BMW Partnership May Extend To Toyota SUV's

[Crocket]

Holy crap I hope this is not the case.........

Not sure how accurate this article is but it was something I read on Supraforums this morning.

BMW Partnership May Extend To Toyota SUV's

 

[Akkording]

I'll take the partnership straight 6 BMW motor over the 3.5L, that would lead to a possible turbo upgrade after factory warranty is expired. lane:

 

[Jernik]

Welp, there goes reliability and affordability. :moping:

 

[brtnstrns]

Not sure about BMW-branded, but I wouldn't be against an Inline 6 in principle. There's been tons of reliable, indestructible I-6's in the past.

 

[CO-Cygnus]

A non-turbo BMW I6... only available from Toyota... I can already hear the screaming over at Car and Driver.

 

[Jernik]

The NA I6's I've known were solid, dependable engines for low end torque / truck use. None were fast. People complain the current 4.0 is too slow and not powerful enough... the wailing from C&D would easily be drowned out by the wailing from this forum!

The only question is, who might wail loudest? Those who want speed if they hear it's an NA I6, or those who want bulletproof dependability if they hear it has a turbo on it?

 

[Ghostrider]

The Jeep I-6's were absolutely bullet proof until the very end where they apparently had some manufacturing issues. Plus they were very easy to work on - everything was right there and plenty of room.

 

[williamlv282]

I'm ok with this if the Toyota engineers sign off on it. They seem to know what they're doing.

 

[Jetboy]

I think this is unlikely. For a lot of reasons, but the primary one being production capacity. The Supra/Z4 are manufactured by a third party in Austria that I do not think has the realistic capacity to manufacture another 500,000 of these engines per year for the 4Runner/Tacoma/GX product line. Presumably the new unified platform means combined powertrain again with the Tacoma. BMW group's total sales of all vehicles is about 2 million per year. Toyota has far greater manufacturing capacity. Possibly they would license some engine designs and build them in house?

I also don't think it'll be a 6 cyl in the next 4runner if it's not the 3.5l. I think it's a lot more likely to be a turbo 4. All of the recent rumors have the next gen Tundra receiving the LS twin turbo 3.5L with a hybrid option. It seems far more likely to me that the next 4Runner will have a 2.4 turbo and possibly a hybrid option as the higher spec model.

I would not want anything to do with BMW engines. I like the specs, but they are not very reliable.

 

[butkusrules]

I think this is unlikely. For a lot of reasons, but the primary one being production capacity. The Supra/Z4 are manufactured by a third party in Austria that I do not think has the realistic capacity to manufacture another 500,000 of these engines per year for the 4Runner/Tacoma/GX product line. Presumably the new unified platform means combined powertrain again with the Tacoma. BMW group's total sales of all vehicles is about 2 million per year. Toyota has far greater manufacturing capacity. Possibly they would license some engine designs and build them in house?

I also don't think it'll be a 6 cyl in the next 4runner if it's not the 3.5l. I think it's a lot more likely to be a turbo 4. All of the recent rumors have the next gen Tundra receiving the LS twin turbo 3.5L with a hybrid option. It seems far more likely to me that the next 4Runner will have a 2.4 turbo and possibly a hybrid option as the higher spec model.

I would not want anything to do with BMW engines. I like the specs, but they are not very reliable.

The engines themselves are actually pretty reliable. Their electronics and peripheral plastic parts suck.
I had that straight 6 e46. It’s was almost diesel like rock solid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tcbaklash]

The only reason why the Supra has a BMW engine is because it’s similar to the Z4. BMW never puts another manufacturer’s engine in their car. They put their engines in other manufacturers’ cars but historically it’s always been luxury or performance vehicles like Land Rover or McLaren

 

[Jetboy]

The engines themselves are actually pretty reliable. Their electronics and peripheral plastic parts suck.
I had that straight 6 e46. It’s was almost diesel like rock solid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My co worker's 335xi made it to about 50k before the first rebuild. Second time it needed a top end... it was replaced with a Lexus. That's not uncommon. They're pretty notoriously unreliable.

