How do BMW test their engines for reliability?

jhbodle · 06-16-2006, 06:30 AM

I saw a TV programme the other day about the new Ford Focus ST released in Europe with a 2.5l turbocharged engine. They showed how they tested the engine before it went into production - they ran it on a test bench at full revs for 2 whole weeks.

Does anyone know how BMW test their engines? Any videos on the subject?

E90Fleet · 06-16-2006, 09:29 AM

Many ways, from test muels running all day everyday in every type of weather around the world to bench testing in special engine labs

rossmelvin · 06-16-2006, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhbodle

I saw a TV programme the other day about the new Ford Focus ST released in Europe with a 2.5l turbocharged engine. They showed how they tested the engine before it went into production - they ran it on a test bench at full revs for 2 whole weeks.

Does anyone know how BMW test their engines? Any videos on the subject?

that is a volvo engine, i would like to see how they as well

E90Fleet · 06-16-2006, 09:36 AM

Here is a N52 test engine in a engine test chamber at BMWs engine plant in Steyr Austria

E90Fleet · 06-16-2006, 09:38 AM

Ofcourse wheels, tires and brakes also get tested

voltron1011 · 06-16-2006, 10:41 AM

Man, I hate it when my brakes get red hot.

Dawg Nuts · 06-16-2006, 10:57 AM

Wow that's pretty intense!!

jhbodle · 06-16-2006, 11:32 AM

Thanks for the great pictures Fleet.

Any idea of how long they run the engines for in that chamber at maximum revs? Would be interesting to compare it to Ford's test.

txusa03 · 06-16-2006, 11:45 AM

That is a cool image of the engine, the heart of the e90. Don't forget they also test in death valley...

pawarrant · 06-16-2006, 12:03 PM

Is this the add you were referring to?

jhbodle · 06-16-2006, 12:11 PM

Lol that poor hamster has to run at full revs for 2 straight weeks!

Actually the hamster engine brings up another point - the 2.5l engine in the 325i makes 218bhp. The 2.5l engine in the Ford is turbocharged and gives...220bhp. Wow, 2 more hp. Shows how good BMW engines are.

txusa03 · 06-16-2006, 01:06 PM

dude, lol. That is the ever famous endurance test to see who lasts longer, the hamster or the engine. (engine loose hands down-eventually run out of gas)

bavarian19 · 06-16-2006, 01:19 PM

There is a recent episode of fifth gear where they bring an old mercedes to a test track that is specifically designed to test durability. They said that for each mile that its driven on this test track is equal to a few hundred miles in real life... Interesting the testing that goes into it...

There are tons of tests done... cold weather testing, test mules in real life scenarios, labratory like testing of car components... If I were to work for a car company, I would love to work in this department...

kevE90 · 06-16-2006, 03:16 PM

That's a hamster? Poor guy.

325Driver · 06-16-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhbodle

Lol that poor hamster has to run at full revs for 2 straight weeks!

Actually the hamster engine brings up another point - the 2.5l engine in the 325i makes 218bhp. The 2.5l engine in the Ford is turbocharged and gives...220bhp. Wow, 2 more hp. Shows how good BMW engines are.

One thing that is important to remember is the fact that the compression ratio on the Ford engine is probably 2 to 3 points lower than it is on the Bimmer engine in order to cope with the boost. Generally speaking, the higher the compression ratio on a N/A engine the more power you are going to make.

Edit: One more thing to note is the Focus engine has only four cylinders where the 3er engine has six.

voltron1011 · 06-16-2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 325Driver

Edit: One more thing to note is the Focus engine has only four cylinders where the 3er engine has six.

Actually, it's a five cylinder Volvo motor.

monolith · 06-16-2006, 09:07 PM

BMW also doesn't lose $4-5K on each car it sells.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...ndex+page_news

David328M-Sport · 06-17-2006, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txusa03

Don't forget they also test in death valley...

And in freezing cold conditions as well.

Pretty much all over the place in all sorts of conditions

rpiopio · 06-17-2006, 03:46 AM

I think there are some testing videos on the BMW Worldwide website now too. Explore the various pages on their sites to look for them.

THE JEDI · 06-17-2006, 03:52 AM

Well BMW has various test cold weather, hot weather, mostiure, rust and sound proof check....but the final test and most reliable is when they let the Mercedes faithful test drive the car and they go back to STUGGART with this look

on their faces..reminds of the sheep in the woods

Hej · 06-17-2006, 05:05 AM

Is that picture of the red hot brakes for real? Shocking if it is.

jhbodle · 06-17-2006, 05:24 AM

You think that's insane, look at the pic of the engine being tested - the exhaust manifolds are glowing red!

