The BMW motor uses twin turbos to get this much power out,it that a weak engine then?

So I guess you think the new BMW 4.4L biturbo is weak since it can't even make 100hp/L and is forced inducted. Oh no, wait, you didn't troll that thread.
Actually make that the entire BMW lineup with the exception of a few M engines and a turbo engine or two.

This isnt another BMW vs Mercedes thread. Take it somewhere else before it goes out of hand.

Don't mean to join your discussion, but 100bhp per liter is only reserved for the top performance engine, it's not something you see everyday. If in your mind, any engine which doesn't have 100bhp per liter isn't any good then basically all engines are crap in your mind!

Remember, you can learn only so much from specs, wait for the reviews!!!

I guess I touched a sore nerve. My apologies. My mind was comparing it to another 3.5L 6 cylinder engine about 20 years old that was already making better numbers (315 HP).

Wow, what a lopsided comparision. You're talking about a I6 in an extreme application vs a 3.5L V6 in a everyday sedan. Why in the would Mercedes want to make a 350hp C350? Surely it could be done if they wanted, but it doesn't make sense in the C350's market, just like your "comparision".

What I find hilarious is that BMW is now depending on turbocharging to get the same power out of their I6 that Lexus, Infiniti, now MB, and even Cadillac get from the naturally aspirated V6s. Not that this makes the BMW motor "weak", but pointing this out makes about as much sense as your "comparision".

Using your logic, shouldn't BMW have put the E46 M3's I6 in the new 335i?

M

Oh right, I didn't get that!

Without turning this even further into a Mercedes vs. BMW argument, despite the BMW's exceptional result with the twin-turbo'd 3.0 litre engine, it's common knowledge that the in-line six had reached a displacement limit for BMW. Their only means to compete with Mercedes in the torque stakes (i.e. 100 Nm for every litre of displacement in an NA engine) was to go the forced induction route. To the best of my recollection, increasing the bore of the M54 engine was not viable.

So yes, in a sense it was Mercedes' very good, often overlooked and highly underrated 3.5 litre V6 that set the standard at the top end of the compact executive class. BMW had to react using turbocharging...

In my opinion the two are direct competitors and in my mind the typical BMW buyer will opt for the 335i and a typical MB buyer will go for the C350. Heck it's not like the current V6 is short of puff - so the new one will be even better.

Surprise that no one has brought out the issue of reliability. MB has traditionally been conservative with their engine output for the sake of reliability. That's a fair compromise in my book.

It's a shame MB gave up on it's straight 6 in the 90s because of the higher cost. They just like BMW had quite legendary (and surely more reliable, 236,000K on my 190e) inline 6s. There is nothing quite like an inline 6. Bravo to BMW for keeping that alive while the rest of its peers have ditched the idea. Have to wonder how long they will stick to it though...