M6x
The BMW M6x range of engines are a line of V8 DOHC piston engines which were produced from 1992 to 2005. The first version, the M60, was the first V8 engine BMW had produced for 25 years. This was replaced by the M62. Together, the engines were used in various BMW models (E31, E32, E34, E38 & E39) and were also sold to other manufacturers to use in their cars.
The M60 was in development from as early as 1984. One of the the main aims of the development process was to reduce the size and weight of the engine, and CAD was used extensively to aid this.
As a Motorsport engine, the M62 was designated S62, and saw action in the E39 M5 and the roadster Z8.
If you want one of these beasts under your bonnet, learn more about the M6x engine swap.
Contents
Versions
All M6x engines consisted of aluminium cylinder blocks and cylinder heads and then plastic inlet manifolds. They were also DOHC with four valves per cylinder.
M60
The M60 engine was driven by a dual-row timing chain. Valves had hydraulic lash adjustment to reduce maintenance, and the camshaft chain drive was self-adjusting. There was no distributor, each cylinder having its own ignition coil. Fuel injection and ignition are controlled by the Bosch Motronic 3.3 system. There was a 3.0l and a 4.0l version of this engine. It's worth noting that these engines used the famous Nikasil cylinder bore linings.
| Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Redline | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M60B30 | 3.0 L (2,997 cc (183 in³)) | 160 kW (218 PS; 215 hp) @ 5800 | 290 N·m (214 lb·ft)) @ 4500 | 6500 | 1992 |
| M60B40 | 4.0 L (3,982 cc (243 in³)) | 210 kW (286 PS; 282 hp) @ 5800 | 400 N·m (295 lb·ft)) @ 4500 | 6500 | 1992 |
M62
Added to the BMW range in 1996, the M62 was largely the same as the M60 with just a few revisions. The timing chain was now a single-row timing chain, Alusil replaced the Nikasil cylinder liners, and in 1998 VANOS was added.
There was 4 different capacities of the M62 offered, two of which were later available with VANOS. The VANOS engines were given the designation of M62TU.
| Engine | Code | Displacement | Power | Torque | Redline | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M62B35 | 358S1 | 3,498 cc (213 in³) | 173 kW (232 hp) @ 5700 | 320 N·m (236 lb·ft) @ 3300 | 6200 | 1996 |
| M62TUB35 | 358S2 | 175 kW (235 hp) @ 5800 | 345 N·m (254 lb·ft) @ 3800 | 1998 | ||
| 180 kW (241 hp) @ 5800 | 345 N·m (254 lb·ft) @ 3800 | 1998 | ||||
| M62B44 | 448S1 | 4,398 cc (268 in³) | 210 kW (282 hp) @ 5700 | 420 N·m (310 lb·ft) @ 3900 | 6100 | 1996 |
| M62TUB44 | 448S2 | 210 kW (282 hp) @ 5400 | 440 N·m (325 lb·ft) @ 3600 | 1998 | ||
| M62B46 | 468S1 | 4,619 cc (282 in³) | 255 kW (342 hp) @ 5700 | 480 N·m (354 lb·ft) @ 3700 | 6500 | 2001 |
| S62B50 | 508S1 | 4,941 cc (302 in³) | 294 kW (394 hp) @ 6600 | 500 N·m (369 lb·ft) @ 3800 | 7000 | 1998 |
