ETK K-Series

although, again on the SL comparison, the SL and K series have quite similar dimensions, (for example, the SL's wheelbase is 2.585m, and the K series measures at 2.5886m)

 

I would guess that size of engine bay is what counts, if it fits, it must be done.

 

Exactly. A V8. Not a V12. AMG C-Series coupè also has a V8, and so did the Audi RS5 at some point.

- Engines are shared, up to the point all files for them are stored in the common.zip archive.
- Underside and the whole suspensive system are pretty much identical.
- Size-wise, the K-Series is more or less as wide as the 800-Series, and a good deal shorter. Even if the K-Series isn't actually based on 800-Series underpinnings, it's still way too small to be even remotely comparable to a Mercedes Benz SL.
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Dimensions, maybe, but not demographics.

A range constituted of turbocharged I4, NA I6 and V12 engines, with nothing inbetween, would be borderline absurd.

 

I would guess that SL would be close to GM in length? I have no idea about these moderns.


Battery will have no room, all the intake stuff etc might be bit tight fit, but if one really wants, I guess it could fit, but it has to be 60 degrees?

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SL V12 engine seems to weight 302.41kg according to this:
https://forums.hybridz.org/topic/59086-enginetrans-weights-definitive/?do=findComment&comment=878670

Same place (post above linked one) places M3 i6 to somewhere around 184kg.

Of course different bits attached etc. can bring some inaccuracy to that, but weight aspect should be considered as well as space in engine bay.

It could bring some interesting choices to table as heavy lump ruins handling more, while turbo lump is generally more annoying to drive, even it would be faster etc. So in that sense I can see point of V12, even if it would not fit to segment and all that.

 

SL is relatively compact, at least in terms of length, but it's commercially a couple of segments above a BMW 3/4-Series Coupè.

 

We don’t know that the K-Series is a 4 series. Also, an SL with a 4cyl isn’t impossible for the next-gen model.

 

Yes, sure. Next gen model will definitely have high-performance 4cyl engines, as confirmed by Mercedes Benz.

It will also drop the V12...

 

That aspect is interesting one as I would guess K-series was designed before 4 series was launched, but K-series has bit too many details matching to 4 series for it being a coincidence. Maybe developers did got inspiration from prototype or something?

I do hope that v12 exhaust in files was just not some experiment by developers that was forgotten to be deleted. Way to have quality V12 audio would be nice for ETKi, but also ETKc could benefit from useless luxury performance mobile, I mean lots of weight increase over front axle, would make that thing even more spinning fest than what it currently is. But also exclusivity would be bumped quite a bit with V12.

 

I remember one of Beam's staff remarking on the theoretical top speed of a BMW M760Li, wonder why...

Would be nice to have a larger German car with front double-wishbones, and we know that engines stats and their meshes can be shared.

While I would prefer 1:1 mechanical realism, let's not forget that the modern ETKs can be had from the factory with a NA 6-Cylinder despite all the eco-concerns of this decade's real life car market.

If the engine fits, and bearing in mind the fantastical element of Beam's universe, a low production or Alpina-esque V12 K may be possible. (Let's be honest, Hirochis are a bit minimalist, too compactly functional (well-engineered) and too forward thinking for a real life Japanese manufacturer burdened by consumer demands for, well, more. Look how huge the late 00's-onward Imprezas and Lancers are compared with the Sunburst.)

Have to say that with all the mentions of the 4-Series, the F22/23 2-Series seems to have been forgotten.

That said, it's an over-simplification to narrow down the mechanical basis of the ETK K as it has unique traits from a variety of models.

- The K's powertrain is similar to the older N-engine, F-Generation 2/3/4-Series but with the 2er's longer axle ratio despite having the same wheels and tires of the ETK 800, which are similar to a 3/4-Series.

- IRL, comparing automatic N55 variants of the 2er and 3/4, the 2er has 3.077 against the 3/4's 3.154 ratio, likely to help compensate for F22/23 models having smaller diameter tires. Despite the longer ratio, the M235i still cruises 70 mph at nearly 2000 RPM, which is 5-10% higher than an equivalent 3/435i.

