The feeling of an M car is unmistakable – and now it can be tailored even more closely to the individual. BMW M GmbH is unveiling a new display and control system for the configuration of the powertrain, chassis and driver assistance systems on its high-performance sports cars. As well as additional scope for adapting the vehicle settings both to the situation at hand and to personal preferences using the Setup button, drivers will also enjoy the services of the new M Mode (activated at the touch of a button). The Setup button can be used to adjust the vehicle settings, while M Mode allows the displays and driver assistance systems to be tuned to the driver’s requirements. This extra individualisation and even more intuitive operation will be included for the first time in the new BMW M8 Coupe and BMW M8 Competition Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 10.6 – 10.5 l/100 km [26.7 – 26.9 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 242 – 238 g/km; provisional figures), and the new BMW M8 Convertible and BMW M8 Competition Convertible (fuel consumption combined: 10.8 – 10.6 l/100 km [26.2 – 26.7 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 246 – 241 g/km; provisional figures). With the help of these new features, drivers of BMW’s high-performance models for the luxury segment can enjoy their exceptional range of abilities – from supreme long-distance comfort to alluring track dynamics – in even greater depth.
The control system developed for BMW M models traditionally enables their powertrain and chassis technology to be configured in a wide variety of ways according to personal tastes and needs. Indeed, the driver can activate various settings for the engine, suspension and steering independently of one another. In models specified with the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the distribution of power between the front and rear wheels can also be tweaked. And now the new BMW M8 Coupe and new BMW M8 Convertible offer the ability to configure the braking system as required, too.
New Setup button enables intuitive operation with direct access to all powertrain and chassis systems. The new Setup button on the centre console of the new BMW M8 Coupe and new BMW M8 Convertible enables direct access to all available setup options for five vehicle parameters. Pressing the button brings up a Setup menu in the Control Display, which offers an overview of the vehicle settings currently engaged. The driver can then activate their desired mode for the engine, suspension, steering, brakes and M xDrive – in a single step in each case – via the touchscreen or the iDrive Controller.
The engine characteristics can be adjusted by means of the EFFICIENT, SPORT and SPORT PLUS settings, while the COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT PLUS chassis options give access to the three profiles for the electronically controlled dampers. The driver can also choose between COMFORT and SPORT for both the M-specific electromechanical steering and the new braking system. When DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) is deactivated, the 4WD, 4WD SPORT and 2WD (for pure rear-wheel drive) settings for the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system also come into play. Two individually composed variants of this setup can be stored permanently with the driver’s preferred settings for the engine sound, gearshift characteristics, driving stability control and Auto Start Stop function. The overall vehicle configuration can then be called up instantly at any time by pressing one of the two M buttons on the steering wheel.
Premiere in the BMW M8: integrated braking system with precise pedal feel and M-specific configurability. The M-specific version of a new braking technology paves the way for the configuration of braking characteristics, a feature available for the first time in the new BMW M8. The new system brings together the brake activation, brake booster and braking control functions within a compact module. The integrated braking system reduces weight by around two kilograms and employs a vacuum-free brake booster to enhance the car’s overall efficiency. The brake pressure required is triggered by an electric actuator, which allows it to be generated more dynamically and also ensures significantly faster and more precise interventions from the driving stability control system.
The integrated braking system also does an excellent job of allowing vehicle deceleration to be geared precisely to the driver’s requirements and of generating sublime pedal feel in any situation. Braking feedback to the driver is unimpaired by wet road surfaces, significant lateral acceleration or high brake temperatures, and this ensures precise metering of braking power at all times. The version of the new braking system developed for BMW M models also presents the driver with two pedal feel settings.
COMFORT and SPORT modes alter the amount of pressure on the brake pedal required to slow the car. This allows the driver to choose between a comfort-oriented perception of the braking process and a particularly direct, instantaneous response to applications of the pedal. The new BMW M8 teams this innovative system with both the standard M compound brakes and optional M carbon-ceramic brakes.
Pure driving pleasure through innovation: the M Mode button. In addition to the new configuration options opened up by the Setup button, the new BMW M8 also allows the gearshift characteristics of the eight-speed Steptronic transmission to be adjusted using the Drivelogic button on the selector lever and the engine sound to be varied via a separate button on the centre console. M Dynamic Mode – which raises the intervention thresholds for the driving stability control and allows controlled drifts – and DSC Off mode can also be initiated at the touch of a button.
