Just read in the July automobile magazine about the new 318Ti (compact) that's now available in Europe. There was a brief blurb about the valvotronic being also available for V8 engines starting this fall! I wonder if this means we'll be seeing slightly more power or maybe better fuel mileage (perhaps enough to offset the offending guzzler tax! )
Valvetronic will be available only on the 2 V8's offered for the new E65 7 series! There will be a new 3.6 litre producing 268 HP and the 4.4 liter V8 that will be in the new 745i will put out a very nice 330 HP, this is with Valvetronic and some other new stuff like a new manifold and other stuff to compliment the new valvetronic system. This iwll aso be available on the new 6 litre v-12 rated at over 400 HP!
Nothing for the M5, but expect the next M5 engine to be equiped with the system as it will eventually get to all BMW engines I assume, expect it with the next gen M5. Not the e39, and definately not for next year!
NICE THOUGHT THOUGH, were you expecting it to produce 500HP for 2002, DOn't we all wish, when will it be enough! LOL
Apart from being a M5 fan, I really enjoy the good old 7 (especially the 750i) I would like to know where you read about the valvotronic system, other information regarding the new BMW 7 is also welcome
I forgot about the 7 series getting a complete overhaul next fall. I guess I was hoping too much that the M5 would be getting the Valvotronic system system so soon.
Greg: I don't know everything about Valvotronic yet but AFAIK it's a individually controlled system where each cylinder gets it's own valves that can be opened and closed on its own as opposed to a row like with the current Vanos. This of course gives us better gas mileage and more power!
On a related topic - I read that the new 7-series will have a dynamically (and automatically) adjustable sway bar. The M5 could use one of those - less understeer with all the safety.....
Vanos adjusts valve timing, but valve lift stays constant based on the shape of the cam. Valvetronic adjusts the valve lift, so the inlet valve becomes the throttle and inlet valve all in one, but it does not alter valve timing.
They are not mutually exclusive. You want variable valve timing AND variable valve lift
Valvetronic does not use elec motors to lift the valves, they are still opened by a camshaft connected to the crank. But the cam does not hit the valve directly, there is a rocker arm assembly between the cam and the valve. Valvetronic has another shaft parallel to the camshaft, this is rotated through less than 360 degrees by an electric motor and as it is rotated it changes the (pivot point) geometry of the rocker arms, so changing the valve lift in a range of about 0-10mm.
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Linear Mode
