C&D Beating Hearts: 10 Greatest Engines You Can Buy Today - S55 makes the list

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by 8600RPM

It's too bad bmw doesby make one car with entire performance focus. A wide powerband is really not useful unless you want a jack of all trades car. That's what gearing is for. I never see under 5k rpms as I shift gears. Had to do this on e92. I'd rather see more top end stock and proper gearing.

But that is exactly what the M3(4) is all about .

Being a "jack of all trades" is what got me in my first M3 14 years ago and why I keep coming back. I keep fondly saying that the M3(4) isn't the best at anything, but the second best at everything .

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by verruckt

Do you know why you had to do that (rev it above 5000RPM) in the E92? Because that's where the power band was....

Well the S55 is no different in that respect. The powerband of the S55 is above 5500RPM. Sure, it makes tons of torque down low, but for maximum acceleration, you still need to keep it up there .

[snaimpally]

Originally Posted by ASAP

I never knew a Fiesta came w 3 cyl 1L motor... i'd like to try that out actually.

Fifth Gear had done a review of the Fiesta 3 cyl and actually preferred it to the 4 cyl engine.

[Doctor///M]

Yup, the S55 is that good. Let's see if it can keep the same winning streak that the S65 did!

[kevinlevrone]

Call me biased but I would have added the N54 to that list

[BMW M3 CRT]

Originally Posted by Powerslide

Hate to be broken record, but sound aside the S55 is much more exciting vs. S65, even at high rpms - no way I'd trade back the sound for the noticeably higher power of the S55 - it is truly on a different level regardless of rpm range... (in other words, even if the S65 was an option in the F8x, I'd still pick the S55)...

I would take it from the other side ... if BMW M-GmbH would make an F80 with an slightly modified S65, I would buy one, because its simply the best engine BMW M has ever done.

The E9xM3 is all about his fabulous, unique and ingenious S65 engine ... the rest of the car is nothing really special.

The E8xM3/4 is all about his fabulous chassis, drivetrain and Brakes ... the engine only fullfil the ground demands of an M3 engine, no more and no less, but nothing exciting and special like the S65.

I think enginewise the new Alfa Giulia QV would be in all aspects much more exciting, unique and special than the M3/M4, a pity to know that the M-GmbH has developed something similar, but the cost fraction of the AG has prevailed with the cheaper S55 over the engine concept prefered from the famous engine boys of the M-GmbH.

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by kevinlevrone

Call me biased but I would have added the N54 to that list

I thought the N54 was discontinued by now?

[135TX]

Besides the Aventador and GT3 all these motors are force fed?! My how times have changed.... interesting the Flat plane Coyote V8 didnt make the list.

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by 135TX

Besides the Aventador and GT3 all these motors are force fed?! My how times have changed.... interesting the Flat plane Coyote V8 didnt make the list.

Well the article is the 10 best engines you can buy today and you can't buy a GT350 yet.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by BMW M3 CRT

I would take it from the other side ... if BMW M-GmbH would make an F80 with an slightly modified S65, I would buy one, because its simply the best engine BMW M has ever done.

The E9xM3 is all about his fabulous, unique and ingenious S65 engine ... the rest of the car is nothing really special.

The E8xM3/4 is all about his fabulous chassis, drivetrain and Brakes ... the engine only fullfil the ground demands of an M3 engine, no more and no less, but nothing exciting and special like the S65.

I think enginewise the new Alfa Giulia QV would be in all aspects much more exciting, unique and special than the M3/M4, a pity to know that the M-GmbH has developed something similar, but the cost fraction of the AG has prevailed with the cheaper S55 over the engine concept prefered from the famous engine boys of the M-GmbH.

Isn't that really what M cars are about? Hate to break it to you but the next M3 will be a hybrid of some sort with tech like the i8.

[Matt_B]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

I thought the N54 was discontinued by now?

