BMW M
BMW M GmbH (previously: BMW Motorsport GmbH) is a subsidiary of German car manufacturer BMW AG.
Automotive sports accessories
BMW M, “M” (for Motorsport) was originally created to facilitate BMW’s racing program, which was very successful in the 1960s and 1970s. As time passed, BMW M began to supplement BMW’s vehicles portfolio with specially modified higher trim models, for which they are now most known by the general public. These M-badged cars traditionally include modified engines, transmissions, suspensions, interior trims, aerodynamics, and exterior modifications to set them apart from their counterparts. All M models are tested and tuned at BMW’s private facility at the Nürburgring racing circuit in Germany. BMW M also remains the only spectacle based company to cater motorcycles at the same time, specifically the BMW S1000RR.
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Origins Edit
Established in May one thousand nine hundred seventy two with thirty five employees, [1] it grew to four hundred employees by 1988, and is presently an integral part of BMW’s market presence. The very first racing project was BMW’s Trio.0 CSL.
After the success of BMW M products like BMW Trio.0 CSL in racing venues and the growing market for high spectacle sports cars, M introduced cars for sale to the public. The very first official M-badged car for sale to the public was the M1, exposed at the Paris Motor Demonstrate in 1978. The M1, however, was more of a racecar in domestic trim than an everyday driver. The direction of the M cars switched with the one thousand nine hundred seventy nine release of the M535i, which was a high spectacle version of BMW’s popular five Series mid-size sedan.
In one thousand nine hundred ninety three BMW Motorsport GmbH switched their name to BMW M GmbH.
BMW Motorsport GmbH supplied the 6.1 litre V12 DOHC forty eight valve engine that powers the McLaren F1, which, like its engine supplier and manufacturer, has liked slew of racing success, famously winning the twenty four Hours of Le Boy’s in 1995, the very first year of competition for the GTR racing variant.
Latest history Edit
At present, BMW M has suggested modified versions of almost every BMW nameplate, except for the Z1, seven Series flagship luxury sedan and the X1 and X3 compact crossover SUVs. There is no BMW M version of the seven Series, as BMW did not want its flagship saloon to be powered by a high-revving engine, and as the latest top-performing versions (usually the BMW 760Li) have V12 engines which while powerful are considered too powerful for a sporty offshoot. So far the unofficial “BMW M7” is the Alpina B7, which is produced on BMW’s assembly line tho’ its engine and ending touches are done by auto tuner Alpina. [Two] [Trio] [Four] [Five] [6] However, as BMW M shifted to turbocharged engines, there are rumors that there is an in-house BMW M7 in the works, and it is speculated that its spectacle may exceed that of the BMW 760Li and Alpina B7. [7] [8]
The BMW X5 and X6 sport activity vehicles received M derivatives for the two thousand ten model year onwards. These are the very first M vehicles with xDrive four-wheel drive and automatic transmissions, and also the very first M-badged SUV models. However, the E70 and E71 X5 and X6 M were actually developed by BMW Group rather than by BMW M.
Albeit these are considered the most well known in-house tuning divisions, BMW M has a considerably different philosophy than Mercedes-AMG. BMW M has emphasized tuning only vehicles with “Lateral agility” (which has long been the three Series, five Series, and roadsters), while AMG has created high-performance versions of many of its nameplates, including flagship sedans and SUVs. Accordingly, “an M car has to be responsive and fundamentally keen on turning as well as accelerating. The M5’s technical spec is all about connecting the driver to a car that reacts blindingly quick, whatever request the driver forearms down.” Until the two thousand ten model year, BMW M has also never used supercharging or turbocharging, unlike Mercedes-AMG or Audi; for example the E39 and E60 iterations of the BMW M5 (using naturally-aspirated engines) competed against the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG (with a supercharged V8) and the Audi RS6 (twin-turbo). [9] [Ten]
BMW M vehicles typically used manuals and semi-automatic transmissions (the most latest type being a dual clutch transmission), in contrast to Mercedes-AMG which largely has automatic transmissions (the 7-speed AMG SpeedShift MCT dual clutch transmission was used on fresh models from two thousand nine onward). However, the BMW X5 M and X6 M were the very first M-vehicles suggested with automatic transmission, a 6-speed Steptronic unit, since this works with xDrive.
