RE: BMW 4 Series: Review
Discussion
kambites said:
aston addict said:
BMW may blame pedestrian regulations - so how do other manufacturers get it right?
As a rule, they don't use (tall, long) inline six engines.I wonder if BMW will ditch the I6 in the next generation 3-series for this very reason?
Rumours were floating around the net last year that BMW had evaluated going to V6 for the new 3/4 Series, but higher development costs and probably other additional factors meant the idea was dropped in favour of further development of the existing N55 units.
aeropilot said:
kambites said:
aston addict said:
BMW may blame pedestrian regulations - so how do other manufacturers get it right?
As a rule, they don't use (tall, long) inline six engines.I wonder if BMW will ditch the I6 in the next generation 3-series for this very reason?
Rumours were floating around the net last year that BMW had evaluated going to V6 for the new 3/4 Series, but higher development costs and probably other additional factors meant the idea was dropped in favour of further development of the existing N55 units.
kambites said:
aeropilot said:
kambites said:
aston addict said:
BMW may blame pedestrian regulations - so how do other manufacturers get it right?
As a rule, they don't use (tall, long) inline six engines.I wonder if BMW will ditch the I6 in the next generation 3-series for this very reason?
Rumours were floating around the net last year that BMW had evaluated going to V6 for the new 3/4 Series, but higher development costs and probably other additional factors meant the idea was dropped in favour of further development of the existing N55 units.
kambites said:
aeropilot said:
Ah.....I thought you meant the next generation, rather than the next-next generation
I don't think I understand. Current generation = 2012 onwards F30
Next generation = 2020ish onwards
The F30 must have been out nearly a year, you can't call it "next generation".
But, yes, as for what's 5-6 years down the road for the version after this, who knows.
aeropilot said:
I was refering to the rumours of the V6 being evaluated were out BEFORE the F30 appeared, i.e BMW were evaluating that possibility for the F** 3/4 Series platform (i.e it may be current 'now' but was 'next' at the time of the rumours of the V6.
But, yes, as for what's 5-6 years down the road for the version after this, who knows.
Ah, OK. I didn't even know there were any such rumours. But, yes, as for what's 5-6 years down the road for the version after this, who knows.
Personally, I think it's about time BMW started working on a V6. I know the I6 is something of a hallmark of their cars, in the 3-series it's just becoming too much of a packaging headache, IMO.
Mermaid said:
Wonder if they will call it a 3 series in China/Japan?
Good point. Just like the Alfa 164 being rebadged 168 in Asia as 4 is an unlucky number, with connotations of death. https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:AN...kambites said:
aeropilot said:
I was refering to the rumours of the V6 being evaluated were out BEFORE the F30 appeared, i.e BMW were evaluating that possibility for the F** 3/4 Series platform (i.e it may be current 'now' but was 'next' at the time of the rumours of the V6.
But, yes, as for what's 5-6 years down the road for the version after this, who knows.
Ah, OK. I didn't even know there were any such rumours. But, yes, as for what's 5-6 years down the road for the version after this, who knows.
Personally, I think it's about time BMW started working on a V6. I know the I6 is something of a hallmark of their cars, in the 3-series it's just becoming too much of a packaging headache, IMO.
A bit like the reverse of what Cosworth did with the BDA and DFV.
Yet another nail in the coffin of the once glorious BMW. The only comparison that needs to be made is to the E46 MSport/M3 of a few years ago. That car looked smart in basic form, excellent in MSport trim and amazing in M3 mode. The interior was ideal in both space and design. If people need the space, why buy a coupe? This is just too big and lumpy and the interior just looks wrong. On the engines, the lack of a high strung real engine is saddening. True, turbo and auto is more economical but lacks the fun factor. All engines seem to be about fat torque curves and no character.
Trouble is what else is there? If I wanted a car that can be everyday transport and a fun weekend car with occasional room in the back with a manual gearbox and a proper engine what would be the answer? Not one BMW, Audi or Merc fits the bill. E46 M3 or a Monaro VXR are the coupes I'd have recommended a few years ago but now????????
Trouble is what else is there? If I wanted a car that can be everyday transport and a fun weekend car with occasional room in the back with a manual gearbox and a proper engine what would be the answer? Not one BMW, Audi or Merc fits the bill. E46 M3 or a Monaro VXR are the coupes I'd have recommended a few years ago but now????????
I managed to get a sit in one of these at work today as BMW were here as part of a software demo day. It was a 428i M Sport.
Initial thoughts were thus:
1. In white it was still a very handsome thing. Although too 'Cheshire' for my liking, it certainly looks purposeful and very sleek.
2. Pillarless doors were nice although very light and almost 'plasticky', especially the door handle on the inside of the door.
3. Seating position was very low down and visibility of the nose of the car was nigh on impossible. Would definitely need sensors at the front. Visibility out of the back looked tricky too. Wouldn't fancy trying to parallel park it on my street at home!
4. The interior was very plush (for me it seemed so anyway!) The centre console, pro nav unit and sport auto gear level certainly make it quite daunting to start with. I could've sat there for a couple of hours trying to work out how all the different toys worked! The steering wheel was also a thing of beauty - really liked the instrument cluster and the flappy paddles too. All of the ergonomics and quality of the buttons and levers was very good.
I can see why dealers like to get customers into cars. It's a totally brilliant feeling to sit in something new (and in my case a world apart from my 13 year old Golf!) I'd snap one up in a heartbeat if I had the money. Shame that when I specced it up afterwards it came out at £40k with all the extras that the demo had on it. Might wait to see how the 2 series fairs and whether it is more within reach financially.
Anyway, here's a couple of pics...
Initial thoughts were thus:
1. In white it was still a very handsome thing. Although too 'Cheshire' for my liking, it certainly looks purposeful and very sleek.
2. Pillarless doors were nice although very light and almost 'plasticky', especially the door handle on the inside of the door.
3. Seating position was very low down and visibility of the nose of the car was nigh on impossible. Would definitely need sensors at the front. Visibility out of the back looked tricky too. Wouldn't fancy trying to parallel park it on my street at home!
4. The interior was very plush (for me it seemed so anyway!) The centre console, pro nav unit and sport auto gear level certainly make it quite daunting to start with. I could've sat there for a couple of hours trying to work out how all the different toys worked! The steering wheel was also a thing of beauty - really liked the instrument cluster and the flappy paddles too. All of the ergonomics and quality of the buttons and levers was very good.
I can see why dealers like to get customers into cars. It's a totally brilliant feeling to sit in something new (and in my case a world apart from my 13 year old Golf!) I'd snap one up in a heartbeat if I had the money. Shame that when I specced it up afterwards it came out at £40k with all the extras that the demo had on it. Might wait to see how the 2 series fairs and whether it is more within reach financially.
Anyway, here's a couple of pics...
R400TVR said:
Trouble is what else is there? If I wanted a car that can be everyday transport and a fun weekend car with occasional room in the back with a manual gearbox and a proper engine what would be the answer? Not one BMW, Audi or Merc fits the bill. E46 M3 or a Monaro VXR are the coupes I'd have recommended a few years ago but now????????
Depends on how you define "proper engine". The 1M was a pretty damned good car and I dare say we'll get an M2 in due course. They wont be naturally aspirated, though. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff