Question for V8 guys

[Daka]

What's with the "need" for a V8?
I have been driving the 6's for many years, very very few engine related problems the one V8 I had years ago was a nightmare, alternator, radiator, electrical gremlins, terrible gas mileage...etc...
So let me ask you, have you actually driven a late model 3.0?
It seems to me that unless you are pulling a BIG trailer, why the V8?
I have NAILED the 6 on an entry ramp and it really scoots....

[TerminatorX5]

in the BMW line up it is rather often then not that a lot of options are rather standard on the bigger engine and optional on the smaller engine, and finding a well optioned smaller engine is bigger task as opposed to finding a similarly optioned bigger engine, as many things are already standard (for example, HID lights standard on V8 and optional on I6)...

not to say that it is not possible to find an I6 better equipped than a V8, but in my case, i am too familiar with the retrofit bug, and i would rather have as little retrofits as possible done - hence the 4.6iS and later, 4.8iS... most things in those beasts are already factory installed... and I still manage to do something to them, nothing major, there is plenty of rumble, plenty of horsepower, so i don't go for the exhaust or the bigger horsepower on top of what i already have, i go for cosmetics, like the colored badges, some electronics, like euro optioned TV, or euro mirror... all the other things are there from the factory...

that was my reasoning... same applies to the 3-series, as i am in search of a well optioned 3 series for my wife... it seems that a 335 is a way to go... short of an M3... lol... thank God, now M3 has departed from the manual tranny requirement, so the blonde... err.. female... err... less trained clientele can set a foot into an M...

[TwinTurboGTR]

It's got 2 more cylinders. Enough Said... haha. But here is my reasoning for a V8 vs a V6/I6.

As Term said, V8's are well equipped right from the gate. Putting every option that a V8 would have, prices are negligible. Not saying that all manufacturers do that, For example, I've owned plenty of Acura's in their lineup. The biggest motor Honda/Acura makes in their lineup is a 3.5 V6. Now, once you step into their sedan/SUV line, they are pretty packed with options that are standard. HID, Cold Weather Package, Etc. Really the only option you get to choose is if you want Nav or not or AWD or FWD. I mean if you are looking for luxury for a decent price, Acura is the way to go. BMW seems to make seats and option once you get to the nitty gritty.

But, the real reason for the 8, THE POWER! I love the fact I can hit that throttle and I see that tach jump and hear the rumble... you can't get that noise from a I6. While I agree for most and I6 would be adequate. It can do everything the V8 can from a daily driving standpoint, but from a personal standpoint, its more fun!

Sure it uses more fuel, it does have its own little gremlins, and is temperamental at times, but its all worth it when you take off from a light and just listen to the music.

Now I have also driven a 2006 3.0 that was well equipped. And it was nice and drove just fine, but the passion, the exhilaration, and rawness just wasn't there.

Again, just my opinion.

[TwinTurboGTR]

It's got 2 more cylinders. Enough Said... haha. But here is my reasoning for a V8 vs a V6/I6.

As Term said, V8's are well equipped right from the gate. Putting every option that a V8 would have, prices are negligible. Not saying that all manufacturers do that, For example, I've owned plenty of Acura's in their lineup. The biggest motor Honda/Acura makes in their lineup is a 3.5 V6. Now, once you step into their sedan/SUV line, they are pretty packed with options that are standard. HID, Cold Weather Package, Etc. Really the only option you get to choose is if you want Nav or not or AWD or FWD. I mean if you are looking for luxury for a decent price, Acura is the way to go. BMW seems to make seats and option once you get to the nitty gritty.

But, the real reason for the 8, THE POWER! I love the fact I can hit that throttle and I see that tach jump and hear the rumble... you can't get that noise from a I6. While I agree for most and I6 would be adequate. It can do everything the V8 can from a daily driving standpoint, but from a personal standpoint, its more fun!

Sure it uses more fuel, it does have its own little gremlins, and is temperamental at times, but its all worth it when you take off from a light and just listen to the music.

Now I have also driven a 2006 3.0 that was well equipped. And it was nice and drove just fine, but the passion, the exhilaration, and rawness just wasn't there.

Again, just my opinion.

[Ricky Bobby]

It all comes down to finding the options. I like Sport, Cold Weather, and Premium packages, and finding "loaded" 3.0's with those packages just wasn't showing up every day. The only option I don't have that I miss is Navigation, and I haven't seen many 3.0's with it being sold.

As far as the engine goes, I understand why guys want two more cylinders for the power. That's all well and good, I was looking for 3 pedals however. So my search was even tougher because I had to have a stick but I didn't want a base optioned model that was boring on the interior and was lacking things I wanted. I found a good compromise with mine, I even have the rare 4-corner air suspension (which works flawlessly now).

For me, Premium, Cold Weather, and Sport package are bare minimum, once you have the black headliner and 3 spoke steering wheel, black glossy window trims, and suspension you'd never want to drive an X without it.


And like Terminator said above, not as many 3.0's "optioned out" from the factory as V8's I'm afraid, at least from what I see on the forums and from searching used inventory.

[BigBlack48is]

It's ok Terminator... We understand your concern for us V8 owners, not everyone can handle the raw power of the BMW V8. I mean there is a reason I keep some paper towels in the back. That way when the women get wet from the sound of the mighty V8, I can be a gentlemen about it and offer a napkin to help with the problem that I just left them with

It's the right thing to do....

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by BigBlack48is

It's ok Terminator... We understand your concern for us V8 owners, not everyone can handle the raw power of the BMW V8. I mean there is a reason I keep some paper towels in the back. That way when the women get wet from the sound of the mighty V8, I can be a gentlemen about it and offer a napkin to help with the problem that I just left them with

It's the right thing to do....

ooh, you went there, where no one had gone before!!!!!




I can't speak for every woman out there, but starting with my wife, and on to some other girls that graced the front passenger seat of the car, from USA, to Panama, to Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Russia (and there were a few!!!), the sound of 4.6iS engine definetely gets them predisposed to... well... you know...


hahahaha... i must admit, that is an 18 year old peeking through the crust of a 45 year old!!! but man oh man!!! it gets the blood flowing better than a green pill... or, is it a blue pill?...

[Big "J"]

I have a 2003 3.0i and a 2004 4.8is. I drove the 3.0 for 4 years before getting my 4.8 and loved it as its a solid workhorse engine. The first time I drove that 4.8 and felt the power, performance and saw how it looks....I will be a V8 man for as long as I can afford to own one!

[z168]

I like it for the power. And while this is my first X, friends who had the 6 before complained of lack of power. And I had similar experience with other makes deciding between a 6 and an 8.

So unless Im getting a 3er or a too-good-to-be-true price for a 5er, i will only opt for the V8

[epdarks]

I believe that both the V8 and I6 models have a place in the BMW lineup. It shouldn't be viewed as one is better than the other. They are different, each with inherent advantages and disadvantages. We are all part of the same family as E53 enthusiasts.