4 Pot Vs 6 Pot

[Pricie]

I've been meaning to ask regarding the above.

I've noticed people with 6 pot engines in there BMW's seem to look down there nose's at people with 4 pot engines.

Why is this?

This is especially with a regard to E30's.

I dont understand why the 4 pots get so much stick?
There one of the best series of engines BMW have ever designed.

There generally faster than 6 pots, Have more power than 6 pots, weighs less, drink less petrol, and in my opinion, make a better sound.

They have a much better weight distribution over the whole car, and therefore handle better.

So why the bias for the straight 6? After all, it seems to me the 4potters should be looking down there noses at there slower, heavier brothers.

*this should be an interesting thread, as i'm sure we'll have some militant 6 pot fans out there!*

[Ziggy]

Eh? Unless you're talking about the S14, they aren't faster than the 6-pots.
& if you're talking about the m20b20, they get more stick than all the 4-pots put together!

Methinks you need to explain a bit better if you want people to bite... (and get your ears tested, but I guess opinion's opinion!)

[JimmyC]

they also dont go pop like the bloody 6 pots

[Rosc0PColtrane]

GROUND HOG DAY!!

[Jhonno]

the worst engine to appea in an e30 was def the m20b20..

4 pots do the job with no fuss, just funny shaped camshafts 1/2 the time

[Rosc0PColtrane]

edited due to "dangleberries"

320touring

[maxfield]

Nothing wrong with a 4 pot

BMW used a 4 pot in the M3, wonder why?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Nothing wrong with a 4 pot

BMW used a 4 pot in the M3, wonder why?

Due to regluations surrounding the racing the car was intended for?

[march109]

I've been meaning to ask regarding the above.

I've noticed people with 6 pot engines in there BMW's seem to look down there nose's at people with 4 pot engines.

Why is this?

This is especially with a regard to E30's.

I dont understand why the 4 pots get so much stick?
There one of the best series of engines BMW have ever designed.

There generally faster than 6 pots, Have more power than 6 pots, weighs less, drink less petrol, and in my opinion, make a better sound.

They have a much better weight distribution over the whole car, and therefore handle better.

So why the bias for the straight 6? After all, it seems to me the 4potters should be looking down there noses at there slower, heavier brothers.

*this should be an interesting thread, as i'm sure we'll have some militant 6 pot fans out there!*

Ok mods, a new member who knows exactly how to stir things up?!?! seems fishy to me who is this really??

Suppose we haven't had one of these threads this week so it was about time.

To summarise -

[Pricie]

Ban me? thats a little harsh isnt it?

Valid question i thought....

@ Ziggy, Fair comment fella. What i mean by sound better is, not exhaust note, but the 4pots always sound happy to be trashed - you can tell they really love it.

@ JimmyC - LOL!

@ Maxfield - T'indeed..... was one of my main points. I've never understood using something thats blatantly heavier when something that is sooo much lighter will do the job.

@ March109 - I'm not a previous member (check my IP if you dont believe me) nor am i a court Jester... i dont get that many laughs i'm afraid. And just for the record i'm always having the same arguement with VW fans with GTI vs VR6

Pricie

[Jhonno]

4 pots sound harsh when pushed, unless its on tb's..

[Ziggy]

So which 4-pot are you talking about then? The S14 is the only one that produces more power than an m20b25, & nobody slags them off? Plenty of M3 snobs looking down their noses at all of us!

[Rosc0PColtrane]

VR6 is a lump of turd, so I undrstand that sentiment. VW dabbled with 6 pots. BMW made it their business.

The inline 6 is a fantastic engine and what bmw is renouned for. It's BMW's USP

I guess that reputation speaks volumes? If the 4 pot was so good, why has the e36m3 got 6?

The 4 pot is akin to taking a hand mixer to a typewriter, not a nice sound, unless you're a secretary who draws comfort from the noise?

[Pricie]

Well i'm a big fan of the 1.8is engines, simple but so effective.

(i'm sorry, i'm not so familier with the engine codes) is the s14 the 320is?

[maxfield]

S14 is M3/320iS engine.

4 pots sound great!

[choppa7]

This fella has obviosuly heard my 316 wheezing like a granny with bronchitis, thats the sound he's referring to

[treeseries]

maxfield said somethin i agree on oh my god any way i think u'll all find that as quoted the 318is runs on a par for bhp as the 323i and runs same 0-60's but actually is quicker than the 320i a bigger slower heavier shit heap. i own both a 18is and a 20 and the 20 drinks more, is slower, as pricie says the is sounds like its game for a roasting but the 20 just sounds throat it doesnt have that need to go.and as for Rosc0PColtrane's statement about the e36's they are a much heavier car and therefore need as much power as possible, we all know that if the same engine regardless what is in both e 36 and e 30 the e 30 would out do it 10 fold. i.e e36 m3 engined e 30's.

[eko]

Yes but lets face it,the M42 iS engine just sounds raspy,and thats when the timing chain isnt chattering away!

[jmc330i]

If the 4 pot was so good, why has the e36m3 got 6?

The E30 M3 was meant to be a race car, so handling was a big consideration, the E36 M3 was meant to make the E36 a sporty road car.

Theres no point comparing the E30 M3 with the rest of the E30s (4 or 6 pot) because it was designed for completely different reasons.