After poking around it looks like the E89 Z4 still technically has the N54?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Matt_B

After poking around it looks like the E89 Z4 still technically has the N54?

Yes, you are correct. I forgot about the 35is engine in the Z4. I deleted my post

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Yes, you are correct. I forgot about the 35is engine in the Z4. I deleted my post

Both the 35i and 35is models still use the N54 to my knowledge.

This is largely an anomaly though, since the Z4 only retained that engine because BMW did not see fit to update a car that is a dead man walking (goes out of production next February, with no potential for replacement until after 2020). Anyway, given that the Z4 itself is long in the tooth and really showing its age now, its no surprise that it would not be sufficient to land the N54 on this list. Not that I think the N54 would have made the list even if it were still in wide use today, necessarily.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Both the 35i and 35is models still use the N54 to my knowledge.

This is largely an anomaly though, since the Z4 only retained that engine because BMW did not see fit to update a car that is a dead man walking (goes out of production next February, with no potential for replacement until after 2020). Anyway, given that the Z4 itself is long in the tooth and really showing its age now, its no surprise that it would not be sufficient to land the N54 on this list. Not that I think the N54 would have made the list even if it were still in wide use today, necessarily.

Interesting. I did not know that even the base 35i uses the N54. Thanks for pointing this out, it is always fun learning something new .

[Haywood]

Lambo engine please!

[bigjae1976]

I remember everyone bitching about how the S65 had no low end power. Now the S55 has too much?

I do enjoy how the E9X was a departure from the E46 and also how the F8X is different from the E9X. What's the point of making the same car over and over?

[kdphan]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

I remember everyone bitching about how the S65 had no low end power. Now the S55 has too much?

I do enjoy how the E9X was a departure from the E46 and also how the F8X is different from the E9X. What's the point of making the same car over and over?

I remember bitching about how I had to rev the S65 over 5k rpm to get it going

Now when I rev the S55 past 5k rpm, i think to myself "OH SHIT, SHOW DOWN"

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by kdphan

I remember bitching about how I had to rev the S65 over 5k rpm to get it going

Now when I rev the S55 past 5k rpm, i think to myself "OH SHIT, SHOW DOWN"

S55 - BEAST MODE

S65 - INSTANT RESPONSE

[Jblack4083]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

it's funny that c and d complained about the m3/m4 when it first came out, then lo and behold it wins the comparos and now lauds the engine.

Everyone hates to love this car. It may not have the "WOW" that past versions had but it is definitely still, and undeniably the benchmark

[8600RPM]

I've had my 991s for ovet a month now and I appreciate the f80 each time I drive it. It's quite a car in my view. I needed a custom tune to wake up the top end but with that the chassis and sheer power never fails to impress. Much quicker than my 991s . Tuned however

[EfEightyM3]

Originally Posted by Jblack4083

Everyone hates to love this car. It may not have the "WOW" that past versions had but it is definitely still, and undeniably the benchmark

I think its certainly the benchmark in its class, but go beyond its class and there are so many great really world class cars out there, some at even cheaper or similar prices to the M3/4 which doesn't help it.
I could care less about the power...but there are certainly things lacking in this car that I wish were there. Different strokes...

From the top 10 list, give me the Flat 6 of the 911 and the V10 of the Lambo. Not only provide the performance, but the handling on those cars is top in the world, and an emotional experience to boot that will leave you grinning at 10 mph, or 100 mph.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by EfEightyM3

I think its certainly the benchmark in its class, but go beyond its class and there are so many great really world class cars out there, some at even cheaper or similar prices to the M3/4 which doesn't help it.
I could care less about the power...but there are certainly things lacking in this car that I wish were there. Different strokes...

From the top 10 list, give me the Flat 6 of the 911 and the V10 of the Lambo. Not only provide the performance, but the handling on those cars is top in the world, and an emotional experience to boot that will leave you grinning at 10 mph, or 100 mph.

For a helluva lot more coin