| BMW M60 engine | |
| Production: | 1992–1996 |
| Predecessor: | BMW OHV V8 |
| Successor: | BMW M62 |
| Block: | Aluminum |
| Head: | Aluminum |
| Configuration: | 90° V8 |
| Displacement: | 2997cc 3982cc |
| Bore: | 842NaN2 892NaN2 |
| Stroke: | 67.62NaN2 802NaN2 |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC |
| Timing: | Chain |
| Fueltype: | Petrol |
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.
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]
The M60 engine has double overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder.[3] The camshaft is driven by a dual-row timing chain 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.[4] [5]
To reduce weight, the engine uses aluminum for both the engine block and cylinder head, magnesium valve covers[6] and a plastic intake manifold. The M60 was BMW's first car engine to use a "split conrod" design, where sintered connecting rods are made as a single piece and then fractured in order to ensure increased rigidity and an exact fit.[7] The dry weight of the engine is between 1750NaN0 and 2030NaN0.[6]
| Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29971NaN1 | 1600NaN0 at 5800 rpm | 2900NaN0 at 4500 rpm | 1992-1996 | |
| 39821NaN1 | 2100NaN0 at 5800 rpm | 4000NaN0 at 4500 rpm |
The M60B30 has a bore of 842NaN2 and a stroke of 67.62NaN2, for a displacement of 29971NaN1. Compression ratio is 10.5:1, giving an output of 1600NaN0 at 5800 rpm and 2900NaN0 at 4500 rpm.[8]
Applications:
The M60B40 has a bore of 892NaN2 and a stroke of 802NaN2, for a total displacement of 39821NaN1. Compression ratio is 10.0:1, giving 2100NaN0 at 5800 rpm and 4000NaN0 at 4500 rpm.[9] It had a forged crankshaft.
Applications:
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 2340NaN0 in the B10 4.0.[12]
| BMW Alpina engine | |
| Configuration: | 90° V8 |
| Valvetrain: | DOHC 32 valve |
| Displacement: | 3981cc 4619cc |
| Bore: | 89mm 93mm |
| Stroke: | 80mm 85mm |
| Fuelsystem: | Normally aspirated |
| Fueltype: | Petrol |
| Predecessor: | None |
The engine's displacement was later enlarged to 46191NaN1 for use in the B8 4.6 and B10 4.6.[13] [11] The power output is 2530NaN0 in the B10 4.6 and 2480NaN0 in the B8 4.6.[12] [11]
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. In the U.S. and U.K., sulfur rich fuel is being phased out.[14] [15]
BMW replaced engines under warranty and Nikasil was eventually replaced by Alusil.[16]
Nikasil engines are unlikely to be a problem today, as cars with affected engines are off the road or have received replacement engines.[17]