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Re: E46 M3 - Why a cast iron block (archive)
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Posted by JS on June 23, 2000 at 19:47:22:

In Reply to: E46 M3 - Why a cast iron block posted by PaulH on June 23, 2000 at 16:10:57:

: I read in the latest Roundel that the new M3 will have a cast iron block. Has anyone seen anything about longevity on the new engine? Will the E46 M3 still have a 50/50 weight distribution? I am on a wiating list, but may keep my 97 Dakar M3/2 and jsut pump it up a bit.

Just speculating, but the problem is likely related to producing a block that is stiff enough to support the long crankshaft of the inline 6 engine. Especially with the high torque, high compression, and high rpms of the new engine.

Probably they found that none of their existing Al blocks were suitable. A clean sheet design was probably deemed either to costly or to time consuming.

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