3 Series (F30) [Official] The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo.

[Sunny]

I'm very intrigued by the boomerang vent and its role in the whole air curtain design. The air curtain is designed to create a high pressure flow of air across the front wheels (always a considerable source of aero drag) thus improving laminar flow in this area by venting it from the slits in the front bumper. All very good and rational so far.

Clearly, the boomerang vent has little to do with the air curtain as defined in BMW's public domain product information as it's positioned in the wake of the air curtain flow. It may certainly serve a purpose - perhaps as a means to cleaning up dirty air flow inside the wheel arch - but I'm willing to bet that aerodynamic efficiency without the vents will drop negligibly.

I'll be interested to see whether this feature appears on the new 2er, facelifted 5er and whatever else because it certainly seems unrequired on a regular F30.

AFAIK, the purpose of vents behind/top of wheel fenders is usually to relieve the high pressure that builds up inside the wheel wells.



I remember reading in some magazine, they had to close the vents on the TVR Sagaris cause it would spit out pebbles damaging the body and it had some serious vents.

Now, are the ones on 3GT functional or do they even make a significant enough difference is a totally different issue.

ps. I miss TVR.

 

[Cashmere]

F35 3er GT Cd*A = 0.28*2.31



Here you go:

Where is KA when you need him? He needs to see this brake-cooling-air-curtain-duct-thingy-majiggy.

 

[Deckhook]

I wonder how BMW have fixed the issue of dirt smearing the sides of the car from these vents because of the spray coming off the tyres or is it a case of the wheel is set in enough to not effect this?

 

[Human]

Never mind man I am almost at the point where I think the F34 grille is (by itself) the best one in the BMW line-up right now Shame about the rest of the car...

Yeah! do you remember how pleased we were when we saw this? The purpose of the excrcise is clear now

 

[martinbo]

There was a very interesting pic of the inlet to the boomerang vent on the previous page of this thread. I see how it works now - the vent is there to clean up the dirty air from the from the trailing edge of the front wheel. Cool.

 

[Giannis]

There was a very interesting pic of the inlet to the boomerang vent on the previous page of this thread. I see how it works now - the vent is there to clean up the dirty air from the from the trailing edge of the front wheel. Cool.

Also, under some certain circumstances, the air comming out of the fender inlet, can create negative pressure around the area just before the inlet, thus dragging the air current out of the wheel arch.

It's clever and can work miracles in theory.

 

[Human]

There was a very interesting pic of the inlet to the boomerang vent on the previous page of this thread. I see how it works now - the vent is there to clean up the dirty air from the from the trailing edge of the front wheel. Cool.

I also read your excellent post about the issue. Boet I suppose you had a sleepless night fighting the tech around the vent, hey!?

 

[klier]

Now, are the ones on 3GT functional or do they even make a significant enough difference is a totally different issue.

Thank God they are. Makes them a little less stupid now don't they

 

[Deckhook]

I missed that picture of the vent opening in the wheel arch, still none the wiser as to whether dirty water will cover the side of the car. I'm sure that BMW have already sorted this but I'd love it explained.

 

[Hofmeister]

The vent is a nice feature, enhanced efficiency, etc., etc., but why did they have to have that tacky boomerang thing around it?! The opening itself is quite small and could have been very discreetly integrated, but no, they had to have a boomerang around it to "enhance" the looks I sincerely hope this surround won't be on higher-end models that will have this like the X5, 5 Series LCI (?), it looks childish enough as it is on a 3-Series.

 

[Human]

The vent is a nice feature, enhanced efficiency, etc., etc., but why did they have to have that tacky boomerang thing around it?! The opening itself is quite small and could have been very discreetly integrated, but no, they had to have a boomerang around it to "enhance" the looks I sincerely hope this surround won't be on higher-end models that will have this like the X5, 5 Series LCI (?), it looks childish enough as it is on a 3-Series.

Emphasizing the technology. IT's LIKE SHOUTING ON A PUBLIC FORUM, overkill

 

[Padi]

Hmm, bit to late for the party, but I love it! Haven't digested it entirely yet though

 

[SCOTT27]

Also, under some certain circumstances, the air comming out of the fender inlet, can create negative pressure around the area just before the inlet, thus dragging the air current out of the wheel arch.

It's clever and can work miracles in theory.

A new feature progressing EfficientDynamics . Expect this on many BMW models in the near future.

 

[marley71]

I've got a photoshop request. Admins, please delete this post if I'm out of order for this.

Can someone nuance this beautiful vent that BMW has bestowed on us into something that perhaps follows the curvature of the wheelarch. The current vent just looks out of place, I'm wondering if it could be better integrated. I did a terrible job with MSpaint, and I'm embarrased to even show it.

It's a beautiful car, in many respects, just a few details here and there that make it kind of odd. Also, I'm assuming it's going to get Xdrive, right?

 

[SCOTT27]

I've got a photoshop request. Admins, please delete this post if I'm out of order for this.

Can someone nuance this beautiful vent that BMW has bestowed on us into something that perhaps follows the curvature of the wheelarch. The current vent just looks out of place, I'm wondering if it could be better integrated. I did a terrible job with MSpaint, and I'm embarrased to even show it.

It's a beautiful car, in many respects, just a few details here and there that make it kind of odd. Also, I'm assuming it's going to get Xdrive, right?

Yes, the 3er Gran Turismo will be available with optional xDrive.

 

[Deckhook]

Yes, the 3er Gran Turismo will be available with optional xDrive.

Will this include the UK market?

 

[EnI]

The air breather is functional (incl the boomerang shape ... it's there intentionally since form follows function)... therefore it can't be positioned anywhere. But exactly on a place where bad winds within wheel arch can be released most aerodynamically. Many aerodynamic calculations & tests were done ... with air-breather in different micro-locations, and obviously the location as seen is the best one.

I can only guess the air breather was added later on ... when the exterior design was already finished, and therefore the boomerang doesn't fit the lines perfectly. But on other cars (4er, X5 etc) it fits better to the lines & overall design.

 

[SCOTT27]

Will this include the UK market?

I am not familiar with the UK market but do they sell xDrive cars in the UK?

 

[SCOTT27]

The air breather is functional (incl the boomerang shape ... it's there intentionally since form follows function)... therefore it can't be positioned anywhere. But exactly on a place where bad winds within wheel arch can be released most aerodynamically. Many aerodynamic calculations & tests were done ... with air-breather in different micro-locations, and obviously the location as seen is the best one.

I can only guess the air breather was added later on ... when the exterior design was already finished, and therefore the boomerang doesn't fit the lines perfectly. But on other cars (4er, X5 etc) it fits better to the lines & overall design.

What you cannot see in the pictures is how the wheel arches expand outwards which adds a more three dimensional look around the air breather it's right on the wheel arch as the curve expands outwards , the trim surround makes it look flat but when you see the car up close you can actually see how it sits on the arch at the front wing.

 

[as7920]

I am not familiar with the UK market but do they sell xDrive cars in the UK?

120xd 5dr manual and 320xi/330xd are now available in the UK.

Shame there is no M135xi (yet?)

Why no 330d GT?