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Jun 11, 2024
You know how it’s incredibly difficult to make pizza taste bad?
Well, pretty much the same goes for V8 engines – you really have to try hard to make them sound bad. Just like how nearly impossible it is to make an inline-six unbalanced. But the eargasmic rumble isn’t their only benefit. The V8s are also a perfect compromise between relatively compact packaging, durability, and high performance potential.
That is also why there have been so many BMW V8 engine models over the years. And in this article, we’re going to take a look at the history of their development as well as where the Bavarians are currently at with this layout.
Coming up:
Spoiler alert to the last question: yes, it is, but you’ll have to read on to find out yourself!
If you know anything about cars (and you probably do), you are aware that naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines differ in how they breathe air. The former rely solely on atmospheric pressure to draw air into the combustion chamber – simply put, it is only the downward movement of the engine pistons that sucks the air in.
The latter engines equipped with a turbo are sometimes also called forced induction engines. Coincidentally, this other name explains the premise of how they operate. Instead of just being sucked in at the atmospheric pressure, the air is actually compressed and forced into the cylinders by the turbocharger.
But what are the exact differences between the two designs though?
| Operation characteristic | Naturally aspirated (NA) | Turbocharged |
| Power output | Less air translates to less power & torque | More air allows it to produce more power & torque |
| Throttle response | Linear throttle response, power & torque at higher RPM | Power & torque available at lower RPM, has turbo lag |
| Complexity and cost | Simple design, cheaper to maintain | More expensive to maintain, requires additional components |
| Heat management | Does not generate additional heat, has simpler cooling | Requires more efficient cooling systems |
| Fuel efficiency | Less efficient at lower power outputs | More efficient at lower outputs, more thirsty when driven hard |
The above table is only to compare the two designs as directly as possible. However, we aren’t saying that one is better than the other since it mostly depends on the application. Was simplicity and reliability of utmost importance? Or did the designers prioritize a high ratio of horsepower to weight?
One additional thing to note is that naturally aspirated engines aren’t easy to tune, while turbocharged ones take to it pretty well. This is connected to the fact that not a lot of parameters can be modified within the ECU of a NA engine.
All that being said – what do you prefer? I, for one, just love the linear characteristic of naturally aspirated engines. And the fact that you have to rev ‘em if you want to drive ‘em hard.
Let us know in the comments which type of engine induction is your favorite!
For the sake of chronology, we’ll go from the oldest to the newest BMW V8 engines.
It shouldn’t be that difficult to categorize them, since all historical BMW eight-cylinder powerplants were naturally aspirated and all of them are no longer in use. This basically means that all modern V8s produced by the Bavarians are turbocharged.
Isn’t that quite a list? Don’t worry, the following BMW V8s engines had a much narrower range of applications.
Whereas the M60 was the sole V8 powerplant for the BMW E34 and BMW E32, the BMW E38 and BMW E31 came equipped with it only until 1996, when its production ended. After that, its successor took the M60’s place…
Production of the M62 ended in 2005.
And it was in production until 2010.
Though the S65 won multiple Engine of the Year awards for its outstanding performance and engineering excellence, it wasn’t the most reliable powerplant. Due to a faulty oiling design, it was prone to crankshaft bearing failures.
And now onto the forced induction era, let’s take a look at the three current-production BMW V8 engines. Especially since two of them might soon be on their way out… but that’s a story for another time.
It’s currently still in production and installed in the 50i BMW models.
Apart from the regular M cars mentioned above, the Bavarians used the BMW S63 in all special variants. Like the limited-production 2021 BMW M5 CS (with the highest factory output of 627 hp) or the range-topping Competition models. If you would like to learn more about this particular engine, we have a BMW S63 tuning case study and guide on our blog, where we also delve deeper into its history and technical details.
At the time of writing this article, the upcoming BMW M5 (G60) and M5 Touring (G61) will soon also join the list of vehicles powered by this engine.
The oldest BMW OHV V8 engines I described earlier were mechanically simple and, by modern standards, relatively robust. However, they required diligent maintenance. Their most common issues included oil leaks and overheating, problems often rooted in the material quality and manufacturing techniques of the era.
