[darkside]

One advantage to the 335 over the M3 may be insurance rates. I recently purchased a 550i, in part because I did not want a fully loaded 330i that was outdated in 6-9 months. My previous car was an e46 M3. My insurance for the 550i is 40% less than the M3. This is probably because I have 2 teenage daughters on my policy, but it also refects how insurance companies view the M cars.

[LIKEWATER]

I just spoke with a BMW NA executive at a large volume NJ dealership.
1. He stated that the 335 is coming.
2. The U.S. model will not be turbo.
He was somewhat tight lipped when asked about the motor.
I asked him, "why would BMW make a 3.5l motor just for the U.S. ?"
His reply was "I'm not saying that BMW is making a 3.5l, but BMW sells more
3 series cars then any other series. The upcoming M3 will sell a fraction of that number respectfully and it has an all new V8".

What ever that means................

[SpeedFreak!]

Originally Posted by LIKEWATER

I just spoke with a BMW NA executive at a large volume NJ dealership.
1. He stated that the 335 is coming.
2. The U.S. model will not be turbo.
He was somewhat tight lipped when asked about the motor.
I asked him, "why would BMW make a 3.5l motor just for the U.S. ?"
His reply was "I'm not saying that BMW is making a 3.5l, but BMW sells more
3 series cars then any other series. The upcoming M3 will sell a fraction of that number respectfully and it has an all new V8".

What ever that means................

Hhmmm...

Of course here's the part where people chime in to berate the "stupid" dealer people who never know anything.

[stressdoc]

Any hints from the NA rep on when we will get the 335? I am rather surprised that an NA rep would put his reputation/career at risk by leaking that information.

[SpeedFreak!]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Any hints from the NA rep on when we will get the 335? I am rather surprised that an NA rep would put his reputation/career at risk by leaking that information.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... we only hear what BMW wants us to hear. THIS is exactly what they want.

[colonelburke]

But what about what I want?

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by LIKEWATER

I just spoke with a BMW NA executive at a large volume NJ dealership.
1. He stated that the 335 is coming.
2. The U.S. model will not be turbo.
He was somewhat tight lipped when asked about the motor.
I asked him, "why would BMW make a 3.5l motor just for the U.S. ?"
His reply was "I'm not saying that BMW is making a 3.5l, but BMW sells more
3 series cars then any other series. The upcoming M3 will sell a fraction of that number respectfully and it has an all new V8".

What ever that means................

How about the possibility that the "new" 3.5 liter 6 cylinder is a V6 engine, and not an inline 6?

It could be based on the 4.0 liter V8 engine that BMW uses in Europe in the 5 & 7 Series.
They could have just lopped off two cylinders and then beefed up the block somehow.....
...in the same way that they are making the M5's V10 into the future M3's V8.

[stressdoc]

A V6 3-series? I cannot fathom how much eggnog that would require for BMW AG to even dream up with sugar plums and the like.

[BMW F22]

I just spoke with my salesman yesterday and he said he hasnt heard of any news on a 335. And the rumor that it will have 500bhp is too much for me to comprehend. Either he was lying because he doesnt want me to know about it or there really is no news at all...

[RichReg]

Ha-ha....very funny.
But I was being serious.

But since I see all of the holiday drinking has gone to both of your heads, stressdoc & BMWE90,
I guess my possibility isn't making any sense to you guys.

Merry Christmas anyways........

[epiphone3]

Has anyone considered that previous to the 540i and 550i combination, BMW sold an E60 535i with 3.6Litre V8 engine... possibly a similar V8 could make it into the 335i rather than trying to make a special version of the straight-six for the US Market? ... this would make life easy for BMW and they could avoid bringing a turbo to the US Market (which they appear apprehensive to do).

Just a thought...

[stressdoc]

Uggh, a V8? I love my I-6. I will stick with a 328 if they do that. BMW AG must have the most appalling opinion of NA buyer sensibilities. The biturbo 3.0 is a beautiful piece of engineering.

