Is there anyone else who would not buy a 4 cylinder BMW?

DrGP · 11-29-2009, 04:53 PM

Being a child of the 50's and going through the muscle car era, I have always been partial to the V8. Previous car was a gas guzzling V8 Audi S4. I like the V8 in the M3 but I think the N54 and N55 engines are really better suited for daily driving. That being said, I can live with a turbo/supercharged straight or V6, but I'm just not interested in a turbo 4 cylinder UNLESS it produces in excess or 330 HP. I figure that is not going to happen to soon in a production engine. Anyone else not feeling any love for a future 4 cylinder 3 series?

zjfk2 · 11-29-2009, 04:55 PM

I would, a diesel one

Ti335 · 11-29-2009, 05:01 PM

Nope. No interest whatsoever in a 4-cylinder BMW.

rothwem · 11-29-2009, 06:20 PM

I would. A 50 mpg diesel would get my attention, as would a high strung, 8500 rpm, ~240 hp gasoline 4 like whats in the S2000.

JakeN5 · 11-29-2009, 06:40 PM

I would buy the turbo 4-cyl diesel (i.e., the 320d) in a heart beat if BMW offered it here. It'd be even better if it were coupled to an electric motor for an "active hybrid" powerplant.

BTW, as an answer to one of DrGP's points, it's possible to milk 330 hp out of a 4-cyl engine. The turbo 2.0 L 4B11 engine in Mitsu Evo X MR Touring makes 291 bhp at 6500 rpm and 300 lb ft at 4400 rpm in stock form, but at a trade-off in fuel econ. It's rated 17/22 mpg city/hwy by the EPA, so ultimately, as the saying goes, there might be no replacement for displacement.

cuban335i · 11-29-2009, 06:48 PM

i would never buy a 4 cylinder car.. i find it embarrassing.. i much rather pay more for gas than have a underpowered car..

fdsasdasdf · 11-29-2009, 07:19 PM

If they have the same power as the I-6, then yeah, I would.

Reason: MPG savings, no gas-guzzler tax, and it's a little better on the environment. Smaller engines + bigger power = how it should be.

Digtlartst · 11-29-2009, 07:19 PM

BMW = Straight six

Nightspirit · 11-29-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuban335i

i would never buy a 4 cylinder car.. i find it embarrassing.. i much rather pay more for gas than have a underpowered car..

Owning an Evo, Imprezza , GTI , RX-8 , S3 , 123d , E coupé 250 GI , etc is embarrassing?

Sigh... you do know that for instance a S3 takes the same time 0-100 km as the 335i right? Not mentioning other 6 cyl engines like 323i 325i 328i ...

If u raise the limit to 5 cyl then u've got the new Focus RS that kicks the crap out of the 335i in any situation...

I find embarassing that there are pepople that find embarassing 4 cyl cars eheh

Cheers!

JSpira · 11-29-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digtlartst

BMW = Straight six

Take a closer look at BMW's headquarters building.

BMW = 4 cylinders.

To address the OP's question, I just spent some time driving a 123d and it was a lot of fun. It was definitely not a compromise and I have no problem envisioning that car as my daily driver, were it offered here.

Ti335 · 11-29-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zell

If they have the same power as the I-6, then yeah, I would.

Reason: MPG savings, no gas-guzzler tax, and it's a little better on the environment. Smaller engines + bigger power = how it should be.

A 4 cylinder would never be as smooth as an I6, nor would it sound as nice. BMW's I6 engines are plenty fuel efficient for a performance-oriented car. But if fuel economy is your main concern, get a Prius or Golf TDI. I'd hate to see BMW becoming a 'luxury econobox'.

VanM3Lover · 11-29-2009, 08:10 PM

A BMW without a big engine is completely pointless.

MassBimmer · 11-29-2009, 08:12 PM

A lot of people need to wake up and see what's going on in the world...lower displacement + turbocharging is the direction of the future...time to accept it

armenh · 11-29-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanM3Lover

A BMW without a big engine is completely pointless.

u want big engines go to american cars

bmw in no way uses big engines...

WILLIE92 · 11-29-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armenh

u want big engines go to american cars

bmw in no way uses big engines...

+1 my old SRT8 6.1 hemi 370cu inch with my modds runing a 12.8 1/4 mile

the N54 3.0 liter with a tune kills the SRT8!

redfred18t · 11-29-2009, 08:34 PM

I'd have no problem running a 4 cyl bmw for a daily driver (as long as I have my 335i

)..

but seriously, theres nothing wrong with a 4 cyl bmw, especially if it's diesel. It will still be a blast to drive and get good gas mileage as well. I would love to run an older 318 for a daily

xanol · 11-29-2009, 08:43 PM

I would buy an e30 M3, but that's probably about it.

