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BMW is today recognized as one of the leading manufacturers of
high-performance cars of all sizes. This therefore means they have a
wide spread of performance engines. Everything right up to a silky
smooth 5.5 litre V12. And don't forget, one of the most dominant
engines in the '80s Formula One turbo era was a 1.5 litre BMW-based
engine, which made up to 485kW...
Here they are:
BMW engine codes
M10 = 4 cylinder 1600-2000cc
M20 = 6 cylinder 2000-2700cc
M30 = 6 cylinder 2500-3500cc
M40 = 4 cylinder 1600-1800cc
M42 = 4 cylinder 1600-1800cc 16 valve
M43 = 4 cylinder 1600-2000cc
M44 = 4 cylinder 1600-2000cc 16 valve
M50 = 6 cylinder 2000-2800cc
M52 = 6 cylinder 2500-2800cc 16 valve (with VANOS)
M60 = V8 3000-4400cc
M70 = V12 5000-5400cc
M102 = 6 cylinder 745i turbo
S14 = 4 cylinder M3 16 valve
M88/3 = M1 street version and early M6 (207kW)
S38 = update of M88/3 used in M5 and M6
BMW V12s
The first BMW V12 came out in the late 1980s as standard fitment to
the 750iL limousine and, later on, the 850csi 2-door. These engines
were 4988cc in capacity and developed 220kW at 5200 rpm and 450Nm at
4100 rpm.
The current V12 displaces a total of 5.4 litres however. Its power
output is an easy 240kW at 5000 rpm and it produces 490Nm of torque at
3900rpm. A generous 400Nm is produced at just 1500rpm... It also has
enough grunt to power the big 750iL up to an electronically-governed
250 km/h top speed! Smoothness and quiet running are the main design
focuses of this engine, but it is remarkably flexible and very
reliable. It uses BMW's DME management system, cylinder-specific knock
control and also a fly-by wire throttle system. The basic design of
the engine is so good, even the McLaren F1 has its engine loosely
based on it. That engine received twin-cam multi-valve heads and a 6
litre capacity to help it make its listed 468kW...
BMW V8s
The BMW M60 V8 was released in 1992. The original engine is
available in two versions, a 3 litre and the more recent 4 litre. The
3 litre V8 develops 160kW at 5800 rpm and 288Nm at 4500 rpm. The 4
litre engine has substantially more grunt with 210kW at 5800 rpm and
400Nm at 3900 rpm. The four camshafts are chain-driven and operate 32
valves. The engine uses a 10:1 comp ratio and its intake manifold
(which flows very well) is made of plastic.
Since 1997, the BMW V8s sweep 3.5 and 4.4 litres thanks to a larger
bore and longer stroke. They share a compression ratio of 10:1. Power
stayed the same as the 4.0 at 210kW at a slightly lower rpm of 5700,
but torque lifted slightly to 420Nm, still at 3900 rpm. The 3.5 (a la
current 535i and 735i and iL) makes 180kW at 5800 and 345Nm at 3800
revs. The 4.4 litre 540i/740i engine pushes a V12 equivalent 210kW at
5400rpm and 440Nm of torque at 3600rpm. Four valve technology,
cylinder-specific knock control and a direct fire DME engine
management system is also used in both engines.
BMW Sixes
The 3.0si saloon was the first BMW to contain an injected
hi-performance six. From 1971 to late 1976 the 3 litre D-Jetronic
injected single cam engine made 149kW at 5500 rpm. However, in late
1976 until the demise of the 3.0Si in 1977, it moved to a Bosch
L-Jetronic system and power fell to 146kW. The 3.0CSi also sported
this 2985cc six in its 149kW L-Jetronic form from 1972-1973.
A stroked version of the 3 litre engine was found in the 3153cc
3.0CSL of 1973-1975. With its D-Jetronic injection and increased
torque it made 154kW at 5600 revs.
The successor to this was the 3.3Li with its 3210cc L-Jetronic SOHC
making 146kW at 5500 rpm. All of these engines featured an alloy head
mounted on an iron block. The 633CSi and 733i's 3210cc engine was
based on the same block as the 3.0. With a larger stroke, the 3.3 made
a maximum of 149kW at 5500 rpm using L-Jetronic. USA models scored
Motronic injection.
The familiar 2985cc continued in the '76-'79 630CSi. However, at
this time it only sported a carb and made a fairly mild 138kW at 5800
rpm. At the same time, there was the injected 2.8 litre engine from
the 528i/628CSi. From 1977 until July 1979, it produced 131kW at 5600
rpm, but this later increased to 137kW at 5800 rpm. Both engines used
Bosch L-Jetronic.
