[BanziBarn]

Was reading Evo magazine and it was saying the the 3 litre dervs probably won't be making an appearance in the new 3 series. The reason for this seems to be down to more economical petrol variants, and stricter regulations on diesel.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

(However, also mentioned was a 600 ft lbs 3 litre diesel engine, although probably only in the 5 series)

[MEGA]

there will be a tri turbo diesel varient with 6 cylinders although it may end up being V shaped rather than straight.

Don't know if it will make it down to the 3/4 though. I'd imagine the 4 is likely but the 3 perhaps not.

They need to compete with the C350 from merc so I'd be surprised if this engine disappeared completely. It just might not make it into the 3'er (saloon)... and instead only be an option for the coupe..

[davyk31]

THe new petrol versions are going to need to be pretty economical to persuade people they are better than the 6 pot diesels they have become used to.

[kaishang]

Sounds like crap to me. More likely that BMW, as usual, have not launched with a full engine line up.

Diesel fuel on continental Europe (which is a major BMW market) is significantly cheaper than petrol. I can't see BMW improving the fuel economy of their gasoline engines to the level that they are cheaper to run than diesels.

Did Evo quote which specific regulations the current 6-cylinder diesels cannot meet?

If they have 4 cyl diesels and 4/6 cyl petrols now that means they have covered the majority of the fuel economy driven EU market and the majority of the US-Chinese market where diesels don't exist (except for the 335d in the US). But I can't see BMW dumping the "performance+fuel economy" EU market by not offering a 6 cylinder diesel.

[doughboy]

Interesting how the new 3's are launching with a 335i, but only 4 pot dervs?

[chris_s1]

Considering how many 325d/330d/335d they sold, particularly in Germany, I can't believe they won't release a 6pot diesel

[Nick999]

Dont worry, all the soot chucker engines will carry on in the e92/e93 models for the next 18 months or so. Just not available in the new F30 saloon.

[creepy coupe]

It will be a sad day if they do. BMW 6 Pot derv burners sets them apart from the rest IMO

[kaishang]

I really hope not, it could make me by an Au, an Au, an Au...... something else.

[SomeRandomer123]

It would be a real shame to lose the fabulous N57's in the 3 Series

[SO8]

Can't see it happening for one minute ... BMW diesels of all descriptions are still ahead of the opposition and have a great reputation.

[acerboo]

i dont care if they do or dont ive got a new e92 335d on the way! although i must say the thought of 313bhp and an 8 speed box from the x3 sounds very tempting pity they didnt try it out in the e92 first

[dopper99]

The most powerful F30 diesel would be a 320d with 184bhp? I cant see that for one minute. Audi and Merc would laugh their heads off.

They already continue to produce 6 pot engines for the 5 series so why not put them in BMW's best selling model (ie the 3 series)? Makes no sense to me.

Mind you maybe they will only put the 6 pots in the coupe. now there's a thought

[MattOz]

I knew they were ditching the 3 litre petrol N/A, but can't see them ditching the derv in either 330d or 335d form.

[SelSol]

Didn't EVO have a Q&A with the M boss (Kay Seglar iirc) last month who ruled out a diesel M, but confirmed that were was going to be a range of diesels that were going to be GT biased because of the warm reception to to the 335, 535 and 635d models?

I'll have a flick tonight and see if I can find which issue it was.

[Gibbo]

They have released the fleet versions at first in SE and the 6 cylinder and M Sports will follow. It gets the mass market cars in the range sold first and gives them either production capacity for 5's, x3/5 etc if they are having volume issues on these engine units. Other theory is they are updating the 6 cylinder diesel for early next year and therefore don't want to put the old engine in the new model for 6 months.

[F31-340i]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

Other theory is they are updating the 6 cylinder diesel for early next year and therefore don't want to put the old engine in the new model for 6 months.

+1

This seems pretty likely - they have probably tried to move the game on further from the 245 330d, but it's a bit late and won't bother putting the old engine in the F30 due to the cost of doing so for a short time.

Or maybe their limits on the capacity to make 6pot dervs means they have to choose which models it goes into - they don't want to increase capacity for what could be just a e.g. 12 month surge in demand.

[G82Dude]

Understood there are to be 6 cylinder diesels in new 3 with the M3 being a tri-turbo [petrol] and possibly a V6. No talk of tri-turbo diesels though...

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by acerboo

i dont care if they do or dont ive got a new e92 335d on the way! although i must say the thought of 313bhp and an 8 speed box from the x3 sounds very tempting pity they didnt try it out in the e92 first

Weird the X3's 35d outputs more power than the 40d on other models! Shouldn't it be a 40d too?!?!

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by ///ajd

+1

This seems pretty likely - they have probably tried to move the game on further from the 245 330d, ......

They already have. The 6 pot fitted to the 5 series F10 530d is a 258bhp unit. See here.
In fact, it is now nearly as quick as a E9X 330d

BMW shouldnt need to be developing new 6 pots as they already have them in the 5 series.


Edit: just realised that 530d M Sport has some fooking big tyres on it: 275/40 R18 on rears - bigger than an M3

[BanziBarn]

Bit more info from the mag...


"Insiders say more powerful oilers will follow, although a twin-turbo four cylinder is more likely than a mid-output six."

Could this be an uprated version of the 123d engine?

Thinking about it though, if you were offered a 328i which was quicker than a 330d, same power but lighter (better handling), and only a bit less economical (but petrol is cheaper than diesel) at 44mpg vs 49mpg and cheaper to buy is there still a market for the 330d?

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

Thinking about it though, if you were offered a 328i which was quicker than a 330d, same power but lighter (better handling), and only a bit less economical (but petrol is cheaper than diesel) at 44mpg vs 49mpg and cheaper to buy is there still a market for the 330d?

Petrol is only cheaper in the UK though, in continental Europe diesel is cheaper by about 15%.