[SpeedFreak!]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Uggh, a V8? I love my I-6. I will stick with a 328 if they do that. BMW AG must have the most appalling opinion of NA buyer sensibilities. The biturbo 3.0 is a beautiful piece of engineering.

Interesting line of thought... but I can assure you that there will be no V6 in the future of BMW... EVER! As for the V8 suggestion... as exciting as that is... it ain't going to happen. The 3.5L will differ from the current 3.0L in displacement only... and from what I understand it's not that big a deal to bump the 3.0L. I believe the current 3.0L was originally developed with this plan in place.

[LH1]

Speed, you got any M3 info we might not have heard about? Specifically any source you have hinting at CSL versions of the M3 that we in the US might get?

[0700700]

spoke to the same dealer, the official premier is still set for the 2nd week of february :mad:

[Garrett]

As I mentioned earlier, perhaps the 335 will have a V8...!

I know some of you shot me down before when I mentioned this, but I didn't start it. Coincidentally, Detroit isn't that far removed from the Auto world and we hear alot of shit.

If the new ///M3 is going to be limited sales why not use the block for the 335 large sales ...?

The M has all the goodies and the 335 is just a grunter.

[stressdoc]

That (a detuned M3 V8 for the 335i) seems like a reasonable hypothesis. Fits with the NA market. Do not think it's what I want though, probably too much weight, expensive, etc.

[0700700]

if they indeed go with the v8 route, i believe that they will be
following market trends more than anything else, since the
c55 has a v8 and also the s4 ... althought i would imagine
that the m3 would be targeted at those cars ?

[3aficionado]

A V8 in an M3 makes sense. The M has special suspension, lighter materials and stripped down components making the vehicle balanced. A regular 3 (335) with a V8 would have a hard time keeping the 50:50 weight distribution. The car wouldn’t handle the same. A V8 in a regular 3 seems like an American automaker solution to increasing horsepower. I would rather see a more technical solution, such as turbo, than a huge engine.

[skatemur]

what do u guys think American buyers can expect to be looking at price wise for the 328 and 335 coupes? i know nothing is set in stone, and coupes are always more than sedans, but i mean actual number estimates..any thoughts?

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

That (a detuned M3 V8 for the 335i) seems like a reasonable hypothesis. Fits with the NA market. Do not think it's what I want though, probably too much weight, expensive, etc.

You do realize the m54 3.0l I-6 is heavy engine and thats why BMW spent crazy research and tech to make a magnezium insert/etc to lighten it up. A 3.5 liter V8 would most likely weight as much as our current inline-6. It's not a weight issue ..!

I don't think it's a weight issue. BMW is on the for front of engine development and that comes DIRECTLY from their Formula1 involvment.

The M5's V10 is a derivitive from Formula1 development and since this years F1 engines will be V8's is not surprise the M3 will be a V8. The Rolex Challenge is also a highly visual sport for BMW and BMW does well, but with the newly contrived V8 it will be eaiser for a few manufacturering cups.

Since INDY and Formula1 are both V8's, BMW will start getting more recognition here in the states..... and how much more so than haveing a 335 with a highly technical 3.5 liter small V8 pushing some 320hp and gobs of torque in an ultralight package ...?

It's just a rumor though...

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by 3aficionado

A V8 in an M3 makes sense. The M has special suspension, lighter materials and stripped down components making the vehicle balanced. A regular 3 (335) with a V8 would have a hard time keeping the 50:50 weight distribution. The car wouldn’t handle the same. A V8 in a regular 3 seems like an American automaker solution to increasing horsepower. I would rather see a more technical solution, such as turbo, than a huge engine.

V8's are big because of their design... but they do not weigh any more. A tree is BIG, but it is mostly air. V8's have a huge gap between the bank of cylinders... thats AIR. Thus the V designation.

Also, since V8's are short they can sit back deeper in the engine bay thus giving you a 50/50 weight distribution. HERE, look at this photo of an M3 GTR with a V8, notice all the room..?

Interesting to say the least... hunh ?

All this said, I'd still take the biturbo Inline 6.



-Garrett