BMW M3 M4 RPM Redline Visual, Finally

[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW M3 M4 RPM Redline Visual, Finally

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We've now had confirmation of the s55 engine's sightly above 7500 RPM redline via the official released specs, but seeing as how the tachometer and redline were ever elusive all these months and years of spy photos, we're happy to finally share with you images of the M3/M4's redline.

Though the actual redline starts at the 7500 mark, expect the rev limiter to kick in a bit after that.

Dyno Plot For Reference.

[solstice]

Thanks!

With that picture combined with the Dyno chart I think it's safe to say that this engine will act like a typical FI engine in terms of power delivery across the rev band.

With a 7500 rpm redline it looks from the dyno chart that plots the S65 on it as well that the power plateau should be around 5500 rpm. I.e when power stops building and maintain hp until redline. The quick run to peak hp and the square tq curve will make for a very fat midrange but the car will not be very exciting to rev past 5500 - 6000 rpm. The ferocious pull to redline from the S65 will not be there.

I.e much more S63TU than S65 as expected. No surprise here.
Remains to see if throttle response ( I inlcude all type of lag from throttle to engine response in "throttle lag" ) will set this engine apart from a typical FI engine.

[Holset]

Okay so about 7500 rpm were is the rew limit 7700-7800rpm?

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Holset

Okay so about 7500 rpm were is the rew limit 7700-7800rpm?

Does it matter when taken the dyno curves shifting before redline will give a more satisfying experience and better performance than running above redline?

[Boss330]

Nice find, suspect that official redline is 7600rpm (slightly above 7500rpm has been claimed by BMW).

In the onboard videos it seems like the drivers shift well before 7500, in fact under 7000rpm. Which makes sense as acceleration will be greater in the next gear instead of pushing to the redline like you would in a NA engine.

I guess that the short stroke will improve response compared to the N55 at least

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by solstice

Thanks!

With that picture combined with the Dyno chart I think it's safe to say that this engine will act like a typical FI engine in terms of power delivery across the rev band.

With a 7500 rpm redline it looks from the dyno chart that plots the S65 on it as well that the power plateau should be around 5500 rpm. I.e when power stops building and maintain hp until redline. The quick run to peak hp and the square tq curve will make for a very fat midrange but the car will not be very exciting to rev past 5500 or 6000 rpm, max. The ferocious pull to redline from the S65 will not be there.

I.e much more S63TU than S65 as expected. No surprise here.
Remains to see if throttle response ( I inlcude all type of lag from throttle to engine response in "throttle lag" ) will set this engine apart from a typical FI engine.

My thoughts exactly. This engine is going to deliver and feel exactly like +500 rpm and +20% more peak power 1M (N54T).

Our redline is at 7000, power plateau is around 5000 and in terms of excitement there is not much past 5500 or 6000, despite the fact that it can hit the rev limiter pretty easily. It just is not that exciting to do so, in comparison to gobs of power available at low and mid range revs which is stupid fun!

It really sounds to me like a very well tuned 1M engine with an extra 500 rpm on tap. I am not talking about other new stuff and enhancements like in the cooling.

I bet the throttle response will in practice mimic the M button in the 1M as well (controlling wastegate, a different map) for sharp response , which I posted before as being NOT as natural as a good NA engine, like the S65 because it may be oversensitive and jerky at times. But maybe they fixed that too. S55 might just be the best FI engine in terms of response, as you defined it, since 1M was already very good compared to others, including other applications of the N54.

[Longboarder]

Not bad for a factory turbo car.

[Powaup]

Looks spot on 7500 but I'm sure the rev limiter won't come in until 7800ish

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by ozinaldo

My thoughts exactly. This engine is going to deliver and feel exactly like +500 rpm and +20% more peak power 1M (N54T).

Our redline is at 7000, power plateau is around 5000 and in terms of excitement there is not much past 5500 or 6000, despite the fact that it can hit the rev limiter pretty easily. It just is not that exciting to do so, in comparison to gobs of power available at low and mid range revs which is stupid fun!

It really sounds to me like a very well tuned 1M engine with an extra 500 rpm on tap. I am not talking about other new stuff and enhancements like in the cooling.

I bet the throttle response will in practice mimic the M button in the 1M as well (controlling wastegate, a different map) for sharp response , which I posted before as being not as natural as a good NA engine, like the S65 because it may be oversensitive and jerky at times. But maybe they fixed that too. S55 might just be the best FI engine in terms of response, as you defined it, since 1M was already very good compared to others, including other applications of the N54.

I completely agree esp. the bold part. However, I think you feel this is more or less a win, whereas it's pretty disappointing for me. Only time and drives by journalists will really tell us about the throttle response.

