Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWCCA1
The early M635CSi had the M88 engine with more power than the later detuned S38 engine used in the US M6. Same for the original M5 which used the M88 prior to US introduction with the detuned S38. Even the M1 used the M88 engine. So the first M-car was . . . not an M-car?
We used to be told an M-car had to have one throttle per cylinder, batteries in the trunk, and two pairs of exhaust pipes, which left out plenty of "real" M-cars and all M-cars since the advent of turbos on M-cars. It does, however leave the door wide open for my 1964 BMW 700S Convertible which has two cylinders each with its own carburetor and throttle, battery in the rear "trunk" where the engine sits (mid-engine, in reality) and four tailpipes which is double the number of cylinder courtesy of its Abarth exhaust it was delivered with at the factory.
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Fully agreed--so many posters are making claims that don't align with M GMBH history.
What're your thoughts on the "IS" trim level that was offered on the 3-series from e30 thru e92 (except e46?)? To me it seems like the precursor to the current M-performance models like an M340i; back in the E30 days you'd even get a real mechanical LSD on an IS model, something that's today reserved for the "proper" M cars. Basically, a 325is in 1990 would be the equivalent of an M340i today, IMO.