Quote:
Originally Posted by Boss330
Of course the S65 should be different to a regular BMW engine, it's a M engine after all...
But exactly which "dancing horse" (prancing) characteristics are you referring to?
Sound? Not close as one is a flat plane crank engine and the other isn't.
Power and torque characteristics? No, see above (but closer than on sound).
IMHO, it is more comparable to a Mustang with a tuned 4,6 - 5,0 - 5,4 DOHC engine. The new Boss 302 Laguna Seca is probably a close comparison.
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Getting quite OT here but that's OK IMHO...
In short I disagree with the above.
Yes there are differences but I think an engines character is as much part of its core essence as its crankshaft geometry. The character comes in great part from its redline, torque curve shape and specific output.
Earlier aluminum block 4.6l Mustangs with DOHCs were typically around 300 hp and 7000 rpm redline - no comparison really. The Coyote is closer to the M3 but still only produces around 80 hp/l and redlines at 7000. The compression ratio on the Coyote is only 11:1. The Boss 302 LS is still getting closer with 89 hp/l, 7500 rpm redline, 11:1 compression. As you know the S65 is 104 hp/l, 8400 rpm redline and 12:1. Also neither the Coyote's nor the BLS's torque curve is nearly as flat nor broad and the M3. Thus the resulting power curve in the BLS starts tapering off even before 6000 rpm. It just can not breathe the way the S65 can especially at high rpm. That is part due to the S65 having individual throttle bodies (just like all modern V8 Ferrari's) as well as a much more highly engineered head. In all of these regards the M3 is more similar to the F430 engine. Of course neither the BLS nor M3 have a true dry sump lubrication system like the F430. All three cars have (loosely) similar fully variable valve timing systems.
Bedplate design: The S65 and F430 engines share a common engine case design using a bedplate, whereas the BLS has more old school one piece block with main bearings/caps. There are plenty of engineering reasons why both the Ferraria and BMW engines use this type of design.
Sound: Depending on which aftermarket exhaust system (cat back) one goes with you can get an M3 sounding a lot closer to a V8 Ferrari than the BLS. There is as much contribution to sound in the engine block configuration, redline and exhaust system as there is to crankshaft geometry.
Cost: The S65 engine lists at about $22k whereas one can get a 500 hp version of the BLS engine for about $8k. I'd hate to even guess what the F430 engine goes for... Of course price isn't everything but in general it will correlate fairly well with cost and cost comes from sophistication, precision, expensive materials, etc.
What is a bit unfair here is that the Boss 302 LS came out in 2012 vs. the M3 in 2009. Now the F430 has been out since 2004 so that too is not really a fair comparison either. But heck most want to defer and compare to the leader(s) of their time and when the M3 came out many viewed the F430 engine as the pinnacle of production sports car engines hence some comparisons are made.
Just to be clear, I think the BLS is a gem on an engine (and gem of a car as well) so let's not turn this into BMW fanboy vs. Ford fanboy, etc.