[RichReg]

Originally Posted by Garrett

V8's are big because of their design... but they do not weigh any more. A tree is BIG, but it is mostly air. V8's have a huge gap between the bank of cylinders... thats AIR. Thus the V designation.

Also, since V8's are short they can sit back deeper in the engine bay thus giving you a 50/50 weight distribution. HERE, look at this photo of an M3 GTR with a V8, notice all the room..?
-Garrett

This is exactly why I think that its quite possible that BMW could create
a 3.5 V6 engine for the 335 that is derived from one of their smaller V8s.

Think about it....with all of the other technology they've used in the 3.0 liter, they have the potential to create a normally aspirated beast of an engine that will destroy the other competitor's 3.5 liter equivalents.

[Bimmerista]

I think that BMW's history of inline 6s is so strong that, despite its limitations in increasing displacement without increasing the hood and upsetting the balance - BMW will stick with inline 6.

The only V engine coming into the 3 is the V8 of the M3, derived from the V10 of the M5/6

[RichReg]

According to what Garrett is saying, a V8 doesn't weigh much more and actually can go back farther into the bay for a better weight distribution. Wouldn't a V6 do even better in that capacity?

All the competitors have them....why wouldn't BMW follow suit? If the turbo doesn't make it here to the U.S. what other possible variant could there be?

[Mark]

Originally Posted by RichReg

According to what Garrett is saying, a V8 doesn't weigh much more and actually can go back farther into the bay for a better weight distribution. Wouldn't a V6 do even better in that capacity?

All the competitors have them....why wouldn't BMW follow suit? If the turbo doesn't make it here to the U.S. what other possible variant could there be?

BMW is not going to make a V6 anytime soon. the inline-6 is BMWs proven design, and the basic architecture has been the underpinning of all bmw I-6s for many many many many many years. BMW has been able to extract alot of power and keep the engine very well balanced on its i-6 design and it has become somewhat of an engineering marvel in engineering circles.

For BMW to drop the I-6 for a V-6 would be like van gogh dropping his paintbrushes and start spraypainting graffiti on subways

Well, thats an exaggeration, and it wouldn't be that bad, but the I-6 really is a technical marvel for BMW and is their trademark. There was alot of pressure on BMW in the 90s to produce a V-6 because they are easier to make and hence more economical on the production side of things, but thankfully BMW stuck to its roots!

[Bimmerista]

Originally Posted by RichReg

According to what Garrett is saying, a V8 doesn't weigh much more and actually can go back farther into the bay for a better weight distribution. Wouldn't a V6 do even better in that capacity?

All the competitors have them....why wouldn't BMW follow suit? If the turbo doesn't make it here to the U.S. what other possible variant could there be?

You are absolutely right about the V6-except that an inline engine is inherently smoother. BMW will not do that because the inline 6 has become part of its DNA - like the boxer engine-in-the back has become part of the 911 DNA, despite its inherent disadvantages.


If the turbo doesn't make it here, well get the same 3.0 inline 6 with direct injection and more software tuning to have an equivalent displacment of 3.5, however, it is anyone's guess as to the horsepower.

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by RichReg

According to what Garrett is saying, a V8 doesn't weigh much more and actually can go back farther into the bay for a better weight distribution. Wouldn't a V6 do even better in that capacity?

All the competitors have them....why wouldn't BMW follow suit? If the turbo doesn't make it here to the U.S. what other possible variant could there be?

BMW will not produce a V6... why would they follow their opponents who all try to meet BMW's benchmark?? This is pure foolishness. The inline 6 is something that BMW founded their vehicle production on and still do to this day.

Sure, a V6 could offer a more centralized mass, but at what cost? Increased vibrations, less smoothness, crappier sound, BMWs soul?

I think that a bigger version of the current straight six is not out of the question... Alpina have made many 3.4 liter engines out of some of the older BMW 3.2 liter US M3 E36 straight-six engines... I think it is possible to do something similar with the current straight six.

However, I don't think that it is unreasonable to consider the possiblity that BMW may take an updated iteration of the engine that was in the E60 535i (it was a 3.6 liter Valvetronic V8 that was sold in Europe... the 535i was later updated to be 540i when the 545i moved to 550i) and drop this into the E90 and call it 335i for North America... especially if they do not want to release a gasoline turbo engine in North America. They have done such things in the past... for example, we got an M540i in 1995 that was the European M5 chassis with a 4.0 liter V8 that was used in the regular 540i at the time.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

BMW will not produce a V6... why would they follow their opponents who all try to meet BMW's benchmark?? This is pure foolishness. The inline 6 is something that BMW founded their vehicle production on and still do to this day.

Sure, a V6 could offer a more centralized mass, but at what cost? Increased vibrations, less smoothness, crappier sound, BMWs soul?

I think that a bigger version of the current straight six is not out of the question... Alpina have made many 3.4 liter engines out of some of the older BMW 3.2 liter US M3 E36 straight-six engines... I think it is possible to do something similar with the current straight six.

However, I don't think that it is unreasonable to consider the possiblity that BMW may take an updated iteration of the engine that was in the E60 535i (it was a 3.6 liter Valvetronic V8 that was sold in Europe... the 535i was later updated to be 540i when the 545i moved to 550i) and drop this into the E90 and call it 335i for North America... especially if they do not want to release a gasoline turbo engine in North America. They have done such things in the past... for example, we got an M540i in 1995 that was the European M5 chassis with a 4.0 liter V8 that was used in the regular 540i at the time.

I don't get it....wouldn't a V8 cause just as much (if not more):

1)Harshness
2)Vibration
3)Unpleasant sound

...than would a V6, which is smaller? Doesn't make much sense from a business point of view to use a V8 if you have the technology & engineering capabilities to build an awesome V6 instead...especially since six cylinder engines are essentially what you specialize in above all others.

