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      06-14-2020, 10:40 AM   #23
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Originally Posted by jstein55 View Post
I'd actually love to see an M5 with a smaller engine, perhaps an inline-6, just like the E28 and E34. BMW V8's just don't do it for me, for V8's I'd got to AMG.
Not happening man.

I believe the 382HP B58 6 cyl in the M340i is the best this generation has to offer. But electrification of high performance BMW models is not a question of if but when.
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      06-14-2020, 10:42 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
Not happening man.
Never know, with the future of electric technology BMW could make an I6+Mild-Hybrid system and stick it in an M car. Whether its the M5 will of course be the question.
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      06-14-2020, 10:44 AM   #25
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Originally Posted by jstein55 View Post
Never know, with the future of electric technology BMW could make an I6+Mild-Hybrid system and stick it in an M car. Whether its the M5 will of course be the question.
The closest to that concept is the current 745e hybrid and possibly the upcoming 545e.

I just don't see BMW adding hybrid technology to M cars in the future but nothing surprises me anymore.
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      06-14-2020, 11:51 AM   #26
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Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
To be honest the F90 may well be the last combustion engined M5. Enjoy that Twin turbo V8 while you can. Next gen will be fully BEV.

Last year BMW allowed the press to tinker around with this G30 BEV prototype which is far more powerful/Fast as than F90 M5.

710HP and 884 pounds feet of torque...

https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/06/28/d...e-next-bmw-m5/
And I'm okay with that. As much as I absolutely love the emotion, times have significantly changed. Porsche is cranking out 500hp+ with a naturally aspirated six cylinder engine and it's a monster. Just needs a little big of engineering and some effort and I'm sure BMW can make a six cylinder cranking out more HP and torque than the V8. Look at what AMG has done with their new turbo four cylinder. It's crazy.
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      06-14-2020, 12:09 PM   #27
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And I'm okay with that. As much as I absolutely love the emotion, times have significantly changed. Porsche is cranking out 500hp+ with a naturally aspirated six cylinder engine and it's a monster. Just needs a little big of engineering and some effort and I'm sure BMW can make a six cylinder cranking out more HP and torque than the V8. Look at what AMG has done with their new turbo four cylinder. It's crazy.
I am sure they can. Next M3/M4 will be what? 500-600HP from a turbo in line 6?

And don't forget BMW also has a high output B48 4 cyl 2 liter turbo rated at "302HP", likely under rated in good old BMW fashion and probably making close to 350HP.

Here is the thing though. The last time a M5 was offered with a NA 6cyl was during the E34 era, which used the S38 engine. It's been 26+ years since the last E34 M5 rolled off the assembly line. E34 M5 production ended in August 1995. Every M5 since then has had a V shaped engine:

E39 M5: V8
E60M5: V10
F10: Twin turbo V8
F90: Twin turbo V8, all wheel drive.

So as you can see, BMW has been shoving down V8s and V10s in the M5 for the last 20 years. Today's M5 buyers expect a V8 as minimum baseline in their new M5s. Those wanting a 6 in line M car have to "downgrade" to either M3 or M4. (Or X3M, X4M if they tolerate SUVs).

I am not staying it isn't plausible, but I think it’s more likely for the next gen M5 is a fully electric than downsized to inline 6 engine. "Lucy" the G30 BEV prototype is a clear indication of where BMW wants to take the 5 Series next.

Why would anyone bother with a 6 cyl M5 today? If that's your thing, save the cash and get a M340i or spring for the upcoming 545e G30 hybrid. Far more interesting in my book.
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      06-15-2020, 01:06 AM   #28
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2016 is underrated IMO.

M3 looked amazing
M2 was launched
M4 was available, with some crazy variants
M5 was decent with a new model on the horizon

The only knock is the EPS steering is just not as good. Hydraulic give you so much more feel in a car, it is amazing the difference.
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      06-21-2020, 12:40 PM   #29
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My first bimmer was an E36 way back in the day, then later two E46's in the E46fanatics heydays. My E46 days was the best, the fanatics community was great. These cars still look great to date and in fact the E46 M3 is still my favorite of them all. As for chassis the G20 is excellent, the only drawback is the steering, I still struggle with this aspect of the car.

The irony is that, people crap over the Lexus 3IS but that car has superior steering to the G20. Can't believe BMW couldn't do a better job when Toyota manages to do that. I never bought the E90, never cared for that interior layout so held unto my E46 for 11 years and 200k miles before we parted. Also, was not a fan of the F30 so I went to the competition for my driving fix.

