BMW 1-Series Forum (F20) 135i - 1Addicts.com > Second Generation 1 Series Forum > 2012 BMW 1-Series Sporthatch (F20) Discussion > BMW 3 Cylinder Turbo Engine (B38) Review by Autoblog
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-07-2013, 02:37 PM   #1
Jason
Administrator
Jason's Avatar
United_States
40301
Rep
21,232
Posts

Drives: F80 M3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Post BMW 3 Cylinder Turbo Engine (B38) Review by Autoblog

BIMMERPOST NEWS
BMW 3 Cylinder Turbo Engine (B38) Review by Autoblog
30
COMMENTS
Name:  14-bmw-1-series-3-cyl-fd.jpg
Views: 30216
Size:  268.6 KB

Autoblog shares their review and impressions from some time behind the wheel of a 1 Series powered by BMW's new 1.5L 3 Cylinder TwinPower Turbo gasoline engine (the "B38" engine).

This is the engine you will see in many of BMW's forthcoming FWD models, including the recently revealed Concept Active Tourer, and MINI models.

In this particular application - in a prototype F20 1 Series, the B38 is quoted at 175hp @ 5000 rpm and 200 lb-ft torque @ 1500 rpm. The officially quoted 0-62mph (0-100kmh) time is 7.0 seconds. How does it drive and feel though? According to Autoblog:

Quote:
We took a few laps of the setup course in this rear-wheel drive hatchback, trying various calibrations of the throttle, gearshifts, and so on. The first thing that became apparent is that BMW has been working hard on making this three-cylinder still sound like a Bimmer that BMW fans would happily buy instead of a cracking four-pot. Engineers on hand wouldn't go into exactly what has been done with the manifold or pipes, but the prototype sounded really fine to us. And two- and three-cylinder engines definitely have their own alto/baritone note. Add the twin-scroll turbo cranking up to 14.5 PSI of boost pressure, and all we can say is that the sound is uniquely pleasing.

Another issue, especially with three-cylinders, is vibration mainly from fore-aft jiggling along the axis of the cylinder bank and crankshaft. This can also sometimes create an almost pleasing massage for the feet and butt, but you really don't want this going on. The engineers in this case have designed a counter-spinning balance shaft that passes through the crankcase beneath the crankshaft. It works and the engine proved smooth and responsive throughout all the types of driving we experienced.
Quote:
Our transmission was the ultra-efficient eight-speed automatic, whose many shorter gears succeed in mating well with the potentially uppity little three-cylinder. Whether set in Comfort mode or Sport+ of Driving Dynamics Control, all went well, even when we hammered it to the 7,000-rpm redline and yawed our way around the mighty plastic cones. But then in normal loping mode, everything was pretty unremarkably fine as well – and that's not a criticism.
Quote:
Can we embrace this three-cylinder turbo in a BMW? Yes. Does it feel cheap and are we just pandering to a BMW bias? No. This is a legitimate and significant move that's long been in the planning stages, not a fluke. It'll be put to use in every model below the 5 Series, we are told.
Catch the rest of the article and some technical discussions on the B38 at Autoblog.

Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 02:55 PM   #2
Bradbury
Vroooooom!
Bradbury's Avatar
Norway
5
Rep
206
Posts

Drives: F20 120d
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Norway

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1.5L, 3 cylinders, 175 hp. Put two of these together and you have the 1M.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 04:39 PM   #3
r3dbimmer89
Major
r3dbimmer89's Avatar
331
Rep
1,268
Posts

Drives: P-Car
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

B68 Inline six sounds promising...

