http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...ent/#more-3618

Posted on Sunday 30 September 2007


Unlikely bedmates BMW and the PSA Peugeot Citroen Group are breaking up - or at least asking each other for some space. The two companies had joined forces in recent years to produce a range of 1.4L to 1.6L motors, powering BMW’s second-generation MINI and cars from Peugeot and Citroen. The venture was originally intended to help the auto makers to improve engine technology in the fiercely competitive compact car segment, while saving money by sharing development costs.

BMW development executive Klaus Draeger recently told a German industry publication that cooperation with PSA was effectively ended. This news comes despite plans in late 2006 to evaluate the expansion of joint engine development efforts. Despite the success of the motors spawned by the joint venture, the engines were quite expensive to produce according to PSA boss Christian Streiff.
This summer, Mercedes proposed a closer working relationship with BMW, especially with engine technology. BMW hasn’t agreed to the partnership, however, and with the PSA deal now out of the picture, it looks like BMW will be developing the lion’s share of future engines on its own.

 

whew.... r56 barely made it. I love my engine!

 

I hope that maintaining these new orphan engines does not become an issue.

 

^ No worries... I would imagine they will be producing these engines for another 7 years at least - same lifespan as the 02 - 06.

 

that was a close one, cause the new MCS is such a nice, high quality/technology engine.

 

I agree, especially since I had a bad injector w/ just 2K on the clock a couple monthes ago

 

I would think the contrary would be true. Since they are not working together to develop new motors, the existing motors are more likely to have a longer production life. Or so it seems to me.

 

this is my take on it, longer service life.. I would imagine that the next mini will just have a evolution of this motor. PSA will still use these motors, but next gen development will not be with BMW.

 

And who knows, as long as the engine remains useful and competitive, they will likely use it for a long time. Either way, predicting the future is largely useless.

 

Maybe they'll start building the engines in China like most everything else.

 

I just talked to Ethan who works on the plant line that puts the engines in our Minis. He says that they only have a few engines left and they may have to shut down the assembly line. Damn.... and I have a production number. Oh well....

 

I think this is akin to shouting FIRE! in a movie theater.

I think we need more than heresay before everyone panics!

 

I should have thrown in a few 's

 

This does not bode well if the reason is indeed that the engines were too expensive to produce. Plan on a lacking engine in future revs.

Too bad BMW could not make a deal with Subaru to cram a whole STi driveline in, at least as an option.

 

Seven years isn't very long...my BMW was 14 years old when I got the MINI.

 

I think I ended up with a bullet proof gem.

 

Um, we may be worrying unnecessarily. I found this article in another NAM thread:

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/01/b...e-development/

It pertains to DIESEL engines. Doesn't say GAS engines in this article.

 

The sky is falling!! Development will continue I am sure by both parties.

 

Did you mean to say hearsay or herecy!?!?

 

If BMW has ownership of the proprietary technology, they could continue building these engines on their own. Unfortunately, I'm afraid their ultimate goal is to cut production costs by sourcing out more of a "global" engine. How about the BMW 300hp twin-turbo 6 for the next engine?

 

I am too afraid of the wheel spins.

 

LoL! either would be apply well!

 

and just the "normal" 2.8 for the cooper!

 

Note it was the PSA boss that said the engines were too expensive. BMW may feel they are economical for what they are and continue with them for many generations.

 

Seriously... this is more disinformation coming from the same online rag that suggested the Mercedes/BMW engine was a done-deal last year, BMW was buying Volvo, or any of the other BS rumors that have come and gone over the last few years.

I'm guessing more bogus info at best. Worst case, it's nothing that will effect BMW/MINI over the next 5-6 years of R56/55 production. We might see somthing else under the bonnet in 2012 (as we probably would-have anyway... so a non-issue).