New M3

[m3_lover]

I was reading two different articles about the new M3. Both articles mention that the calipers are floating. I never heard about it before, does anybody know what it means?

[Belatti]

http://www.hotrodheaven.com/tech/brakes/brakes1.htm

Regarding M3s, see this comparison:
http://www.supercars.net/Comp?sourceLis ... st=171-182
2001 M3 heavier and bigger than 1985 M5
In 2008 it will come with a V8 instead of the classic M3 6 cyl (remember 1988 M3 began with a 2.3lts 4 in line?)

Why does they have to make such a huge thing? There is no oil, pollution is bigger and bigger and Europeans are following American philisophy. Why does they need a 5L V8 with 400HP? Isn´t 200HP enough? Tell me when and how will somebody make use of those 400HP?

You will see this pattern repeated in other manufacturers, try to compare a 1980 VW Golf with a 2007 model. Not to mention the high amount of SUVs sold, where you have 6Ls V8 with massive 400HP to transport a "supercool" manager from home to his office.

Sorry for the rant, its a bad day for me

[m3_lover]

The horsepower war is soon going to be over as new CAFE regulations set more higher mileage standards in the united states will most likely reduce horsepower to improve fuel economy. I personally favor high gas taxes instead of CAFE regulations as do most automotive executives in the world.

[Belatti]

Yeah! That´s right!
Lets put a 400HP V8 in a 2200Kg Bimmer instead of a 180HP 4 in line in a 1400Kg one. That way fat salaries executives can accelerate 0,5 secs faster and spend that stupid oil "terrorists" refuse to lend us!
That way we accelerate research for alternative fuels because petrol will be over sooner!!! Everything makes sense now! We are helping technology to suceed!

In a more serious note: let superengines for supercars and make old school 4 seaters (in terms of weight, power and fuel efficiency).

[West]

If it makes you feel any better, Nissan is addressing weight issues in the current Fairlady Z.

The V8 makes more sense from a performance standpoint, in terms of both power and dynamics (with the shorter length, and lower CofG). However, I only think they put a V8 in there because Audi and Mercedes have one, kinda like what Lexus did w/ the IS-F.

Like what Norbert Haug told Mario Theissen, it's easier to build an engine than a chassis, when BMW was still with Williams. It will take a lot more money to make a car significantly lighter w/ high strength... and with people wanting cars to be quiet, luxurious, and powerful, while munching on a box of dounts on the way to work, it's not going to happen soon

[mx_tifoso]

However, I only think they put a V8 in there because Audi and Mercedes have one, kinda like what Lexus did w/ the IS-F.

That pretty much sums it up. The V8 powerplant in the current M3 goes against the traditional M3 design philosophy, and the only reason is to follow Mercedes and Audi down the same road, unfortunatly.

And also because the "normal" 3-series has an available 300HP TT-I6, with would offer similar performance figures to the M3, and we all know that it would not be allowed by BMW.

Marketing has a lot to do with the powerplant choices in these once marvelous sports cars.

Some info on the (E92) M3 can be found in the NSX or M3? thread.

[m3_lover]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/22/corv ... r-in-2012/

[mx_tifoso]

BMW E92 M3 GTR

BMW presented the racing version of the new BMW M3 at the Chicago Auto Show. Powered by a 485 bhp eight cylinder engine, this impressive race car has been designed to compete in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) beginning in 2009. The car is based on the fourth generation of the BMW M3, the high-performance sports car produced by BMW M GmbH.
....
An intensive test program, during which the performance of the race car will be honed by BMW Motorsport, looms for the BMW M3 over the coming months. Development drivers will be BMW works drivers Andy Priaulx (GBR), Jörg Müller (GER) and Augusto Farfus (BRA), currently racing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC). The aim is, after all, for the BMW M3 to be an immediate front-runner upon its comeback to the American Le Mans Series.

Edmunds-2008 Chicago Auto Show: BMW M3 ALMS Racer
-----------------------
Modified E92 M3, and sitting below is an Amuse Nissan GTR

[mx_tifoso]

I was reading two different articles about the new M3. Both articles mention that the calipers are floating. I never heard about it before, does anybody know what it means?

Below are explanations for both types of caliper design:

FLOATING BRAKE CALIPERS-
The floating design was designed by the car manufacturers essentially to make the caliper less expensive to produce. It successfully applies the physics principle of "for every action caused an opposite and equal reaction happens." With this in mind they eliminated the piston(s) on one side of the caliper. This floating caliper is not solidly mounted, but slides back and forth on bushings or pins. When braking force is applied, the piston push the brake pad on the primary side and the reaction is the rotor being squeezed from the force of the pad primary side allowing the horseshoe shaped caliper to slide on the bushings so the secondary pads is used to squeeze the rotor. The caliper has to be very rigid retain low deflection or the principle will be lost. Cast iron and steel is used because of its' modulus number of 14.5 million and 30 million respectfully. This also increases the "sprung weight" and it retains the heat longer. The big advantage to the full floating design (single piston) is if the rotor has a slight run out (wobble), the floating feature will compensate without creating any instability. The other advantage is the single piston design is easier to bleed. The disadvantages are it heavier, retains heat, requires approximately 100 pounds of pressure more to "slide" the caliper and requires more volume of brake fluid due to the diameter of the piston. Floating designed calipers also come with 2 pistons on the same side.

FIXED BRAKE CALIPERS-
Non-floating (fixed) calipers (i.e. 2, 4 or 6 piston) require a fixed mounting bracket. Most race applications use this type of caliper, because they are generally are made of aluminum which displaces the heat faster and requires both less pressure and less volume to operate. . Calipers made of aluminum are also not subject to corrosion and rust, like the Corvette calipers in the 60’s. The fixed design allows all the piston to be applied at the same pressure, because the pressure is equalized when pressure is applied, thereby allowing the rotor to be squeezed by opposing forces (piston on each side). Aluminum will displace heat 1.5 to 3 times faster than the cast iron or steel calipers. This is important when the rotors heat up to 1100 to 1200 degrees in a race car. Don't forget brake fluid has a boiling point of 550 to 700 degrees F. We have come a long way for the old 1965 Corvette design calipers, current non-floating calipers are easily rebuilt and even have thermo barrier type pistons that reducing the transfer of heat from the rotors.

Info from Hot Rod: Disc Brake Systems

[West]

MX_Tifosi,

That M3 is Amuse's as well. They are extending their tuning base to German cars under the name Ericsson.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108832

Their stuff is top-of-the-line; I have their exhaust for my 350Z and it's insanely light