Here's the link to Paul Tan's blog where he was at the same event and stated peak HP and TQ would be around 400 HP and 500 TQ for the B68 Inline Six

http://paultan.org/2012/10/01/bmws-b...in-a-1-series/
__________________
Past: BMW (22 G20 M340i, 15 F80 ///M3, 12 E92 335i, 08 E90 335i, 02 E46 325i)
Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, VW, Lexus
Present: 24 992 C2
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 04:43 PM   #4
AndyGF
New Member
Australia
0
Rep
22
Posts

Drives: 123d
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Perth, Australia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Engineers on hand wouldn't go into exactly what has been done with the manifold or pipes
That is because the engineers know the answer lies not under the bonnet/hood, but in the boot/trunk... I hope I am wrong but it wouldn't surprise me.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 04:52 PM   #5
e92miami
Second Lieutenant
e92miami's Avatar
United_States
35
Rep
280
Posts

Drives: W205 C300
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Boca Raton FL

iTrader: (0)

Great, now make a nice car under 2800lbs or less then maybe you can use this little motor.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 04:55 PM   #6
logiclee
Private First Class
14
Rep
188
Posts

Drives: BMW 116i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Notts, UK

iTrader: (0)

According to BMW it doesn't have a twin scroll Turbo, hard to balance that up with three cylinders.

Cheers
Lee
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 05:13 PM   #7
seis-speed
#savethemanuals
seis-speed's Avatar
United_States
2426
Rep
1,967
Posts

Drives: 1M | GT3 | J392 | GRc
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: West Coast

iTrader: (0)

Cool idea, but nothing I would buy. Efficient yes, exhilarating no, what happened to being the ultimate driving machine?
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 06:01 PM   #8
Mahzari
Captain
Iran
57
Rep
743
Posts

Drives: poorly
Join Date: May 2010
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by seis-speed View Post
Cool idea, but nothing I would buy. Efficient yes, exhilarating no, what happened to being the ultimate driving machine?
In order to make your "ultimate driving machine" BMW has to sell 100 1-series with 4-cylinder diesels. BMW is not Lotus; they do not make 1 line of high performance vehicles. This engine means the next M3 can have a beast of an engine because the CAFE regulations apply to the company's fleet as a whole.

Enthusiasts should be happy, even if they'll never drive a 3-cylinder BMW.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 06:11 PM   #9
bavarian19
General
bavarian19's Avatar
United_States
516
Rep
18,858
Posts

Drives: Car
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: VA

iTrader: (23)

The reason why it sounds so good is probably because they took the synthesized sound of the M5 and plopped in into this car.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 06:17 PM   #10
richb811
richb811's Avatar
450
Rep
4,592
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i M Sport
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: NJ

iTrader: (21)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarian19 View Post
The reason why it sounds so good is probably because they took the synthesized sound of the M5 and plopped in into this car.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 06:27 PM   #11
Whostheboss
Captain
Whostheboss's Avatar
410
Rep
841
Posts

Drives: a 9incher
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: No. Virginia U.S.A.

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarian19 View Post
The reason why it sounds so good is probably because they took the synthesized sound of the M5 and plopped in into this car.
__________________
WHO'S THE BOSS
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 07:15 PM   #12
ORIGIN M.
Banned
3160
Rep
9,134
Posts

Drives: ///M
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Northern Hemisphere

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarian19
The reason why it sounds so good is probably because they took the synthesized sound of the M5 and plopped in into this car.
You know they did just that.

I bet this little squirt of a engine will make 200hp w/ those balance shafts removed.

Not a bad deal for a range extender.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 07:18 PM   #13
Diver
Brigadier General
Diver's Avatar
United_States
504
Rep
3,446
Posts

Drives: Black '12 135i - Sold
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Texas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by e92miami View Post
Great, now make a nice car under 2800lbs or less then maybe you can use this little motor.
My sentiments, exactly. Put this in something the size of a Mini and watch out.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 07:19 PM   #14
kmarei
Major General
kmarei's Avatar
Egypt
685
Rep
6,844
Posts

Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Reston, VA

iTrader: (34)

Garage List
2018 Audi RS5  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarian19 View Post
The reason why it sounds so good is probably because they took the synthesized sound of the M5 and plopped in into this car.
I don't think we're too far from having engine sound upgrades as a factory option

And the aftermarket will be selling us trunk mount subwoofers as the V8 package
So the next wave of chip upgrades is just getting bigger subwoofers, for a deeper engine note
Can't wait to hear the dinan sub, cuz it won't void my warranty
__________________
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 07:39 PM   #15
ORIGIN M.
Banned
3160
Rep
9,134
Posts

Drives: ///M
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Northern Hemisphere

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by r3dbimmer89
B68 Inline six sounds promising...