A fresh addition to the new flagship models from BMW M GmbH is the M Mode button on the centre console. This can be used to alter the responses of the driver assistance systems and the screens in the all-digital instrument cluster and Head-Up Display. M Mode allows the driver to activate ROAD and SPORT modes, while the new BMW M8 Competition Coupe and BMW M8 Competition Convertible also come with a TRACK setting. These options enhance the hallmark M driving experience according to the situation at hand. Changing the settings alters the information presented to the driver on the screens, while the safety-enhancing interventions by the driver assistance systems – such as active braking or steering inputs – are reduced to a bare minimum or deactivated altogether.
In the default ROAD setting, all the standard and optional driver assistance systems are fully activated. A simple press of the M Mode button engages the SPORT setting, in which the active driver assistance systems (in the configuration set by the driver) now only transmit alerts on speed limits and overtaking restrictions. This mode disables all interventions in the braking and steering systems, aside from those made by the Collision Warning with braking function and the Evasion Assistant.
In SPORT mode, the driver benefits from M View in both the instrument cluster and the Head-Up Display. Here, only relevant information for sporty driving – i.e. an M-specific engine speed dial and the shift lights (which indicate the ideal time to change gear), a digital speed display and the gear currently engaged – is displayed in the cockpit. Information on coolant temperature, charge pressure, tyre condition, and longitudinal and lateral acceleration can be viewed in the right- and left-hand areas of the instrument cluster. The Head-Up Display read-out is concentrated around the engine revs and shift lights, navigation instructions and distance warnings, the gear selected and the vehicle speed, plus the speed limits and overtaking restrictions detected by the Speed Limit Info system. Pressing the M Mode button again returns the driver to the default ROAD mode.
An extended press of the M Mode button engages TRACK mode, which is available in the Competition models and designed exclusively for use on race circuits. The decision to activate this mode must be confirmed using the iDrive Controller. In this setting, all the comfort and safety functions of the driver assistance systems are deactivated. In addition, the audio system and Control Display are both switched off in order to focus the driver’s attention even more intently on the road ahead. TRACK mode allows drivers of the new BMW M8 Competition Coupe and new BMW M8 Competition Convertible to experience an ultra-pure, racing-car-inspired distillation of M feeling. Added to which, the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display also include M View, although TRACK mode blanks out the road sign detection and distance information. Pressing the M Mode button again takes the car out of the TRACK setting and back into ROAD mode.
BMW PRESS
BMWDCM put on another great Sandown event in conjunction with AROCA.
Unfortunately there was a major Alfa crash and two other less serious that kept Graeme busy writing up CAMS reports. Always a good reminder to drive wisely. Jo seemed to have less pressure as Event Secretary!
Personally I was really appreciative for the Bell Motorsport team getting the lovely green machine ready for me at short notice and Jess letting me drive it.
Since Bell Motorsport is building an E30 race car for me it was a invaluable experience to try one out for the first time and I was not disappointed. If you are sick of speed cameras and nanny state road rules I recommend giving it a go.
A highlight for me at the track events is the camaraderie among the BMWDCM members and the shared enjoyment of this sporting experience.
For me, Walter was best on ground wrangling the massive X5 four wheel drive around the track quicker than anyone in our group of track cars. Maybe Graeme should give his X5 a go!
Another standout were the very quick lap times by Blake, with a smooth driving style I admire.
Rod Martin | Member #29BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
This event is a permanent fixture on the MotoGP community’s calendar. On the Saturday of the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez de la Frontera, BMW M GmbH traditionally unveils the BMW M Award winner’s car. In the 2019 season, this award for the fastest qualifier in MotoGP will be presented for the 17th time. The BMW M Award is a permanent feature of BMW M’s ‘Official Car of MotoGP’ commitment, which goes back as far as 1999. At the end of this season, the winner of the BMW M Award can look forward to another real highlight: an exclusive BMW X4 M Competition in Toronto Red Metallic.
The 510 hp BMW X4 M Competition (fuel consumption combined: 10.5 l/100 km [26.9 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 239 g/km) is one of the models with which BMW M GmbH has expanded its offering of high-performance cars in the sports activity vehicles and sports activity coupés sectors. It has distinctive motorsport genes and offers driving dynamics at the highest level.
