Why no forced induction on new M3?

Question

It makes very little sense to me why a high-performance car like the M3 does not have any form of forced induction. A V8 with turbos or supercharger can easily get 500 HP so is BMW holding out on purpose?

Answer 1

Several reasons:

1. Cost

2. Efficiency

3. Most important. Because The M engineers consider the high engine speed concept to be the most intelligent strategy of obtaining the maximum thrust from a vehicle.

This thrust is achieved by the engine speed, the torque and the short gear ratio.This concept has been adopted for vehicles in the 'M' range from motor sport. The fully variable M limited-slip differential means that the thrust is optimally distributed to the live axle.

Furthermore, the M3 engine also includes the established M-specific features such as double VANOS, individual throttle butterflies and high-performance engine electronics.

Technical workarounds by increasing the cylinder capacity or boosting become excessive, thus avoiding the increased engine weight and consumption often associated with these methods.

Sure - they could spend lots of $ tricking the M3 engine out further, but at the end of the day, BMW is in buiness to sell mass produced cars.

Answer 2

To date, an M car has yet to be turbocharged.  They're thinking about switching the M5 to a TT V8, but i hope they don't.

Efficiency and cost has nothing to do with it - it's more of a Tradition basis.  It's just not their style.  They've only done a few factory turbo (petrol) cars, and their most recent one has been a maintenance disaster.  The old 745i Turbo and the 2002 Turbo were good, though.  

Answer 3

Forced induction per se does not care about stoichiometric ratios.

It is just on the most basic side adding on more air into the combustion cylinders. Maintaining a stoichiometric ratio is the function of so many other add ons (control modules, sensors and actuators).

Going back to your question of why M3's are not forced air inducted,

BMW engineers think that for the given problem or desired effect, there is no need for one. M3's and even M5's or M6's do not have turbos nor do they need one. This is not to say that it would not benefit those cars. Remember that there are also downsides to turbos or roots-type

superchargers. Among the many downsides, most notable is a shorter lifespan of the engine.

And I also fully agree with the previous 2 answerers.

Answer 4

Its to much car for you to handle.