BMW Engines Are Gigantic Pieces Of Shit

 

[Crocket]

I'm surprised most here seem to be debating the I6 vs V6 aspect when (in my opinion) the real problem is the fact the 4Runner will become (if this does happen) less of a Toyota and more of something else (ie. mutt). Brand identity is supremely important these days. So is manufacturer/owner pride. So is rock solid dependability. For me, those items are more important than a few extra hp (in a truck no less). There seems to be a paradigm shift happening over at Toyota these days, and cars like the Zupra and Yaris are no longer Toyotas. And it seems this is just the beginning. If this ideology spreads to other important makes like the 4Runner, Tacoma etc...., the Toyota we all know and love and rely on is no longer really the same Toyota. Why not just buy from those other brands instead and cut out the middle man? In my case, I'm seriously considering switching over to another brand for my next vehicle. One that doesn't have an identity crisis and puts a higher value on legacy, pride, in house innovation instead of the all mighty dollar.

This is my take on it anyway.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

In my case, I'm seriously considering switching over to another brand for my next vehicle. One that doesn't have an identity crisis and puts a higher value on legacy, pride, in house innovation instead of the all mighty dollar.

I feel the same way. Just not sure what brand meets those requirements.

 

[brtnstrns]

In my case, I'm seriously considering switching over to another brand for my next vehicle. One that doesn't have an identity crisis and puts a higher value on legacy, pride, in house innovation instead of the all mighty dollar.

Literally every automobile manufacturer does this in some form or fashion.

 

[Crocket]

Literally every automobile manufacturer does this in some form or fashion.

That's not really true. There are still many auto-manufacturers that are bucking the trend. Currently Hyundai does not. Honda does not. Mazda does not (they lend out their hardware, but don't import any as far as I know). Plus half a dozen others.

And for the ones that do share, they typically avoid doing it for their flagship models, which is what really has myself and the majority of the Supra guys upset.

I'm just surprised that Toyota, the biggest (1 or 2, whatever) and richest auto-manufacturer in the world is doing it in this manner.

P.S. I'm treating Hyundai and Kia as the same company. Honda and Acura the same etc.... My issue is in between competing brands. Like a Toyota and BMW, or Toyota and Subaru.

 

[5thToy]

That's not really true. There are still many auto-manufacturers that are bucking the trend. Currently Hyundai does not. Honda does not. Mazda does not (they lend out their hardware, but don't import any as far as I know). Plus half a dozen others.

And for the ones that do share, they typically avoid doing it for their flagship models, which is what really has myself and the majority of the Supra guys upset.

I'm just surprised that Toyota, the biggest (1 or 2, whatever) and richest auto-manufacturer in the world is doing it in this manner.

P.S. I'm treating Hyundai and Kia as the same company. Honda and Acura the same etc.... My issue is in between competing brands. Like a Toyota and BMW, or Toyota and Subaru.

Toyota has a long history of doing this with their "sports" cars. Yamaha motor in the old Supra, 84 is a Subie, and the new Supra is a BMW.

 

[KarrotJuice]

I'd rather take the chance on the I6 than to go with the drivetrain that's currently in the Tacoma. Owned a '16 Tacoma for a very short time and wouldn't have bought my '18 4Runner if it was the same drivetrain. Abysmal as far as I'm concerned.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

I would rather see no involvement with BMW. That would just make already expensive parts more so.
Although plenty of punch in the Sienna, the 3.5/transmission in the Tacoma and it's drive ability problems are real. And, we already have 2 low mileage 3.5 burnt exhaust valves here in Florida in some of my groups. By no means is that near enough cases to worry about, but it is a little concerning for our Taco friends.
I would take a true Toyota I-6 over the 3.5 in a heart beat. I believe Toyota already has a couple of those I-6 platforms with proven reliability bordering on bullet proof.
Hell I think Chrysler's old slant 6 could actually take a .223 hit and still get you to the beer store. Fords I-6 would go for 300k, some with a rattling #1 wrist pin the last 100k, so an I-6 has a lot of potential IMHO.
One positive coming out of all these rumors is it keeps resale value way up for all of us current 4Runner owners.

 

[Baystate4Runner]

Complete made up internet story for clicks - no one should take that seriously.
For all the people who do think Toyota is going to put a BMW engine in a 4Runner - I have a great bridge to sell you.