“Each year we are excited to see which BMW M Award winner’s car BMW M GmbH will surprise us with at the start of the MotoGP European season here at Jerez de la Frontera. And I have to say that they have presented another real highlight once again this season with the BMW X4 M Competition,” said Pau Serracanta, Managing Director of the Commercial Department of Dorna Sports, at the unveiling. “We are very proud that in BMW M GmbH we have had a strong and reliable partner at our side for 20 years now. And it’s fantastic that BMW M GmbH honours the top performances of our riders with such a terrific award as the BMW M Award. I’m sure that this fantastic BMW X4 M Competition will give our riders that extra bit of motivation to give it their all in qualifying. After all, everyone wants to be presented with this high-performance car as the winner’s car at the end of the season.”
“We’re delighted that the BMW M Award has been such a coveted award in the MotoGP family for many years,” added Vladimir Bistrivoda, Head of MotoGP Collaboration at BMW M GmbH. “The BMW M Award is a significant part of our long-standing, successful partnership with MotoGP for us as well. For this reason, it is important to us that we present something special as a prize each year. For the 2019 season, we chose our new BMW X4 M Competition. It combines athleticism, performance, passion and adrenalin – attributes that it shares with the MotoGP and the performances with which its riders wow crowds at the racetrack. We wish all MotoGP riders the best of luck and are excited to see who will receive the BMW M Award at the final round in Valencia.”
In the BMW X4 M Competition, the most powerful straight-six petrol engine ever seen in action in a BMW M car provides the muscle for stunning performance attributes. The newly developed high-revving unit with M TwinPower Turbo technology generates maximum output of 375 kW/510 hp from its 3.0-litre displacement, together with peak torque of 600 Nm (442 lb-ft). The new high-performance engine teams up with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic and uses the new M xDrive all-wheel-drive system to channel its power to the road. The centrally controlled interaction between M xDrive and the Active M Differential at the rear axle allows the all-wheel-drive system to split the engine’s power between the four wheels as required to deliver optimal traction, agility and directional stability. The BMW X4 M Competition sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds.
The already sporty appearance of the car is underlined by the paintwork in Toronto Red Metallic, the full leather, Merino Adelaide Grey upholstery, as well as further fittings highlights such as M Sport Seats, the M Competition Package and the M Sport Exhaust System. An additional special feature is the BMW M Award winner’s car exclusively has the Carbon Exterior Package, which will be launched later this year.
The BMW M Award is one of the many BMW M activities as the ‘Official Car of MotoGP’. Since 2003, the MotoGP rider with the best results in qualifying has been rewarded with an exclusive, individually designed BMW M car at the end of the season. As with the scoring system for the race, the riders receive points for their positions in qualifying at each Grand Prix weekend. The rider who has picked up the most points at the end of the season wins the coveted BMW M Award.
The record holder is Marc Márquez, who has already claimed the BMW M Award six times in a row. Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner each have three wins to their name. Jorge Lorenzo has been honoured as the best qualifier twice to date while Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden have each won the award once.
BMW Motorsport has once again made DTM history. Marco Wittmann (GER) of BMW Team RMG took victory in the opening race of the 2019 season at the Hockenheimring (GER) on Saturday, and with it the first race of the new turbo era in the DTM. The two-time champion, at the wheel of the Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, produced a flawless display in wet conditions, converting pole position into a prestigious race win. This was the 12th victory of Wittmann’s career and also marked the 82nd time that a BMW has been first across the DTM finish line. It also represented the perfect start to the 50th anniversary of BMW Turbo Power in motorsport. Timo Glock (GER) finished fourth in the JiVS BMW M4 DTM, narrowly missing out on another podium for BMW. He was spun by another car on the opening lap, but fought back strongly to climb through the field one place at a time. BMW newcomer Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) came home sixth in the Shell BMW M4 DTM to score points on his debut. He was followed over the line in seventh place by the BMW Bank M4 DTM of Bruno Spengler (CAN). Joel Eriksson (SWE) was 13th in the CATL BMW M4 DTM. A sensor issue in the engine periphery prevented Philipp Eng (AUT) from setting a lap time in qualifying, meaning he had to start the race from 17th. The Austrian eventually came home 14th.
