Question for 328i owners

Gator328i · 08-20-2011, 07:39 PM

Do you notice any significant power reduction with the A/C on?

shazzy04 · 08-20-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator328i

Do you notice any significant power reduction with the A/C on?

yes

Gator328i · 08-20-2011, 08:10 PM

I'm a little surprised by just how much. I don't remember the AC being as big a drag on the M54 engine.

Wissam · 08-20-2011, 08:52 PM

I have 6MT and the car becomes a chore to drive and shift smoothly...

iflyjetzzz · 08-20-2011, 09:02 PM

How do you turn off the A/C? My car didn't come with a manual ...

Seriously though, I live in Tucson. I can't think of the last time I had my A/C off. I'll mess with it the next time I drive.

shazzy04 · 08-20-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wissam

I have 6MT and the car becomes a chore to drive and shift smoothly...

yes lol.

I agree. I just try not to drive with the ac

jmen11 · 08-21-2011, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator328i

Do you notice any significant power reduction with the A/C on?

Nope.

Kolyan2k · 08-21-2011, 12:17 AM

isn't power reduction is something like 20% in most cars? I also know that in some cars ac automatically turns off under full throttle

Bartman619 · 08-21-2011, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator328i

Do you notice any significant power reduction with the A/C on?

Yep, there's parasitic losses from the A/C belt when the A/C is on. I always turn off the A/C whe i'm trying to accelerate in the fwy or up a hill or mountain.

roundle · 08-21-2011, 12:31 AM

2011 328iT w/ 6MT here. Have not noticed an issue with power or driving.

One thing that I have noticed: The AC is automatically shut off at wide-open-throttle. The green light on the dash remains one; the only way you can tell is that the AC temp drops. This is most noticeable on very hot days, when you're taking the car from 0-130+ (Autobahn).

kvanriper · 08-21-2011, 10:52 AM

2011 328i I do not notice any difference with ac on or off, engine seems very fast and smooth.

Dark_Knight_335 · 08-21-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iflyjetzzz

How do you turn off the A/C? My car didn't come with a manual ...

Seriously though, I live in Tucson. I can't think of the last time I had my A/C off. I'll mess with it the next time I drive.

LOL. Don't you love those posts?

macstoy · 08-21-2011, 12:07 PM

I have not noticed any loss.

TwinTuning · 08-21-2011, 12:43 PM

Power pulley kit will help with the A/C load.

raleedy · 08-21-2011, 01:37 PM

Yes. Did you think it was a freebie?

CJ421 · 08-21-2011, 04:02 PM

I think you're almost guaranteed to notice it with a standard transmission. In my 335i, I have to shift slightly faster when the A/C is on since the revs fall faster.

1997gtx · 08-21-2011, 04:20 PM

Haven't noticed a difference in my 08 328xi.

driverman · 08-21-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvanriper

2011 328i I do not notice any difference with ac on or off, engine seems very fast and smooth.

+1 (6MT)

Nugget64 · 08-21-2011, 06:19 PM

seriously........?? I didn't even know this happened.. you guys actually feel a NOTICEABLE loss in power with the A/C on????

Tom K. · 08-21-2011, 06:22 PM

As with virtually every other car I've owned, the power loss from A/C is noticeable on both my 128i and 328i (both MT) primarily at low rpms, but not really objectionable.

However the fuel mileage penalty seems to be about 10~15%.

Tom

JS82 · 08-21-2011, 06:44 PM

I thought it was quite normal that a running AC takes like 5-10 hp.
You'll definitely feel it when driving a MT.
It's not smooth but there's not a huge power loss.
I agree that the revs fall faster and you have to shift faster.

33beto · 08-23-2011, 12:20 PM

Fact of life. AC ON robs HP period.

