New M3 Possibly Getting I6 NOT V8...
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New M3 Possibly Getting I6 NOT V8...
Here is a link to a thread discussing that the upcoming M3 buzz has the car getting an inline 6 cylinder engine instead of the V8, it still being 400hp but it's still not completely confirmed other than the M5 project Mgr. and a mag out of Aussy making the claim (I think that's what I remember reading)...
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...1&page=1&pp=10
Nick
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...1&page=1&pp=10
Nick
Last edited by Nickerz; Nov 18, 2004 at 08:00 PM.
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I find this VERY hard to believe... The I-6 in the current M3 makes more hp than most V8 engines and its history of engine failures demonstrate how high strung that motor already is... Plus the competition (CTS-V, S4, C55) all have V8s.... In 1995 Lotus released the Esprit S4 S which made 300hp from the turbocharged 4-cylinder. They soon realized that little engine needed more cylinders too keep up with the increasing output, so the 350hp Espirt V8 was released. Yeah I know of 400hp 6-cylinder cars, but their engines are rebuilt after they race...It Doesn't make any sense for BMW to use a 6-cylinder in an engine bay where an 8 belongs..
Eric....
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i hope its inline 6, dropping V8 is the easy way out which the real BMW would never take. Yes current motor is high strung, but the exploding motors was not b/c they were too high strung or designed poorly, its b/c BMW wanted to save like $20 a crank bearing and use regular 3 series bearings (STUPID). 3.6L will bring back the BMW "Big Six" which used to be so popular back in the day with the E34 M3 which was probably one of the nicest Inline 6's EVER built. in its stock form it was well ahead of its time and dinan came out with 4.0L stroker kits for the old M3 motor to bump it to the magical 400HP mark, is its already been done before long ago and motor was fine. i think it will be enough torque and HP.
power is not the problem, its WEIGHT . new M3 is so fat its not even funny. its nearly 350lbs more than the E36 M3 and 500+lbs heavier than E30 M3. they need to stop building such heavy cars. I have E36 M3 and I will never sell it ever, its better than new E46 M3 and the orginal i think. with that said my next car will still be AMG
power is not the problem, its WEIGHT . new M3 is so fat its not even funny. its nearly 350lbs more than the E36 M3 and 500+lbs heavier than E30 M3. they need to stop building such heavy cars. I have E36 M3 and I will never sell it ever, its better than new E46 M3 and the orginal i think. with that said my next car will still be AMG
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well it makes sense b/c BMW scrapped the BMW M4 name for the car in order to stay true with the M3 monaker, there for seems like they would stick with the inline 6. dunno, there is plenty of power to be had out of a large displacement inline 6.
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Autocar did say the new M3 would get a 4.0 V8 with 400bhp.... One of the BMW spokesmen said the current motor is already at the limit, no more power can be wrung out of it, hence the CSL is limited to some 360bhp, more power would always be beneficial to its light chassis, but again, engine limitations...
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Originally Posted by Bilal
Autocar did say the new M3 would get a 4.0 V8 with 400bhp.... One of the BMW spokesmen said the current motor is already at the limit, no more power can be wrung out of it, hence the CSL is limited to some 360bhp, more power would always be beneficial to its light chassis, but again, engine limitations...
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Originally Posted by BenzoAMGpower
so in otherwords... a chipped C55 would own a V8 M3!!!
Chipping forced induced cars leads to greater power gains than chipping N/A cars... Chipping a C32 = bye-bye C55....
Eric...
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That's exactly the point why I got a C55 with 5.5 V8 , why waiting for BMW to sort out their own issues, not just because life is short.
There is no replacement for displacement - on the 4th gear with C55 , it is just as smooth and as much as torque than my Accord 2.4 iVTEC. I don't need to tell what happen if the C55 is on its 3rd gear
Honestly , how many C55 owners here really blooody care M3 0-60 is a fraction of second faster or slower?
Honda/Porsche may be able to deliver more power per litre , but don't forget, how many people like to feel like driving a bomb eveyr day ?