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by RichReg

I don't get it....wouldn't a V8 cause just as much (if not more):

1)Harshness
2)Vibration
3)Unpleasant sound

...than would a V6, which is smaller? Doesn't make much sense from a business point of view to use a V8 if you have the technology & engineering capabilities to build an awesome V6 instead...especially since six cylinder engines are essentially what you specialize in above all others.

Have you ever driven a BMW V8 before? They are smoother than straight sixes (not harsher), they sound very nice (not any nicer than the straight six, but they sound great) and they seem to spin with turbine like smoothness (I have never felt any hint vibration from a BMW V8 even though they probably do vibrate more than a straight six). I drove an E39 540i and an E60 545i before and I felt this way about both.

Logically, you might think that the V8 would have the attributes you discussed above, but BMW has been making them for a while now and they seem to somehow avoid all of these negative aspects.

[Bimmerista]

The BMW V engines - 8; 10; 12 are AS smooth as the inline 6 (not more so), due to the use of counterbalancing shafts.

The inline engine configuration (any size) does not require countebalacing shafts because the cylinder vibrations cancel each other out (oversimplifying for the purpose of discussion).

BMW would have loved to be able to inline all of their engines, but a car with 8 or 12 cylinders would end up looking more like the Jag E type of the 50s/60s and have a weight distribution about as balanced as that as well.


For reasons of size, packaging and driving dynamics, switching to V configuration for engines having a displacement larger than 6 cylinders has been adopted by BMW. But since their 6 started as inline, it has remained so, having been refined to the point of quasi-perfection. To move away from that, even if indeed it would allow for greater displacement and the smoothness could be matched, would, from a MARKETING perspective, be even more difficult for BMW than adopting turbo. Heck, that is why they are adopting turbo for (at least and for now if so) other than NA markets - to compensate for the fact that they maxed out the current inline six without reworking the engine from scratch - increased size etc.

[0700700]

well obviously we wont be seeing anything this year

[Ed_330i]

well, TVR has a 4.0L Inline 6 that makes 400BHP+

the M5 that graced these shores in the early 90s had a 3.8 something L inline 6 which made quite a bit of power as well.

[Tine]

...

It's not good to break a norm,
It's just easier to perform,
A prophet's duty is to inform,
3er Coupe is coming with a desert storm.

...

[RichReg]

Hmmm......very creative.
More marketing quotes from your "source", I take it?

[slickster]

I'm waiting for the Haikus and Limericks.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by MarkE90M3

BMW is not going to make a V6 anytime soon. the inline-6 is BMWs proven design, and the basic architecture has been the underpinning of all bmw I-6s for many many many many many years. BMW has been able to extract alot of power and keep the engine very well balanced on its i-6 design and it has become somewhat of an engineering marvel in engineering circles.

For BMW to drop the I-6 for a V-6 would be like van gogh dropping his paintbrushes and start spraypainting graffiti on subways

Well, thats an exaggeration, and it wouldn't be that bad, but the I-6 really is a technical marvel for BMW and is their trademark. There was alot of pressure on BMW in the 90s to produce a V-6 because they are easier to make and hence more economical on the production side of things, but thankfully BMW stuck to its roots!

It would be like Apple switching to Intel... hmmmm, bad choice... don't go there!

just kidding.

Mark is right on the money... if they started making V6 cars, they may as well start making FWD cars for good measure. The 1 Series proves BMW is very very very serious about maintaining its DNA intact.

V6 + BMW - Just say "NO!"

[SpeedFreak!]

Originally Posted by MarkE90M3

BMW is not going to make a V6 anytime soon. the inline-6 is BMWs proven design, and the basic architecture has been the underpinning of all bmw I-6s for many many many many many years. BMW has been able to extract alot of power and keep the engine very well balanced on its i-6 design and it has become somewhat of an engineering marvel in engineering circles.

For BMW to drop the I-6 for a V-6 would be like van gogh dropping his paintbrushes and start spraypainting graffiti on subways

Well, thats an exaggeration, and it wouldn't be that bad, but the I-6 really is a technical marvel for BMW and is their trademark. There was alot of pressure on BMW in the 90s to produce a V-6 because they are easier to make and hence more economical on the production side of things, but thankfully BMW stuck to its roots!

That should be ear marked as the E90Post "Quote of the Year" for 2005...

[crex]

well any updates speedfreak???

[SpeedFreak!]

Originally Posted by crex

well any updates speedfreak???

Nothing new, I'm sorry to say. Same as before. As I said before... the earliest that we will see an official release from BMW will be mid-January... at the latest, March in Geneva at the Auto show. I'm rather certain that we will see an official release sooner, rather then later.

[Tine]

My update:

The heat is built,
My lips are sealed,
Rising a shield,
The car is soon to be revealed.

Hoping for first leaks,
From some babblilng beaks,
We will reach the peaks,
In about two weeks.

All I can say,
I have to obey,
Until comes the day,
From a prophet's say.

Years are passing by,
The E46 3er Coupe is going to die,
It's time to say goodbye,
You know the reason why.

The new Coupe is born,
Coming in a perfect form,
The competitors will be torn,
He will set a new norm.

Prophet com from nowhere to inform,
E92 Coupe is coming with a desert storm.

[deadfresh]

Desert Storm
Jan 16, 1991 - The air war started Jan 17 at 2:38 a.m. (local time) or January 16 at 6:38PM EST due to an 8 hour time difference, with an Apache helicopter attack.

:rocks:

[deadfresh]

Hey Tine! ^ Whats up with that ^

[Tine]

Originally Posted by deadfresh

Hey Tine! ^ Whats up with that ^

I've got very rich imagination.