BMW M4

NathWraith said:
Straight 6 > V8
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Driven both and would agree, BMW straight 6 are very characterful engines. For me the V8 made an OK noise but nowhere near V8 as expected, too quiet and felt very lacking in torque, infact the S54 felt more torque and responsive. In fairness more likely the weight of E9x, am sure that V8 in an E46 would be epic.

But and here I am mentioning it again, the CSL, power everywhere 8000rpm and a soundtrack so stunning, the S6 they ever did was the S54. :)

Though irrelevant of how things felt the V8 M3's were faster, just for me the E9x M3's were not an event to drive, mainly due to the weight, am sure a 1500kg CS version would be superb, but they only did the GTS which was too expensive and too hardcore for the road, I know I've being in one. :)
 
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Clarkey said:
Apparently it helps to be accurate when being a pedant, who knew. I'm tired and was thinking of the NA inline 6's.
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There are not more M3's without NA inline sixes either?

Whichever way you look at it, the Inline Six is the most common form the M3 has ever appeared in. They have produced almost 150,000 M3's with a 6 cylinder engine.
 
But isn't this the first M3 not to have its engine designed and built by the M division? (S14, S50, S54 and S65)

Given the choice would they have chosen the N55 engine to replace the S65 in the E90/2/3 ? or was this to save money? oh and meet emissions...

M used to be special, now it seems to be like confetti across the BMW range.
 
JackRegan said:
But isn't this the first M3 not to have its engine designed and built by the M division? (S14, S50, S54 and S65)
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It's engine is designed and built by the M division so not, it's not the 'first'.

The engines you mention were also based on production engines... the S54 didn't appear from scratch, it was an M50 originally....
 
[TW]Fox;26501857 said:
It's engine is designed and built by the M division so not, it's not the 'first'.

The engines you mention were also based on production engines... the S54 didn't appear from scratch, it was an M50 originally....
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Just what I was told by the dealer.

This engine has been given to the M division to tune and do what they do whereas the other engines M had an input in for want of a better word and those engines didn't appear in any non M model

F80<E92<E46
 
The engine in the M3 doesn't appear in any non M model. It is not an N55.

It is based on an N55, sure, but then the S50 and S54 were based on an M50 so the difference is what?
 
A better question would be why the heck did they make the coupe an M4 when M3 is the iconic name which everybody knows. I don't understand the separation of saloon and coupe at all.
 
I don't intend getting into what model number or what they are based on discussion as I don't have the in depth knowledge or the BMW engine build history to hand.

In simple terms BMW only put the 4000cc V8 in their M3, there 3.2 I6 was only put in the E46 M3 etc. They may have been based on engine variant X, but these were reworked by the M division. It is my understanding this is not the case for the replacement M3/4.
 
Clarkey said:
A better question would be why the heck did they make the coupe an M4 when M3 is the iconic name which everybody knows. I don't understand the separation of saloon and coupe at all.
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They were originally going to introduce the M4 designation with the E9x cars. Instead they went with 90, 92 and 93 for saloon, coupe and drop top.

But as you say, the M3 is almost universally associated with a coupe. Should have made the M4 the saloon. M3, M4, M5, coupe, saloon, big saloon. Makes more sense in my head anyway than M3 = saloon, M4 = coupe
 
Clarkey said:
A better question would be why the heck did they make the coupe an M4 when M3 is the iconic name which everybody knows. I don't understand the separation of saloon and coupe at all.
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I'm assuming it's just the in thing atm, seeing as the likes of Audi having been doing it for a while.

I think they've also stated that by having a different model number/name they can make the coupe a bit more focused and sporty vs the saloon equivalent which was more difficult previously.
 
alx said:
I think they've also stated that by having a different model number/name they can make the coupe a bit more focused and sporty vs the saloon equivalent which was more difficult previously.
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Yea, the badge on the back really helps with that :p
 
So I went to my BMW dealership today as my E92 M3 needed its first MOT. I had already arranged with Mark (an awesome salesman at Sandal Huddersfield) to go for a 'spin' in a new M3, and true to his word he didn't let me down.

Initial impressions, looks awesome. It was black with red leather. Seats are much better than the E92 and the centre display very much 'HD'. Love the iDrive system as a whole, much better than any offerings from Audi and Mercedes hands down.