The best six cylinder BMW had in the late '70s was the
1977-released 323i engine - the M20. Sweeping 2315cc, the K-Jetronic
injected engine pushed out a total of 107kW at a fairly high 6000 rpm.
Smaller capacity versions of this engine were available but these
aren't really high-performance.
In 1983 the E30 3 series was released carrying the same 2315cc
engine as in the 323i. Its power and torque figures remained the same
too. But it wasn't long before a larger engine - a 2494cc - was
dropped into an E30 (namely the 325i). With 125kW at 5800 rpm and
222Nm at 4300, it gave the car excellent flexibility. Alongside this
was the 2.5 litre eta engine which was released to create the 325e.
Again, this was developed more as an economy engine and it made only
90kW at 4000 rpm and 230Nm at 3200.
In the late '70s a large capacity 3453cc engine was designed for
the 635CSi and 735i. Retaining L-Jetronic, it made 163kW at 5200 rpm
with strong torque. Rarer on the ground though was a turbocharged
version of the 3210cc engine, which was fitted to the so-called 745i.
With 7.0:1 CR, L-Jetronic and an intercooled KKK turbocharger, it made
188kW at 5200 rpm but with impressive low-down torque.
But the gun BMW of the late '70s was found in the 260 km/h M1
2-door from '79-'80. Designed as BMW's first real Motorsport engine,
it made an astounding 207kW at 6500 rpm. Its construction was based on
the 3453cc engine from the 635CSi/735i but it was endowed with
Kugelfischer/Bosch injection with six throttle-bodies, dry sump, 9.0:1
CR and, most importantly, a 24 valve double overhead cam head.
Released to compliment the M1, the 4-door M535i came with the 3.5
litre engine from the larger 6 and 7 series cars. Making the same
163kW at 5200 rpm, it was also a swift 224 km/h performer similar to
the M1. These engines, like all the previous BMW sixes, also retained
chain driven cam.
In the late 1980s, the eta engine was introduced, primarily
designed as an economical and quiet engine. With a belt driven cam,
2693cc capacity and L-Jetronic/DME (Digital Motor Electronics)
management it made just 90kW at 4250 rpm and 230Nm at 3250. The E34
model 5-series from 1988 came with a choice of the M50 2.5 litre six,
M30 3.5 or the S38 3.5, which was only found in the M5. The E36 model
M3 also got a 3 litre six that made 210kW.
The current sixes are available in 2.5 and 2.8 litre capacities.
The 2.5 (from the 523i/323i) isn't the most potent engine making 125kW
at 5500 rpm, but its larger bore cousin increases torque output
considerably. A total of 142kW can be found at the flywheel of the
528i/328i at the same 5500 rpm. Both engines feature cylinder specific
knock control, direct ignition, DME injection, double VANOS (variable
inlet and exhaust cam control) and 4-valves per cylinder. The latest
M3 and M Roadster engine displaces 3.2 litres and spurts out an
impressive 236kW at 7400rpm and 350Nm at 3250rpm. It uses a very high
11.3:1 compression ratio and high tuning specs to reach this very
impressive figure.
The latest M3 and M Roadster engine displaces 3.2 litres and spurts
out an impressive 236kW at 7400rpm and 350Nm at 3250rpm. It uses a
very high 11.3:1 compression ratio and high tuning specs to reach this
very impressive figure.
BMW Fours
In 1969, BMW's first injected hi-po engine was released. The single
overhead cam 2 litre sported a mechanical Kugelfischer injection
system and produced 97kW at 5800 rpm. From its release in 1969, it
continued to come as fitment to the 2002tii until 1972. This same
basic engine design was also carried through to cars such as the
mid-'70s 520i, but with a more modern K-Jetronic injection system -
power did not increase though. The next big leap forward was in 1973
with the introduction of the 2002 turbo engine. Essentially the same
design as the 2002i's engine, it got a 6.9:1 CR and delivered 127kW at
5800 rpm.
During the early and late 1980s, BMW didn’t offer any real
high-performance 4 cylinders as they were focusing on meting new
emission regulations and reducing the fuel consumption of their
engines.
The current range of Bee-Em four cylinders comprises 1.6, 1.8 and
1.9 litre capacities.
Power for the 2 valve per cylinder 1.6 is 75kW, while the 1.8 lifts
the total to more appreciable 85kW at 5500 rpm. The best in this line
up though is the 4 valve 318ti/318is's 1.9 with its 103kW at 6000rpm
and 180Nm at 4300rpm.
All feature cylinder specific knock control, DME management and
direct fire ignition and also an individual-control intake manifold,
which isn't seen on anything other than the fours.
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