4 cyl 5 series up at BMWUSA

Originally Posted by E90Alan

Do you have a source for this? I understand the packaging efficiencies of FWD, but I don't see how it would make any difference at all with the efficient transfer of power.

i believe its the added mass of the longer driveshaft...might be wrong though

Originally Posted by Elias

I'm talking gas mileage more than anything else, fwd loses 28% hp from the flywheel to the wheels in a rwd the hp loss is 33%

This still makes no sense in an I6 vs I4 debate, AFAIK. Every single front-engined car would have lower parasitic drivetrain loss if it were FWD: I6, V6, V8, V12, you name it. Should those all be FWD too?

Originally Posted by 1985mb

This still makes no sense in an I6 vs I4 debate, AFAIK. Every single front-engined car would have lower parasitic drivetrain loss if it were FWD: I6, V6, V8, V12, you name it. Should those all be FWD too?

Who said they should all be FWD I'm not advocating FWD or RWD they both have their advantages and disadvantages. Personally I'm a RWD advocate and always will be but I understand why BMW is making changes with the 4 cyl engine in the 5 series. I'm not happy with it and I will never buy one but I understand why they made the business decision.

Originally Posted by Elias

I'm talking gas mileage more than anything else, fwd loses 28% hp from the flywheel to the wheels in a rwd the hp loss is 33%

huh? Where on earth are you getting crazy loss numbers like this? Even for chassis dyno numbers those figures are crazy high. In reality during normal driving conditions very little power is lost in the drivetrain. Between FWD and FWD I think it's a wash. FWD transverse transmissions have more complicated power routing and differential. RWD is a bit more simple, but has a long driveshaft going towards the back. The difference between the two might be measurable in a lab, but by the time you add all the other factors of the vehicle in I think it'd get lost in all of those other variables and not be measurable.

Originally Posted by Calgary Agent

I recently read a post from a German owner who stated that nearly 80% of all 5 series in Europe are of the 4 cylinder variety (which is why de-badging is so popular on the Continent).

Yes most cars are de-badged over there, but I don't think it's because they're mostly 4-cylinders. I think the trend started because high-end vehicle owners didn't want to flaunt their wealth and de-badged, and then everybody else followed suit.