Reactions to the first DTM race of the 2019 season at Hockenheim. Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “That is absolutely awesome. Today we have made DTM history again with BMW Motorsport, taking the first win of the new turbo era. First the pole position, then victory in the opening race for Marco Wittmann – that reminds me a little of the Formula E season opener last year, when we also started with a win. I am so proud of the whole team in Munich – of the teams and the drivers. A huge compliment goes to Marco, who did a magnificent job today at the front of the field. We have a tough winter and a tough period of testing behind us. To perform as we have done here at Hockenheim, and to win the first race, is fantastic. The experience gained during 50 years of turbo in motorsport at BMW definitely paid dividends. We have built a very good engine and put together a strong package, with which we have won at the first attempt. There is still a long way to go in the 2019 season, but today we have every reason to celebrate.” Stefan Reinhold (BMW Team RMG Team Principal): “Our team did an incredible job today. Particularly Marco Wittmann, who was in perfect control of the car in qualifying and in the race. The guys on the pit wall, the other drivers, who made up positions, and the team that prepared the cars also did a superb job. Everyone gave it 110 percent. You have to take your hat off to them. Congratulations to BMW Motorsport, who have developed a powerful engine and a great overall package. That was a superb start to the new turbo era.” Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Grid: 1st, Race: 1st, Drivers’ standings: 1st 28 points): “This win feels great. First the pole position, then the first victory of the new turbo era: what an awesome start to the season. The Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM was phenomenal in the wet. My mechanics and engineers have done a sensational job – as have BMW Motorsport, who have given me a car that was competitive from the first lap. It was an unbelievable start to the DTM year.” Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Grid: 8th, Race: 4th, Drivers’ standings: 4th, 12 points): “I think we can be happy with the outcome of the result. It is a bit disappointing when you look at the pace we had yesterday and today. We were quick in the rain yesterday, and in today’s race. The only reason we weren’t as fast in qualifying was because we went out on the wrong set of tyres once. I had a very good start and was up there with the top five, but was then hit from behind. That dropped me well back down the field. We had good pace at the end, which allowed us to fight our way back into the top five. It showed what could have been. Congratulations to Marco and the whole team on the win.” Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Grid: 14th, Race: 7th, Drivers’ standings: 7th, 6 points): “The race was okay. I had a super start. Unfortunately, Timo was spun in front of me, which caused me to lose some time on the way out of turn two. Despite that, climbing from 14th to seventh is a good result and we scored some good points. Congratulations to Marco on his win. After all the hard work over the winter, the team more than deserves that. Seventh place is okay for me. If I had stopped a little later, I might have been able to do even better but that is alright. We are now turning our attention to tomorrow.” Bart Mampaey (BMW Team RBM Team Principal): “Firstly, congratulations to BMW. It is obviously fantastic to win the first race with the new turbo engine. Our rookie, Sheldon van der Linde, had a great debut, finishing sixth and scoring his first points. In the case of Philipp Eng, we were able, after a long time looking, to find the reason for our technical issues. That meant he was at least able to start the race. However, our strategy did not ultimately pay off for him or Joel Eriksson.” Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Grid: 7th, Race: 6th, Drivers’ standings: 6th, 8 points): “The day could hardly have gone better for me. I could never have dreamed of scoring points as a rookie in my first DTM race. I have a fantastic team behind me. Everyone has been very helpful. The car was very good in the race. Congratulations to Marco and BMW on the win.” Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Grid: no time, Race: 14th, Drivers’ standings: 15th, 0 points): “That was a tough day. I can only thank my guys, who were meticulous in their search for the issue on my car – and found it. I hope things run more smoothly tomorrow.” Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Grid: 9th, Race: 13th, Drivers’ standings: 14th, 0 points): “That was not a good race for me. The start was good, but after that we struggled with the car. I could not really push. We have a bit of work ahead of us now to come back stronger tomorrow. Congratulations to Marco on his win.”
MONTH IN REVIEW
A quieter month for BMWDCM in April with the school holidays and the Easter/ANZAC break.
Our month started with our April Members Meeting at Traction Tyres where over 40 members learned all things tyres. Thank you Andrew for showing us around and for the informative tyre lesson! Read about Jim Tucker's night here.
We then held our first birthday and presentation dinner at the Vincent, Albert Park. We had a wonderful night with many raffle prizes, show & shine awards, motorsport awards and the launch of our new annual magazine - idrive. All members should have begun to receive their copies now, we hope you enjoy the read! In the meantime, read more about our night here.
Over Easter was the BMW Clubs Australia Nationals event, held by BMWCCV. We were graced with beautiful weather for the weekend and it was fantastic to catch up with so many interstate BMW Club members. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 384 MEMBERS
Welcome to all our new members, we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!
Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.
THE MONTH AHEAD
We've got some great events planned for May:
EVENTS AHEAD
Keep an eye on our calendar for events coming up, we’re always adding something new.
Click on any of the following events for more information.
idrive magazine
With the first edition of idrive now arriving to all of our members, we are already thinking about the next one. We'd love you to send us your stories to help put the next one together!
Have an interesting story about you or how you came to own your BMW? How about a story about a restoration or a build of your car? It could be anything! Email us now because we'd love to read it and share it with our members.
Edition 1 correction: We incorrectly printed Essendon BMW’s phone number on the inside back page. Essendon BMW can be contacted on (03) 9086 7200.
NEWS | BLOG
The turbo pioneers return to their roots: The new BMW DTM engine, as compared to its 1969 forefather
MEMBER SERVICES
BMW CLASSIC NEWSLETTER
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President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296 Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900 Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
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Dear Members,
What a month we have just had, with some great events, starting with our April Members meeting at Traction Tyres. This was a brilliant night and was very informative. Great to see new members attending and selling out of some of our merchandise on the night. Thank you, Andrew, we have had some fantastic feedback from this night and we will love to come back again.
I attended the Clubs Australia AGM on April 7th and 8th on behalf of the Club, presented our Club report for the last year and heard what other clubs are up to around the country. We also spent a day at BMW Australia to talk to BMW about what we can do for them and they for us. I am very happy to report that BMW Australia are very happy with our Club and the way we have taken off this past year. Very proud to get an official pat on the back for all of us and the Club we have built!
The AGM was followed by our Presentation Night/First Birthday Celebration. What a fabulous night, with the event being sold out and having so many representatives from dealerships and many of the Club’s sponsors. The night went off with a bang, with awards being presented to some very deserving members. We will look for a bigger venue next year, I think. I would like to especially thank Jess Bell for all her amazing and tireless work throughout the year, with setting up our web page and maintaining it constantly and also her strong attention to detail with everything she presents.
We also had our new annual magazine launch on the night, idrive. Again, WOW! This was a major success and everyone who has received it so far has been blown away by its quality and content. Thank you to all the members who have contributed to this magazine with wonderful articles, thank you to our sponsors and advertisers and finally a massive thank you to Jess Bell and Leigh Kelly for producing this very professional magazine. All our members should receive theirs shortly, if they already haven't.
The winner of the competition for naming the magazine is David Francis and unfortunately, he could not make it on the night to be the first to know! Congratulations David, we appreciate your input and can't wait to see the feature on your car in the next magazine.
I would like to thank all the committee, who worked hard to make this an enjoyable evening and I am sure by all the chatting and laughter, that everyone had a great night.
The BMW Clubs Australia Nationals followed over Easter and this was also a great success with the weather being very kind and the sun shinning all weekend.
It was great to see so many BMWDCM members at the Sandown sprints and Show N Shine, some of our members coming away with trophies! Well done!
Some of us also attended the Flinders Historic Motoring Festival on Easter Sunday, and I am very proud to say we won Best Club Display. Not bad, considering it wasn’t really an official club event, as we didn’t want to clash with or distract from members going to the Nationals, still, great effort and we will do a bigger event next year for sure.
If you're signed up for automatic renewals with us, you would have received an email from Lawrence Glynn explaining that we are having a few issues with PayPal at the moment with accepting automatic renewal payments. We are working through this to try to fix it and we thank you for your patience.
If you are having any issues renewing, please give Jo Mawson a call on 0412 661 900 and she will be happy to assist with processing your renewal.
Membership is increasing daily, which is overwhelming and very humbling, currently at 384 and this again is thanks to our fantastic events, our web presence and social media updates. Thank you all involved with the running of the club and thank you to the members, as without you all, there would be no club.
Looking forward to seeing you at an event soon.
Graeme Bell | President BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
P.O. Box 81, TYABB, VICTORIA. 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695GBMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of:BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International CouncilCAMS Affiliated Motorsport Club
BMWDCM's first anniversary event was held at The Vincent restaurant & bar in Albert Park. The evening included the presentation of trophies and awards for the first year of operation and events as a new club.
