BMW M60

BMW Alpina engine
BMW Alpina engine
Layout
Configuration	90° V8
Displacement	4.0 L (3,981 cc); 4.6 L (4,619 cc)
Cylinder bore	89 mm (3.50 in); 93 mm (3.66 in);
Piston stroke	80 mm (3.15 in); 85 mm (3.35 in)
Valvetrain	DOHC 32 valve
Combustion
Fuel system	Normally aspirated
Fuel type	Petrol
Chronology
Predecessor	None

BMW M60 engine
BMW M60 engine
	Alpina version of the M60 engine
Overview
Production	1992–1996
Layout
Configuration	90° V8
Displacement	3.0 L (2,997 cc); 4.0 L (3,982 cc)
Cylinder bore	84 mm (3.31 in); 89 mm (3.50 in)
Piston stroke	67.6 mm (2.66 in); 80 mm (3.15 in)
Cylinder block material	Aluminum
Cylinder head material	Aluminum
Valvetrain	DOHC
Valvetrain drive system	Chain
Combustion
Fuel type	Petrol
Chronology
Predecessor	BMW OHV V8
Successor	BMW M62

The BMW M60 is a naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine which was produced from 1992 to 1996. It was BMW's first V8 engine in over 25 years.

The M60 was replaced by the BMW M62 engine.

Development

During the 1970s, BMW produced a prototype V8 engine for the E23 7 Series, however this engine did not reach production.^[1]

Development of the M60 began in 1984.^[2]

Design

The M60 engine has double overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder.^[3] The camshaft is driven by a dual-row timing chain^[4] with a self-adjusting tensioner. Valves had hydraulic lash adjustment to reduce maintenance. The ignition and fuel injection systems are controlled by the Bosch Motronic 3.3 system, and the ignition system is a coil-on-plug design with knock sensors.^[5]^[6]

To reduce weight, the engine uses aluminum for both the engine block and cylinder head, magnesium valve covers^[7] and a plastic intake manifold.^[2] The M60 was BMW's first car engine to use a "split conrod" design,^[2] where sintered connecting rods are made as a single piece and then fractured in order to ensure increased rigidity and an exact fit.^[4] The dry weight of the engine is between 175 kg (386 lb) and 203 kg (448 lb).^[2]^[7]

Versions

Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque	Years
M60B30	2,997 cc (182.9 cu in)	160 kW (218 PS; 215 bhp) at 5800 rpm	290 N⋅m (214 lb⋅ft) at 4500 rpm	1992-1996
M60B40	3,982 cc (243.0 cu in)	210 kW (286 PS; 282 bhp) at 5800 rpm	400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) at 4500 rpm	1992-1996

M60B30

The M60B30 has a bore of 84 mm (3.31 in) and a stroke of 67.6 mm (2.66 in),^[2] for a displacement of 2,997 cc (182.9 cu in). Compression ratio is 10.5:1, giving an output of 160 kW (215 bhp) at 5800 rpm and 290 N⋅m (214 lb⋅ft) at 4500 rpm.^[8]

Applications:

1992–1995 E34 530i
1992–1994 E32 730i
1994–1996 E38 730i

M60B40

The M60B40 has a bore of 89 mm (3.50 in) and a stroke of 80 mm (3.15 in),^[4] for a total displacement of 3,982 cc (243.0 cu in). Compression ratio is 10.0:1,^[4] giving 210 kW (282 bhp) at 5800 rpm and 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) at 4500 rpm.^[9] It had a forged crankshaft.

Applications:

1993–1995 E34 540i
1992–1994 E32 740i
1994–1996 E38 740i
1992–1996 E31 840i
1993–1998 De Tomaso Guarà

Alpina versions

Alpina produced a high compression (10.8:1) version of the M60B40 for the BMW Alpina B10 4.0 (based on the E34 5 Series) and the B11 4.0 (based on the E32 7 Series)^[10] and in some B8 4.0 models (based on the E36 3 Series) produced for the Japanese market.^[11] The M60 engine produced 234 kW (314 bhp) in the B10 4.0.^[12]

The engine's displacement was later enlarged to 4,619 cc (281.9 cu in) for use in the B8 4.6 and B10 4.6.^[13]^[11] The power output is 253 kW (339 bhp) in the B10 4.6 and 248 kW (333 bhp) in the B8 4.6.^[12]^[11]

Nikasil damage from high-sulfur fuels

The M60 uses Nikasil- an alloy containing aluminium, nickel and silicon alloy- to line the cylinders bores. In fuels with high sulfur content (such as used fuels sold at the time in the United States, United Kingdom and South America), the sulfur damages the Nikasil bore lining, causing the engine to lose compression.^[14] In the U.S. and U.K., sulfur rich fuel is being phased out.^[15]^[16]

BMW replaced engines under warranty and Nikasil was eventually replaced by Alusil.^[14]

Nikasil engines are unlikely to be a problem today, as cars with affected engines are off the road or have received replacement engines.^[17]

References

^ "The Lost BMW V8 and V12 Engines From the 1970s". www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "BMW M60 engine". www.usautoparts.net. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013.
^ "M60 engine specs" (PDF). www.e38.org. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "SBT 4.0 Liter V8 Engine – M60" (PDF). Retrieved 16 June 2017.
^ "BMW M60B40 Engine". www.mywikimotors.com. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
^ "BMW M60 and M62 V8 Engines". www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
^ ^a ^b "BMW M60 and M62 engines". www.drive-my.com. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
^ "Engine specifications for M60 engines". www.bmwheaven.com. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
^ "M60 V8 engine". www.bavtech.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014.
^ "E34 B10 4.0". www.alpina-archive.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c "E36 B8 4.6". www.alpina-archive.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
^ ^a ^b "ALPINA Automobiles based on BMW 5 Series E34". www.alpina-automobiles.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
^ "E34 B10 4.6". www.alpina-archive.com. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
^ ^a ^b "BMW World – Nikasil". www.usautoparts.net. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.
^ "Tier 2 Vehicle & Gasoline Sulfur Program". www.epa.gov. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010.
^ "No fuel like a low-sulphur fuel". www.telegraph.co.uk. 11 November 2000. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
^ "The BMW V8 Nikasil myth". www.meeknet.co.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2010.