A 24-valve M20

[gath]

Interesting read on the elusive 24 valve m20 head.

“A 24-valve M20
230 HP 3-series
And soon it could be all yours.”

http://myndasafn.bmwkraftur.is/d/55691-1/callaway.pdf

[gath]

This makes two the people who attempted the 24 valve m20, Callaway and Racing Dynamics, I wonder if it was the same design. Interestingly Callaway had it in a m20, test drove it with very impressive #s, they were ready to market it and go into full production .

[gtdragon980]

Wow, really makes you wonder why this project was never completed...It would be amazing to have a 24V m20 making that kind of power. That is way ahead of it's time.

[doucy2]

very cool writeup

[gath]

When I read the article I was surprised too. I know in this time and age engine developments has grown by leaps and bounds but I would really like to know if there is anyway Callway Cars can give more insight on these project. I know a lot of people say "just get a m5x", but these quest is just to see at which level this development got to.

[ScHpAnKy]

Awesome read, such an awesome writing style.

Wow, really makes you wonder why this project was never completed...It would be amazing to have a 24V m20 making that kind of power. That is way ahead of it's time.

haha, that's because the M50NV is a 24v M20

[Alex Mc]

My father consulted on this project before it was binned in anticipation of the M50. There's something very cool about these, just like the AC Schnitzer 16V M10 heads.

[FredK]

That's pretty amazing that they made a prototype so far back but were unable to bring it to market. If the guy drove a prototype in 1984, then it predated the release of the M50 by around what, 5 years?

[bimma360]

That's pretty amazing that they made a prototype so far back but were unable to bring it to market. If the guy drove a prototype in 1984, then it predated the release of the M50 by around what, 5 years?

You know it's interesting that prior to that point BMW themselves only made one DOHC motor, and that was the big six M88 (as far as I know). Hell the S38 wasn't even produced until what, '86?

Seeing what BMW was achieving with the M88 with 3.5L and what the Quadros project was doing with only 2.3L, I wonder if BMW simply bought the technology from Callaway. Not saying that BMW couldn't do it themselves (of course they could). But maybe a Quadros purchase was a sound, cost effective move toward the later m50 motor. Maybe even a PR move. I wonder if it would have been a big deal for dohc m20 e30's to be on the roads a good 4 or 5 years before BMW came out with their m50 in the then new 3 series.

Hell, you m5x guys might just be running around in finalized and toned down versions of the Quadros m20. You never know.

[jeffnhiscars]

You know it's interesting that prior to that point BMW themselves only made one DOHC motor, and that was the big six M88 (as far as I know). Hell the S38 wasn't even produced until what, '86?

Seeing what BMW was achieving with the M88 with 3.5L and what the Quadros project was doing with only 2.3L, I wonder if BMW simply bought the technology from Callaway. Not saying that BMW couldn't do it themselves (of course they could). But maybe a Quadros purchase was a sound, cost effective move toward the later m50 motor. Maybe even a PR move. I wonder if it would have been a big deal for dohc m20 e30's to be on the roads a good 4 or 5 years before BMW came out with their m50 in the then new 3 series.

Hell, you m5x guys might just be running around in finalized and toned down versions of the Quadros m20. You never know.

This makes a lot of sense. As I was reading the article I was thinking the same thing as everyone else..."a drop in head for M5x performance...PayPal ready". As cool as I am to the idea of replacing a perfectly good low mileage M20 engine, Im a little less cool today after reading this.

[Alex Mc]

BMW had been building high-performance 4-valve heads for years; there's no reason to think that they acquired this technology from an American tuner.

The cam drive is quite different as well. Somewhere I have pictures of this head, I need to find them.

[gtdragon980]

I know an m50 is basically a DOHC m20, but the power figures they were making out of a little 2.3l is what really impresses me. I would rather spend swap money on that head to throw on an m20 rather than going the m50 route. But that's just me! Hell, they were making 2jz-ge power in the 80's!

Edit: or was it the 90's when they were developing it?

[slammin.e28]

24v M20 is just more valves to slam into pistons when that belt brakes.

That is all.

Still, pretty neato stuff.

;)

[redsubdivisions]

24v M20 is just more valves to slam into pistons when that belt brakes.

That is all.

Still, pretty neato stuff.

;)

Before I opened this thread, I thought you would make some type of reference to an M30 or how terrible the M20 is. Looks like I was almost correct. lol

[slammin.e28]

Before I opened this thread, I thought you would make some type of reference to an M30 or how terrible the M20 is. Looks like I was almost correct. lol

:D

He he he!

But sill, M20 24v would be pretty badass. I love M12/13s.