As for 4 pot/6 pot snobbery - well 6pots are just better arent they

[secondtimelucky]

My 318i, 4 pot, cos it sounds like an E36 M3 lol

[Morat]

[snoops]

maxfield said somethin i agree on oh my god any way i think u'll all find that as quoted the 318is runs on a par for bhp as the 323i and runs same 0-60's but actually is quicker than the 320i a bigger slower heavier shit heap. i own both a 18is and a 20 and the 20 drinks more, is slower, as pricie says the is sounds like its game for a roasting but the 20 just sounds throat it doesnt have that need to go.and as for Rosc0PColtrane's statement about the e36's they are a much heavier car and therefore need as much power as possible, we all know that if the same engine regardless what is in both e 36 and e 30 the e 30 would out do it 10 fold. i.e e36 m3 engined e 30's.

as already said the 320 is sh*t apart from the sound and smoothness so lets not bring a 320 or the m3 into the equation, have you driven a 325i? much faster than any of the 4 pots apart from the m3 and sounds much better IMO, if you have a 4 pot you are the same as nearly all drivers on the road, with a 6 pot you're different.

[touringandy]

people i do drive an e30 318i and believe me they arnt th
at good GOD plz GIVE ME A 6 pot RATHER THAN MY 4 POT

THEY DONT SOUND AS GOOD
THEY ARE NO WAY FASTER
SHALL I GO ON
IM ONLY BEING HONEST

AN THIS IS FROM A 4 POT DRIVER.LOL

BUT THEN WHO CARES REALLY ITS STILL AN E30

[fuzzy]

its just lifes natural order. people like to look down their noses at lesser endowed individuals in all walks of life to make themselves feel superior and more successful than everyone else. i just rise above it as not only do i have a piddly little 4 pot but its also a ford

[tomtomiS]

VR6 is a lump of turd, so I undrstand that sentiment. VW dabbled with 6 pots. BMW made it their business.

The inline 6 is a fantastic engine and what bmw is renouned for. It's BMW's USP

I guess that reputation speaks volumes? If the 4 pot was so good, why has the e36m3 got 6?

The 4 pot is akin to taking a hand mixer to a typewriter, not a nice sound, unless you're a secretary who draws comfort from the noise?

whats up with the vr6? i had one, thought it was alright.

[e30_singh]

4 pots sound harsh when pushed

THEY DONT SOUND AS GOOD
THEY ARE NO WAY FASTER
SHALL I GO ON
IM ONLY BEING HONEST

AN THIS IS FROM A 4 POT DRIVER.LOL

true and true. 4pots need a lot of effort to get somewhere, 6pots just fly if you ever drive them and compare you will understand. 325i is just beautiful to drive so smooth and silky, a 318i is also smooth and silky but it does not pull through the gears as the mighty torque of the 6pot lump. It comes down to torque really, 6pots pull BMW chassis's around quicker!!

[tomtomiS]

good point, well made, but you cant deny that the four pot makes you work the gears, kinda satisfying in a way. im selling my b25 touring so i can get back to driving the iS again as it feels somehow more rewarding. in a 6 pot you put ur foot down and it gets there, the 4 pot makes you try a bit harder

[Speedtouch]

The inline six, from an engineering point of view is ideal since it is perfectly balanced, hence the smoothness. However, there is less internal friction with a 4-pot (because of fewer bearings and 2 less pistons) hence they are generally more responsive to the throttle and potentially have higher rev potential so long as the internal parts are up to the out-of-balance forces associated with a 4-cylinder design.

[d6dph]

Who cares which one is better! They are all wrapped in the same body so each engine has its plus points for each user.

Personally I wanted a 325 for the grunt and 6 pot sound, Some want an engine that is a little more economical and some. admittedly very sick people, want a diesel for taxi duties!

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE E30

[JohnnyThunders]

I opened this can of worms once, fun argument though. I was just interested in opinions and stuff though. The 4 pot 6 pot banter in here is par for the course and all in good spirit.
On a more serious note one would expect friendly argument about car specs on a car forum, what you wouldn't expect is some of the right wing opinions thrust out by people (of authority) in here. Preaching about the pros and cons of diff ratio on a 325i is all well and good but preaching about politics and beliefs i find a bit much.
Rant over back on topic, e30 is e30 is e30 imo, whether 1.8 or 2.7 its all good.

[tailoutcharlie]

^^^^johnny thunders ^^^^^

[Jhonno]

The inline six, from an engineering point of view is ideal since it is perfectly balanced, hence the smoothness. However, there is less internal friction with a 4-pot (because of fewer bearings and 2 less pistons) hence they are generally more responsive to the throttle and potentially have higher rev potential so long as the internal parts are up to the out-of-balance forces associated with a 4-cylinder design.

6 pot have higha rev potential i thought due to the balance.. also less stwoke 4 a given capacity

[Speedtouch]

Ah yes, but the longer crank of a six pot is more prone to 'crank whip' than the shorter 4-pot one.

That said, I've had an M20B25 up to 7,000rpm and an M30B35 up to 7500rpm and they survived

[zimm_zimmer]

i love my 325i it sounds great and goes like s**t off a shovel, it is awsome, my brother in law has a 318is e36 and mine is much better than his, and i do think the m20 b20 engine is a good engine considering the driver i bought mine off lol

[Rosc0PColtrane]

If the 4 pot was so good, why has the e36m3 got 6?

The E30 M3 was meant to be a race car, so handling was a big consideration, the E36 M3 was meant to make the E36 a sporty road car.

Theres no point comparing the E30 M3 with the rest of the E30s (4 or 6 pot) because it was designed for completely different reasons.

As for 4 pot/6 pot snobbery - well 6pots are just better arent they

Agreed. The homologation was my point against the 'goodness' of 4 pots. Even now, the touring car is a 4 pot 320 IIRC.

The e36 M3 still proves my point. When built BMW had the choice, no race rules to follow, they could have pumped what they want under the hood. They chose to use 6 pots!!

All this crap about being more reward is just that, crap. The 4 pots are good cars, after all, they are e30's, it's just the 6 pots are a little better.