As for the future, I am torn. BMW is heading into a scary place as do most other car makers and seems hell bent on following Mercedes. Mercedes certainly is not the answer. Most likely I may have to buy an older bimmer and keep for the long term. Yesterday, I went to the Miami BMW poker run and saw many locals with classic BMW's in excellent condition, E36/E46,E39 M cars and many more. I will not buy an electric bmw or any 4 cylinder hybrid setup ala Mercedes regardless of how impressive the performance stats maybe.
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      06-24-2020, 02:05 PM   #30
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E46, e39, e38, e53
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      06-24-2020, 02:38 PM   #31
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      06-25-2020, 10:04 AM   #32
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      06-25-2020, 10:11 AM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MFNATIK View Post
E46, e39, e38, e53
I would agree! My freaking old E38 M Sport feels like a new car. I really love to drive it.
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      06-25-2020, 07:55 PM   #34
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Originally Posted by LOW4LYF View Post
I would agree! My freaking old E38 M Sport feels like a new car. I really love to drive it.
I had a shorty sport too! I loved the way that car drove. Just didn't like the tons of maintenance that the engine and chassis required hahah. But man, what a classic BMW design that was.
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      06-25-2020, 09:34 PM   #35
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LOW4LYF View Post
I would agree! My freaking old E38 M Sport feels like a new car. I really love to drive it.
I had a shorty sport too! I loved the way that car drove. Just didn't like the tons of maintenance that the engine and chassis required hahah. But man, what a classic BMW design that was.
Unfortunately E-Chassis BMWs are pretty needy..
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      06-26-2020, 06:13 PM   #36
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Quote:
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Unfortunately E-Chassis BMWs are pretty needy..
Yeah, you're right. All of the highest maintenance cars were the E-series, especially the Ms.
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      06-28-2020, 07:03 AM   #37
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Originally Posted by The Automotive Enthusiast View Post
I'm going to be honest, I can't tell you how happy I am to have grown up in the days of the e36. I got to experience what a raw BMW felt like. Oh, and they had the classic Hoffmeister kink. Something that people will soon forget as BMW seems to be phasing it out of their designs all together.
This morning I drove my 3 M cars successively on the same back roads, e36 M3 (euro 3.2 version), e46 M3 competition package and M2C...and guess what it is the e36 which put the biggest smile on my face. The e36 is raw, feels perfectly connected to the road, has a great steering feel, immediate & precise throttle response ...and what an engine melody.
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      06-28-2020, 12:56 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
Unfortunately E-Chassis BMWs are pretty needy..
Yeah, you're right. All of the highest maintenance cars were the E-series, especially the Ms.
Great things require even greater care
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      06-28-2020, 01:09 PM   #39
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Mid 90's-early 2000's was the zenith of BMW.

They could do no wrong in terms of style, image, and driving experience.

Objectively, today's cars are better but relative to their time, they aren't close to the E38/E46/E39/E53. If you read car magazines, you'd be hard pressed to find a comparison test they weren't #1 in, to the point everyone thought BMW was handing the test editors millions.
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      06-28-2020, 03:04 PM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EXE46 View Post
My first bimmer was an E36 way back in the day, then later two E46's in the E46fanatics heydays. My E46 days was the best, the fanatics community was great. These cars still look great to date and in fact the E46 M3 is still my favorite of them all. As for chassis the G20 is excellent, the only drawback is the steering, I still struggle with this aspect of the car.

The irony is that, people crap over the Lexus 3IS but that car has superior steering to the G20. Can't believe BMW couldn't do a better job when Toyota manages to do that. I never bought the E90, never cared for that interior layout so held unto my E46 for 11 years and 200k miles before we parted. Also, was not a fan of the F30 so I went to the competition for my driving fix.

As for the future, I am torn. BMW is heading into a scary place as do most other car makers and seems hell bent on following Mercedes. Mercedes certainly is not the answer. Most likely I may have to buy an older bimmer and keep for the long term. Yesterday, I went to the Miami BMW poker run and saw many locals with classic BMW's in excellent condition, E36/E46,E39 M cars and many more. I will not buy an electric bmw or any 4 cylinder hybrid setup ala Mercedes regardless of how impressive the performance stats maybe.
The E36 had an excellent raw feel, you're directly connected to the road that was better in this regard than any other sedan of its class. It was very driver focused, even the dashboard and center console angled so they all faced directly toward the driver.

The E46 was a bit less so of everything that was the E36 but still the connection to the road was excellent. In fact, when I got my F80 I still had an E46 for a few months and when I drove it back-to-back, the F80 was hugely more luxurious and intensely faster, a much better car. But the E46 being smaller, lighter, and less sound insulation, had more road feel and better connection to the road.

Ideally, if the G80 was a combo of the driving feel, light weight and road connection of the E46 with the performance, luxury and technologies of the F80 - and no pig snout grille - that would be perfect. But that's not reality.

So I think it comes down to this: if smaller, lightweight cars with excellent road feel are your cup of tea, then the best days were the E36/46 era; if luxury, performance and HP are your wheelhouse, then the best days are now.
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      07-02-2020, 10:12 PM   #41
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Best days were when they had high revving NA engines.
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      07-03-2020, 01:31 AM   #42
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Could not have said it better myself.
This.
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      07-04-2020, 09:20 AM   #43
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E46 m3/E39 m5 would be my vote - that early 2000's era.
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      07-04-2020, 10:02 AM   #44
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E46 is overrated imho. Yes it felt sharp and quite light but it did not feel fast. I have driven all M3 generations apart from E36 numerous times. The first M3 that felt properly fast was the E92. The S65 was worlds more thrilling as an engine as the metallic sounding S54, more power, better throttle response, higher revving etc...
The E92 won all 8 comparisons in its history in Car & Driver...nuff said.
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