NastyNateE30 said:

....

I'm speachless.  So insightful.

need4speed1299 said:

Actually in the early 80s, the 320i was a 1.8l also the 325 and 325e up until 88 are 2.7l. I believe the e12 also had something similar, like a 3.0l 528?

It really never was clear.

528e was the 2.7l M20 also, E12 528i was a M30B28 though. Same motor as my E28 528i. 533i's are M30B32, 535i's are M30B34, so yeah it was never followed the rule exactly.

REKIII said:

Bean Counters and Marketing.  BMW used to be straight forward....if it said 325i on the back it was a 2.5L engine in a 3 series.  They fucked that up.

Then they started adding all the different series, stopped putting the same size engine in that matched the name, etc.

Actually in the early 80s, the 320i was a 1.8l also the 325 and 325e up until 88 are 2.7l. I believe the e12 also had something similar, like a 3.0l 528?

It really never was clear.

Hey look, a 4-series gran coupe'

so that makes it a 4-door version of the 2-door version of the 4-door car..........

REKIII said:

I know your trying to be ironic and funny, but seriously, what would have been so hard about calling it a 319?  If they want to do something like that, do it right.  Otherwise just have the 3 and offer it with different engine options.  BMW took a cool idea and wrecked it.

I wasn't trying to be funny

AvusHatesCones said:

I think they still keep true to that on the few NA motors they make. (someone correct me if I'm wrong) But with the FI motors they name it with the displacement the engine would need to be, if it were NA.

From what I've read, this point forward the "displacement" numbers in the naming of vehicles will be the same from here on out. By next year in the North American market BMW will have all NA engines phased out of the line up and will only be offering 4 basic engines: 2.0l I4, 2.0l I4 diesel, 3.0l I6 and 4.4 V8. The specific name of the model will depend on the tune of the engine for example the 320i is just a detuned 328i, same with a 535i vs 640i sharing the I6.

Badges aside, I'm excited for the M4 considering the F30 chassis is incredibly engineered and well balanced. As much as I love the out going S65, it's awesome to have a straight six back, and it sounds sexy in the video

Then I read an article about it and someone made a great point. 

Turbocharging the M3....faack... M4 is not "breaking away from tradition" as much as I previously thought. 

BMW has always installed the engine best suited for that particular chassis given the current  feasible road-car technology available at the time. 

For the E30 it was a 16v 4cylinder 

E36 it was a 24v I6 with variable Nockenwellensteuerung
E46 was dual variable Nockenwellensteuerung and amazing hp/L figures for an emissions compliant car

E92 was an alloy 32v V8 (in the midst of some serious horsepower wars whilst aiming to keep weight down and handling intact)

and now the Fwhatever chassis is getting a turbo and direct injection, along with the latest advancements in cam timing technology. Realistically it is the only way to keep up with the current and future horsepower wars  while achieving acceptable emissions and economy figures. 

so, I want to embrace change and new technology + designs as a good thing, which they are, but for me, the E30 chassis is something that I can have more fun in because if nothing else, I can afford to blow the engine and trans and install them myself without fuss. unlike the $25,000 replacement V10 in the M5 a former co-worker shelled out when the warranty coverage was denied.

That said, I can not get over the change in series naming. I really am losing interest in new BMW's by each generation change.

Lots of good comments here. One I didn't immediately pick up on was the headlights meeting the kidney grills. I think that's important to note and see just how far we're moving away from our heritage.

REKIII said:

I know your trying to be ironic and funny, but seriously, what would have been so hard about calling it a 319?  If they want to do something like that, do it right.  Otherwise just have the 3 and offer it with different engine options.  BMW took a cool idea and wrecked it.

They wrecked the 3

...wrecked 3

...REKIII

M318 said:

like my 318 that is actually a 319. They should just sell 319 badges to "correct" those jerks.

I know your trying to be ironic and funny, but seriously, what would have been so hard about calling it a 319?  If they want to do something like that, do it right.  Otherwise just have the 3 and offer it with different engine options.  BMW took a cool idea and wrecked it.

REKIII said:

Bean Counters and Marketing.  BMW used to be straight forward....if it said 325i on the back it was a 2.5L engine in a 3 series.  They fucked that up.

Then they started adding all the different series, stopped putting the same size engine in that matched the name, etc.

like my 318 that is actually a 319. They should just sell 319 badges to "correct" those jerks.

Snap said:

I believe the e36 and e46 323i were screwballs since they were actually 2.5's  

Then you can count the e30 325e and it being a 2.7 as well. 

I think the e23 745i turbo had some logic to it even though it had a 3.3 or 3.5L engine since the turbo gave it the volumetric capacity of a 4.5

Yeah that's very true... Either way calling the most iconic BMW, an M4 is probably the stupidest thing they have ever done with a name

AvusHatesCones said:

I think they still keep true to that on the few NA motors they make. (someone correct me if I'm wrong) But with the FI motors they name it with the displacement the engine would need to be, if it were NA. 

I believe the e36 and e46 323i were screwballs since they were actually 2.5's  

Then you can count the e30 325e and it being a 2.7 as well. 

I think the e23 745i turbo had some logic to it even though it had a 3.3 or 3.5L engine since the turbo gave it the volumetric capacity of a 4.5

They're better looking than the 1/3 series IMO, but the name pisses me off a lot more than it should.

*** and get rid of that damn M4 badge in the front grill. fuck.

REKIII said:

Bean Counters and Marketing.  BMW used to be straight forward....if it said 325i on the back it was a 2.5L engine in a 3 series.  They fucked that up.

Then they started adding all the different series, stopped putting the same size engine in that matched the name, etc.

I think they still keep true to that on the few NA motors they make. (someone correct me if I'm wrong) But with the FI motors they name it with the displacement the engine would need to be, if it were NA.