The venue was excellent for our function. This building has quite a history of its own, starting life as the Windsor Hotel in 1889, then being re-named the Red Eagle Hotel soon afterwards. The current owners re-furbished the building in recent times and re-named it The Vincent. The building retains many of its historical elements but is now very much modernised internally and caters to a wide variety of clientele. The meals and table service were excellent, and the bar offered a great choice for those enjoying a responsible drink or two.
With allocated seating, the evening allowed us all to get to know more of our club members than just those who we meet up with at other club events we regularly attend. Having large tables of 10 guests encouraged lots of interesting conversational topics and interaction between diners – including plenty of non-BMW conversation as well.
The presentation of awards was a real highlight. All awards were to the ‘inaugural’ winners – which is a significant achievement in each winner’s club life. The atmosphere in the room reflected this and each winner was warmly congratulated by us all. A raffle on the night was also drawn with some very nice prizes collected by lucky ticket holders. Many of the awards and raffle prizes were donated by club sponsors, some of whom had representatives attending on the night. It was great to see this level of support for our club by businesses who see value in being associated with our new, but rapidly growing club.
The individual awards, their sponsors and the recipients are listed below. Hearty congratulations to each winner.
The evening also gave us an opportunity to recognise the enormous effort and work rate of our club committee. Although only small in number, our founding committee and helpers have done themselves, and us, proud by getting the club up and going and then organising a huge number of events throughout our first year. On top of this is the time and work involved in the legal and legislative aspects required of registered clubs, the merchandising, club plate management and club publications that all form part of our club network. So, a huge ‘thank you’ was extended to our committee and their helpers.
On the subject of publications, the evening also provided an opportunity to launch the new club magazine – ‘idrive’. This is a first-class piece of work. The magazine is a high quality, beautifully presented item and its content is excellent. Many of the articles are written and submitted by club members and record our activities. The ‘idrive’ magazine was designed and published by Jess Bell and Leigh Kelly – clearly very talented young people who have put a huge amount of their time and effort into this enterprise. The magazine was really well received by those present.
A great night, a great facility and great people. I think our first Presentation Dinner and Birthday celebration was a real success and promises even better events to come.
Jim Tucker | Member #26BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
Member of the Year
Theo Hoffs
President's Award
Phil Kolar
Special Recognition Award
Jessica Bell
People's Choice Award
David O'Dwyer
8 Class
Early Class
Paul Caruso
Recent Class
Lawrence Glynn
Non-BMW Class
Outright
Rod Martin
Racing 2 - 3 Litre
Paul Kertes
M Class
Igor Kay
Over 2 Litre Modified
Racing Under 2 Litre
Rachael Kertes
The first BMW Turbo in motor racing – the M121 – provided the necessary drive. After many more BMW Turbo engines in the 50 years since then, the newly-developed Class 1 regulation-compliant BMW P48 engine will make its debut in the BMW M4 DTM when this season’s DTM kicks off at Hockenheim (GER) at the start of May. Times may have changed, but the outstanding properties of the engine have remained the same. Despite the 50 years that lie between them, the two high-performance engines have a number of similarities: both are straight, four-cylinder engines with a two-litre capacity and a turbo charger. In both the BMW M121 and the P48, the sensitive engine components must be protected by a heat shield from the heat emitted by the turbo charger. A mechanical injection pump supplies the engine with fuel in both cases. More than twice as much power with far less consumption and a much longer service life. The pressure with which the combustion air is supplied to the engine, can hardly be compared any more. With 0.98 bar of pressure, the first generation of turbo race engine achieved approx. 280 hp at 6,500 rpm. The exhaust fan was theoretically capable of developing a boost pressure of 1.76 bar. However, the pressure in the cylinder would have been so great, that the cylinder head would have lifted off. Nowadays, boost pressures of up to 2.5 bar are possible with more than 600 hp. The crankcase and cylinder head were manufactured in a special sand-casting procedure in the BMW Landshut foundry. In the meantime, components like the ignition distributor, fan, wet sump and boost valve have since disappeared from the engine. There is no longer a direct charge air pipe, which supplies the engine with compressed air without any cooling. Instead, the P48 has a sophisticated dry sump system. The oil required for lubrication purposes within the engine is extracted immediately without any oil being lost through splashes. Another part of this system is the oil tank, which is directly attached to the engine. Efficient charge air cooling also allows for increased performance and efficiency. Auxiliary units, like the starter and generator, are no longer on the engine, but are mounted on the transaxle gearbox behind the engine. Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic has replaced the old aluminium weld-and-cast construction on the plenum chamber. Furthermore, the butterfly is now moved electrically and no longer by a mechanical throttle rod. Instead of an open ignition harness, the electrical wires in the P48 are housed in a protective, carbon cable tray. One of the most efficient BMW race engines of all time. One of the key aspects of the P48 is its exceptionally good consumption. As the regulations limit the permitted fuel flow, every fuel saving means better performance and was followed in detail. Compared to its predecessor, which itself was very efficient, the current engine has been made almost 10 percent more efficient. It is actually more than 50 percent more efficient than the M121 from 1969. This was achieved with the help of the high-pressure direct fuel injection, as found in BMW production engines, as well as a mixture preparation and combustion – tried and tested in many simulations and tests – which allows the engine to operate in so-called ‘lean burn mode’. A consistent minimisation of friction losses, such as through the aforementioned oil system and the use of high temperature-resistant components that do not require cooling by the fuel, make the P48 one of the most efficient BMW race engines of this day and age.
