VIDEO: CGI be damned! Inside the BMW M3's V8
Click above to view the BMW M3 ad.
Ever since Industrial Light and Magic dropped Jurassic Park onto the scene, it's rare to see a movie, TV show or advertisement that doesn't involve some form of CGI. It's amazing what can be done by a handful of programmers and a case of RedBull, but something gets lost in translation when computerized effects are used in place of their analog forbearers. The advertising firm IdeaCity recognized this and melded high-tech wizardry with old-school filmmaking to create an absolutely beautiful ad for BMW's new M3.
The edifice for the spot began with a tour of BMW's M facility in Munich, where the IdeaCity crew studied the inner workings of the M3's 4.0-liter V8. They had three complete engines shipped out to Belgium, where manifolds were cut, cylinders were shaved and lighting holes were drilled to mount special cameras, lenses and lights. After two weeks of intensive study and preparation, the team took another four, 20-hour days to film what happens inside the 420 hp mill during a single revolution. The completed spot was filmed at 10,000 frames-per-second and doesn't utilize any form of computer-generated effects. We've already watched it a half a dozen times and we think you'll do the same. Check it after the jump.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
User 10:10PM (4/07/2008)
Well, that was a lot shorter than I thought it would be. What a ton of work! That is a very cool commercial, though. Great cinematography! Amazing Physics in action.
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jcuoit 10:10PM (4/07/2008)
Thats cooler than the intro to Gran Turismo Three.
and now i have to start up the old PS2 and start playing, bye.
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e90+335i 10:12PM (4/07/2008)
all that for a 30 second clip
wow
they could have at least shared some more footage ;)
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mcheddadi 10:17PM (4/07/2008)
EPIC
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3seriesisking 11:33PM (4/07/2008)
Epic indeed.
Simple....yes.
Perfect combination
John Johnson 10:31PM (4/07/2008)
/b/ would call that 'win'
For the 98% of you who don't get that, this commercial rules.
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British_Rover 9:10AM (4/08/2008)
I think they would call that epic win with cries for MOAR
steve 10:38PM (4/07/2008)
wow, they could have used this during the superbowl and be charged $2.6m for 30 seconds...on top of production costs of course
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why not the LS2/LS7? 11:04PM (4/07/2008)
I guess that's what happens inside your BMW M3 V8, if your BMW M3 V8 doesn't compress the charge before burning it.
I expect the flame front would be a lot different if the piston were in place.
I guess the M3 doesn't have Valvetronic? Did BMW decide Valvetronic is a dead end?
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Tim 11:08PM (4/07/2008)
Hard to burn with that horrible fuel atomization.
Looks like an old GM TBI system.
RobZ4 11:04PM (4/07/2008)
Absolutely beautiful. Internal combustion at its best.
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Tim 11:05PM (4/07/2008)
Meh
That engine is not running.
In any other working 4-stroke gasoline engine, the piston is at top dead center when the fuel ignites, which would make it impossible to see with the camera positioned at the bottom of the cylinder bore, as it is in the commercial.
Pretty pictures, yes; running engine, not a chance.
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Yar 11:55PM (4/07/2008)
Unless there is a ton of timing pulled, or maybe the new M3 has a compression ratio of 3:1?
Shipey 8:10AM (4/08/2008)
Yeah, Yar is right. It'd be about 8-10 degrees before TDC... sometimes considerably more on high performance engines.
dpb! 11:05PM (4/07/2008)
You all really think it was that pricey to make that commercial?! Have you seen others? Paid Celeberties? I am sure it was cheap and very unique!
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Quattrofan 12:14AM (4/08/2008)
Dunno. They ruined 3 brand new M3 V8's... bear in mind, those blocks are produced in Landshut, same foundry that makes BMW F1 engines. Me thinks - anything but cheap.
dpb! 12:19AM (4/08/2008)
Well your name is Quattrofan and I have a pic of my BMW, so I think I know where each of us stands :)
DonatoM3 4:37PM (4/08/2008)
Honestly if you consider the costs of CGI, and actors, your definitely right the production costs on this commercial have to be a value.
When you factor in the costs of the engines are you factoring in BMW's costs or the price they charge the end user. Remember alot of the costs of these engines is the R&D costs to create them not the individual cost to produce each engine.
Bart 11:19PM (4/07/2008)
This is one of those cases where you give em props for not doing it CGI and keeping it real, but then realise at the same time CGI could've produced prettier and more accurate pictures.
I'm not a fan of the new V8, but if they destroyed 3 engines to make this commercial, that's a bit of a waste. Could've shipped me the engines and I'd do it CGI.
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Seoultrain 11:26PM (4/07/2008)
I'm sorry, but this could've been done a LOT better. I prefer GT3's intro.
related: actual video of the combustion chamber:
http://www.carbibles.com/fuel_engine_bible_pg2.html
scroll down a little bit.
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