BMW M Nearly Built a V6 M5 — The Motorsport Experiment That Almost Changed Everything

If you consider BMW engines, “six cylinders” might be one of many first figuring out traits referred to as to thoughts. And even should you’re not a dyed-in-the-wool Bimmer head, you would possibly know sufficient to imagine that these six cylinders could be aligned in a straight line, somewhat than in a “V” association discovered beneath the hood of another automakers. However BMW M really gave severe thought to throwing a V6 beneath the hood of considered one of its most iconic fashions — the BMW M5.

V6 Energy in a BMW M5? It Was Doable

BMW M is, as its single-letter designation suggests, the Motorsport arm of BMW. As such, it stands to cause that an M V6 — a departure from the inline-six the model may be very acquainted with — provided a possible aggressive edge. Reportedly, Paul Rosche noticed a route ahead in 1993 or 1994 for the V6 as extra than simply the next-gen M5 energy plant. When you don’t know, Rosche labored for BMW in varied roles between 1957 and 1999. He had a hand in every little thing that makes the model what it’s at the moment — from the legendary BMW M1, to the unique V12 LMR, and even the ever-present BMW M3. Within the Nineteen Nineties, he was serving as Technical Managing Director of BMW M.

Anyway, as BMW M started work on the brand new E39 BMW M5, the V6 entered the dialog. Whereas we’ve beforehand reported that BMW considered a V6 for the automotive, the “why” was by no means utterly clear. Apparently, one driving cause for BMW M to put money into a V6 was motorsport software. Inline, or “straight” six-cylinder engines are for much longer than engines assembled in a “V” configuration. The V6 would’ve been a pretty resolution for the DTM racing sequence, the place an inline-six wasn’t optimum for steadiness or packaging.

The Motorsport V6: The Lacking Hyperlink

BMW M by no means adopted by way of on the V6. Notably, the model withdrew from DTM fully because the E36 M3 debuted — which might’ve been almost across the identical time the model was taking a look at this V6 engine. Additionally fascinating to notice is the truth that virtually all Motorsport engines from this time on had been both four-cylinder or larger V8 or V10 motors.

Had the V6 come to fruition, BMW M would’ve had a low bar for manufacturing and gross sales volumes. The E34 M5, the E39’s predecessor, bought very slowly within the U.S., so BMW M was taking a look at “2,000 or 3,000 automobiles” per yr. The actual prize, in spite of everything, was growing a V6 aggressive sufficient for motorsport software. As a substitute, BMW pivoted to the 5.0-liter S62 V8 engine, and we’re glad they did. In any case, it’s solely by means of the S62 that we ultimately received the unimaginable S85 V10. Huge due to Steve Saxty for serving to supply a few of the data for this story. Take a look at his BMW books for extra behind the scenes seems on the BMW model.