If you are a really deeply rooted BMW fan, there is a sold chance that you know the name Andreas Bovensiepen. He is the top dog in Alpina, a BMW tuning shop, which recently became part of the BMW mother ship. But before the control of Alpina, Bovensiepen worked time for BMW as an engineer. In an interview with YouTube Channel Motomantv Podcast, he told some interesting stories from one of the most sought -after modern BMWs ever: the BMW Z8.
Z8 development: more m than expected
Bovensiepen gives a unique perspective on the Z8 development process. He says that the car was more of a BMW AG project than a BMW M project that seems confusing for those who know that the car is essentially an E39 M5 under the sheet. It all started with the aluminum world space frame, he said what was new for BMW, but quite expensive. In any case, BMW M. could expect that the Z8 started life with a 4.4 liter V8 to achieve only 286 horsepower. We have to imagine that he is talking about the M62B44, which was far from the modified M62 -Alpina. Or of course the 4.9-liter S62-V8 engine with which the BMW Z8 was sent. “But then it became clear that it needed more horsepower,” he continues, so “they put the Motor M5, E39, the 400 -HP engine.”
Bovensiepen further explains that the accountants were apparently not interested in the costs of the introduction of E39 M5 running equipment. But he claimed that the costs saved in F & e would more than cover the difference. BMW’s concerns have expanded to the possibility of replacing customer gears. “An M5 customer has much higher than a Z8 customer,” says Bovensiepen. But essentially: If the configuration works in a mass -produced model like the M5, it will certainly take a special series with a low volume with a high dollar.
How the Z8 got through – and what it cost
As we have already reported, the E52 Z8 story begins largely with an abandoned 5 -series convertible project. Bovensiepen tells a mostly similar story, whereby the Fisker-Penned Retro Z8 concept is mostly in the right place at the right time. For the development of the costs? Bovensiepen for a fixed dollar amount. “The partial costs were pretty high,” he says, “but the development costs and the tool costs were quite low.” He says that this is “more or less the secret to realize this project”. Bovensiepen ends with the BMW Bean Counters endlessly fought with one of the largest supporters of the Z8, Wolfgang Reitzle. But even after countless fights, “so everyone was so happy to have this cool project,” says Bovensiepen. We know that we are on this list.
Source: Motomantv Podcast