Seating position was characteristically BMW, excellent. Overall visibility out of the car is better than the E92 as well, but this may be because I drive a coupe and this was the saloon.

Start button - not much engine noise inside the cabin - not even the synthesised rubbish they insist on these days. Driving around on normal roads with EDC in comfort was still quite a bumpy ride, definitely stiffer than the outgoing E92.

Torque, and there is plenty of it, is very useable throughout the range. With M1 and then M2 used, its quite easy to allow the rear to slip but equally easy to catch it without much bother. Now obviously this car had 150 miles on the clock, I wasn't pushing it to within 7/10ths of what it is capable of, but on public roads it felt very nippy indeed and the torque/power bars on the display looked awesome.

Also looking awesome was the heads up display...my fav piece! Not having to take your eye off the road to know your doing some insane speeds is great and is definitely a feature I would want in my next BMW!

Handling - superb. Very well sorted chassis, loads of grip - partly no doubt due to it wearing some brand new super sports but progressive and very easy to control.

Sound - terrible! The engine sounds average at best but then you get the artificial noise and for me it just feels totally detached. Now I'm not saying the E92 sounds great, it does (probably nowhere near loud enough inside the cabin), but at least everything you hear is coming directly from the car and it just sounds so much better!

Overall, for everyday use I would get a new M3 in a heartbeat. The power is so much more useable than the E92, no need to flick it down 5 gears to get in the power band! But then if an M3 is a driver's car then it should be designed to be driven...something I told myself as I made quick progress through snakes pass in the Peak district on the way back.

I won't be giving up on my E92 anytime soon. The V8 is just too special and that is the problem with the new M3/4..nothing about it felt special.

EDIT - just added a pic...

MgY6HZ7.jpg
 
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First M4 to crash? :(

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Everyone seems to say the same, the performance is great, the chassis is potentially their best yet, but when it comes to the engine everone just seems to think its not so special.

F1 went turbo-charged and they sound absolutely rubbish, looks like new cars are heading the same direction. :(

M cars of old have always had epic soundtracks, particular S54 in the M3 and the V10 in the E60 M5, stunning stunning engines and cars you can now pickup for a great price.

I can't stop going out in mine since fitting the CSL air box, its addictive!! :D
 
Gibbo said:
Everyone seems to say the same, the performance is great, the chassis is potentially their best yet, but when it comes to the engine everone just seems to think its not so special.

F1 went turbo-charged and they sound absolutely rubbish, looks like new cars are heading the same direction. :(

M cars of old have always had epic soundtracks, particular S54 in the M3 and the V10 in the E60 M5, stunning stunning engines and cars you can now pickup for a great price.

I can't stop going out in mine since fitting the CSL air box, its addictive!! :D
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This is exactly what i'm on about! A big V8 is something special due entirely to the fact that not many cars in the UK sport such an indulgent 8 cylinder power plant.


[TW]Fox;26500727 said:
So what? BMW are reknowned for Straight Six engines. It's hardly a travesty, infact in the entire history of the M3 only one has ever had a V8. The BMW Straight Six is an iconic powerplant, its hardly as if it's just got a turbo four, is it?

Plus I hear that the turbo six can provide zero cost motoring ;)
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I know that many of the hardcore M Sport owners and fans demand a normally-aspirated vehicle, which could only add to the smoothness of the power delivery and running. As well as e-peen status for having a rare big engine.

I don't think a normally aspirated straight-six would deliver the performance befitting of a modern M3/M4 without any forced induction.

My N57 is hardly zero cost motoring, but the range provides some placebo effect of value for money!
 
Been to have a look at one today, looks better in real life than in the pics, the mirrors are gorgeous

downside is that interior is very bland except the steering wheel which is lovely
 
The new M3 is the best all round performance car on sale. In black with red leather... EPIC! :cool:

I can see the annoyance at the engine - I personally ******* hate the synthetic stuff - but the figures show that the engine is better than the previous, improving on general day to day driving too. But, the previous V8 had a character that this one will never have and that's a huge shame. For me, it's like the 4C. One single part lets the whole package down. :(
 
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