Down to the engine: pick engine code and PS

What an engine entry contains

An entry consists of an engine code and power in PS, separated by a middle dot: "325i · 218 PS" for a car, "1000 RR Fireblade · 178 PS" for the Honda CBR. The line does not show kilowatts or fuel. For some electric cars the code in the catalog is "EV", for example "EV · 238 PS". The catalog lives on the server, so new entries arrive without an app update.

When the "Engine (type)" field appears

The field follows generation or body style and appears only when the chosen variant has more than one engine. If there is exactly one, the app fills it in itself. For cars the list gets long: the 3er E90 sedan has 65 entries in the catalog, the E93 Cabrio has 28. On motorcycles almost every series has a single variant without a generation, so the engine follows the model series directly. The Honda CBR lists 65 engines. In the search field ("Search…") a part of the entry is enough, such as "325i" or "218".

Same code, different power

The same engine code often exists in several power levels. In the E93 the 325i appears twice in the catalog: "325i · 218 PS" (12/2006 - 02/2010) and "325i · 204 PS" (03/2010 - 10/2013). The E90 has the "325i 3.0" with 211 and with 218 PS. The PS figure in the line tells such entries apart. If even code and PS match but the production period differs, the catalog appends the model years, for example "650 (169) · 34 PS (11/1996 - 04/2003)" on the BMW F.

What goes into the model name

With the engine, the app completes the model name. BMW, 3er, generation E93 Cabrio and the 325i with 218 PS give "BMW 3er (E93) Cabrio 325i · 218 PS (12/2006 - 02/2010)". The app takes the model year from the engine, so the "Model year" field drops out once an engine is chosen. On the Honda CBR the entry "1000 RR Fireblade · 178 PS" becomes the name "CBR 1000 RR Fireblade · 178 PS (01/2013 - …)". The three dots stand for an open end in the catalog.

Model comparison: who counts as the same model

The "Model comparison" filter in the Battle tab offers your vehicles by make and model. After that the leaderboard shows only riders with the same make and model entry. The whole model text is compared, regardless of upper or lower case and of spaces at the edges. Because the engine is part of the text, "325i · 218 PS" and "325i · 204 PS" are two different models. Anyone who stopped at the generation lands in a different group from someone with an engine. For as many comparison riders as possible pick fewer levels, for the same power level pick the engine.

Maintenance intervals by engine code

When you set up maintenance, the app looks for a fitting rule in the model text. On BMW cars two stored rules hang on the engine code: if a petrol code such as "325i" is in the text, the petrol rule applies, with an oil change after 25,000 km or 24 months. For diesel codes such as "320d" the diesel rule applies, with 30,000 km or 24 months. If the model has no engine code, neither applies, and without another match the app suggests general values. The numbers are non-binding guidelines, and the service booklet and owner's manual take precedence. More on this is on the page about maintenance intervals.

Limits

When you edit a vehicle, the picker opens with the saved engine. If several engines with the same code are on offer, the PS figure in the saved name decides. The app does not accept an engine that is missing from the list by hand. The picker does offer "Enter manually" for unknown text, but in the "Engine (type)" field the value stays empty. The app takes free text for make and model series. The data comes from a spare-parts catalog and can have gaps. The PS figure is a catalog value, and DriveBattle does not measure engine power. Picking the engine is not a Premium feature. The page about the vehicle catalog describes the way through all levels.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pick my vehicle's engine in DriveBattle?

Open Settings, then "Vehicles", and tap "Add vehicle". Pick make, model series and generation. After that "Engine (type)" appears as soon as the variant has more than one engine. During first-time setup the same picker sits in the "Your vehicle" step.

How do I find out how much PS my car has?

In the app you pick the matching entry from the catalog, and the line shows the PS, for example "325i · 218 PS". Where the power is written in your vehicle papers is not something this page answers.

Does DriveBattle measure my vehicle's power?

No. The PS figure is a value from the catalog. DriveBattle does not measure engine power.

My engine is missing from the list. What happens?

Free text typed into the "Engine (type)" field is not accepted, even though the sheet shows "Enter manually". The field stays empty. You can pick the closest entry or leave the engine open. Then the model name ends at model and generation.

Why does my engine appear several times with different PS figures?

The same engine code exists in the catalog with several power levels and production periods. For the 325i in the E93 these are 218 PS (12/2006 - 02/2010) and 204 PS (03/2010 - 10/2013). With the same code and the same PS the catalog appends the model years to the entry.

Does the engine count in the model comparison?

Yes. The engine is part of the model text, and the filter compares the whole text. "325i · 218 PS" and "325i · 204 PS" therefore count as different models.

Does the engine affect the maintenance intervals?

On BMW cars, yes: the engine code in the model text decides between the petrol and the diesel rule. For other rules the model name decides, such as "R 1250" on the BMW. Without a match the app suggests general values.

Does picking the engine cost anything?

No. Choosing the engine is not a Premium feature.