2008 Detroit Autoshow - BMW M3

[T Bone]

Here are some pics of the M3 sedan and coupe. BMW set up a M section of Silverstone M3s and one M6.

Since there are so many photos out there, I focused on the areas that people don't usually photograph.

Ugly mufflers still very visible..... The M3 looks so cheap from this angle

Epacy - there is a photo of the battery....same size as the 1 series

[schnell325]

Thank YOU!

[///MArdor]

T bone, can you get in the M3 or is it for eyes only?

[the_stranger]

Originally Posted by ///MArdor

T bone, can you get in the M3 or is it for eyes only?

I was at the auto show today. They let us sit in the sedan, but not in the coupe.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by ///MArdor

T bone, can you get in the M3 or is it for eyes only?

Originally Posted by the_stranger

I was at the auto show today. They let us sit in the sedan, but not in the coupe.

Yes some strange reason the Coupe was locked but you could molest the sedans. I went around poking and prodding the sedan....yep...it is a BMW

[Epacy]

Thanks T.

Did you read any of the labels on the battery?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Thanks T.

Did you read any of the labels on the battery?

What's with the battery fixation?

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

What's with the battery fixation?

BER.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Epacy

BER.

Bureau of Education and Research?

[Epacy]

C'mon Greg, follow along.

Brake Energy Regeneration

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Thanks T.

Did you read any of the labels on the battery?

No but I have some high rez photos....what are you looking for?

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by T Bone

No but I have some high rez photos....what are you looking for?

Anything that might clue us in as to the type of battery and BER. BER uses a special battery and trying to see if the US market got it.
Any markings of AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) battery?
BER - Claimed increase fuel economy. We could definately use that.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...troduces_.html

Looks like Optima batteries are AGM.
Funny, didn't realize that. I currently have a red top.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Anything that might clue us in as to the type of battery and BER. BER uses a special battery and trying to see if the US market got it.

Comon' Epacy, no way the M3 has true BER. All I can glean from this "special feature" is the alternator only engages during non-load conditions. There is no mechanism for recovering braking energy, is there? It would take some kind of generator/alternator connected to the wheels. Electric or hybrid cars have this built in by reversing the motor to charging. BMW is taking liberal artistic liberty with technical tgerms, IMO.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Anything that might clue us in as to the type of battery and BER. BER uses a special battery and trying to see if the US market got it.

BER - Claimed increase fuel economy. We could definately use that.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...troduces_.html

I zoomed and cropped in on the M3 battery but fortunately, I also molested a 1 series too. If the 1er also has BER, it looks like a module that sits on top of the battery and they batteries look similar between the M3 and the 135i.

Had I known, I would have brought a wrench with me....I already got dirty looks in the BMW booth because everyone was happy just looking at the cars, I was popping every hood in the booth and I took apart the panel in the trunk for the M3.

Oh well....

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by T Bone

I zoomed and cropped in on the M3 battery but fortunately, I also molested a 1 series too. If the 1er also has BER, it looks like a module that sits on top of the battery and they batteries look similar between the M3 and the 135i.

Had I known, I would have brought a wrench with me....I already got dirty looks in the BMW booth because everyone was happy just looking at the cars, I was popping every hood in the booth and I took apart the panel in the trunk for the M3.

Oh well....

Those red caps are no more than fancy cable connections.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Those red caps are no more than fancy cable connections.

Are you sure? There are a couple of wires that look like control and not power.... They look like ethernet jacks....look at the 135i battery....

If they serve no purpose, why are they there? Also look at the size of the 1 series battery...... It is massive.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by T Bone

Are you sure? There are a couple of wires that look like control and not power.... They look like ethernet jacks....look at the 135i battery....

If they serve no purpose, why are they there? Also look at the size of the 1 series battery...... It is massive.

Explain to me how any braking energy would be captured in the M3. Not possible without some form of generation connected directly to the braking wheels.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Comon' Epacy, no way the M3 has true BER. All I can glean from this "special feature" is the alternator only engages during non-load conditions. There is no mechanism for recovering braking energy, is there? It would take some kind of generator/alternator connected to the wheels. Electric or hybrid cars have this built in by reversing the motor to charging. BMW is taking liberal artistic liberty with technical tgerms, IMO.

Check the initial M3 press release. It is in there. Also, do a search on google. Plenty of info.
Either the international BMW site or the USA one had a video of BER.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Explain to me how any braking energy would be captured in the M3. Not possible without some form of generation connected directly to the braking wheels.

Up until this thread, I didn't even know the M3 had BER...... I just looked at the batteries and they are not normal..... There is some logic / control on top of them. If the generator is somewhere else, could those red things control the charging?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Check the initial M3 press release. It is in there. Also, do a search on google. Plenty of info.
Either the international BMW site or the USA one had a video of BER.

Read this statement from the press release carefully...

"New engine management and Brake Energy Regeneration.
The electronic management of the V8 power unit coordinating all engine functions with optimum efficiency and precision, is yet another new development. A further point is that the control unit masterminds all the M-specific functions of the clutch, transmission, steering, and brakes.

Intelligent energy management featuring Brake Energy Regeneration likewise serves to further enhance the efficiency of the V8 power unit in the new BMW M3. In this case the power required for the on-board network is generated specifically during overrun and during application of the brakes, serving to charge the car’s battery at exactly the right time without taking up any of the energy contained in the car’s fuel. As long as the engine is “pulling” the car, therefore, the alternator generally remains disengaged. Apart from particularly efficient generation of electric power, this also serves to provide more drive power and traction for supreme acceleration at all times."

What it says to me is exactly as I stated previously: the alternator engages under no-load conditions only. Yes, this improves efficiency, but in no way it it "regeneration". I'm not an engineer, but I know enough engineering to read this one.

[Epacy]

Well done Tbone!!
F the presenters!

I cannot tell from that, although the control module is interesting.
Any current M3 owners care to take pics of their batteries?

I will have to pull the car apart at the Chicago Show.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

What it says to me is exactly as I stated previously: the alternator engages under no-load conditions only. Yes, this improves efficiency, but in no way it it "regeneration".

Dude, that is the term. Don't chastize me for using BMW's term. The technology is still useful for the NA market.