BMW M engines were traditionally large displacement naturally aspirated high revving engines, particularly the S85 V10 in the E60 M5 and E63 M6 and the related S65 V8 in the E90 M3. These are the most powerful engines BMW has ever built (not including the BMW S70/Two) without supercharging or turbocharging, with an output of one hundred hp per liter of displacement, and each has won numerous International Engine of the Year Awards. [9] [11] [12] As late as the early 2000s, BMW regarded forced-induction (supercharging or turbocharging) as low-tech shortcuts to boosting horsepower, stating that this adds weight and complexity while reducing throttle response. [Ten] BMW purists have noted that while coerced induction and/or large displacement does produce more torque for better day-to-day driving, most of them like the “character” and sound of low displacement naturally aspirated engines with high redlines. [13]
However, the late 2000s international regulations trends on reducing CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are cited as the reasons not to proceed further development on naturally aspirated high redline engines. The N54 twin-turbo inline-6 which debuted in the two thousand seven BMW 335i (E90) gives almost equivalent spectacle to the E46 and E90 iterations of the BMW M3, while being much more practical and fuel-efficient as a daily driver. [14] Embarking with the X5 M and X6 M, and featured in the F10 M5, BMW used the twin-turbocharged S63 which not only produces more horsepower and torque, but is also more efficient than the S85 V10. Also unlike the S85 and S65 which do not share a design with non-M BMW engines, the S63 has significant parts commonality with the base N63 V8 engine (which is also has twin turbochargers) making them less expensive to build. [15] [16] At the present (2012), BMW has not considered supercharging yet. [17]
As of the two thousand thirteen model year, the BMW M3 (E92/E93) is the only “traditional” M car left, as the rest of the M lineup features turbocharged engines, and the next iteration of the M3 (F80) and M4 (F82/F83) are expected to feature a twin turbo straight-6 engine. [Legitimate] [Nineteen] [20] [21] [22]
There are several BMW models which BMW Motorsport made switches on, without them becoming M-Cars. This succession of styling (M-tech I, M-tech II) and spectacle cues came from BMW Motorsports; e.g. BMW 530i M packet or 325i M packet etc.
Vehicles which have been modified by BMW Motorsport, but are not total M Cars, may feature “M” badges, whilst total M Cars will have “M” badges with the model number (e.g., “M4” or “M5”). Two exceptions would be the M Roadster and M Coupe models, both Z3, Z4 and 1-series variants, which only have an “M” badge with no number displayed on the trunk. These cars are utter M Cars.
In latest years, there have been ‘M’-badged accessories available on BMW’s standard fleet as factory options or as part of the “M Sport” package (which is more expensive than the optional Sport package). Examples of this include the E39 and E60 five series sedans which had optional aerodynamic packages that were strongly influenced by the M5’s styling (for example, bumpers with larger intakes). It is not unusual to see “standard” BMW vehicles with “M” badges or ribbons accenting their design. The plain motorsports badge simply stands for the ‘M-tech’ upgrades tooled on the vehicle (e.g., suspension, brakes, looks or any other modification that has been developed by the M division), therefore the ‘M’ badge on these vehicles should not be confused with the true ‘M’ vehicles (except the Z-cars, as mentioned), as they are not fully fledged ‘M’ cars, just tooled with ‘M’-tech upgrades. BMW has suggested these ‘M’ options on their standard vehicles since the late 1970s which explains why these vehicles carry ‘M’ badges straight from the factory. In comparison, vehicle maker Audi also employs this same type of nomenclature. There are fully fledged ‘S’ models (S4, S5, S6, S7 and TTS), as well as an optional “S’-line package that can be tooled to their standard vehicle lineup. [23]
An example of ‘M’-badged vehicles in latest times include the E60 BMW 550i and E63 BMW 650i. The standard BMW five Series and six Series only had a choice of either a manual or automatic transmission, but the ‘M’ Sport package had an optional Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) (a gearbox collective with the M5 and M6) [24] until after the two thousand seven model year.
Recently (2012) BMW has introduced a fresh category for ‘M’ cars, which was branded as the ‘M’ Spectacle. They are the very first M diesel cars that BMW produces.
To date this includes the M550dx in touring and saloon variants, the X6 M50d and X5 M50d which all share a three hundred eighty one bhp 740NM triple turbo diesel engine, the former pair are only LHD drive markets presently due to the xDrive layout in the F10 series not being compatible with RHD markets (a RWD F10 M550d was mentioned by Auto Express but has not been confirmed). Official figures put the M550d xDrive’s 0-to-62-mph time at Four.7 seconds and top speed at 155mph (limited).The very first petrol M Spectacle car is the M135i which is a three hundred twenty bhp one series car. M135i is available with rear- or all-wheel drive.
The M550d is available in both sedan and touring chassis, with a ZF 8HP eight-speed sport automatic transmission including auto begin/stop function. Manual and non-sport automatic gearboxes are not available. Unique features on the M550d are the twin trapezoidal exhausts in dark chrome and both wing mirrors and air-intake bars in ferric grey. Other five series models have wing mirrors in the same colour as the rest of the vehicle. The front fog lamps, standard on all other F10/F11 five series models are eliminated, to make space for extra air-intakes. The door-sill plates are also unique on this vehicle, having a “M550d” inscription. In addition, the F11 Touring model features air suspension on the rear axle, with automatic self-levelling.
Nothing yet has been announced as regards the F30 three Series M Spectacle line up but BMW have trademarked (amongst many other monikers) M335, M340 and M350. [25] Further to this M President Friedrich Nitschke has confirmed that the fresh triple turbo diesel engine will “lightly fit” within the F30 engine bay but did not elaborate any further. [26]