Author Archives: bwnunnally

About bwnunnally

Bruce Nunnally is an independent Blogger who writes Cadillac Conversations on all things Cadillac. Connect with Bruce on Google+

A tale of two Blown 4.4L V8s – BMW & @Cadillac

Posted on by
Reply

The new 2012 BMW M5 uses the twin-scroll, twin-turbo 4.4L V8 from the BMW X5M/X6M SUVs.  In the 2009 BMW trucks this powerplant made 547 hp, in 2010 555 hp, but in the new M5 makes 552 hp.   This all seems to need a bit more sorting.

This engine is the BMW S63, which is a twin-scroll version of the N63 V8.  For the 09 trucks it makes 547 hp at 6000 rpm and 500 lb ft of torque at 1500-5650 rpm.  As in the N63, the turbos are mounted in the V of the engine.  The engines do not appear to use the BMW valvetronic (variable valve timing used instead of a throttle), since there is a perception that it is not needed with a turbocharged vehicle, but are double Vanos systems (variable valve timing,  abbr. from German variable Nockenwellensteuerung, or variable camshaft control).

BMW S63 Engine

BMW fansites were predicting 585-600 hp for the S63 in the M5, so 552 hp is a bit of a surprise.

A blown 4.4L V8 seems familiar — ah yes, that’s what I have in my 2008 Cadillac STS-V!  Of course, mine is supercharged and not a turbo model as in the BMW, and makes only 469hp instead of 552 hp.  The Cadillac uses 12 psi of boost, while the BMW pushes that dial up to 22 psi of boost.  At around 4 % improvement per PSI, a LC3 running 17 psi would make similar numbers, but would run out of the boost range for the custom Eaton M122 supercharger in the Cadillac V8.  (The Stiegemeier snake bite kit does hit 17 psi however…)

[Updated] The BMW N63 makes similar boost pressure to the Cadillac LC3, at 11.6 psi but with a 10:1 compression ratio for the BMW.  The N63 was rated at 400 hp vs the 469 for the 12 psi Cadillac.  Both the N63 and S63 are direct injected engines.  The S63 uses twin-scroll turbos, cross-flow turbo plumbing, lower compression at 9.3:1, and higher boost to build to 552 hp.

The BMW SUVs have launch control, so hopefully the M5 will benefit from this as well.

A bit surprising that BMW stopped short of exceeding the Cadillac CTS-V’s 556 hp.  A shame really, as I would love to see Cadillac turn up the wick on the LSA 6.2L Supercharged V8 in the CTS-V a bit further to 600+ hp.

More on HP: Confusingly the BMW engines are still rated in PS (German: Pferdestärke = horse strength), which is a DIN standard mathematically different from British hp used in the USA.  PS has been replaced by the kilowatt, but is still used.  The 2010 BMW X5M made 414 kW, or 554 hp.  F10.5post.com is quoting the new M5 at 560PS which converts to 552 hp, but is actually less than the 563 PS in the 2010 X5 M.  Autoblog and Jalopnik are quoting the X5M at 547hp, but that was the 09 model.  I’m sure this will get sorted, hashed, and be more clear presently.

CTS-V STS-V V-Series Vanity Plates

Posted on by
Reply

The first rule of vanity license plates is that they are individual.  The whole point is you get to pick / specify what you want on your license plates, within a range, so that you can personalize it for your car, personality, lifestyle, etc.  So you can’t do it wrong, if you pick one you like.

A number of Cadillac V-Series — CTS-V, STS-V vanity plates tend to focus on the resemblence of the CTS-V to a 4-door Corvette, the LS2, LS6, or LSA engines in the CTS-V, or to things that rhyme with “Cad”, short for Cadillac.  Thus one might find:

  • BADCAD
  • 4DRVET
  • 4DRZR1
  • 556HP
  • LS6CAD
  • FSTCADY

All these work great, and fit the Cadillac.

When asked, I would point out that the V series are all obviously recognized as Cadillacs, so the tags need not emphasize this point.

The V-Series V stands for Velocity.  Velocity comes from the latin velocitas, swiftness, speed.  I would suggest vanity plates that play on the V:

  • VSWIFT (for very swift)
  • VRMMM
  • VQUICK
  • VFAST
  • ENVY
  • VROOM
  • VRACER

What would your favorite creative Cadillac V-Series Vanity plate say?

Sensible Sedan Shopping @Chevrolet with @Gurdonark

Posted on by
Reply

I went this morning with @Gurdonark sensible sedan shopping.  He has a long daily commute to work, and needs a large compact or small midsize sedan for a daily driver.  He had already tested the Ford Fusion.

I offered to drive, since this was also a great excuse for a day out in my Cadillac STS-V.

Today we started at Tony’s Cafe for breakfast.  My Wife joined us, so that made a pleasant outing, then she headed for her day and we headed to the car dealers.

Here are photos of the Cruze and the Malibu.  They look very similar to me but I think I have them captioned right.

Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet Malibu

For Car Shopping, we went to Huffines Chevrolet in Plano.  @Gurdonark wanted to check the Cruze, Malibu, and Equinox, then head over to Huffines Hyundai to check their comparable offerings.

The Chevrolet Cruze replaced the Cobalt.  Although it is smaller than a Malibu, it still had acceptable rear leg room.  The Cruze has a smaller engine, and higher MPG, and the Malibu has more interior room.  Among the base models, the Cruze appears to have better infotainment access, with bluetooth, USB, and ipod ports.

Chevrolet Equinox

The surprise choice of a sensible sedan for me was the Chevrolet Equinox, especially since it is a Crossover SUV and not technically a sedan.  With good gas mileage, plenty of room, a higher driving position, and a mid-20s price the Malibu-or-Cruze comparison quickly changed to an Equinox-or-Cruze comparison.  Since the Cruze is around $5K less money, I think the deal on each would be the way I would decide between these two for a daily commuter.

2.4L Ecotec Engine in the Chevrolet Equinox

 

Huffines has a Hyundai lot on the same property, where we test drove the Elantra and Sonata.  @Gurdonark’s current car is a Sonata. Although they seemed very roomy, they did not test drive as well as the Cruze or Equinox.

We drove around the corner to a Chrysler dealer where we tested the Chrysler 200.  Although it seemed a handsome car it also seems a car waiting for a bottoms-up rewrite and not just the current make-over of an otherwise basic vehicle.

Lunch at Dickey's - beef, turkey, mashed potatoes, broccoli salad, roll

After car shopping we wrapped up with Lunch at Dickey’s BBQ which worked well.

Summary

Among the sensible sedans, I would choose the Chevrolet Cruze.  Among the cars we shopped, I would choose between the Cruze or the Equinox and decide based on the price level I was able to get each one at.

@Gurdonark & Chevrolet Corvette

Among the rest of the cars we saw, I would get the Chevrolet Corvette, or a Camaro SS.