BMW Turbo engines guarantee maximum sportiness. Despite all this, the original 1969 turbo need by no means hide when it comes to performance. As the developers of the BMW 2002 TI were not permitted to increase the displacement, the performance had to be increased elsewhere. The engine no longer aspirated its mixture itself. Instead, it was blown into the engine via the turbo charger. This transformed the BMW 2002 TI into a real sports car, with a top speed of 240 km/h. This was followed in 1973 by the first German car manufactured in production with a turbo charger: the BMW 2002 turbo. The next chapter in the story of BMW Turbo in motorsport is now set to be written in the DTM. Above all, the Class 1 regulations herald a new technical era. The previous V8 engines have been replaced by more powerful, four-cylinder turbo engines. The sound of the new turbos is awesome, the performance nothing short of impressive. However, their most brilliant property is their efficiency. At 85 kilograms, the short engine in the new turbo power unit weighs little more than half of its predecessor. The lightweight model boasts impressive figures compared to the DTM engines used up to this point: half the displacement, more power, less consumption.
Type: P48, R4 turbo engine with direct fuel injection Capacity: 1,999 cc Weight: 85 kg (basic weight, according to regulations) Bore: between 86 and 90 mm Engine speed: max. 9,500 rpm Power output: over 600 hp Service life: over 6,000 km (per season) Fuel mass flow restrictor: mandatory 95 kg/h, 100 kg/h with push-to-pass activated - Cylinder block and cylinder head made from cast aluminium in the BMW foundry in Landshut - Steel crankshaft - Four valves per cylinder, operated via rocker arm - Steel camshafts, operated via gears - High-pressure, direct injection, as with BMW production engines with 350 bar - Dry sump Despite the significant increase in power of about 100 hp, the unit is designed for reliability and durability, and lasts roughly 6,000 kilometres. 1.5 engines may be used per car over the course of the season. The Push-to-Pass system, new in 2019, provides an extra 5 kg/h of fuel for a duration of five seconds, resulting in an increase in power of roughly 30 hp. The turbo charger in the P48 supplies the engine with 400 litres of air per second – 3,500 times as much as a human breathes. The pistons accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in less than a thousandth of a second – 1,200 times faster than a lunar rocket. The water pump shifts roughly 18,000 litres per hour. This is fast enough to fill a bath tub in roughly 20 seconds. 1,005 drawings were made for the final assembly of the engine, which consists of roughly 2,000 individual parts. Laid next to each other, they would cover the floor of a 250 sqm apartment. A new era in touring car racing is dawning with the BMW P48 and the Class 1 regulations – just as it did with the engine’s forefather from 1969. The turbo is ready for ignition – today, as it was 50 years ago.
On Easter Sunday each year Flinders Lions Club run a Charity Day to support Peninsula Hospitals.
The day is called the Flinders Motoring Heritage Day and has grown each year to now take over three separate areas in the Flinders township, where lots of people and clubs bring out their older cars to show the public and enjoy the picnic atmosphere in the beautiful township. The cars range from very early 1900’s up to current models and there was an amazing range of very interesting cars for all to see, most of them coming from the local areas. Quite incredible to see what people have tucked away and even better to see them all come out for such a great cause. The weather was perfect for a display day too, so this helped get so many cars and people out in the sunshine. It was a very successful day, the Lions Club presented a cheque for $34,000 to Peninsula Health from entry fees and donations before the day, so including the gate takings, etc I expect there was quite a bit to add to that total by the end of the day.
