[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

I voted the "I6 only for me" choice, but I'm having second thoughts. I really like the idea of the weight savings and better balance. I don't typically modify my cars, so the extra headroom we'd gain from the I6 wouldn't make a difference to me. The big sticking point for me would be day-to-day drivability and the sound.

The rubber-band acceleration characteristics of a turbo-charged engine (yes, even with the N54/N55) are fun for a while, but it gets to be a bit of an annoyance, and it's something that must be managed while on a track. Take a corner a gear up from where you should be and you'll be fighting/moderating torque surge on exit. With an N/A car, you'd still botch the corner, but your torque ramp will be much smoother. Obviously, the turbo car is going to pull out of the mistake better (more torque = more acceleration), but there's something attractive about the linear nature of a N/A engine.

Because of the relatively low boost and dual-inlet geometry turbo setup, the N54/N55 exhibit far less of the low-RPM turbo-torque-surge characteristic when compared with just about any I4 turbo car I've driven that is tuned beyond 250 HP. I'd be loath to lose that benefit, but when I look under the hood of our X3 (28i) and see how compact, and just how far back it sits in the chassis, I feel like I'd be missing out on obvious benefits by going the I6 route.

After living with the N20 powered X3 for a while, the choice is much tougher than I thought it would be.

I don't know. I had an f30 328 as a loaner when my 1M was in for service and hated everything about the engine....the sound....the power...the sound.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

I don't know. I had an f30 328 as a loaner when my 1M was in for service and hated everything about the engine....the sound....the power...the sound.

The sound is murder, for sure. That's my biggest sticking point. The N20 sounds like a damned diesel under the hood, and an anemic Honda at the exhaust. Granted, I'm judging by the exhaust note on the X3, which isn't fair at all. I'm sure that if they drop this engine in an M2, it will get extensive exhaust tweaking. Still, I have yet to hear a turbocharged I4 exhaust that gets me excited.

[BMW269]

So if our votes/voices count let it be a detuned M3/M4 engine. Not a tuned M235i engine, which basically is an N55 with power-kit. That is not worth the M badge. I hope history won't repeat (thinking of 1M engine).

[Ramos]

Originally Posted by Levi

So if our votes/voices count let it be a detuned M3/M4 engine. Not a tuned M235i engine, which basically is an N55 with power-kit. That is not worth the M badge. I hope history won't repeat (thinking of 1M engine).

+1000

[Tåst]

I agree. M-series engine must be so differend than base model that you cant get similar performance both of them, so it need to be stronger and S55 will be, high redline talks that engine is very special. We dont have ever seen turbocharged Inline six whit "nearly 8000rpm limiter"

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by Holander

I agree. M-series engine must be so differend than base model that you cant get similar performance both of them, so it need to be stronger and S55 will be, high redline talks that engine is very special. We dont have ever seen turbocharged Inline six whit "nearly 8000rpm limiter"

Well, only tuned S54, Nissan and Toyota I6. But nothing out of factory.

[Moto-Veloce]

I think it would be great if they saddled the new M3/4 with a larger displacement I-6, something like a 3.6 liter twin turbo - and then use that same engine in the M2 but without the turbos. It would be killing two birds with one stone and giving us the best of both worlds. In the lighter M2 car a high revving NA engine with power in the high threes, and for the bigger heavier M3/4 the added TTs should bring it up to 500 and give it the ability ti fight with more expensive cars. On top of all that they'll still be able to claim they are running bespoke engines in their two most driver-centric performance cars.

I have to say as long as they also put all the big boy stuff on the M2 (as compared to the 1M), such as M adjustable suspension, hood bulge & vents, carbon fiber roof - etc., (and based on the latest spy shots) I'd have to take the M2 with the NA engine. I hope they do it! I mean not every car has to be turbo charged, does it...especially these low volume sports models, they won't do much to their cafe average. They would make so many different kinds of people happy with this set-up!!

[IZAGLO]

As mentioned on another thread on the 2 series..I would LOVE if BMW put a N/A engine 340-360 hp in the M2..After driving the 135i for 3 years stock, i have to say the turbo surges are fun, but i sorely miss the smoothness and linearity of a great N/A engine....Pump up the hP a tad, keep the weight down in the new M2 and you will have a wonderful Ultimate Driving Machine. I no emissions, gas mileage....but as mentioned earlier the "rubberband" effect gets rather annoying after a bit.......on another note...BMW has kept the Hydrolic Steering on the new 2014 650XI and is getting rave reviews for it VS the no/partial/numb feel Electric in the rest of the lineup, except the X1.....So linear N/A engine in the M2, with Hydro steering and a lightweight M2, Come on make it so...

[bradleyland]

If you want a N/A BMW, you better snap up an E82 128i before they're all gone. Fuel economy standards have made high-revving N/A engines a thing of the past in street cars. Turbocharged cars "cheat" in fuel economy test cycles because the cycle never calls for acceleration intense enough to generate significant boost. That's the big advantage of a turbocharged car, you effectively have a variable displacement engine, which means you get the advantage of reduced consumption at low power levels. Give up that advantage, and you fail to meet fleet fuel economy benchmarks.

