Info Request: BMW M60 B40 Engine

[Rorty-corty]

Hello folks, could you fine people please give me the low down on the BMW M60 V8 engine? I'm mainly interested in the 4.0ltr version.

Any info regarding possible problems with them (other than the Nikasil issues) or benefits with them would be appreciated. Things to watch out for and parts prices, I have been told of an Alpina derived version for sale near a friend that has a rattly top end(s). I don't know the mileage but hes wasn't sure if it was timing chain rattle or valve gear rattle. Is there a more likely culprit between the two? Are they expensive to put right?

The car by the way has been written off with a heavy rear shunt bad enough to fold the car. The roof has also been cut off, I don't know wether or not this was to remove the occupant. I know that these Alpina cars are extremely rare so please don't go thinking this is an act of mindless vandalism/canabilism.

Thanks for any help,

Smiler.

[Jonsku]

Well well, this is an wide topic but i try to highlight some things;

-Main M60 / M62 (and S62) engine is strong and really civilized. Also cheap nowadays.
-The factory power figures are quite "pessimistic", so in truth all 540:s make over 300bhp. Alpinas more.
-Problems / things you should change / check are: oil pump bolts tend to loosen themselves, oil-pipe connections to left hand side engine mount will leak at some point (just change o-rings), "breather valve" will usually need replacing (both of them), intake manifold and valve cover gaskets won't last 20 years so they need usually replacing also.

Other than that, nothing special comes to mind.


And back to that Alpina. If it's E36 then it will fit E30 straight on, oilpump and -pan are far in the front and engine mounts are like in E30 so no problems should be with those.
Does the Alpina come with 6-speed gearbox? Those 6-speed boxes are quite valuable and can take lots of abuse also

The rattling noise comes usually from timing chain(s). There're total 3 different chains and tensioners, but the problem should be solved by replacing the tensioners. Here's a pic of the timing-chains:

[Rorty-corty]

Thanks very much for that, very informative. Sadly the car is an auto so the box (and more concerningly the flywheel) has to be sorted yet.

Was a pricey job sorting the timing chain tensioners?

Cheers.

[Jonsku]

Thanks very much for that, very informative. Sadly the car is an auto so the box (and more concerningly the flywheel) has to be sorted yet.

Was a pricey job sorting the timing chain tensioners?

Cheers.

The engine electrical loom needs also some fiddling when swapping from auto to manual.
5-speed box from 730 / 530 V8 is the easiest to come by. Then you need also flywheel, clutch, engine loom and knocking sensors (different connectors on 3 and 4 litre models).

All the part numbers, exploded-pictures and prices you can find at www.bmwfans.info Here in Finland all 3 tensioners cost around 300e.