08-20-2011, 07:39 PM	#1
Gator328i Second Lieutenant 56 Rep 235 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue E92 328i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gainesville, FL iTrader: (0)	Question for 328i owners Do you notice any significant power reduction with the A/C on? __________________
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08-20-2011, 08:10 PM	#3
Gator328i Second Lieutenant 56 Rep 235 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue E92 328i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gainesville, FL iTrader: (0)	I'm a little surprised by just how much. I don't remember the AC being as big a drag on the M54 engine. __________________
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08-20-2011, 08:52 PM	#4
Wissam Private First Class 20 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2007 e90 328I Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: GTA, Canada iTrader: (3)	I have 6MT and the car becomes a chore to drive and shift smoothly...
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08-20-2011, 09:02 PM	#5
iflyjetzzz First Lieutenant 46 Rep 320 Posts Drives: 2008 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tucson, AZ iTrader: (0)	How do you turn off the A/C? My car didn't come with a manual ... Seriously though, I live in Tucson. I can't think of the last time I had my A/C off. I'll mess with it the next time I drive.
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08-21-2011, 12:17 AM	#8
Kolyan2k Major General 930 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	isn't power reduction is something like 20% in most cars? I also know that in some cars ac automatically turns off under full throttle
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08-21-2011, 12:31 AM	#10
roundle EXPAT 65 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 18 VW GTI;18 CX9;11 E91 N52 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	2011 328iT w/ 6MT here. Have not noticed an issue with power or driving. One thing that I have noticed: The AC is automatically shut off at wide-open-throttle. The green light on the dash remains one; the only way you can tell is that the AC temp drops. This is most noticeable on very hot days, when you're taking the car from 0-130+ (Autobahn).
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08-21-2011, 10:52 AM	#11
kvanriper New Member 0 Rep 23 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	2011 328i I do not notice any difference with ac on or off, engine seems very fast and smooth.
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08-21-2011, 12:07 PM	#13
macstoy Car Addict 7 Rep 69 Posts Drives: retired: 1995 325i \| 2005 325 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: PacNW iTrader: (0)	I have not noticed any loss. __________________ Ordered March 23, 2011 / Delivery May 13, 2011 2011 328i coupe\|Vermillion Red\|Saddle Brown\| \|Steptronic\|Dark Walnut\|Conv\|Prem\|Navi\|HK\| \|Comfort\|Heated\|Sat Radio\|
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08-21-2011, 12:43 PM	#14
TwinTuning Captain 19 Rep 712 Posts Drives: E90 335I Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: HERE iTrader: (7)	Power pulley kit will help with the A/C load.
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08-21-2011, 01:37 PM	#15
raleedy Colonel 160 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 2016 228i 6-speed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	Yes. Did you think it was a freebie?
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08-21-2011, 04:02 PM	#16
CJ421 Brigadier General 1561 Rep 4,109 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blue Bell, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.50]	I think you're almost guaranteed to notice it with a standard transmission. In my 335i, I have to shift slightly faster when the A/C is on since the revs fall faster. __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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08-21-2011, 04:20 PM	#17
1997gtx Lieutenant 10 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 08 328xi \| 08 S5 \| 02 S4 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Haven't noticed a difference in my 08 328xi. __________________ 08 328xi - SOLD \| 08 S5 \| 02 S4
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08-21-2011, 06:19 PM	#19
Nugget64 Banned 19 Rep 282 Posts Drives: 325i Sport Pkg Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	seriously........?? I didn't even know this happened.. you guys actually feel a NOTICEABLE loss in power with the A/C on????
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08-21-2011, 06:22 PM	#20
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	As with virtually every other car I've owned, the power loss from A/C is noticeable on both my 128i and 328i (both MT) primarily at low rpms, but not really objectionable. However the fuel mileage penalty seems to be about 10~15%. Tom
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08-21-2011, 06:44 PM	#21
JS82 Captain 29 Rep 659 Posts Drives: '08 E92 328i 6MT Jet Black Join Date: May 2010 Location: PA USA iTrader: (12)	I thought it was quite normal that a running AC takes like 5-10 hp. You'll definitely feel it when driving a MT. It's not smooth but there's not a huge power loss. I agree that the revs fall faster and you have to shift faster.
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08-23-2011, 12:20 PM	#22
33beto Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 275 Posts Drives: R.I.P. 08 E90 328i/GM 6L45E Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Fact of life. AC ON robs HP period.
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