BMW UK Advertising Poster / Placard 1980 - M1, E21 320/6 + 6-cylinder engines

Nice 1980 placard from BMW UK advertising their family of 6-cylinder engines, from the later E21 320 to the M1's M88 and explaining the benefits of the. "Six cylinders where you'd expect to find four." in the compact 3-Series and "Six cylinders where you'd expect to find twelve." in the case of the supercar M1.

   BMW's dedication the six cylinder engine is not a recent phenomenon.

   It goes right back to BMW's original as a specialist engine-maker, rather than a car manufacturer.

   In fact, the first engines we ever built were six cylinder aircraft engines.

   Later, in the 1950's when conspicuous consumption was almost a status symbol, BMW preferred to stay with efficiency rather than extravagance and launched a six cylinder luxury car.

   Today, in the BMW 320, a car that's scarcely more than 14ft long, theres a sophisticated six cylinder power unit.

   And the BMW M1 on the right also needs no more than six cylinders. Even though in its most developed form, the engine can actually produce 800 bhp.

   It's not a blind dedication to six that makes us refuse the false economy of a four in the case of the 320. Or the wanton extravagence of a 12 in the case of the M1.

   Rather, we take our guidance from the laws of physics.

   According to those laws, it is not possible to build an engine that's perfectly balanced with less than six cylinders arranged in-line.

   Anything else, is a compromise that may help a car manufacturer balance its books. But won't help it balance its engines.

   Which is why every engine BMW make that's two litres or larger, is an in-line sic cylinder engine.

   Fortunately, there's no need for you to understand the laws of physics to discover the difference this makes.

   There's not a trace of roughness as you cruise. Or rawness as you accelerate.

   There's a smooth immediacy which motoring journalists normally describe as "turbine-like".

   And there's a flexibility which makes driving in traffic almost a pleasure. For with 85% of maximum torque at a mere 1900rpm you get a responsiveness in fourth gear that you might normally expect only in second gear.

   The BMW 320 costs £6,790.

   Which is scarcely more than cars whose manufacturers have chosen to compromise on their engines.

   And if they're prepared to compromise on the most important part of a car, where will those compromises stop?

BMW M54 Engine Wiring Harness Diagram Illustration

Illustrated diagram showing the engine wiring-harness configuration on BMWs with the M54 6-cylinder petrol/gasoline engine family, showing connections to the Vanos, GCV, DISA Valve, etc.

“TIP: Ensure your CCV system is properly connected to the underside of the intake-manifold (and it is not damaged) before connecting all of these harnesses. It’s a huge pain trying to reach through all the wires to adjust or properly connect it.”

A different take on a wiring-harness diagram done in a hand-drawn artwork style, but useful none-the-less, so it had to get catalogued. Originally posted by u/feedthedonkey on the r/BMW Tech subReddit, who claims credit for the artwork.

BMW Front Outline / Silhouette Gallery - All Models

Another great chart of BMW front-end outlines detailing almost every model, or at least every major model release, right from the word go... which one is yours??

1936 328		1952 501		1955 ISETTA 250		1956 507 ROADSTER
1962 1500		1965 3200CS		1968 2002 Tii		1973 3.0CSL E9
1975 316 E21		1978 M1 E26		1978 M535i E12		1986 M3 E30
1988 M5 E28		1989 8 SERIES E31		1992 M3 E36		1996 Z2 E36/7
1998 M5 E39		1999 Z8 ROADSTER		2000 M3 E46		2002 Z4
2004 6 SERIES E63/64		2007 M3 E90		2007 X5 E70		2011 1 SERIES M COUPE
2011 M5 F10		2014 i3		2014 M4 COUPE F82		2015 i8

BMW M10 Engine Family Tree

Interesting press release from BMW showing some derivatives of the much-loved 4-cylinder M10 engine, which I have covered in much detail before.

"With half the cylinders and half the power of todays V8 M3, the original 1986 car remains one of our all-time favourites. Its seemingly indestructible four-cylinder iron block, however, goes back to 1962 and the BMW 1500. This was also the block that formed the basis of the 1.5-litre turbo F1 engines that powered Brabham to many a race victory. That's not just the block type -- BMW Motorsport used actual 1500 blocks sourced from scrapyards, because the older the block, the fewer stresses remaining in it. Never has a production engine family been more versatile."

Awesome 2002 Ti race-car artwork by Lebor

Posted on r/BMW by u/Lebor

E28 5er - Interesting unknown rear wing/spoiler... Hartge maybe?

A lovely barn-find shot of an E28 528e in the USA, but on closer inspection it sports a striking rear-wing/spoiler that I have never seen before. Who makes this piece? On first impression I would say one of the period Euro-tuner firms like Zender or Hartge, but after a bit of research I can't find an identical one. The chrome-trim makes it look as if the spoiler was fitted later on though and the car is not a tuner model. Perhaps someone can shed light on this spoiler's origin?

Hartge lay claim to a few E28 aero-parts and a I can find a couple of similar rear-wings, pictured below. The upper one is a rounded type and I am not sure is definitely made by Hartge though the badge suggests it is, and the second pic shows a Hartge developed E28 with their own rear-wing fitted, very similar to the one at the top but not quite as tall and curved on the top-edge not flat. It could well be that it is a similar version of this same spoiler and still made by Hartge, but I cannot find it.

BMW 507 stunning replica... based on an MG MGA!

Saw this amazing BMW 507 replica on the Reddit /BMW sub. It is based on a 1955-onwards MG MGA Roadster and is pretty convincing to the untrained eye. However, as I own a 1959 MGA MK1 1500, I can see that those front wings and that bonnet shape are unmistakable. Still, with the price of 507s now topping the million mark and your average MGA not commanding even a fraction of that, I can see why this piece of classic British sports-car sacrilege is acceptable! Funny though, that someone has combined one of my toys with one of my Dad's toys...