BMW POWER
Forgive my stupid question but does that mean BMW is going to turbocharge a petrol engine? when was the last time they turbocharged a non diesel car?
In a production car? 1974. 2002 Turbo. BMW turbocharged numerous F1 and Group 4 and 5 race car motors in the 70s and 80s.
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Ever-inflating curb weights are a problem across the automotive industry. It is rare when a new model weighs less than the previous model.
Yep. But BMW is the first luxury car manufactuer to actively persue weight reduction as a major part of its product development plan. They even have marketing-speak for it: "intelligent lightweight construction".
The new 5 Series (E60) weighs 50 lbs. LESS than an identically equipped E39 5-Series while being larger in every dimension and stiffer as well. They acheived this mostly by making the entire body structure at the front end entirely of aluminium and refinement of other construction processes.
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Is the whole 3-series block magnesuim? I have never heard of this. Aluminum, yes. Magnesuim I thought was only for oil pans.
Not the entire block. Sorry for being somewhat misleading. The bottom end is a magnesium/aluminium composite. Crank bearings are mag. Crank itself I believe is still forged steel. The rest is aluminium with cast iron cylinder sleeves. The head is aluminium. Head cover is mag.
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You will have to enligthen me on the turbo option on the 3-series. I thought it was BMW's informal policy to make their power with technology but not boost. (Seeing how they have competed with AMG in the past years.)
There's been a lot of buzz about a turbo 6 cylinder in BMW's line up for about 2-3 years now. When the DIESEL bi-turbo came out in the 530d, we all thought "oh, THAT was the turbo six we all heard about." But apparently, the rumors are still rife with news about a PETROL turbo six.
If this is true, then the motor is intended to fill the gap between the 255 hp NA 3.0 liter and the 400 hp NA 4.0 liter M3 in the 3 Series line up. The logical assumption is a low pressure turbo 3.0 based on the R6 running about 6 psi for roughly 300 hp with a FMI.
I don't like the idea personally. I think BMW should have spent that money on a 'big block' 6 based on R6 archecture. But hey, what do I know. I'm just the consumer.
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Also, what is this V8 M3 you speak of? That would be a disaster, with the excess weight over the front wheels. M3's are supposed to be balanced cars.
We are 99% sure the new M3 (2007) will have a V8 based on the 90 degree V10 in the new M5. It will basically be the same motor with 2 cylinders chopped off the end. (long time BMW enthusiasts will remember the 4 cylinder M3 was basically an M1 engine with two cylinders lopped off)
You may not suspect so, but the S54 6 cylinder in today's M3 is quite heavy. (iron block) The previous 400 hp M5 engine (E39) is actually only 50 lbs heavier, while being shorter to boot.
Given the new 500 hp M5 engine is only a few pounds heavier than the old, I think its likely the V8 M3 will end up retaining 50/50 weight distribution and 3400 lb. curb weight while actually reducing weight over the front axle (since the V8 will be shorter). The big question is whether or not the bulky throttle bodies (8 of them) will fit under the windshield base.
M
👍 Not sure how I feel about that. Its supposed to make 300+ hp, though... so maybe its not all bad.
I have to keep them in shape for my future SMG equipped V8 M3.
