Is the f30 mid engined !!!!!!

Kal101 · 10-18-2015, 12:40 PM

Not as daft a question as you might think

Was just looking at my car with the bonnet up and got thinking.A lot of mid engined cars have the engine at the back within the wheelbase.

Now if you look at an f30 the engines at the front with the majority within the wheelbase again - so the question is have we got mid engined saloons ???

Thoughts etc

JustChris · 10-18-2015, 12:42 PM

Drinking a fair bit then Kal watching the rugby this afternoon?

From wiki:-
The term "mid-engine" has usually been applied to cars having the engine located between the driver and the rear drive axles.

Tengocity · 10-18-2015, 12:44 PM

Nope, not sure it's fare off back to get away with saying that! Perhaps on a car like the new Merc AMG where the engine sits quite far back in the engine bay and well behind the axle line you might claim that.

However this classic BMW trait is a key thing that has allowed them good weight balance and to generally avoid the nose heavy feel of an orthodox fwd car with transverse engine layout, like the volvos. If you see where there engines are relative to the front axle line you'd be amazed they ever get round corners!

Apl440i or 335d? · 10-18-2015, 01:00 PM

No.

MarkG_M5Comp · 10-18-2015, 01:57 PM

You've been looking in too many Aldi engine bays where the engine is mounted to the number plate screws.

You would have thought they all under steer and handle like sh!t, oh wait...

jusdorange · 10-18-2015, 02:39 PM

no lol it's further back, but not exactly behind the driver

Trialskings · 10-18-2015, 02:46 PM

The profile of the F30/31 is really quite remarkable. They're just so, so low at the front. Check out a Ford Mundaneo next time you pass one, I wonder how their drivers aren't decapitated every time they pass under a bridge!

This small frontal area, in no small part, likely contrubutes significantly to the relatively exceptional MPG we see out of our wheels.

GEP77 · 10-18-2015, 03:15 PM

The only mid engined car that I can think of that was advertised as such that had the engine in front of the driver was the Mercedes SLR Maclaren. Although this was actually described as a front mid engine. The engine was 50cm behind the front axle, whereas in the 3 series it pretty much starts at the front axle.

Kal101 · 10-18-2015, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris The Manx

Drinking a fair bit then Kal watching the rugby this afternoon?

From wiki:-
The term "mid-engine" has usually been applied to cars having the engine located between the driver and the rear drive axles.

No not this weekend

Maybe that's why the mind is wandering

Kal101 · 10-18-2015, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Nope, not sure it's fare off back to get away with saying that! Perhaps on a car like the new Merc AMG where the engine sits quite far back in the engine bay and well behind the axle line you might claim that.

However this classic BMW trait is a key thing that has allowed them good weight balance and to generally avoid the nose heavy feel of an orthodox fwd car with transverse engine layout, like the volvos. If you see where there engines are relative to the front axle line you'd be amazed they ever get round corners!

True was comparing to fat kid 1 focus and engine location on Volvo

Then got thinking ......

Kal101 · 10-18-2015, 04:57 PM

Still not 100% with it though

Maybe a bit of lateral thinking !!!

JustChris · 10-19-2015, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal001

Still not 100% with it though

Maybe a bit of lateral thinking !!!

I defo kno what you were thinking, the engine is nicely back from the front axle for sure.

SniPro · 07-25-2021, 11:00 PM

F30 with 4 cylinders engine can be considered as front-mid engine, since engine is totally between front and rear axles. F30 with 6 cylinders engine is pure front engine since extra 2 cylinders are popping out of the front axle

G50 · 07-26-2021, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniPro

F30 with 4 cylinders engine can be considered as front-mid engine, since engine is totally between front and rear axles. F30 with 6 cylinders engine is pure front engine since extra 2 cylinders are popping out of the front axle

Nice thread revive. I think generally the axle line would be where the strut towers are, so therefore your line looks way off.

xenon · 07-26-2021, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G50

Nice thread revive. I think generally the axle line would be where the strut towers are, so therefore your line looks way off.

Agreed. Line of axle is nowhere near the red line above.

Wills2 · 07-26-2021, 03:03 AM

Yeah that photo is bonkers, lets just draw a random line across the car.

bishbosh · 07-26-2021, 03:14 AM

Whoever drew that red line doesn't know about perspective. Rough estimate on that photo would be nearer the engine cover roundel.

DaveA · 07-26-2021, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wills2

Yeah that photo is bonkers, lets just draw a random line across the car.

True...

But...

I can definitely see a future for the person who illustrated that in the spin department at any PR company or campaign team...

Feed that up as a meme... add a suitable click bait tag... and you'd be well away into the twittersphere etc...

Deep Pan · 07-26-2021, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jusdorange

no lol it's further back, but not exactly behind the driver

Honda s2000 is a mid engine car.. engine not behind the driver.. had this debate about 15 years ago! Ha ha

DaveA · 07-26-2021, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deep Pan

Honda s2000 is a mid engine car.. engine not behind the driver.. had this debate about 15 years ago! Ha ha

To be fair, it was probably only ten years since you'd had the discussion when "Jus" posted that...

S2000 is classed as a "Front Mid-Engine", I believe...

Deep Pan · 07-26-2021, 01:46 PM

Ah yes, didn't see this was a dredged up post from the past. He's had 5 years to reflect 🤣

MidtownMike · 08-28-2024, 08:36 AM

My E36 M43 4pot got pretty close, but the E36's front wheels were so far forward that they almost touched the grille. Perfect proportions!
The F30's front overhang is fkn huuuuge compared to E36's, very little space between wheels and cabin... looks like a FWD car.

