BMW Patents A Turbo V6, Where Could This Be Used? Next-Gen M3?

And here we go! The internet rumormill has stumbled upon a patent filing of a BMW turbocharged V6.

V6?

That's like a dirty letter and number for BMW, who has always been a proponent of inline six-cylinder motors. According to Bimmerpost, there are several possibilities when it comes to possible motors in the next M3, one of which is a V6 option.

But before you go further, please take into consideration that patent filings occur quite often and most never get used. So, don't let this speculation shake you up too much.

For MORE details, follow on down below...


Rumors of BMW considering V6 engines have been floating around for quite some while now. One possible future application often mentioned when talking about such an engine is the upcoming F80 M3 (F82 M4)...

...As BMW describes in their patent application, this image shows "the principle of this turbocharger layout invention (#1) in a 6-cylinder internal combustion engine in V configuration (#2) with a first cylinder bank (#2a) -- pictured as 3 circles and labeled with Z -- and a second cylinder bank (#2b) -- also pictured as 3 circles labeled with Z."

Remarkable is the particular invention. According to these schematics, the exhaust gases of all 6 cylinders are routed into one turbocharger (#4) which BMW says may also be a twinscroll turbo. After leaving the first turbocharger, the exhaust gases can be routed either into the exhaust system or into another turbocharger (#5). So this alludes to a sequential turbo layout. The patent application also mentions that this allows different sizes for both turbos.

*IF* this new engine was actually produced and used in the next M3, we would assume that BMW goes for a smaller twin-scroll as the first turbo, with a larger second turbocharger. All that being said, this patent filing doesn't necessarily mean they actually will use a V6 anytime soon, or at all. Patented inventions often get dismissed before making it to series production. At the very least however, this shows that BMW has (or is) actually considering V6 engines and how to make the related turbocharging as efficient and responsive as possible...

[Source: Bimmerpost]


Full Leaked Frankfurt Motor Show Guide Photo Gallery

Jaguar C-X16 Concept Photo Gallery

Frankfurt Motor Show Preview Photo Gallery

2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe M-Sport and Z4 2.8i Photo Gallery

Aston Martin Zagato V12 Photo Gallery

2012 Jeep Wrangler PentaStar Photo Gallery

2012 Toyota Camry Photo Gallery




Read Article

Joe_Limon - 9/9/2011 10:10:58 AM

+4 Boost

While a V6 may not have the smooth operating characteristics of an i6, it does package a whole lot smaller.

bmwcs - 9/9/2011 10:28:10 AM

+2 Boost

I think what is being patented is a unique "sequential turbo system" opposed to two identical turbos running in parallel which has been used on most twin turbo systems lately.

M5twinturbo - 9/9/2011 10:47:16 AM

+3 Boost

As far as I know sequential turbos in a V configuration is a new concept. All other sequntial turbo motors have either been inline engines(Toyota supra) or flat engines(Porsche 959).

dlin - 9/9/2011 2:34:40 PM

-1 Boost

Where are those people who said "V6 is not a BMW" ?

JRobUSC - 9/9/2011 5:30:31 PM

+2 Boost

or maybe they're hanging out with the GT-R owners.

pennfootball - 9/10/2011 3:33:55 PM

+1 Boost

Thank you brutal Master BMW for destroying over 75 years of inline engines and brand equity!

85bmw745i - 9/18/2011 11:17:33 PM

+1 Boost

The inline 6 is what separated BMW from the rest of the run of the mill automakers. Mercedes ruined a good thing when they got rid of the inline 6 ( Our ML320 V6 is nowhere near as smooth as inline 6 engines I have driven in other Mercedes) BMW do not follow suite and screw up what has defined your brand.