This year, with the BMW Club Nationals being held in Melbourne, we didn’t advertise this event as an official Club event, so that it didn’t distract people from the Nationals. However, a few DCM Members that weren’t going to be at Nationals events on Easter Sunday did go down to Flinders and it was great to see quite a few members drop in for a chat too.
We set ourselves up in two different areas in the township, some cars were in the ‘to be judged, A’ area and the rest in the ‘B’ area in a great location right next to the entry to the display area.
Not sure if our location had a bearing, or if it was our usual flags and banners and ever presence to talk to people that wandered by, or just our beautiful cars on display, but we managed to win Best Club Display.
I think that is the third display this year we have won a prize for our display! Next year we will make it an official Club event, so if you aren’t going away at Easter next year, come on down to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula and enjoy a day out for a great cause in a wonderful location.
Graeme Bell | Member #1BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
This week, it was all about the DTM again at the Lausitzring (GER). From Monday to Thursday, the six BMW drivers and their rivals were underway on the 4.570-kilometre track. In total, the BMW squads completed over 1,250 laps and 5,500 kilometres. BMW Team RBM, BMW Team RMG and the drivers used the test to prepare themselves and the 2019 BMW M4 DTM for the start of the season. At the heart of the race car is the new BMW P48 turbo engine, which was developed from scratch in accordance with Class 1 regulations. The BMW M4 DTM has also been modified extensively in many other areas. The annual DTM ‘Media Day’ also took place at the Lausitzring on the Tuesday of the test. The opening round of the 2019 DTM season takes place from 3rd to 5th May at the Hockenheimring (GER).
Quotes from the DTM test at the Lausitzring:
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “That was a very intense final test for our teams and drivers before the DTM season-opener. A big thank you goes to the mechanics and engineers, who have worked hard and shown great commitment during these long days of testing. The whole system of the 2019 cars is completely new. As such, it is obvious that you are going to learn and gain experience with every single lap. The first two days did not exactly go as we had imagined. However, the whole team – including the drivers – showed how flexible they can be during this phase, and did not let it unsettle them. We were then able to complete a lot of laps on Wednesday and Thursday. On the whole, our focus was on confirming the new components in the system and on better understanding the car as a whole. We have made big progress in that regard. In terms of performance, we completed all our planned preparations, in order to arrive in Hockenheim in good form. As always, only the first qualifying sessions and races will give a true indication of where we are. We are really looking forward to the start of the season.”
Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG): “Before the start of the season, it was very important to do more testing, get behind the wheel of the car again, make any final adjustments to the set-up, and prepare for the first races. It was also important for me and my new race engineer to forge a relationship and find a rhythm together. We worked our way through a good programme. That was important. Now we move on to the opening round. I am already looking forward to us all meeting up again at Hockenheim in a fortnight. We will then have more of an idea of where we all stand.”
Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG): “A test like this is always important – particularly this season, with the new regulations and new engine. After all the work we put into development during the winter, it was good to add the finishing touches here. There was the odd problem here and there, but that is the same with every manufacturer at the moment. We now have to iron them out until the start of the season. As such, it was very good to go driving again at the Lausitzring. We are all naturally intrigued to see how the season-opener pans out, and how good we actually are.”
Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR): “I would obviously have liked to have a few more laps in the car, but the fact that I drove in the winter tests meant my time here was a little limited. We made the most of the time, to be well prepared for Hockenheim. We will take the positives out of the test and now start our final preparations for the first races.”
Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR): “It was cool to be back in a DTM car after a long break. The BMW M4 DTM is an incredible racing car, particularly with the new engine. It was great fun finding my rhythm again and sorting a few things out. We still have some work ahead of us before the first race at Hockenheim, but everyone is doing their utmost to ensure we are up there at the front of the field there again.”
Sheldon van der Linde (#31 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM): “It’s really been an enjoyable test. I’ve got a lot of laps in the car which is very nice. It was also an important test for me because it was good to just get used to the car. The new turbo engine is really powerful, it’s a lot of fun to drive it and it should make things interesting this year.”
Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM): “On the first two days, we had slight issues, but that was solved and everything is looking good and promising. I am actually feeling very comfortable with the car. Everything is quite new for everyone but its working fine for me. There are still a few things to improve but that’s the same for everyone. I am feeling positive.”
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