What never was...the modern m30

[323I Junkie]

Have you ever wondered what would have been....

The m20 and m30 were so similar..the m20 "survived", the m30 was axed?


Why...oh why....damn 4.4's and 3.0's :biglaughb:

Think a bout it, the 2.5 in modern form is really amazing..I mixed it up with an e46 325Ci lightly modded last night, damn! That thing took me after 105 :eek:

I remember my wifes e46..I mean, the 2.5 is no powerhouse, but in the 3 series, its definetly not slow

The old 2,5 did what, in reality, 167 HP...now it runs a cool 189 with a torque curve from hell...what if the 3.4 had gotten the same treatment?

about a 30 horse increase, direct ignition, improved manifolds...how cool would that be...imagine a 3.4 liter version of the m5 motor w/o the iTBs///

We could maybe have experienced a factory 250 horse 3.4?

Would the 4.4 evven have sold? WOuld the m30 have been at 300 HP by 2000?

Did BMW axe it for gas guzzling purposes? Or because the y pushed the 4.4?

The 4.4 only made 290 for years, was the gap too close? 530's and 330's are great, but the extra .5 liter might have made a huge difference. Would BMW be legendary even more so for their 6's? WOuld they have made a killing from purists who love high revving 6's? e34's can get up to 27 mpg. Would a modern valavtronic m30 see 30...35? it seems like the 530's engine works too hard to get that.The 4.4 BSFC is too high


Hmmm.. any thoughts?

[tjn182]

They really shouldn't have scrapped the M30 - I'm sure at this point in time it would be a decent 280ish hp engine. If designed similarly to the M30s it would probably still be a reliable engine as well. If the M30 was BMW's 'best engine ever' - why did they scrap it? Why didn't they base other engines off of it?

[323I Junkie]

Apparently only Volvo's still like big 6's

I agree, the more I learn about the 3.4, the more I like it
Still cant figure out why the 4200 pound L7 is faster up top than the 535 :confused:

[JAlfredPrufrock]

Fear not... I think the e90 will have a 3.5L variant.

[323I Junkie]

I thought that was abored/stroked 3.0

[vas2vas]

They really shouldn't have scrapped the M30 - I'm sure at this point in time it would be a decent 280ish hp engine. If designed similarly to the M30s it would probably still be a reliable engine as well. If the M30 was BMW's 'best engine ever' - why did they scrap it? Why didn't they base other engines off of it?
too big/heavy to put in 3 series cars (all steel engine afterall)... and not exactly very econimic when it comes to fuel...

[323I Junkie]

my e34 gets 3.5 gets the same ecconomy as an e39 530..I get 19 to 20 in town, 24 to 26 highway

They are heavy, but the m20s lightened up with composite manifolds and some aluminum blocks.

[JAlfredPrufrock]

I thought that was abored/stroked 3.0

3.5L displacement is 3.5L displacement is it not? :dunno

[323I Junkie]

Yeah...but without the additional length and width of the m30, it is doubtful the port configuration can be ideal. Sort of like the 454 SB vs 454 bb configuration. That said, with the new 330 pushing 235 HP, a 335 would most likely push 280 HP

[97Calypso328I]

I still think its a great enginge but wasnt it 30 years old when they stopped making it Its also the market a v8 was the standard in all the competitors

[JAlfredPrufrock]

Yeah...but without the additional length and width of the m30, it is doubtful the port configuration can be ideal. Sort of like the 454 SB vs 454 bb configuration. That said, with the new 330 pushing 235 HP, a 335 would most likely push 280 HP

Word on the street is the 335i would be turbocharged... ~300+hp IIRC.

[323I Junkie]

I still think its a great enginge but wasnt it 30 years old when they stopped making it Its also the market a v8 was the standard in all the competitors


Old is irrelevant, big sixes arent
I think you hit the nail on the head. Torque sells