BMW launches high-revving 320si
Homologation special follows touring car win
BMW 320si with WTC winner
Designed to comply with FIA homologation regulations, only 500 BMW 320si’s are destined for the UK out of 2,600 cars worldwide. All feature a hand-built four-cylinder engine made at BMW’s engine plant at Hams Hall, near Coventry. The high revving 2.0-litre unit delivers 173bhp at 7,000rpm before red-lining at 7,300rpm and 147lb-ft of torque at 4,250rpm.
As you'd expect, performance is OK but not stellar: the BMW accelerates from zero to 62mph in 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 140mph. It delivers 31.7mpg on the combined cycle and conforms to the EU4 emissions regulations.
This compares quite favourably with the £25,180, 320i M Sport, which offers a nine-second dash from zero to 62mph from a 150bhp/148lb-ft engine, and a top speed of 138mph -- but you'll probably have to rev the nuts off the 320si to get the best out of it..
The limited production run of the BMW 320si starts in March 2006 and ends in September 2006, with first customer deliveries expected in April 2006. Retail pricing for the car is still to be confirmed, but expected to be approximately £24,975.
Motorsport engineering
BMW touts the amount of motorsport technology that's gone into the 320si. Compared with the standard BMW 320i, the engine has been significantly modified with larger induction and exhaust valves to increase airflow. The cylinder bore has increased by 1mm to 85mm while the stroke has been reduced by 2mm to 88mm.
The compression ratio of the engine has also been increased from 10.5:1 to 11.0:1, helping to boost power by 23hp over the 320i. Additionally, instead of running with grey-cast-iron cylinder liners, the pistons run in special aluminium-alloy liners in the cylinder block. Engineers have also decided to remove BMW’s patented Valvetronic induction system, reverting to a conventional throttle due to the higher engine speeds demanded by a racing engine.
In a direct link with BMW’s motorsport programmes, the cylinder head is cast at BMW’s Landshut foundry alongside Formula One engine blocks. Additionally, to save approximately 10Kg and lower the car’s centre of gravity, the cylinder head cover is made of carbon fibre.
Chassis
The specification of the 320si is based on the 3 Series M Sport model that includes front and rear aerodynamic body styling, sports seats, sports suspension and aluminium interior trim. Additionally, the BMW 320si features Touring Car-style alloy wheels with BMW Motorsport motif. The front wheels are 8J x 18 fitted with 225/40 R18 tyres while at the rear the 8.5J x 18 wheels are fitted with 255/35 R18 tyres. Finally, mirror caps finished in satin chrome differentiate the car from a standard 3 Series.
World Champion Andy Priaulx
Priaulx was crowned FIA World Touring Car Champion at the final round of the championship in Macau, China on 20 November, the first British world champion since Damon Hill in 1996.
Priaulx won the title with a total of 101 points, with Dirk Muller of BMW Team Deutschland in second with 86 points and Fabrizio Giovanardi driving an Alfa Romeo in third place with 81 points. Priaulx scooped top honours courtesy of consistent driving throughout the season, making it to the podium 11 times. BMW won the manufacturers’ title with a total of 273 points, 37 points more than second placed Alfa Romeo.
I weighed the not insubstantial 8 valve alloy head of a Saab 4 cyl. engine at ten kilograms, including camshaft. The early 16 valve head, again including cams, weighed 20 kilograms and I'd say the late model 9-5 head I'm running now, featuring thinner valve stems, lighter valve springs and a more spohisticated casting, would be less than that.
All of the cam covers I had on these engines (ally) were a couple of kgs at the most.
Although I once did save 155 grams by replacing a spark plug cover with a home-made version out of thinner gauge aluminium...
Look at the M3 CSL! It's not about the numbers on paper, it's about the driving experience.
This new car may have revised suspension, low-inertia engine internals, a gorgeous exhaust note, special dampers...
You can't just look at the engine output and weight and simple things. I'm pretty sure BMW have made it a corker to drive, which is cool. Lets get back to car not needing headline grabbing power figures to sell, let the cars sell on their driveability and fun factor again.
Power isn't really anything if the car is dull as ditch water, so this car will hopefully make up for that.
However, my only gripe is them HUGE wheels for such low power output. 225's at the back would have done, but I can't see 255's doing much but making the car NOT steer on the throttle at all with that engine!
Hmmmm, so maybe a lost cause. Will have to wait and see for reviews!
Dave
At last, someone who 'gets' it... Still wondering about that 10 kg weight saving on the cam cover, though...
Mr Whippy said:
Wow, loads of people just looking at on paper stats AGAIN.
Look at the M3 CSL! It's not about the numbers on paper, it's about the driving experience.
This new car may have revised suspension, low-inertia engine internals, a gorgeous exhaust note, special dampers...
You can't just look at the engine output and weight and simple things. I'm pretty sure BMW have made it a corker to drive, which is cool. Lets get back to car not needing headline grabbing power figures to sell, let the cars sell on their driveability and fun factor again.
Power isn't really anything if the car is dull as ditch water, so this car will hopefully make up for that.
However, my only gripe is them HUGE wheels for such low power output. 225's at the back would have done, but I can't see 255's doing much but making the car NOT steer on the throttle at all with that engine!
Hmmmm, so maybe a lost cause. Will have to wait and see for reviews!
Dave
>> Edited by 900T-R on Friday 25th November 12:06
it" Come on guys if everything was looked at like that, BMW would be like the VW empire; every car is exactly the same with the same bloody 1.8 turbo (or 1.9 turbo diesel) engine!
I commend BMW for building a car with a bespoke (and almost certainly not cost effective) engine, even though ideally more than 173 bhp and 2.0 litres would be nice!
Maybe depending on how this goes down though they'll think about more 'specials' which I for one look forward to!
Russell
pentoman said:
I see the usual moans about 'whats the point'?
Come on guys if everything was looked at like that, BMW would be like the VW empire; every car is exactly the same with the same bloody 1.8 turbo (or 1.9 turbo diesel) engine!
I commend BMW for building a car with a bespoke (and almost certainly not cost effective) engine, even though ideally more than 173 bhp and 2.0 litres would be nice!
Maybe depending on how this goes down though they'll think about more 'specials' which I for one look forward to!
Russell
Well said , BMW make great durable sporty cars give me a break
Mr Whippy said:
Wow, loads of people just looking at on paper stats AGAIN.
Look at the M3 CSL! It's not about the numbers on paper, it's about the driving experience.
This new car may have revised suspension, low-inertia engine internals, a gorgeous exhaust note, special dampers...
You can't just look at the engine output and weight and simple things. I'm pretty sure BMW have made it a corker to drive, which is cool. Lets get back to car not needing headline grabbing power figures to sell, let the cars sell on their driveability and fun factor again.
Power isn't really anything if the car is dull as ditch water, so this car will hopefully make up for that.
However, my only gripe is them HUGE wheels for such low power output. 225's at the back would have done, but I can't see 255's doing much but making the car NOT steer on the throttle at all with that engine!
Hmmmm, so maybe a lost cause. Will have to wait and see for reviews!
Dave
Thats all very well however, the engine is not as powerful as their Italian homologation special e30 320iS from the 1980's.
Admitedly that car would struggle to pass modern emissions regs but 7000rpm is hardly high reving for a 2 litre inline 4, not when you compare it to Hondas vtec engines.
It strikes me that they dont want to make it more powerful than their lower capacity 6 cylinder engines (which is daft as their early M3 pissed on their 6 cylinder rivals).
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