Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertibles, Hybrids/Alternative, Euro, Green, BMW
AC Schnitzer's BMW S3 does diesel right
When the next generation of clean diesels finally make their way into the hands of anxious American consumers, we expect some tuners to welcome them with open arms. After all, vehicles equipped with turbos from the factory are begging to be tweaked, and when it comes to diesels, the results can boost fuel economy, along with performance.AC Schnitzer is already making inroads with BMW's dual-turbo 3-liter diesel, boosting output of the oilburner from 231 HP to 265 HP through a remapped ECU and a dual exhaust. Their S3 package not only includes tweaks to the engine, but also a fully reworked body kit. Designed for the new 3-series convertible, the kit comes complete with a new front spoiler, rear apron and side skirts, while the suspension gets a strut tower brace and a revised rear stabilizer bar.
An AC Schnitzer makeover wouldn't be complete without some trick rolling stock, so customers can choose between either 19- or 20-inch rims, with the latter sporting 245s up front and 295s in the rear.
While we can espouse the virtues of diesel all day long, what we're really looking forward to from AC Schnitzer is it upcoming tweaks to the twin-turbo three-liter six in the 335i. If the S3 is any indication, good things are on the way.
[Source: InsideLine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JamesWB 8:56PM (5/31/2007)
The 335d already makes 270hp so either this isn't a very good 'tune' or it's not the twin turbo engine.
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Will 10:05PM (5/31/2007)
Apparently the horsepower ratings of diesels are a new thing to JamesWB.
Diesel cars are usually big on torque, low on HP. 270hp on a diesel is a pretty big deal.
paul34 9:02PM (5/31/2007)
Mmmm... torque.
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chuck goolsbee 9:32PM (5/31/2007)
Lose the rear seats and I'm in!
--chuck
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JGN 9:44PM (5/31/2007)
Just a general comment, but "oilburner" is a fairly prescient term.
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Dausman 9:51PM (5/31/2007)
Bring um on.
There must be plans in the works (finally) to really start bringing many more diesels to the American market......for the first time today I saw a TV commercial advertising an diesel automotive school in Nashville, TN.
Makes sense, guess only MB and VW would have diesel technicians/mechanics at this time.
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miklm 1:19AM (6/01/2007)
Nashville Auto Diesel College was established in 1919. My grandfather went to school there post-WW2. There are hundreds of thousands (millions?) of diesel engines in the US -- all those heavy duty trucks, tractors, equipment all have to have mechanics to work on them, not just a few VW and MB cars.
That said, I cannot wait to drive the BMW diesels once they go on sale here.
Dausman 9:33AM (6/01/2007)
Thanks for the information about the Nashville Auto Diesel College...That was the first time I have ever seen the ad for the NADC and they seem to have mentioned automobiles but did not hear trucks mentioned..I possibly missed that part....anyway...my point was to simply say at this point in time the only automobiles/cars/sedans,etc. with diesel engines,like or similar to the BMW in the story(not trucks), are MB and VWs...Jeep may be added but I don't believe very were produced. MB too much $
I imagine when the time comes, diesel truck mechanics
could easily switch to diesel cars..
There have been stories/reports of several auto manufacturers with plans to offer diesel powered cars in the very near future.
I have followed these reports with interest because I believe diesel powered automobiles for use by American families would at least help reduce the consumption(maybe a small % but at least a reduction) of petroleum based fuel until a more cost effective and viable source of energy/fuel can be developed and refined. A delivery system will also have to developed, refined and put into place if one is needed.
We may have several options in the future, alcohol now if you live in an area with a delivery system, but until those power/fuel souces are available...diesel power is my choice.......or I hope it will be when we begin to see more of them on the market.
I too look forward to the day I will be able drive one in order to satisfy my mind that diesel will be a better choice. I think it will; the Europeans can't be that wrong.
Thanks again
JamesWB 10:14PM (5/31/2007)
Apparently reading is a new thing for Will.
I know 270hp is impressive, that's why I pointed out that it's more than the car in the article which has supposedly been tuned.
My point was that this is probably a modified 330d, not a 335d.
Do you get it now?
wolliam 10:06PM (5/31/2007)
is it me or the back looks like a saab??
http://clubvaio.blogspot.com/
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Will 10:34PM (5/31/2007)
JamesWB -
The article never said that THIS was a 335, it said that they look forward to seeing what the group can do with a 335. Read it again.
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Val 10:48PM (5/31/2007)
Maybe you should read it again...
"AC Schnitzer is already making inroads with BMW's dual-turbo 3-liter diesel, boosting output of the oilburner from 231 HP to 265 HP"
I would like to underline dual-turbo, which i can only assume means it has two turbos, and the only I6 engine in the BMW range with those is the _35d, while the _30d has a single turbo.
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Proud Japanese 10:51PM (5/31/2007)
@Will, the article mentions the twin turbo 3 liter diesel. i.e 335d.
what the article look forwards to is the gas 335i.
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BimmerGuy 11:00PM (5/31/2007)
You see this, and you can only wonder, why can they roll-out of the Munich Factory looking like this?
Second, this sketch reveals that the S M3 Schnitzer, would be would be really good. And remember this is dull Grey.
Think Interlagos Blue...
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TDIMeister 2:18AM (6/01/2007)
JamesWB and Val are correct. Referring to a BMW bi-turbo Diesel automatically points to the higher-spec _35d version. The first generation put out 272 PS out of the factory, and the recently introduced successor even more, to the tune of 286 PS (PS is equivalent to Metric horsepower and is numerically about 1.4% higher than SAE horsepower).
As an Aachen resident, I had a moment of pride to see AC-Schnitzer featured and seeing the AC licence plate on the photo. Actually, I'm just about off on my way to work across the street from AC-Schnitzer HQ to view a tear-down of a BMW M5 V10 engine. :D
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TDIMeister 2:22AM (6/01/2007)
By the way, word has it from BMW USA that a Diesel will be in the offering in the future. Apparently it will be the bi-turbo version, although which exactly model will receive this engine is subject to speculation. Some have stated either in the 5-series or X5.
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Richard 11:30AM (6/01/2007)
sorry to disappoint you, but the original german press release states that they've bumped the 3.0 liter diesel engine from 231hp to 265, all the other engines are being worked on right now.
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Paul 7:20PM (6/03/2007)
The question I have is the diesel on offer in the US Euro compliant? I know that Australian arms of BMW, Audi and BMW refused to import diesels there because their diesel was not potent enough.
I would encourage anyone who does more than 15000 miles a year to buy a diesel. In cars, once you are past 1500, the torque takes over and it really pulls whilst returning 40 - 65 mpg. :)
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