BMW’s historical past with V8s is a unusually selective one. Among the model’s most iconic automobiles had been constructed round eight cylinders—the E39 M5, the E92 M3, the E38 7 Sequence, and the timeless magnificence that’s the 507 all leaned on V8 energy to make their level. However the V8 was by no means BMW’s default efficiency reply, and it’s not what Bavaria is most identified for. BMW earned its repute on good four-cylinders and straight-sixes—engines with a crisp, mechanical readability that grew to become a part of the model’s DNA. Nonetheless, trying again, it’s onerous to not really feel like Munich left just a few nice V8 alternatives on the desk, particularly within the fashionable period.
And certain, stuffing V8s into all the things was AMG’s entire factor within the 2000s and 2010s, whereas BMW performed the scalpel to AMG’s hammer. However a handful of recent Bimmers had been itching for eight cylinders, and with V8s clearly on borrowed time, it’s onerous to not want BMW had constructed just a few extra. So which BMWs would’ve been even higher with a V8?
BMW 1M
That is a straightforward one. The BMW 1M will all the time be an enthusiast-darling, resulting from its raucous turbocharged straight-six engine, razor-sharp dealing with, and pugnacious seems. It was additionally a little bit of an underdog, having been produced from the M Division’s elements bin, with a non-M Division engine. Regardless of all of that, it’s beloved as is.
That doesn’t imply it might probably’t be higher, although. A number of tuners have already realized the 1M’s potential and stuffed the E92 M3’s S65 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 beneath its hood. It’s a good match, nevertheless it works, and it provides a lot extra character to the littlest M automotive. Even for those who neglect the ability improve—which is substantial, because the S65 made 414 horsepower, in comparison with the 1M’s paltry 335 horsepower—the S65’s 8,250-rpm redline and spine-tingling noise are vastly superior to the 1M’s commonplace blown-six.
Add that high-revving V8 and killer soundtrack to what’s already probably the most fun-to-drive BMWs of the fashionable period, and you’ve got the proper M automotive. Plus, you’d lastly be giving it a correct M engine, relatively than simply an off-the-shelf N54.
Whereas a number of tuners have already constructed such automobiles, don’t count on to see many extra. BMW solely constructed 6,309 1Ms for purchasers worldwide, and just for the 2011 mannequin 12 months, which makes it uncommon and invaluable. Modifying it might probably scale back that worth, particularly with one thing as drastic as an engine swap. So that you gained’t see too many homeowners lining as much as drop a distinct engine beneath its hood anytime quickly. Nonetheless, for those who do, it’s a mix from the automotive gods.
G80 BMW M3
Let’s begin by saying that there’s nothing flawed with the G80 M3 because it stands. Its S55 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six is a masterpiece of energy and supply. Within the M3 CS, BMW claims 523 horsepower, nevertheless it feels much more monstrous than that. It wouldn’t shock me if its true energy determine began with a “6.” Nevertheless, it does have one flaw: noise. The S55 simply doesn’t sound good, even with fancier M Efficiency exhaust techniques. It sounds flat and generic, as if it had been tuned in Forza. So whereas its on-road outcomes are thrilling, its noise by no means actually is.
A V8 would repair that. I’m imagining what BMW’s new S63 engine can be like, and it’s legendary, a minimum of in my head. The S63 powers each massive Bimmer from the M5 to the X7, and it’s a monster of a powerplant. It makes 617 horsepower in most purposes and is able to rather more. But it surely isn’t essentially the additional energy that I believe would make it work so properly within the M3, as that automotive is already quick sufficient. As an alternative, it’s the character it could add.
The G80 M3 isn’t like M3s of outdated. It isn’t a scalpel-sharp sports activities automotive that simply so occurs to have again seats. It’s much more brutal than that, with seemingly limitless grip and energy. Driving the G80 M3 quick doesn’t really feel such as you’re dancing throughout the pavement, prefer it did within the best of M3s, however such as you’re pummeling the pavement into submission. So I really feel like a burly twin-turbo V8 would match its character so significantly better, particularly with all-wheel drive.
Sarcastically, what such a mix makes me consider isn’t a BMW M product, however a Mercedes AMG. Extra particularly, the epic W204 Mercedes C63 AMG. OK, that had AMG’s naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, the best possible engine I’ve ever used, so the M3 wouldn’t be that particular. Nevertheless, a mix of the G80 M3’s agile dealing with, sharp steering, and tenacious grip with the S63’s energy and noise can be the stuff of legends. We’d be speaking about it for many years to come back. Now think about it as a wagon…
BMW i8
I’ve pushed many BMW i8s through the years and, throughout each single drive, I all the time felt it wanted to ditch its hybrid system for a correct inner combustion engine. Don’t get me flawed, I like hybrid system, I like EVs, and the i8’s powertrain was fairly good in its day. Nevertheless, as good as its three-cylinder, all-wheel drive hybrid setup was, it was the weakest a part of the automotive.
The i8 had a sensational mid-engine chassis, one thing that BMW followers begged their favourite model to construct for many years following the long-lasting M1. They’ve been begging BMW ever since, too. So it’s a disgrace that the Bavarians wasted it on a hybrid that solely made 369 horsepower. OK, so it nonetheless managed a sub-four-second 0-60 mph time, because of its pretty mild 3,501-pound curb weight. But it surely had a lot extra potential than that.
As an alternative of a puny Mini-sourced turbocharged three-cylinder behind the driving force, the BMW i8 ought to have had the S65 V8. Sure, the S65 was a bit outdated at that time, and possibly wouldn’t have met emissions. But when BMW might have figured it out, it could have made for a completely sensational supercar, one that might be inked in historical past books. The i8’s chassis was a factor of carbon-fiber magnificence, and its seems had been from one other planet. Are you able to think about a 414-horsepower, 8,250-rpm screamer powering it? And because the S65 isn’t that for much longer than the three-cylinder it’d substitute, it could even match fairly decently. BMW even confessed that it was initially designed to suit the S85 V10. Nevertheless, I believe the lighter, smaller V8 would have match the i8’s persona a bit higher.
Extra importantly, it’d remedy the exhaust problem. With the i8, BMW confronted the troublesome problem of creating a three-cylinder sound worthy of a six-figure mid-engine supercar. And, frankly, it failed. Which is why it needed to resort to cabin speaker trickery to make the driving force assume there was one thing spicier behind their head. What I didn’t know till a current Hagerty video with Jason Cammisa is that BMW additionally made a faux exhaust pipe that was basically a speaker, to trick even outdoors bystanders into pondering it was extra thrilling than it was. That’s unforgivable and fully tarnishes the i8, a minimum of in my coronary heart. So rip out the Mini engine and the bulbous exhaust speaker, and stuff in a screaming V8 that may make a correct noise. It’d be the fashionable supercar that followers all the time wished, however BMW by no means constructed. Hopefully, a inventive and adventurous tuner reads this and will get to work.
