dunno:

There's something odd about the X5 because although it has the same 4.8 litre V8 as the 550i and 650i, it makes less power no matter how you look at it. This may be attributed to emissions, perhaps?

Remember, hp numbers are a lot about marketing. The power at the wheels will not be 260hp or 272bhp anyways due to the efficiency loss. There are also rumors that the 335i is underrated, since folks have noted almost 300hp at the rear wheels, which means the motor is actually making more power than BMW wants us to believe. It's really for comparison and bragging rights purposes than anything else.

Actually, I was first ;)