There is no replacement for displacement - on the 4th gear with C55 , it is just as smooth and as much as torque than my Accord 2.4 iVTEC. I don't need to tell what happen if the C55 is on its 3rd gear
Honestly , how many C55 owners here really blooody care M3 0-60 is a fraction of second faster or slower?
Honda/Porsche may be able to deliver more power per litre , but don't forget, how many people like to feel like driving a bomb eveyr day ?
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It's feasible to make a relatively reliable high-strung I6 with 400 HP. The motor will need to be around 3.6 liters. Just look at the Porsche Flat-6's, like the new 911 CS.
They can make the new M3 lighter too by using magnesium engine components, plastic/aluminum body parts, and M5's new brakes. I think that the new M5 is no heavier than the old one, despite bigger size and bigger engine.
New M3 = Poor man's Porsche 911 CS??
They can make the new M3 lighter too by using magnesium engine components, plastic/aluminum body parts, and M5's new brakes. I think that the new M5 is no heavier than the old one, despite bigger size and bigger engine.
New M3 = Poor man's Porsche 911 CS??
Last edited by Thai; Nov 20, 2004 at 06:59 PM.
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I still hope the E90 M3 comes with a V8. 
If not, a larger displacement I-6 could be a possiblity, maybe a 4.0L straight six like the one used in the TVR Tuscan. 
Eitherway, my next car will most likely be the next gen M3. 
If not, a larger displacement I-6 could be a possiblity, maybe a 4.0L straight six like the one used in the TVR Tuscan. Eitherway, my next car will most likely be the next gen M3.
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Originally Posted by noka
What does this mean? I never heard of that being a design requirement.
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Originally Posted by Thai
It's feasible to make a relatively reliable high-strung I6 with 400 HP. The motor will need to be around 3.6 liters. Just look at the Porsche Flat-6's, like the new 911 CS.
They can make the new M3 lighter too by using magnesium engine components, plastic/aluminum body parts, and M5's new brakes. I think that the new M5 is no heavier than the old one, despite bigger size and bigger engine.
New M3 = Poor man's Porsche 911 CS??
They can make the new M3 lighter too by using magnesium engine components, plastic/aluminum body parts, and M5's new brakes. I think that the new M5 is no heavier than the old one, despite bigger size and bigger engine.
New M3 = Poor man's Porsche 911 CS??
Yes, but then how much will it cost? $65K? I looked at an 04' E46 M3 which was priced at $60K and change...
Eric....
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A loaded, maxed out E46 330i lists for over $48K; I wouldn't be surprised to see then next 3-series max out at over $50K, and could even approach $55K, if the increase in 5-series is any indication. If so, then the M3 will likely go for around that $65K figure. Definitely not a 'poor man's' anything.
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Originally Posted by RohithT
A loaded, maxed out E46 330i lists for over $48K; I wouldn't be surprised to see then next 3-series max out at over $50K, and could even approach $55K, if the increase in 5-series is any indication. If so, then the M3 will likely go for around that $65K figure. Definitely not a 'poor man's' anything.
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Originally Posted by Thai
Well, maybe not requirement...but something that M is famous for. Just look at the M5...big engine, yet it still has a redline north of 8000...and it has 100hp/L.
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It should be noted that there are rumors of a turbo I6 putting out 340 hp that would slot betwen the 330i and the M3. I'm not sure how it would work marketing-wise to have a turbocharged 6 cylinder model below a n/a six, even though the latter would have more hp; I think people who don't know (the type who don't frequent message boards, i.e., the vast majority of car buyers) would be confused by that. If the turbo I6 does see the light of day, the M3 will likely move up in price to provide a wider berth for the turbo, and may need to have a V8 to 'make up' for the fact that it's wouldn't be turbo'ed.
And for what it's worth (read: not much), BMW's CFO recently said that they won't be boosting prices; well at least not on account on currency fluctuations
And for what it's worth (read: not much), BMW's CFO recently said that they won't be boosting prices; well at least not on account on currency fluctuations