JakeN5 · 11-29-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ti335

A 4 cylinder would never be as smooth as an I6, nor would it sound as nice. BMW's I6 engines are plenty fuel efficient for a performance-oriented car. But if fuel economy is your main concern, get a Prius or Golf TDI. I'd hate to see BMW becoming a 'luxury econobox'.

While engine sound is subjective, just stand next to a Honda I4 and see if it's as smooth reving as a BMW I6. If it's not, it's damn close, and nobody ever complains Honda engines are rough or unrefined.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanM3Lover

A BMW without a big engine is completely pointless.

Pointless? What's pointless is going against what the feds say. With the new CAFE mandate, it's inevitable we will see future BMW variants with turbo 4-cyl, hybrids and diesel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

A lot of people need to wake up and see what's going on in the world...lower displacement + turbocharging is the direction of the future...time to accept it

+1.

Bora20 · 11-29-2009, 09:02 PM

turbo diesel, no question

rambalu80 · 11-29-2009, 09:05 PM

I was talking to my SA a couple of months ago and as usual he was trying to talk me into buying a BMW for my wife and I told him I'd buy a 118d or a 123d if they were sold in the US. His response was that some years back BMW made a decision not to bring any 4 cylinders into the US but was wondering if that would change with the new federal regulations.

subframe · 11-29-2009, 09:09 PM

As the OP said, this is the way the world is going, and Audi has been putting turbo 4s in the A4 for years with pretty good success. Audi's 2.0T engine is always winning awards. That said, I will miss the BMW inline 6 when it's gone. My 325 is not powerful in the overall schem of things, but the engine has a great feel (which I think is best appreciated with a manual tranny, BTW). I am skeptical that I will find a turbo 4 as satisfying even if it has equal or better horsepower and torque numbers. I am also skeptical that the real-world difference in fuel economy between BMW's inline 6 and a turbo 4 of comparable power is that great. I saw an article in a car magazine (can't recall which mag or which month at the moment) that made this point and I believe they were comparing the Audi A4 2.0T with the BMW 328.

Ron1n · 11-29-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WILLIE92

+1 my old SRT8 6.1 hemi 370cu inch with my modds runing a 12.8 1/4 mile

the N54 3.0 liter with a tune kills the SRT8!

Confirmed, since that's what my wife drives...and I can't stand that GD car.

