What's the smoothest E30 engine?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:47 am

Looking for a car for a filming project, using a bonnet mounted camera. Need a smooth engine and a smooth ride so I'm thinking of a 320i. I remember a BMW ad from the 1980's with a house of cards built on a BMW bonnet that was revving at 4000 rpm (or something like that). Sounds like the very thing for me.

But of course there are other BMW options, just wondered if anyone can recommend a vibe free platform?

Cheers

Nick Hine

Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:10 pm

I would say a 320i in good condition will probably be the smoothest. They were comparable to a V12 in terms of smooth running.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:12 pm

Speedtouch wrote:I would say a 320i in good condition will probably be the smoothest. They were comparable to a V12 in terms of smooth running.

Don't believe that.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:21 pm

I've read that 3/6/12 cylinders (at least with bmw designed engines) are inherently smooth. I know we've used a triple cylinder K75 motorbike before now for filming and it was ideal. I'm thinking that smaller pistons will all help the cause too, hence a 320.

Perhaps a 520i would be even better in terms of ride quality?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:30 pm

id say a nice 318is is a smooth quiet engine and kept under 3500rpm for a smooth "filming" ride

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:39 pm

Roller skates !

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:40 pm

A straight 4 has all sorts of inherent vibrations, even if things like balancer shafts have been added to the design to try to smooth it out.
As nickphine says, straight threes and sixes are inherently smooth, and a V12 is just two straight sixes sharing a crank.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:50 pm

A 4 cyliner engine effectively has two pairs of cylinders which are 180 degrees apart. that is, when two are at the top of the stroke, the other two are at the bottom of the stroke.

In a 6 cylinder there are effecviely three pairs of cylinders which are 120 degrees apart, so the 'bangs' are more closely spaced, making the engine smoother.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:55 pm

greg124 wrote:A 4 cyliner engine effectively has two pairs of cylinders which are 180 degrees apart. that is, when two are at the top of the stroke, the other two are at the bottom of the stroke.

In a 6 cylinder there are effecviely three pairs of cylinders which are 120 degrees apart, so the 'bangs' are more closely spaced, making the engine smoother.

A four cylinder engine relies on the energy stored in the flywheel for it to keep running. Without some stored rotational energy, it would come to a halt with two cylinders at TDC and two at BDC, and not even know which way it should be rotating.
A straight six engine always has one piston developing power and turning the crankshaft in the correct direction.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:56 pm

polsta wrote:id say a nice 318is is a smooth quiet engine and kept under 3500rpm for a smooth "filming" ride

Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:00 pm

poolnoodle wrote:
polsta wrote:id say a nice 318is is a smooth quiet engine and kept under 3500rpm for a smooth "filming" ride

a 318is donk is one of the loudest rattly engines out there and only topped by a toblerone camshaft equipped m40 or a diesel .

Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:10 pm

Got to be a Straight 6 cylinder .... Surely .... The basic design minimises all primary and secondary vibrations .... Whatever that means ?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:13 pm

try a Lexus, problem solved

Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:41 pm

magpie wrote:
poolnoodle wrote:
polsta wrote:id say a nice 318is is a smooth quiet engine and kept under 3500rpm for a smooth "filming" ride

a 318is donk is one of the loudest rattly engines out there and only topped by a toblerone camshaft equipped m40 or a diesel .

my one certainly wasnt, was very smooth and quiet

Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:46 pm

No matter how smooth the ride or engine is, it doesn't improve the condition of the roads in the UK - i think this could be one of your main problems

Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:50 pm

just get an 8 series v12:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... cuxcZxl2BM

Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:40 pm

+1 ^ they balanced a coin on the block, think there are a few ads and bmw were fairly proud of that smooth engine,

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:16 pm

The M30 is very smooth, mine didnt even sound like an engine, it was that smooth

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:26 pm

CitroÃ«n xantia hdi

320i auto moredoor on bottletops and 65 pro tyres deflated to 20 psi would make for the smoothest e30 IMHO

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:30 pm

mercdriver wrote:CitroÃ«n xantia hdi

You dirty pervert!

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:58 pm

i had an 850 v12 and it was certainly smooth, although cannot guarantee the ride will be the smoothest out there...you can switch between sport and normal suspension which was cool......

jeremy clarkson (is a loser and he....) used a citroen c6 on a challlenge i think when driving over grass to film a horse race and it gave the smoothest ride overall...i would go down this route, this is going to make a heck of a lot more difference than the engine. presumably you will not be revving the engine and changing gears that much anyway??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_C6

Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:41 am

In terms of smoothness for filming forget BMW and go Citroen. They often use older Citroens for filming things due to the hydro-spastic suspension.

In BMW terms is has to be an e39 520i touring, largest wheels to smooth the road, soft suspension and the most refined short stroke 6 pot.

Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:57 am

bmw9818 wrote:+1 ^ they balanced a coin on the block, think there are a few ads and bmw were fairly proud of that smooth engine,

BMW V12s aren't always smooth....

Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:16 am

I seem to remember seeing Citroen Safaris going round Aintree with TV cameras on the roof filming the Grand National. It's the fluid suspension like Mr. Screech says above.

Also, wasn't it a BMW diesel that they balanced a coin on?

Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:29 am

greg124 wrote:I seem to remember seeing Citroen Safaris going round Aintree with TV cameras on the roof filming the Grand National. It's the fluid suspension like Mr. Screech says above.

This,or hunt out an Austin/Morris 1100/1300/Maxi/1800/2200!

The 2200's came with a six cylinder engine,combined with the hydrolastic suspension,this is perhaps your best bet,if you can find one.

Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:08 pm

I was just looking for an excuse for something E30 I guess....

V6 Petrol Citroen C5 is looking favourite at the moment, got to go round Europe in it, so it needs to be half decent.

I remember people use to stick cameras out of the back of 2cv's and use them as dollys by just pushing the car around, but have you seen the price of 2CV's lately, jeez.

In the past we've used a VW T25 van as the engine is so far away vibes aren't an issue and they have a surprisingly soft ride....as do beetles...but that may be a step too far

Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:45 pm

A lazy old man spec mercedes might be a good option, big and solid with some serious ride quality.
You can also expect it to get around europe.

Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:55 pm

What were they thinking of when they designed the Citroen C5. It is truly hideous from every angle.

... mind you, if you're on the inside that doesn't really matter

Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:16 pm

greg124 wrote:What were they thinking of when they designed the Citroen C5. It is truly hideous from every angle.

matter

Agreed, I couldnt believe my eyes when I saw they had done the same to the other side aswell

Tue Sep 18, 2012 6:05 pm

DanThe wrote:
mercdriver wrote:CitroÃ«n xantia hdi
You dirty pervert!

Totally true. I've been discovered... It's just that the hydraulics are perfect to slowly wear my victims to sleep

Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:31 am

iv just come of the film set for the new jack ryan movie and some of the crap vehicles they shoot from im surprised your worried!! Just find the rarest e30 you can and then keep it after the shoot

Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:04 am

Range Rover P38a with air suspension would make a great camera car:

http://www.rangeroversolutions.co.uk/page9.htm

Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:27 am

iv just come of the film set for the new jack ryan movie and some of the crap vehicles they shoot from im surprised your worried!! Just find the rarest e30 you can and then keep it after the shoot

Need a soft car as I've got a cheap mount!