Re: New A4-based S4

["Linus D. Toy" <linust@interramp.com>]

sorry dave, not to gang up on you (even if eliot does live in my neck of the
woods...)

the E36 M3 (to distinguish from the late '80s E30 M3 with the 4 cylinder) in
Europe has an "M" engine.  this is a *very* complex, practically handbuilt
engine (read $$$).  oh yeah, expensive to maintain, too--ask an M5 or M6
owner.  that motor pushes out much more horsepower than one needs in the
US--horsepower = speed, most 'murican drivers couldn't handle it ;)

For the '95 US model (fall '94--the euro E36 M3 was available long before),
they intoduced the M3 with a stroked version of the 2.5L I6.  The result:
lotsa torque, ideal for the stop-light drags so favored here.  It's also
*much* cheaper than the M engine.  The M3 in the US was further de-contented
(stripped) compared to a 328iS--trip computer was optional, etc.  in fall
'94, the 328iS came in around us$32k, the M3 around $36k, but if you
optioned out the M3 like the 328iS, you'd be close to $40k.  As it turned
out, BMW did the right thing for the US market--you couldn't find an M3 on a
dealer lot unless some idiot gave up his spot in line (and many sold their
place in line for a few $$$, too).

as for the sulfur-content of our fuel, yes, that was indeed a problem, but
it affects not just the M3.  The 328 and 528 motors sold in the US still
have a cast iron block, while over in Europe, they have an aluminum block.
This didn't happen until the 1996 model year, though.

BTW, the M3 has been brought back for a final run in the E36 body--with a
3.2L I6.

At 09:49 AM 8/7/96 +0012, Dave Eaton wrote:
>>there are some differences here.  the euro (and canadian!) M3 has a
>>super expensive engine.  americans being the cheapskates that they are
>>indicated through marketing surveys that such a car wouldn't sell.  so
>>BMW basically put a stroked version of their 2.5 liter 6 and made an
>>american M3.  bang for the buck, to hell with purity....  :)
>
>not strictly correct eliot,
>
>the original reason for the dropping of the m3 (euro) motor was it's inability
>to handle the sulphur content of low grade us fuel.  it seems that this munches
>the cylinder lining.  audi's alimunimum motors can handle it though...
>
>>ned ritchie also said that the a4 1.8 will require more than a chip and
>>(and/or spring) to get hyper performance.  he said that the exhaust was too
>>restrictive.
>
>the 286 hp a4 i've driven (mtm modified) certainly had a new exhaust (3"
stainless)
>and a new carbon fibre airbox...
>
>-dave.
>'93 s2
>'90 ur-q
>
>
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* linus toy           email:  linust@interramp.com                   *
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