BMW S62
BMW S62 Engine (S62B50)
BMW S62 engine specs
| Manufacturer | Dingolfing Plant |
| Also called | BMW S62 |
| Production | 1998-2003 |
| Cylinder block alloy | Aluminum |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Valvetrain | DOHC 4 valves per cylinder |
| Piston stroke, mm (inch) | 89 (3.50) |
| Cylinder bore, mm (inch) | 94 (3.70) |
| Compression ratio | 11.0 |
| Displacement | 4941 cc (301.5 cu in) |
| Power output | 294 kW (400 HP) at 6,600 rpm |
| Torque output | 500 Nm (369 lb·ft) at 3,800 rpm |
| Redline | 7,000 |
| HP per liter | 81 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline |
| Weight, kg (lbs) | 158 (348) |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (mpg) -City -Highway -Combined |
for E39 M5 21.1 (11) 9.8 (24) 13.9 (17) |
| Turbocharger | Naturally aspirated |
| Oil consumption , L/1000 km (qt. per miles) |
up to 1.5 (1 qt. per 500 miles) |
| Recommended engine oil | 10W-60 |
| Engine oil capacity, L (qt.) | 6.5 (6.9) |
| Oil change interval, km (miles) | 5,000-10,000 (3,000-6,000) |
| Normal engine operating temperature, °C (F) | ~100 (195) |
| Engine lifespan, km (miles) -Official information -Real |
– 250,000+ (150,000) |
| Tuning, HP -Max HP -No life span loss |
500+ – |
| The engine is installed in | BMW M5 E39 BMW Z8 |
BMW S62 engine reliability, problems and repair
BMW E39 M5 released in 1998 and increased markedly in size. S38B38 was not enough for high achievement. Let alone the motor had already outmoded. It was decided to use V8 engine. Such M-engine based on M62B44, from usual BMWs 540i E39 and seriously modified it. This engine called S62B50.
Modernized the block of cylinders for S62. Increased diameter of cylinders to 94 mm, installed the forged crankshaft with a piston stroke of 89 mm, rod length is 141.5 mm, pistons modified their compression ratio is 11.
There are heads of the cylinders block in S62B50 on the top of 3-layers cylinder head gaskets. In S62 increased intake and exhaust ports, used new valve springs and lighter valves. Diameter of inlet valves is 35 mm, exhaust 30.5 mm. Camshafts on M5 E39 have the following specs: duration 252/248 deg, lift 10.3/10.2 mm. Instead of variable valve timing system VANOS, on S62 used Double-VANOS (intake and exhaust camshafts). The M5 E39 engine is equipped with hydraulic lifters and valves needn’t adjustment. Camshafts are set in motion by double-row timing chain.
All intake system is completely updated. Used the big intake manifold and also individual throttle bodies. The diameter of each throttle body is 48 mm. The size of the fuel injectors – 257 cc/min. The exhaust system modified with catalytic converters. BMW S62 firing order: 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2.
The engine control unit is Siemens MS S52.
All this allowed to get nearly 5 liter capacity from ordinary 4.4 liter motor and to increase power to 400 horsepower at 6,600 rpm.
The BMW S62 installed on M5 E39 and on Z8 roadster.
Release of this motor stopped in 2003, together with production of E39 M5. But in 2 years there was new BMW M5 E60, with even more powerful S85B50.
BMW S62B50 engine problems and malfunctions
The main disadvantages of BMW M5 E39 are the same as at M62B44. Learn about them more in details HERE. Differences consist in smaller engine lifespan of S62B50 because of too big diameter of cylinder (maybe problem blown head gasket) and active operation of the vehicle.
Besides the E39 M5 has a high consumption of engine oil. Don’t save on it and change more often than it is necessary (optimal 3,000 miles of mileage or 5,000 km). Watch out also for the condition of cooling system and use the best gasoline, then S62 will satisfy you for many years.
BMW S62 engine tuning
S62 N/A Build
It is possible to lift the power of BMW M5 E39 in naturally aspirated variant without problems. You simply have to buy performance exhaust system, headers 4-2-1, carbon airbox.
After that ECU need to adjust under new performance parts. It give about 430 horsepower.
Improve it by buying aggressive camshafts (272/272 deg, lift 11.3/11.3 mm) making head porting and installing the valves increased to 1 mm. Adjusting ECU, S62 power will increase to 480+ horsepower.
Also you may buy individual throttle bodies (52 mm), high compression pistons (CR=12.5) and the most aggressive camshafts. It give more than 500 horsepower and you get completely race engine.
S62 Supercharger
Or you can buy supercharger kit and get a lot of power. There are plenty of BMW E39 M5 supercharger kits installed on stock internals. The most popular is ESS VT1, with the maximum boost 6 psi (0.4 bar). It increases power to 560 HP and 625 Nm. You can find even more productive solutions (10 psi / 0.7 bar), but they are more expensive.
Building BMW S62 Turbo or twin turbo is not good idea too, walls are very thin between cylinders at the motor.
