BMW Considers Selling Engines To Other Carmakers

BMW should sell their engines to Lexus

Peace.

huston.. Are you reffing to the Mercedes Car Group with Revenues of €54.6 billion in 2006? Lexus' profits and revenues are a closely guarded secret. Get off your box man!

Of course right of the bat someone has to mention Lexus.

I am sure GM would like to buy some.

I'm sure BMW would cut GM a deal since GM already supplies the transmission for some of the BMW engines.

If BMW does start selling its engines, I wonder how many BMW engineers will be assigneed to each buyer, to ensure motors are installed properly and to investigate any issues when they arise.

Bimmermike,

You inadvertantly bring up a good point: What is the proper plural of Lexus? Is it like deer? One deer, two deer, three deer...? Is it a Latin plural? Lexi? Or is it Lexuses, as English speakers around the globe eschew irregular plural nouns by just adding an 's' or 'es'? Why would one want to buy a car they couldn't even discuss with any certainty? BMWs is easy. Some will write it wrongly, but at least they won't sound ignorant or pompous. Buicks, Saabs, Fords... Every other car is easy, unless one wants to be weird and say Acurae. And they said we liberal arts students didn't study or know anything worthwhile.

BMW engines are among the industry leaders in pollution, the 6-cylinders are practically bulletproof in terms of reliability, and ignoring the race derived M models all their engines are extremely fuel efficient for their classes. It'll be even better when we finally get their diesels over here, those are fantastic in every aspect.

Great honest comment JRobUSC.

When they are in the shop for problems it's rarely for engine. BMW engines can outlast the rest of the car, especially the electronic crap.

43LE, I would like you to show me your "proper research." Where's your "BMW Engine Reliability" data that proves your point? That was just a repetitive, ignorant comment, and I wouldn't be able to expect anything better from a Lexus fan who propagandizes their reliability.

BMW's emissions levels and fuel economy lead in nearly all classes.
For example the 530i is quicker, more fuel efficient and less polluting than all its rivals (A6 3.2, E280, GS350).

I've owned 4 BMWs. I purchased all of them used. The highest mileage car I had I sold with 190k miles. They all needed regular maintenance and had things go wrong with them. None of them had problems with the engine.

Well, one would hope they get their smaller engines right, lol.

Well I'll save you the time, 43LE, and cite some credible sources.

As for BMW engine reliability, the 3-series makes up about 60% of its sales in the United States. That means that just about 2 out of every 3 BMW's sold is a 3-series. I'm sure you have heard of Consumer Reports, an unbiased review organization that tests cars reliability, practacility, driveability and so on. For 2006, the 3-series go an Excellent rating in both Engine Major and Engine Minor. As did the 5-series. The 6 and 7 series got Excellent Engine Major and Very Good Engine Minor.

Moving on to fuel economy, again citing Consumer Reports; fuel economy was rated as one of the High's for the 3-series. The 5-series is offered with the same engines as is the x5 and x3, making up most of the sales.

Personally, I hope BMW does not do this as their engines should stay in their own cars.

"Hmmm, seems that when Consumers Reports says goods things about BMW all the German fanboys love the publication, but hate it otherwise..."

Incorrect. I don't like CR no matter how many German cars they recommend. But they are one of the few good sources for reliability (not overall- just reliability), and getting their results on BMW was convenient.

BMW engines aren't really known for reliability at all

(except German car fans from this site praise anything German as if they just witnessed the birth of Jesus)

but sound it makes is more talked about instead...

..but I understand they do tend to overheat alot. I do think they have an opportunity to sell few of their clunkers to Dodge or Ford but we'll see.

BMW engines have had a bad wrap due to poor care of 80's and early 90's BMW's.

Second hand BMW's(90's) tend to have overheating issues, but rarely are there ever failures relating to part failure, but normally poor or improper care.

Josh

I don't know man, I owned a 1990 E30 325i while I lived in Hawaii a year and hald ago and the car was bullet proof. It had the same urgency as if it was new. I am currently driving a 1999 740IL (87k miles) and the car is faultless.

Exactly my point. A well maintained BMW engine runs well, for a long time. The engines are sometimes over engineered, but often times they are solid both electronically, and mechanically.

If you properly maintain ANY vehicle, it will last you a long time. Yes, there are bad apples that just won't take even with good maintenance, but NO car company is without it's few "pieces of crap".

BMW selling its soul? I doubt it

BMW selling its soul? I doubt it

Another rubbish article. BMW only exchanges engines with Alpina.