In my most recent simulations the (approximate) shift points were less than redline in all gears except 1-2. In particular they were (that sim still is using a 7750 redline):

1-2: 7750 (redline)
2-3: 7100
3-4: 6600
4-5: 6500
5-6: 6300
6-7: 6200

This is simply the nature of the beast with a radically falling torque curve and flat power curve. The force at the wheels curves by gear vs. vehicle speed simply overlap and that is the ideal shift point for maximum performance. I guess we've pretty much known this since the revelation that the car would be turbo charged but it's really sinking in now. In short, other than in 1st gear, forget about the redline and forget about the corresponding thrills of a high redline. Redline will only be utilized for absolute drag racing starting in 1st gear.

Here is an interesting related question. Will the shift points for the DCT be programmed for maximum performance which means essentially short shifting? Ugh...

[Danyutz]

That doesn't look black panel tech to me, still looks analog, except for the yellow/red line.

[Suave]

is this view of the dash claimed to be production version? I do like it...

[ASAP]

mkoesel? tie? still not a definitive answer

[Ashley Schaeffer BMW]

lol whats with some of you always bumping up the numbers??

This site has been spot on thus far in predictions and news yet the same people with no insider sources saying 425?? Hmmm more likely 450HP.... 390lb torque?? Hmmm more likely 410lb.... 7500 redline? Hmmm more likely 7800.

[r3dbimmer89]

My thoughts exactly, a 7600 redline... not much more you can do with an FI engine. Overall, I am still really impressed. I am hoping that power doesn't fall off after 6k RPM like the N54/N55 but if so then oh well...

[325rider]

Anyone think the e46/e9x gauges were way sweeter and more proprietary looking? Cool new M, the passions in the transmission and the motor tho, and I prefer a std. 6 mt and NA motor.

Great car tho

I definitely think its going to have a 7550 rpm redline though, no way 7500, NO WAY

[GOLFFRR]

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by swamp2

I completely agree esp. the bold part. However, I think you feel this is more or less a win, whereas it's pretty disappointing for me. Only time and drives by journalists will really tell us about the throttle response.

In my most recent simulations the (approximate) shift points were less than redline in all gears except 1-2. In particular they were (that sim still is using a 7750 redline):

1-2: 7750 (redline)
2-3: 7100
3-4: 6600
4-5: 6500
5-6: 6300
6-7: 6200

This is simply the nature of the beast with a radically falling torque curve and flat power curve. The force at the wheels curves by gear vs. vehicle speed simply overlap and that is the ideal shift point for maximum performance. I guess we've pretty much known this since the revelation that the car would be turbo charged but it's really sinking in now. In short, other than in 1st gear, forget about the redline and forget about the corresponding thrills of a high redline. Redline will only be utilized for absolute drag racing starting in 1st gear.

Here is an interesting related question. Will the shift points for the DCT be programmed for maximum performance which means essentially short shifting? Ugh...

That is a good question, don't remember much info regarding the DCT in the new car too, practically same as the one in E9X?

By the way, I don't really consider it as mind blowing news but yes I guess, having driven a nice little M car since two years it is less of an issue for me to worry about the response and revs.

I don't remember any occasion the car doesn't surprise and excite me, it always puts a smile on my face and this feeling doesn't get old so I have some faith in M engineers that they should have done it even better in the M4/M3, why and how they couldn't?

Just it is a big car, that's what really bothers me, nothing about the engine.

[Suave]

Originally Posted by swamp2

I completely agree esp. the bold part. However, I think you feel this is more or less a win, whereas it's pretty disappointing for me. Only time and drives by journalists will really tell us about the throttle response.

In my most recent simulations the (approximate) shift points were less than redline in all gears except 1-2. In particular they were (that sim still is using a 7750 redline):

1-2: 7750 (redline)
2-3: 7100
3-4: 6600
4-5: 6500
5-6: 6300
6-7: 6200

This is simply the nature of the beast with a radically falling torque curve and flat power curve. The force at the wheels curves by gear vs. vehicle speed simply overlap and that is the ideal shift point for maximum performance. I guess we've pretty much known this since the revelation that the car would be turbo charged but it's really sinking in now. In short, other than in 1st gear, forget about the redline and forget about the corresponding thrills of a high redline. Redline will only be utilized for absolute drag racing starting in 1st gear.

Here is an interesting related question. Will the shift points for the DCT be programmed for maximum performance which means essentially short shifting? Ugh...

Great input Ozinaldo and Swamp!

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Danyutz

That doesn't look black panel tech to me, still looks analog, except for the yellow/red line.

And thank goodness for that, the black panel instrument cluster in the 7er is vile.

Is HUD standard in M3/4 like M5/6?

[SoCalS2k]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

And thank goodness for that, the black panel instrument cluster in the 7er is vile.

Is HUD standard in M3/4 like M5/6?

3 and 4 series have HUD so I'm sure we'll see it as standard on M3 and M4, and with M mode like on M5/M6.

[Holset]

Originally Posted by solstice

Does it matter when taken the dyno curves shifting before redline will give a more satisfying experience and better performance than running above redline?

Just curious.

[jhv]

gotta love that dyno!