11-29-2009, 04:53 PM	#1
DrGP Lieutenant Colonel 137 Rep 1,914 Posts Drives: Sapphire 335i coupe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SE, PA iTrader: (0)	Is there anyone else who would not buy a 4 cylinder BMW? Being a child of the 50's and going through the muscle car era, I have always been partial to the V8. Previous car was a gas guzzling V8 Audi S4. I like the V8 in the M3 but I think the N54 and N55 engines are really better suited for daily driving. That being said, I can live with a turbo/supercharged straight or V6, but I'm just not interested in a turbo 4 cylinder UNLESS it produces in excess or 330 HP. I figure that is not going to happen to soon in a production engine. Anyone else not feeling any love for a future 4 cylinder 3 series?
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11-29-2009, 04:55 PM	#2
zjfk2 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: Crimson Red 335d Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Appalachia iTrader: (0)	I would, a diesel one
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11-29-2009, 05:01 PM	#3
Ti335 Lieutenant 35 Rep 427 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Nope. No interest whatsoever in a 4-cylinder BMW.
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11-29-2009, 06:20 PM	#4
rothwem Major 477 Rep 1,192 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Wagon Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Asheville, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [0.00]	I would. A 50 mpg diesel would get my attention, as would a high strung, 8500 rpm, ~240 hp gasoline 4 like whats in the S2000.
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11-29-2009, 06:40 PM	#5
JakeN5 Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 257 Posts Drives: e90 328i LCI Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	I would buy the turbo 4-cyl diesel (i.e., the 320d) in a heart beat if BMW offered it here. It'd be even better if it were coupled to an electric motor for an "active hybrid" powerplant. BTW, as an answer to one of DrGP's points, it's possible to milk 330 hp out of a 4-cyl engine. The turbo 2.0 L 4B11 engine in Mitsu Evo X MR Touring makes 291 bhp at 6500 rpm and 300 lb ft at 4400 rpm in stock form, but at a trade-off in fuel econ. It's rated 17/22 mpg city/hwy by the EPA, so ultimately, as the saying goes, there might be no replacement for displacement.
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11-29-2009, 06:48 PM	#6
cuban335i Brigadier General 230 Rep 3,550 Posts Drives: 535i xdrive Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: central NJ iTrader: (18)	i would never buy a 4 cylinder car.. i find it embarrassing.. i much rather pay more for gas than have a underpowered car.. __________________ Current: '13 F10 535i xDrive - lightly modded for now Previous: '12 e92 M3 Melbourne Red/Bamboo - ADV.1 ADV10, Volk TE37SL, OSS, Innotech F1, Arkym, iND '09 e92 335i Alpine White/Saddle Brown - fully modded
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11-29-2009, 07:19 PM	#7
fdsasdasdf Captain 125 Rep 778 Posts Drives: 330Ci ZHP 6sp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	If they have the same power as the I-6, then yeah, I would. Reason: MPG savings, no gas-guzzler tax, and it's a little better on the environment. Smaller engines + bigger power = how it should be.
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11-29-2009, 07:19 PM	#8
Digtlartst Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 292 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 328xi 6MT Alpinweiss Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Inside The Beltway iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 535i X-Drive [0.00] 2004 BMW 325cic 5MT [0.00] 2016 BMW R1200RT [0.00] 2011 BMW 328xi 6MT [0.00]	BMW = Straight six
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11-29-2009, 08:10 PM	#12
VanM3Lover First Lieutenant 20 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 4.0 V8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Van iTrader: (0)	A BMW without a big engine is completely pointless.
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11-29-2009, 08:12 PM	#13
MassBimmer Major General 309 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 M50 Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2009 BMW [9.24]	A lot of people need to wake up and see what's going on in the world...lower displacement + turbocharging is the direction of the future...time to accept it
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11-29-2009, 08:34 PM	#16
redfred18t First Lieutenant 23 Rep 366 Posts Drives: 07 335i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MA iTrader: (3)	I'd have no problem running a 4 cyl bmw for a daily driver (as long as I have my 335i ).. but seriously, theres nothing wrong with a 4 cyl bmw, especially if it's diesel. It will still be a blast to drive and get good gas mileage as well. I would love to run an older 318 for a daily
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11-29-2009, 08:43 PM	#17
xanol Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: E36 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NOVA iTrader: (0)	I would buy an e30 M3, but that's probably about it.
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11-29-2009, 09:02 PM	#19
Bora20 Lieutenant 17 Rep 464 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW X3 3.0si M-Sport Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kamloops, BC, CAD iTrader: (0)	turbo diesel, no question __________________ 2007 BMW X3 3.0si Titanium SilverBlack LeatherAutoPremiumM SportComfortActivityAssist & Bluetooth*
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11-29-2009, 09:05 PM	#20
rambalu80 Major 78 Rep 1,242 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW 340i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Katy TX iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 BMW 340i [0.00]	I was talking to my SA a couple of months ago and as usual he was trying to talk me into buying a BMW for my wife and I told him I'd buy a 118d or a 123d if they were sold in the US. His response was that some years back BMW made a decision not to bring any 4 cylinders into the US but was wondering if that would change with the new federal regulations. __________________ 2016 BMW 340i 688 \| LCL5 \| 4FT \| ZMT \| ZTP \| ZDA \| ZLP \| 494 Formula One Pinnacle 30 Tint \| Brushed Aluminum Pedals
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11-29-2009, 09:09 PM	#21
subframe Private First Class 4 Rep 107 Posts Drives: '06 325i TitSil 6mt ZSP, ZPP, Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (0)	As the OP said, this is the way the world is going, and Audi has been putting turbo 4s in the A4 for years with pretty good success. Audi's 2.0T engine is always winning awards. That said, I will miss the BMW inline 6 when it's gone. My 325 is not powerful in the overall schem of things, but the engine has a great feel (which I think is best appreciated with a manual tranny, BTW). I am skeptical that I will find a turbo 4 as satisfying even if it has equal or better horsepower and torque numbers. I am also skeptical that the real-world difference in fuel economy between BMW's inline 6 and a turbo 4 of comparable power is that great. I saw an article in a car magazine (can't recall which mag or which month at the moment) that made this point and I believe they were comparing the Audi A4 2.0T with the BMW 328. Last edited by subframe; 11-29-2009 at 09:29 PM..
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