Anyone have more info on that specific test? I'm interested in whether BMW test their engines at max revs for longer than Ford - just to see if their testing is more rigorous

06-16-2006, 06:30 AM	#1
jhbodle Captain 144 Rep 897 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i M-Spo ... [10.00] 2005 E90 325i SE (E ... [0.00]	How do BMW test their engines for reliability? I saw a TV programme the other day about the new Ford Focus ST released in Europe with a 2.5l turbocharged engine. They showed how they tested the engine before it went into production - they ran it on a test bench at full revs for 2 whole weeks. Does anyone know how BMW test their engines? Any videos on the subject?
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06-16-2006, 09:29 AM	#2
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Many ways, from test muels running all day everyday in every type of weather around the world to bench testing in special engine labs __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
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06-16-2006, 09:36 AM	#4
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Here is a N52 test engine in a engine test chamber at BMWs engine plant in Steyr Austria Attached Images __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
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06-16-2006, 09:38 AM	#5
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Ofcourse wheels, tires and brakes also get tested Attached Images __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
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06-16-2006, 10:41 AM	#6
voltron1011 Colonel 119 Rep 2,909 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, FJR-1300 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wiesbaden iTrader: (2)	Man, I hate it when my brakes get red hot.
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06-16-2006, 10:57 AM	#7
Dawg Nuts First Lieutenant 8 Rep 315 Posts Drives: 2007 335 E90 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E90 335 [0.00] 2004 X5 [0.00]	Wow that's pretty intense!!
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06-16-2006, 11:32 AM	#8
jhbodle Captain 144 Rep 897 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i M-Spo ... [10.00] 2005 E90 325i SE (E ... [0.00]	Thanks for the great pictures Fleet. Any idea of how long they run the engines for in that chamber at maximum revs? Would be interesting to compare it to Ford's test.
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06-16-2006, 11:45 AM	#9
txusa03 Major General 548 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	That is a cool image of the engine, the heart of the e90. Don't forget they also test in death valley...
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06-16-2006, 12:03 PM	#10
pawarrant SECDEF 120 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2020 X3 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 X3 xDrive30i [0.00] 2013 328xi [0.00]	Is this the add you were referring to? Attached Images __________________ 2020 X3 xDrive30i Carbon Black/Black Vernasca Leather w/ Blue stitching Retired: 2016 435i M-Sport Alpine White/Black Dakota Leather, 2013 328xi Melbourne Red Metallic/Black Dakota Leather, 2009 328xi Montego Blue Metallic/Saddle Brown Dakota Leather, 2006 325xi Monaco Blue Metallic/Gray Dakota Leather, 2003 325xi Steel Grey Metallic/Black Leather
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06-16-2006, 12:11 PM	#11
jhbodle Captain 144 Rep 897 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i M-Spo ... [10.00] 2005 E90 325i SE (E ... [0.00]	Lol that poor hamster has to run at full revs for 2 straight weeks! Actually the hamster engine brings up another point - the 2.5l engine in the 325i makes 218bhp. The 2.5l engine in the Ford is turbocharged and gives...220bhp. Wow, 2 more hp. Shows how good BMW engines are.
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06-16-2006, 01:06 PM	#12
txusa03 Major General 548 Rep 6,563 Posts Drives: TS330iPPSP6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (3)	dude, lol. That is the ever famous endurance test to see who lasts longer, the hamster or the engine. (engine loose hands down-eventually run out of gas)
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06-16-2006, 01:19 PM	#13
bavarian19 General 517 Rep 18,858 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)	There is a recent episode of fifth gear where they bring an old mercedes to a test track that is specifically designed to test durability. They said that for each mile that its driven on this test track is equal to a few hundred miles in real life... Interesting the testing that goes into it... There are tons of tests done... cold weather testing, test mules in real life scenarios, labratory like testing of car components... If I were to work for a car company, I would love to work in this department...
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06-16-2006, 03:16 PM	#14
kevE90 Lieutenant 21 Rep 574 Posts Drives: F8x Join Date: May 2006 Location: queens, ny iTrader: (0)	That's a hamster? Poor guy.
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06-16-2006, 09:07 PM	#17
monolith Private 10 Rep 72 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	BMW also doesn't lose $4-5K on each car it sells. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...ndex+page_news
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06-17-2006, 03:46 AM	#19
rpiopio First Lieutenant 42 Rep 372 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, 2011 X3 , 2000e39 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW X3 [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	I think there are some testing videos on the BMW Worldwide website now too. Explore the various pages on their sites to look for them. __________________ 2006 330i: Titanium Silver, Black Leatherette, Navigation, European Delivery. 2011 X3 35i, Alpine White, Premium, Technology, Sport Package
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06-17-2006, 03:52 AM	#20
THE JEDI Major 123 Rep 1,461 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 2.5i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: JAPAN, Okinawa iTrader: (0)	Well BMW has various test cold weather, hot weather, mostiure, rust and sound proof check....but the final test and most reliable is when they let the Mercedes faithful test drive the car and they go back to STUGGART with this look on their faces..reminds of the sheep in the woods
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06-17-2006, 05:05 AM	#21
Hej Private First Class 19 Rep 151 Posts Drives: '06 Black Sapphire 330i e90 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, KS iTrader: (0)	Is that picture of the red hot brakes for real? Shocking if it is.
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06-17-2006, 05:24 AM	#22
jhbodle Captain 144 Rep 897 Posts Drives: F90 M5 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i M-Spo ... [10.00] 2005 E90 325i SE (E ... [0.00]	You think that's insane, look at the pic of the engine being tested - the exhaust manifolds are glowing red! Anyone have more info on that specific test? I'm interested in whether BMW test their engines at max revs for longer than Ford - just to see if their testing is more rigorous
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