10-18-2015, 12:40 PM	#1
Kal101 Major General 3029 Rep 7,043 Posts Drives: 335xd Msport + Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: West mids!!!! iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Bmw msport + 3 ... [0.00]	Is the f30 mid engined !!!!!! Not as daft a question as you might think Was just looking at my car with the bonnet up and got thinking.A lot of mid engined cars have the engine at the back within the wheelbase. Now if you look at an f30 the engines at the front with the majority within the wheelbase again - so the question is have we got mid engined saloons ??? Thoughts etc __________________
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10-18-2015, 12:42 PM	#2
JustChris General 17667 Rep 25,236 Posts Drives: Tesla MYRWD Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Drinking a fair bit then Kal watching the rugby this afternoon? From wiki:- The term "mid-engine" has usually been applied to cars having the engine located between the driver and the rear drive axles. __________________ My car made front page of Bimmerpost
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10-18-2015, 12:44 PM	#3
Tengocity General 8505 Rep 19,982 Posts Drives: 911, Cayenne Turbo, Disco 4 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland iTrader: (0)	Nope, not sure it's fare off back to get away with saying that! Perhaps on a car like the new Merc AMG where the engine sits quite far back in the engine bay and well behind the axle line you might claim that. However this classic BMW trait is a key thing that has allowed them good weight balance and to generally avoid the nose heavy feel of an orthodox fwd car with transverse engine layout, like the volvos. If you see where there engines are relative to the front axle line you'd be amazed they ever get round corners! __________________ Current: Porsche 911 991 C4S, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Land Rover Discovery 4. Gone...G01 X3 M40i, Cayman S 987, F31 340i, Cayman GT4, F82 M4 CP, Lotus Exige V6, G20 330e, F30 330e, Boxster S 987, F31 335d, Mini Cooper SD, E89 Z4, E90 330d 320d, E60 520d, E46 330d 320d, MX5s, E30 325i
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10-18-2015, 01:00 PM	#4
Apl440i or 335d? Colonel 481 Rep 2,324 Posts Drives: F30 335D Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Walton on Thames iTrader: (1)	No. __________________ E46 Coupe 320d M Sport Gone. E92 320d M Sport Gone. F30 335d M Sport Gone.
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10-18-2015, 01:57 PM	#5
MarkG_M5Comp Supreme Being 1761 Rep 5,425 Posts Drives: M5 Comp Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0)	You've been looking in too many Aldi engine bays where the engine is mounted to the number plate screws. You would have thought they all under steer and handle like sh!t, oh wait... __________________ Current: F90 M5 Competition Gone: F80 M3 Competition Pack / M135i / F15 X5 M50d / Saab 9-5 Aero HOT / F30 335d xDrive M Sport / E92 LCI 320d M Sport / E46 320d M Sport Touring / E46 318i Touring
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10-18-2015, 02:39 PM	#6
jusdorange YOLO 443 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: #mw Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monaco iTrader: (0)	no lol it's further back, but not exactly behind the driver
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10-18-2015, 02:46 PM	#7
Trialskings Lieutenant 129 Rep 413 Posts Drives: Daddy Wagon Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Bristol iTrader: (0)	The profile of the F30/31 is really quite remarkable. They're just so, so low at the front. Check out a Ford Mundaneo next time you pass one, I wonder how their drivers aren't decapitated every time they pass under a bridge! This small frontal area, in no small part, likely contrubutes significantly to the relatively exceptional MPG we see out of our wheels.
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10-18-2015, 03:15 PM	#8
GEP77 Major 382 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: Tesla Model 3 Long Range. Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: South East London iTrader: (1)	The only mid engined car that I can think of that was advertised as such that had the engine in front of the driver was the Mercedes SLR Maclaren. Although this was actually described as a front mid engine. The engine was 50cm behind the front axle, whereas in the 3 series it pretty much starts at the front axle.
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10-18-2015, 04:57 PM	#11
Kal101 Major General 3029 Rep 7,043 Posts Drives: 335xd Msport + Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: West mids!!!! iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Bmw msport + 3 ... [0.00]	Still not 100% with it though Maybe a bit of lateral thinking !!! __________________
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07-25-2021, 11:00 PM	#13
SniPro Private 21 Rep 67 Posts Drives: BMW F30 320i LCI Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	F30 with 4 cylinders engine can be considered as front-mid engine, since engine is totally between front and rear axles. F30 with 6 cylinders engine is pure front engine since extra 2 cylinders are popping out of the front axle Attached Images Last edited by SniPro; 07-25-2021 at 11:09 PM..
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07-26-2021, 03:03 AM	#16
Wills2 Barge driver 8738 Rep 12,528 Posts Drives: 730d Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Yeah that photo is bonkers, lets just draw a random line across the car. __________________ 730d/Z4C
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07-26-2021, 03:14 AM	#17
bishbosh Colonel 953 Rep 2,128 Posts Drives: F30 335d Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (1) Garage List 2014 BMW 335d [0.00]	Whoever drew that red line doesn't know about perspective. Rough estimate on that photo would be nearer the engine cover roundel. __________________ if I've helped - an Appreciate would be, er, very appreciated!
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07-26-2021, 01:46 PM	#21
Deep Pan Enlisted Member 13 Rep 48 Posts Drives: 440i GC Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Wiltshire iTrader: (0)	Ah yes, didn't see this was a dredged up post from the past. He's had 5 years to reflect 🤣
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08-28-2024, 08:36 AM	#22
MidtownMike Lieutenant 489 Rep 536 Posts Drives: BMW F30 LCI 320i M-Sport Shado Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	My E36 M43 4pot got pretty close, but the E36's front wheels were so far forward that they almost touched the grille. Perfect proportions! The F30's front overhang is fkn huuuuge compared to E36's, very little space between wheels and cabin... looks like a FWD car.
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