- In Beam though, the 800 uses a 3.23 while the K uses a 3.07 which, combined with the same size tires, makes the K a lower-RPM cruiser. (Personally, I've modded in all the actual engine power curves and axle/gear ratios into Beam. Pessimas were a hassle. Also did a tire to axle ratio compensation factor for the K and some others so that the rpm-per-ground speed of the real car is retained. Only need to do up the transmission losses.)

- To possibly give the K a unique flavour in Beam over a 2-Series, even base models have a somewhat wide-track width suspension layout. Seeing that it's as wide if not wider than the 800, it can be interpreted that the K is meant to have a sportier chassis (say, F87 M2-inspired) compared to the more pedestrian, narrow-width F20/21/22/23. Mass is similar to a F22.

- Packaging wise, the K has 2 seats with a huge boot and a lot of storage space where, IRL, BMW would have put back seats. The roof profile and small sized rear side windows remind me of what a theoretical fixed hardtop version of a Mercedes SLK/SLC would be like, hence the large space where the folding mechanism and safety bars would have been. The K's storage space could hence be used by an enterprising modeller to make a convertible version.

Funnily enough, based on the existence of the new mainstream FWD 2-er Gran Coupe and possible trickle down from the new Supra and Z4 (combination of wide width and short wheelbase), the future RWD 2-Series coupe could end up being even more sporty than the F22 and hence, even more similar to the K.

 

My Ex Bmw 328i touring E36 had no room for battery as well in the engine bay, and so it was located in the trunk

 

The current SL is just a bit larger than the K series with more width in the rear and a longer hood. I'd say it would be in-between the SLC and SL.
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The SL already dropped the V12, and the 4-cyl won't cut it in North America. The SL needs at least a turbo V6 to feel like a proper grand tourer, and with a V8, it's just wild.

 

If I may make a point regarding the battery; most BMW vehicles and mercedeas vechiles have battery's in the boot(trunk) one for electrics and one to fire up the engine iirc.
So in theory I believe the battery would indeed fit, in the trunk ..

 

That is kinda small car for the size of engine indeed.

There are several cars that came battery at trunk or some other place than engine bay from factory and battery relocation mods are quite popular.

 

While we're on the topic of updates for the K-Series, I hope this car gets an official hardtop convertible version someday. Seeing a power folding roof in action would be pretty interesting in this game...

 

What about the CL? That might be the same size, and it came with a v12

 

The CL was based on shortened S-Class platform. As a result, it's much larger than the K-Series.

It was usually offered with the same engine options as the sedan, so, sure, V12s were available, but also nothing smaller than V8s.

 

The CL is huge, it's the size of the current S-class coupe.

 

So after that post on the 800, I took a look at the K.

For a relatively short and light 4-Cylinder car that uses front McStruts (which implicates certain real world inspirations and the category of car), I feel that there is too much front overhang here as well.

The distance from the forward most tip of the tire to the forward most tip of the front bumper is almost big enough to fit another tire.
(That's the case with a larger, grander, 2-seater which doesn't seem mechanically related to the K at the moment.)

The overhang might be related to the odd gap between the front wheels and the bumper.

The wheels don't quite rest in the middle of the wheel arch and one can see all the way through the car at that gap.

(There's also a rather large gap between the engine and radiator)

 

What do you mean? Pretty much all modern cars use Macpherson struts for the front suspension.

This is probably because the car has a 6 cylinder variant aswell. You'll find that gap disappears when you choose the bigger engine.

 

That's a generalisation that would not apply in the junior exec class that the ETKs take mechanical inspiration from.

At the top of my head, only the Alpha platform ATS/CT5 and 3er come to mind when thinking of McStruts and RWD sedans of that class.

The K-Series uses a similar McStrut design to the 800, which, along with its size, mass, and presence of a 4 banger base model, implies that it's generally closer to the Zupra4/2er/SLC category than that of a 6er/8er/SL.

With exceptions such as Camaros, Mustangs, smaller M-cars, and 2-door Porsche models, many modern high power cars feature upper control arms at the front.

And no, the gap is still very noticeable with the 6 banger.