[IZAGLO]

no 128 for me.....Looking at a M3, Comp PKG, 6/M/T, Heated seats, and a sunroof and i would be happier than a pig in shit...Everyone wants more and more speed and after driving a 135i stock and Cobb tuned and after test driving a M3 a dozen times i am at a point now where a M3's speed is fast enough for me. I am not a track driver..Also the M3's 8cyl with an exhaust sounds great..Just wish it was a tad lighter but as we no you can never have everything...

[utenigma]

I was totally in the I6 camp, but the more I think about it the more I want the M2 to be a TINY light-weight car than a fire-breathing bruiser

I want to see ~2800lbs (or less), either an N20 or B38 derived motor S'ified to push ~300hp with an astronomically high red-line and shoved WAY back behind the front wheels - if I have to take the dash out to change the rear-most spark-plug so be it

BMW M engineers once made the call that the straight 6 was just too long and heavy for a light-weight M application - I wouldn't be surprised (or disappointed) if history repeated itself

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by utenigma

I was totally in the I6 camp, but the more I think about it the more I want the M2 to be a TINY light-weight car than a fire-breathing bruiser

I want to see ~2800lbs (or less), either an N20 or B38 derived motor S'ified to push ~300hp with an astronomically high red-line and shoved WAY back behind the front wheels - if I have to take the dash out to change the rear-most spark-plug so be it

BMW M engineers once made the call that the straight 6 was just too long and heavy for a light-weight M application - I wouldn't be surprised (or disappointed) if history repeated itself

I also have all the faith in the World for M engineers, that they can do great and surprising things. But there are other people in BMW who sign their wage checks

[ScarecrowBoat]

Originally Posted by utenigma

I was totally in the I6 camp, but the more I think about it the more I want the M2 to be a TINY light-weight car than a fire-breathing bruiser

I want to see ~2800lbs (or less), either an N20 or B38 derived motor S'ified to push ~300hp with an astronomically high red-line and shoved WAY back behind the front wheels - if I have to take the dash out to change the rear-most spark-plug so be it

BMW M engineers once made the call that the straight 6 was just too long and heavy for a light-weight M application - I wouldn't be surprised (or disappointed) if history repeated itself

While we're at it, each M2 buyer should also get a date with a very lonely Kate Upton.



But seriously a modified N20 with a 7500 RPM redline and 300 bhp would be plenty fun in a 3000-3100 # car. It would basically be what everybody was hoping the FR-S/BRZ would be, except it would be comfortable, handle well and most importantly have nothing to do with Toyota/Subaru.

[amdmaxx]

I have no problems with Subaru ...
BMW will never be as light as brz

[BimmerMat135]

Like many people in here I would like to have a detuned m3/m4 engine probably a s55 with a near 8000rpm redline. I would like if BMW could make it so easy to tune that a 5 mins reflash can give you the m3/m4 power output.

[BMW269]

Everything depends of how good BMW M is, or rather, how much will BMW allow BMW M to do the right thing.

Anybody has something wrong with I4?

What about such an I4, 1.6l making 500 PS with redline at 10.000 RPM?

[Tåst]

Originally Posted by Levi

What about such an I4, 1.6l making 500 PS with redline at 10.000 RPM?

What on engine , I am saying it before too, but 4cyl. engine sound great even when it got tc if it revs even somewhere near 8500rpm, Wrc rally cars are good example too and of course this Jag. Bmw has also knowledge and completely base engine ready (1.6L I4 Motorsport unit), we live intresting times.

[amdmaxx]

Originally Posted by BimmerMat135

Like many people in here I would like to have a detuned m3/m4 engine probably a s55 with a near 8000rpm redline. I would like if BMW could make it so easy to tune that a 5 mins reflash can give you the m3/m4 power output.

Detuned m3/4 engine with easy reflash would be the best choice!

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by amdmaxx

Detuned m3/4 engine with easy reflash would be the best choice!

Sure detuned M3/M4 engine would be nice? But are sure it will be detuned M3/M4 engine instead of tuned M135i/M235i engine?

Also, keep in mind M3/M4 engine is hevier than S65, and longer. It will affect weight distribution. Compared to 128i, M135i feels nose heavy, aka Audi.

[JerryCMK]

Definitely not a 4banger for me. Really hoping this to be a brand new I6 instead of any variants on the current N54 55.
Oh and an I5 would be interesting.

[Tåst]

Originally Posted by Levi

Sure detuned M3/M4 engine would be nice? But are sure it will be detuned M3/M4 engine instead of tuned M135i/M235i engine?

Also, keep in mind M3/M4 engine is hevier than S65, and longer. It will affect weight distribution. Compared to 128i, M135i feels nose heavy, aka Audi.

Nobody here dont know F8X M3 engine weight or what material it is, and 1M or M135i has nothing to do whit Audi and Audi's noise heavy. I6 BMW has still half engine rear side of the front axle when Audi's hole engine is in front of the front axle.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by Holander

Nobody here dont know F8X M3 engine weight or what material it is, and 1M or M135i has nothing to do whit Audi and Audi's noise heavy. I6 BMW has still half engine rear side of the front axle when Audi's hole engine is in front of the front axle.

Allow me to translate:

No one here knows what the weight of the the F8X M3/4 engine will be, or the materials that will be used.

The nose-heavy nature of Audi's chassis layouts have no relation to the design of the 1M or M135i. BMW positions their engines so that at least half of the engine is behind the front axle. Audi places the whole engine in front of the front axle.