But while BMW’s TT’s ARE torquey, they don’t seem to have the outputs they should considering the superiority of not only German engineering but BMW engine design. 400 nm from a twin turbo 6 (albeit delivered on a torque curve flat enough to serve a banquet on) is mediocre at best, GM’s 3.6 naturally aspirated V6 gets 370 nm and locally Fords’ 4.0 does 390 (without direct injection). Audi squeezed 450nm from their 2.5 I5 turbo.

600 nm from the TT 4.4 I think is a far better extraction on BMW’s behalf.

While it is a considerable of torque, Benz’s slightly older 5.5 V8 has a considerable 530 nm and 280 kw, the even older 5.4 Supercharged was tuned for between high 700′s and 830 nm, then you have the epic V12TT with between 900-1000 (electronically limited) newtons. The new 250CDi 2.1TT diesel is also delivers an epic 500 nm and the 320CDi is also due for a retune soon apparently and will see an increase on it’s 510 nm.

I dunno, I loves my torque. Its easier than wringing engines to the redline and works out more economical in that sense as well.

I suppose it really is one of the points that polarise BMW and Mercedes, and why it is interesting that these features are point of interest.

Wheelnut – you should have skipped A and B classes and gone straight for the R class, thats one car that just shouldn’t have seen the light of day. Plus, the B class really isn’t that bad. Sure its got a bit of an awkward nose and CL inspired shoulders, but its certainly more proportioned than the A class.

Sure 5-10 year old Mercs look pretty average but go back one more model and the Mercs are stunning classic cars, much better than comparative BMW’s. Everyone gets their era and at the moment, the E92 is the only decent looking car BMW has (new 7 series is growing on me). 1 series is design garbage, new Z4 is dismally wide, flat and awkward, 6 series seems to have down syndrome and the worst of all the bangle-butts. And the 5 series has eyelashes like Amy Winehouse. Whereas Mercedes have the handsome C class, gorgeous flowing CLK, sculpted CL and powerful SL. S, E and SLK don’t really do if for me.

Nuff said.

WHeelnut, I never said all mercs are good looking, but they are better looking than bmw’s for sure! BMW’s age indeed. The current model is already aged out of the factory. Just look at the interior and the dash, sitting in there feels like you’re bck in the 80s haha.

In terms of Design Mercs don’t age as gracefully as most BMWs [look at equivalent model cars from 5-10 years ago]

So why Dan did you buy one of his creations………who do you think designed the E46 ? BMW dont make white goods ,sorry! Bangle started in 1992 for BMW……….

Hopefully they won’t be sharing any design clues, although BMW could really use some from merc. My position on this hasn’t changed, and it still makes sense. If merc helps bmw in the looks department, then that’s good. If the other way arund, bad. Either way, BMW needs to do something about it, it’s ugly at the moment.

I know, hence here’s hoping they will ‘un-bangle’ all new models that’ll come out in the future, or they won’t see a cent from me. Having said that, merc could actually help BMW and make them actually look good again.

More specifically, BMW’s: 3L I6 TT (petrol & diesel, yummy), 4L V8, 4L V8 TT, 5L V10 and Merc’s: 6.2L V8, 6L V12 TT (Thank you Merc for your viciously oversized engines =D)

I’d hate to see either of these companies lose any of these engines to the op.

I think BMWs new twin turboed engines have plenty of torque Devil……… So I think Merc would have no problem with them . Sure you wouldnt either