RE: BMW Bits For New Seven-Style Roadster

[Bill]

MarJay said:

Hm Quick bit of maths. 192bhp 325i engine... 525kg ish... 192 / 0.525 = 365bhp per ton.

That could be fun. Don't tempt me please please!

It'll be more like 625kg unfortunately, and I'm not convinced as a 2l zetec/duratec producing similar power is much lighter. But admittedly more expensive.

Hope this works though, despite my reservations.

[bales]

TISPKJ said:

Rob Crutch said:

I'm sure there is (or was until recently) another kit car company who used the BMW I6 (maybe a lot more of the car too) but forget what it is - I know my brother's neighbor wanted to do one and discussed it at length with him.

The Germans do a kit car thingy called the weissman or something similar that uses M3 stuff and looks like the old austin healey 3000 from memory.

Seen many times at Geneva show, lovely but £50k or something daft !!!!

This is Pistonheads you know, as if you haven't heard of a Weissman!! Don't think they would thank you for calling it a kit car, not really in the same market as this though is it....

[Jellymonster]

The Donster said:

This is likely to sound quite pedantic, but if you're going to take yourself seriously in this business at least use 4 matching tyres on your demo......

ha, hilarious

[threespires]

"The rather more appealing Legend Six (the only current kit car we can think of with a straight-six motor)"

I believe Hawk supply an AC Ace replica with the BMW 6 cyl engine.

[Steve Gunnis]

This is a great idea, wouldn't be interested in a BMW four, better off with a Honda engine if you want four cylinders, an E46 M3 engine (S54) would be my choice, tuned to about 360bhp. Great fun.

[fuoriserie]

a great idea and concept and would be looking forward to seeing a more sevens powered by Bmw engines in the future.

A nice retro inspired coupe with Bmw mechanicals would be a lot of fun.

Wish them the best on this new project...

[james_gt3rs]

That will be an absolute rocket with an M3 engine. Why didn't someone think of this sooner?

[shalmaneser]

Bloody good idea.

Are people still selling kit cars based around the sierra? Are there even any sierras left?!

does this only work for the e46 or is the e36 good as well? Most parts are the same anyway, but if not then they've missed a trick, give that you can pick up an e36 325/8i for 1.2K!

[matfitzpatrick]

TISPKJ said:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?sourceid=navclie...

I love the styling of Weissmann Cars, bit of British classic in there. They have an official agreement with BMW who allow them access to the 'M' parts/engines etc, which apparently is quite a difficult thing to obtain as BMW do not want to damage their name based on other manufacturers poor quality offerings using their parts. They are more of a low volume car than a kit car as, I dont think, there is a donor car required, its all built and designed in-house, save for the engines and gearboxes.

For the money involved this kit car sounds great though, if only I had a spare £7,000 and garage space!

[MarJay]

shalmaneser said:

Bloody good idea.

Are people still selling kit cars based around the sierra? Are there even any sierras left?!

does this only work for the e46 or is the e36 good as well? Most parts are the same anyway, but if not then they've missed a trick, give that you can pick up an e36 325/8i for 1.2K!

My 325i cost £800 with a years ticket so I reckon you could get some rusted/crashed donors for a LOT less.

[MarJay]

MarJay said:

Hm Quick bit of maths. 192bhp 325i engine... 525kg ish... 192 / 0.525 = 365bhp per ton.

That could be fun. Don't tempt me please please!

Surprised no one noticed my deliberate mistake. It wouldn't be 365Bhp per ton, it would be 365Bhp per Tonne.

Damn the metric system!

Even if the car weighs 750kg and my M50 engine only now makes 180bhp, then it would be a good car.

[Tom_C76]

threespires said:

"The rather more appealing Legend Six (the only current kit car we can think of with a straight-six motor)"

I believe Hawk supply an AC Ace replica with the BMW 6 cyl engine.

The Marlin was re-engineered to take E30 or E36 running gear including the i6 engine too.

[briSk]

i like it!
better idea than the westfield based on the mx5 in that a 318i is just a 318i and so is cheap (mx5s will be 'kept going' like midgets and mx5s).

kind of agree on the tyres point. but to be fair a lot of locost people probably like that - it saves money. "if you want to spend too much money on 4 matching tyres buy an 'over-priced' caterham..!"

presumably it's a de dion or live axle like all other se7ens..? on the one hand taking the Z axle would have been nice but then you end up with something that is more robinhood than SEi (or whatever).

if the quality of the kit is up there then this could be a very good option. a 318iS could be a nice base if you found one..

[kambites]

If it's using the BMW half shafts, I'd imagine it's not a live axle?

[BSC]

If you would google after "Wiesmann" you would get a better result:

http://www.wiesmann.com/

That's not a kit-car cottage garage but a real small factory which produces some very expensive vehicles.

[sjw77]

At long last - something useful to do with a BMW...

[Brabus Jord]

The GDK was in the kit mags a good few months ago.

What i would like to see in it is the engine from an E30 M3 still a 4 pot but with much more poke.

now that would be awesome. either way its gonna be a great seller and parts etc are easy to get hold of and cheapish

Good work.

[ads_green]

illmonkey said:

I reckon that'll be a bit slippy, with the only rear directional on the wrong way and all...

Edited by illmonkey on Tuesday 8th December 12:23

It's quite common in the 7 world to mount the tyres "the wrong way round". they are generally designed for much heavier vehicles and people have found they get better dry weather performance out of the tyres on ultra light weight cars.

[illmonkey]

ads_green said:

illmonkey said:

I reckon that'll be a bit slippy, with the only rear directional on the wrong way and all...

Edited by illmonkey on Tuesday 8th December 12:23

It's quite common in the 7 world to mount the tyres "the wrong way round". they are generally designed for much heavier vehicles and people have found they get better dry weather performance out of the tyres on ultra light weight cars.

Only for one side of the car though, right?

[Christoffer]

Love the fact that for at press shoot he has fitted to different types of tires and one of the rear tires has been fitted backwards....

Doesn't feel me with confidence for the rest of the car!