BMW and Morgan have a deal, which the new 4.8 liter V8 will be applied onto the revised Aero 8.

And Land Rover... although they don't use the BMW V8 any more, they did.

I couldn't believe I forgot those. My bad.

LR still uses the 3.0d in the Range Rover, and the old TD4 in the Freelander was a BMW engine.
And in the old Bentley Arnage there was a 4.4 TT based off the 4.4 V8 in the 7 series.

Seems that everyone forgot the mighty McLaren F1. That ground-breaking 6.1 liter V12 resting within the McLaren was produced by none other than the BMW M-Division.

kpaxx, I'd love to see some powerful BMW in-line sixes in GM cars but GM has the capability to do their own at lower cost. Some of the past problems BMW had with engines was due to lack of iron liners in their silicon impregnated aluminum blocks. Other problems were caused by owners abusing their engines thinking that these engines are invincible.

There is a German precedent for "selling your soul" . Mercedes had a real nice in-line six diesel which they licenced to Daewoo for a Jeep-like SUV called the Koranda I think. Too bad the Koranda never made it to North America.

If this is real that BMW are welling to sales their engine to anyone. Oh! boy then they have a hard competing with the competitor..

Imagine Kia buy it and put in their car and sales it for 1/3 of the price of a BMW. Or worse Chinese automaker buy it and put it under their hood.

And what if the car manufactured that bought BMW engine and install it wrong, than you have all kind of engine problem. And than everyone will say how BMW are really suck for sure.

To be honest I really think this is areally a bad move that BMW has come out with. I guess those BMW CEO are becoming more American like now ha..? just want to make some quick cash $$$$$$$$$$$$.

And I don't think Lexus want BMW engines anyway because of the overheating thing with the engines.

There is more to a car than just the engine. The engine is a critical peice, but what about suspension, handling, style, ergonomics, etc., etc?

You are correct - it is nothing new. Plus I don't think BMW will just throw away their heritage by selling to everyone. They will be very discerning as to what car models get their engines. IF they even do it I think it would be for specialty vehicles or smaller engines that would be mainly for use in Asia and Europe. We shall see what comes about.

If it is true that BMW will eventually be selling engines to other manufacturers, I am sure they will not be the same quality as the ones going into their own cars. They will probably be worse.

As an automotive company, what would be my prospects for buying engines from BMW as opposed to any other engine supplier? An engine is an important part of an automobile, no question, but you want an engine that will withstand the test of time. Ideally, I would want Toyota, Honda and '50s Chevy engines in every car on the planet.

You know Kia/Hyundai is definitely want piece of this cake. Because last month they were saying about how they are currently working on a Audi TT fighter.

In my opinion if BMW does sales their grade "A" engines to other another manufacture, they will end up like the big three.

corretion, sales their grade "A" engines to other manufacture's they will end up like the big three.

No, I don't think it a good idea to put it in a lawnmowers, it might overheat ;) Yeah, I don't get, I thought BMW was making pretty good profit?

BMW engines are 100% bullet proof.

el34
Irvine, Ca 92602

What nobody at BMW wants for you to know is that BMW doesn't make any engines at all. They never have. They buy them from Saab and take the turbo out so their cars don't fall apart on sudden acceleration.

Yes, sell your great engines to manufacturers that know how to design good looking cars.

That's a whole lot of German. But Toyota did deserve the 1.0 win, that 3 cylinder is peppy and really fuel efficient.

And in case anyone thinks that the International Engine of the Year awards is German biased, it is produced by a British publishing group as well as it receives no advertising or financial support from any car manufacture or distributor.

I drive the 2006 IS250. I traded in my 2001 328ci for it. My 2001 ran smoothly and kept my satisfied as a driver up until I decided to get a new ride.

BMW makes wonderful engines. But so does Lexus. Two different worlds do these two brands compete in. My IS does not get the respect my old 328 received. But all owners of the IS likes it because I have monthly meet ups.

I know Lexus is popular here in the US but not so in other countries. Is okay because Lexus is the best to come out of Japan and us Toyota fans originally stand loyal with our luxury brand. For image and classy europe luxury go buy a Mercedes but for overall good luxury and good quality buy a lexus.

I like the IS a lot. Nice choice.

I'd like to add that car manufacturers who sell engines to other car manufacturers make those engines to the specifications on the purchase order issued by the buyer. Some BMW specs may be included but it is unlikely that the engine sold by BMW will have all the exact same specs as engines in BMW cars. It is likely that the buyer will try to cut cost by relaxing some of the original BMW specifications.