I like new engine technology. So I scour around from time to time to see either whats out there or whats coming down the path. Well this time its a V8 for the BMW M3.
Anything interesting pop out at you about this motor:
That sucker has a throttle body for each cylinder.
Here is another look:
I found this very interesting as well:
BMW M3 V8 Spark Plug and Coil
Since the 1980s we've used knock sensors that listened for mechanical knocking. These are used to retard spark timing as needed. Every car has these today.
BMW has gotten very clever and electrically measures the spark plug gap to detect knocking, as well as misfires and bad combustion.
This saves cost and improves reliability because the extra knock sensors and their wiring are no longer needed.
BMW calls this "ion flow technology." Burning fuel causes ionization, and BMW measures ionization by measuring plug electrode resistance. (It took BMW at least ten paragraphs to say the same thing.)