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Text: courtesy of BMWBlog.com
Link: http://www.bmwblog.com/2011/04/15/are-y ... x-engines/

In the outset of this article – I know that this is a moot point but I will ask it anyway: Will you miss the big, naturally aspirated inline-six cylinder engines of BMW as we see the resurgence of the Turbo Era in road cars? It’s a moot point because, in my opinion, it looks like the forthcoming product line from BMW in the North American market will have no options for buyers to pick up a naturally aspirated inline six cylinder engine. It appears that literally every engine in BMW of North America’s line-up could be be powered via a forced induction engine and that’s a sad possible future to think about.

Why? The “big six” engines have had an incredibly important role in the history of the brand since the revitalizing of the car maker in the late 1960′s and early 1970′s under the direction of new CEO Eberhard von Kuehnheim. The first car to feature the big six was ironically nicknamed the “New Six Coupe”, part of the “Neue Klasse,” the E9 2800CS debuted in 1968 featuring a single overhead cam inline six cylinder engine producing roughly 170 Bavarian stallions under the freshly redone nose.

It would be the start of something spectacular. A trend that would carry on for another 43+ years: the placement of a naturally aspirated straight-six engine developed by and for BMW – the M30 was the first Big Six and started it all. The M30 would live on in the first full-sized BMW Coupe with the E9 and the first full-sized, modern BMW Sedan – the E3 – later to become the Bavaria in America and 3.0Si. The architecture of the engine, designed around a longer version of the venerable M10 4 cylinder engine found in the 2002, would go on to power the first 7 Series, the first 5 Series and the first 6 Series. A modified version of the M30(in M20 belt-driven guise) would also power the eventual bread-and-butter model of BMW: the first 3 Series.

Moving into the 1980′s, the E21 3 Series was replaced by the iconic E30 3 Series which would again be powered by a massaged inline-six cylinder engine. the most powerful motor was the 2,500cc in the standard 3 Series line-up. Even in the mid-to-late 1980′s at the height of turbocharging fever in production cars, BMW maintained mostly naturally aspirated engines, particularly big sixes, with the exceptions being turbo diesels and the turbocharged six cylinder 745i. By the 1990′s, there were no forced induction engines under the hood of any American market Bavarian hotrods. By this point, even Mercedes-Benz was beginning to head away from using the silky smooth straight sixes – BMW continued on undeterred. At least until 2006 when the N54B30 was introduced and by then, the writing was on the wall.

Power figures amongst the Germans continued to inch up with every new generation all while government emissions regulations followed suit. The silky, sonorous, naturally aspirated BMW sixes’ days were numbered. the N52 now looks to be the final iteration of the ubiquitous BMW 3.0 liter naturally aspirated inline-six – likely dying out through the change of the E90 to the F30 or the LCI of the F10 5 Series. In it’s place, an N55 and the all new N20 4 cylinder turbo – which sounds wonderful according to our own Hugo Becker.

I’m sad to see the legendary big sixes of BMW possibly evaporate from their line-up – its honestly my favorite feature of my E46. But then again, the E46 is a car from a very different time for BMW. In the last decade, the Munich car maker has found themselves in a very interesting dichotomy – trying to harness the energy and marketability of their history and package it with the modern thinking and huge technical leaps forward in automotive technology. The Bavarian Motor Works of today isn’t the same company as it was 10 years ago much less 40 years ago. BMW enthusiasts, myself especially, have a difficult time resolving ourselves to the notion that BMW can’t accomplish the obviously simple task continuing to build the E30 M3 or E46 M3 CSL while complying with modern emissions regulations and output expectations.

However, I acknowledge this and I will openly welcome the future of BMW engines – turbos, plumbing, and all. I will miss the wonderful, high revving, non-induction sixes as they go the way of the 8 Series and disappear into the annals of BMW lore. The natural inline-six has been the corner stone of BMW for decades – can the turbo supplement and bolster the big sixes and garner the same respect? The award winning N54 and N55 turbo sixes are strong indicators – but only time will tell. Regardless, I will miss the distinct metallic symphony that is the Bavarian straight-six as it begins it howl at 3,500 RPM’s.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

Yup I will miss the broken rasp of an m3 I had an e46 m3 and loved it. Now have a n88 135i and whislt I love it it's not the same as the m3. Almost as fast but now the same.

Thanks for sharing this F14D_Tomcat, very interesting read for any car enthusiast such as myself. I voted an emphatic YES!!!. Any gear head will tell you that BMW is well-known for their six's and the sweet melody which is produced by this mechanic creation when its given the beans!



Right on! Very well said and I can't help but agree with you. I as well am keeping up with BMW and tracking their new creations. One thing is for sure though, either talking about BMW or other car makers, the era of big engines designed for fun are becoming obsolete and replaced by engines with efficiency as their "raison d'etre" (of course, this makes perfect sense given how important lowering our environmental footprint has become as of late, and to some extent with good reason). We better get our hands on a big six or a V8 while we can. The automotive future won't favor our gear head way of thought for much longer

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Alex
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So much true.

That is why I will never part with my E39 540iA Touring. With 100'000 miles on its clock, it is now that you really feel its full potential. And what a sound it has, my friend.

I'm also looking forward to get the new 550i Touring, due out later in the year before it becomes part of the extinct models or engines of BMW.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

Everything ive read about these new engines is that they are as smooth and responsive as ever. More power, better MPG, no turbo lag or whine... I wont miss the "big six."

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-RJ

Oil cooling = Not good. Otherwise I'd have a 135i right now. Quite preposterous that zee Germans ran in to a tribology problem.

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Steelfish GMT LE (white)

I voted an emphatic yes. I will definitely miss them. A six offers a level of smoothness that other cylinder combinations (and especially 4's) struggle to match. It'll be a sad day.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

yes, that´s why i am collecting them now.

i own an S38B38 and an S30B30 in pure ///Motorsport M5 and M3 forms!













looking for an S54B32 soon! i love classics...

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Kiudog

But you forgot to vote RJ

@ kiudog Nice pair of Ms you've got there

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.

Good man, Kiudog!

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Alex
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I voted yes but not for the usual reasons. This was a hard choice, not because I won't miss the "Big Six" engines rather, as RL says, the new engines will be more than adequate; not that I'm an expert by any means. I voted yes because it spells the end of an era so to say...still technology moves on

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

FYI there is lag, a far bit of whine on the new engines and they drink oil like it's going out of fashion.

My E39 M5 was a binge drinker. About a quart every 2000 miles or so. I'll miss the big six. Amongst my favorite cars that I have ever owned was my E46 M3, in my opinion the epitome of big six performance.

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This is for you Tomcat! I will miss this "6" cylinder for sure. Not mine by the way, my best friend's the first day he got it. Sorry for the bad pic, this was a few years back it is the ultimate driving machine. We proved that point on the night the pic was taken. You can tell my the smile on my face.

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Alex
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Thanks Alex, that's lovely, it's understandable that you've enjoyed it.

Incidentally, I used an E36 325i convertible for my wedding (which I had to sell with the birth of my daughter ) but no pics available I'm afraid (had no digital camera at the time).

All in all, I've had 8 big sixes until now without counting my dad's E3 2500 which I will restore soon. I recently found out that there is a new service offered for BMW classics from Munich. They restore your classic to factory-new status.

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- This is Ghost Rider requesting a fly-by. - Negative Ghost Rider. The pattern is full.