Here's the link to Paul Tan's blog where he was at the same event and stated peak HP and TQ would be around 400 HP and 500 TQ for the B68 Inline Six

http://paultan.org/2012/10/01/bmws-b...in-a-1-series/
A great read - Thanks for sharing
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 08:17 PM   #16
bimmerjph
Colonel
bimmerjph's Avatar
United_States
121
Rep
2,023
Posts

Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Tennessee

iTrader: (0)

I bet this engine has a sound generator.
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 08:48 PM   #17
Jadar
Dejan
Jadar's Avatar
Serbia
1751
Rep
4,197
Posts

Drives: 2018 Audi S3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan Ave.

iTrader: (6)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradbury View Post
1.5L, 3 cylinders, 175 hp. Put two of these together and you have the 1M.
Thats alot of power out of 3 cylinders. I like it. It makes me think is the M2 going to be a 330-340 hp N20 variant? Lot of new and exciting stuff BMW is doing. Cant wait for the M2
__________________
FBO-PS1 and stuff
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 09:36 PM   #18
Teemo Panda
*Bimmerpost Plasti Dip Guru*
Teemo Panda's Avatar
United_States
81
Rep
1,174
Posts

Drives: E53, E46-M3, E70, F25-X3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New Jersey (NJ)

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2013 BMW X3  [5.66]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradbury View Post
1.5L, 3 cylinders, 175 hp. Put two of these together and you have the 1M.
Lol, one engine in the front and at the back :P
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 10:10 PM   #19
PostModernHero
Second Lieutenant
PostModernHero's Avatar
144
Rep
245
Posts

Drives: 2020 X3 M40i
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Renton WA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bimmerjph View Post
I bet this engine has a sound generator.
Just go ahead and post away without reading what anyone else said. Yep...
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 10:32 PM   #20
leewoods18
Private First Class
19
Rep
186
Posts

Drives: F10 550 M sport
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Miami, Fl

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PostModernHero
Quote:
Originally Posted by bimmerjph View Post
I bet this engine has a sound generator.
Just go ahead and post away without reading what anyone else said. Yep...
:
__________________
2012 550i M Sport Dark Graphite Metallic II Everest Gray Antracite wood 6MT
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2013, 11:47 PM   #21
ovekvam
Brigadier General
Norway
266
Rep
3,290
Posts

Drives: 2021 Galvanic Gold i3S
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Bryne, Norway

iTrader: (0)

Thre cylinder engines have always had a special sound, not all unlike the six. I wouldn't mind owning one if it has the same or better throttle response than the current four.
Appreciate 0
      01-08-2013, 06:03 AM   #22
Ascari
Second Lieutenant
Ascari's Avatar
11
Rep
249
Posts

Drives: '11 AW 1M - 08 X3 MSport 3.0D
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mahzari
Quote:
Originally Posted by seis-speed View Post
Cool idea, but nothing I would buy. Efficient yes, exhilarating no, what happened to being the ultimate driving machine?
In order to make your "ultimate driving machine" BMW has to sell 100 1-series with 4-cylinder diesels. BMW is not Lotus; they do not make 1 line of high performance vehicles. This engine means the next M3 can have a beast of an engine because the CAFE regulations apply to the company's fleet as a whole.

Enthusiasts should be happy, even if they'll never drive a 3-cylinder BMW.
Correct! If they only made the cars us enthusiasts like, well, they couldn't afford to make just those cars. More innovation, more efficiency, breaking down barriers is good for all of us and the best news is that you still get to choose what suits you from an ever expanding range.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
b38 engine, b38 engine review, b38 review, bmw 3 cylinder engine, bmw 3 cylinder turbo, bmw 3 cylinder turbo engine, bmw 3 cylinder turbo engine review, bmw b38, bmw b38 engine, bmw b38 engine review, bmw b38 engine reviews, bmw b38 motor, bmw b38 review

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:54 PM.




1addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST