7 Series (E32) BMW's Secret Seven: E32 7er Prototype with 6.7L V16 engine

[bmer]

The engine was so big they had to put the radiators at the rear. What's great is that it had a 6-speed manual.

 

[Giannis]

Fantastic find mate! Thank you! I recall Scott once said something about a V16 BMW engine, but they made no further comments on this. So this must be the proof, or just BMW decided that the V16 is no more a secret..

BTW, which magazine is this article from?

 

[EnI]

Mobile Tradition Collection is full of such surprises.

Also no surprise BMW registered "770" trademark many years ago.

 

[Giannis]

Mobile Tradition Collection is full of such surprises.

So, what should we expect more surprises in the future? I'd love to learn more of those BMW secrets/mysteries!

Also no surprise BMW registered "770" trademark many years ago.

This means that there where thoughts to actually sell this beast?

 

[tatoun]

THis engine was known as "Goldfish"
Reference Mobile Tradition "History of Engines" vol 2

 

[bmer]

Fantastic find mate! Thank you! I recall Scott once said something about a V16 BMW engine, but they made no further comments on this. So this must be the proof, or just BMW decided that the V16 is no more a secret..

This was in 1987 but BMW made another V16 in 2004. It was featured in the Rolls Royce 100EX concept car and the displacement was 9.0-liters.

BTW, which magazine is this article from?

The magazine is called BMWCar. But they aren't my scans.

THis engine was known as "Goldfish"
Reference Mobile Tradition "History of Engines" vol 2

They tell the story behind the name in the article :

The naming of the project is interesting in itself and gives a clue as to the casual way these high-powered executives thought amongst themselves. Weisbarth related the story thus: "The 7 Series we used was gold in colour and so while we were discussing aspects of the project with Dr. Reitzle he simply christened it 'Goldfish' and the name has gone into BMW folklore".

 

[bmw 745d]

Mobile Tradition Collection is full of such surprises.

Also no surprise BMW registered "770" trademark many years ago.

yeahh like the Z3 V12.

 

[Cashmere]

I love how all these "once upon a prototype" cars are suddenly being unveiled

 

[Giannis]

yeahh like the Z3 V12.

Like the Z3 what? I didn't know they stuffed a V12 in it...

 

[Jackbmw]

I remember that I read this article many times when I got this issue of BMW car in my hands. I couldn't believe my eyes

I wonder what other treasures are still hidden in BMW Mobile Tradition garages

 

[GaryGoodlund]

Like the Z3 what? I didn't know they stuffed a V12 in it...

Well... the engine bay is already 6 cylinders long so that could work. Since you already have to be careful poking your hand around in that engine bay when it's hot, maybe split the car down the center and stretch it out about 6-8" wider!

It still sounds like a really interesting project and crazier things have come out of their R&D shops before. I remember an article a few years ago by a writer (I believe in might have been in AutoWeek...maybe) who was given a ride around Nurburgring, in the rain, in an R&D test bed X5-V12 by Hans Stuck! After looping it into the grass at about 140 on a long downhill bend, the writer was fairly certain he was gonna die! When the car stopped slinging grass and mud around, Stuck looked over and said something to effect of, "Well, let's not do that again," and he just grinned.

 

[Matski]

Since we're necro-posting!

@Giannis

 

[Rolf]

Couldnt find an E32 thread, so I thought I would post this beauty here. Its got 458000km on the clock but in excellent condition.

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[GaryGoodlund]

Like the Z3 what? I didn't know they stuffed a V12 in it...

That's a beautiful installation but it makes me chuckle when I think of all the BMW references to the "50-50 Weight Distribution." Since it is a 6-cylinder long engine, the fact that it fits lengthwise is no surprise but I'll bet you can't get anything in alongside the exhaust and the inner-fenders!

 

[Rolf]

This was a very special car. If they only had enough space under the bonnet for the radiator then maybe it could of made production.

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[SCOTT27]

Ahh. Project Goldfish speared on by our own then "Mad Professor" Wolfgang Reitzle. He believed at that time BMW can go further than the 7er, so it is not the first time that sandbox has been played in.
It was an interesting time. Since BMW had the only modern V12 in existence which spurred on Mercedes-Benz to develop a V12 for the next S-Klasse, then the global recession hit.

But remember Mercedes did develop and test a V24 engine. As a counterpoint to VAG's 18 Cylinder W18 and BMW did reconfigure their V16 to show in a Rolls-Royce.

With today's batteries now achieving enough power as a V12
It's sad these feats of engineering are now being confined to history. Especially when Germany was known as the pinnacle of automotive engineering.

 

[SCOTT27]

Since we're necro-posting!

@Giannis

Ooh... Kyalami Orange on this M Roadster.
Interesting enough when sent over some Individual paint swatches for an X5M they have a new Orange metallic in this shade being developed for a future M Product. In the same way how the more citrus hue of São Paulo Yellow is coming to the new M4.