Despite that, when well-maintained, these engines could be quite reliable. The same cannot be said for some of the following BMW V8 engine designs – that’s where their hit-and-miss reliability reputation comes from.
But let’s focus and try to answer the question of…
…Well, at least dependability-wise.
Fast-forwarding 25 years to the introduction of the BMW M60 in the early 1990s. While it marked a significant technical advancement, it also proved quite problematic for the Bavarians and their reputation, at least when it came to the V8 reliability.
You see, the early BMW M60 engines faced issues with the Nikasil (nickel-silicon carbide) cylinder lining, which reacted poorly to high sulfur content in gasoline. This, in turn, could lead to premature wear. Once this problem was addressed by switching to Alusil (aluminum-silicon) liners, the reliability of the M60 improved significantly.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the introduction of the M62 and N62 engines.
BMW M62, an evolution of the M60, was slightly more reliable but still had its quirks, such as timing chain guide failures and valley pan gasket leaks. On the other hand, the N62 introduced Valvetronic technology but was plagued by issues like valve stem seal failures and oil leaks. These problems were often expensive to repair – which also affected the perceived reliability of these engines.
With the advent of the N63 in 2008 and the introduction of turbocharging to their V8 lineup, BMW initially faced significant reliability issues, including high-pressure fuel pump failures, oil consumption problems, and issues with the hot-vee turbocharger layout causing excessive heat. Despite BMW addressing many of these problems in subsequent updates, the early N63 engines earned a reputation for being problematic.
In more recent years, BMW has made substantial improvements to its main production V8 engines. The N63TU (Technical Update) and later the N63TU2 versions saw enhancements in cooling, fuel delivery, and overall durability.
The introduction of the S63, the high-performance variant used in M models, also was a notable success. While not without issues, the BMW S63 has generally been regarded as a very reliable and powerful engine. Despite the complexity, it has proven to be reliable in the long run, especially in the later versions where many initial issues were resolved.
As to the most recent BMW S68, that engine is still too young to determine how reliable it is.
I hope the historically-technical part wasn’t too boring for you, but since you’re reading this – thanks for being patient! Now, getting to the more exciting part: the BMW V8 engine tuning. As I mentioned before, tuning the NA engines is rather difficult, so I’m going to focus on the turbocharged ones.
So how do you go about tuning your BMW V8 and what can you get out of it?
The following can result in approximately 25% more power and torque, up to 24% lower operating temperatures, as well as around 17% better fuel economy. Mind you, we cannot guarantee that your performance improvements will be the same.
Although we prepare all our tunes with the same diligence, there are some variables we will never be able to control. This includes things like ambient air temperature and humidity, the condition of your vehicle, fuel quality, type of the engine oil used, and more.
For example: based on our internal testing for the BMW S63 engine tuning case study, we’ve measured slightly different figures. After installing the Awaken Performance ECU tune in our BMW M6 (F06) testbed, we noticed:
Below you’ll find the dyno chart from our testing session.
Curious to see how different S63-powered models fared after being awakened? Then head on to our Awaken Performance BMW Engine Tuning website for more dyno results! Once you’re there, don’t miss your chance to see what we could extract out of your car – simply enter your VIN and click the “Check your gains!” button in the portfolio section.
I keep on mentioning the Awaken Performance, but what exactly is it? As you probably guessed, it’s an ECU remapping service by BimmerTech, only we differ significantly from your regular BMW tuners.
By making our engine tuning a completely remote process, we provide you with a convenient service that you can have performed right on your driveway. The best part is you don’t even need to know anything about the engine tuning – our Remote Tuning Specialist will take care of everything for you.
Well, almost everything: you’ll just have to connect your PC to your car. But that’s it!
The list of items you’ll need to get started is also very short:
The process begins by scheduling a remote coding session with one of our Remote Tuning Specialists. Right after the purchase, detailed instructions will be sent to you on how to install the software and prepare your laptop.
What will the Awaken Performance BMW Engine Tuning process itself look like?
IMPORTANT: logging your car after the tuning session is necessary. Without the engine logs, we cannot take responsibility for the ECU tune.
It’s also important that you ensure your BMW is in good working condition with no engine warning lights before deciding to tune it. Regular maintenance, such as timely oil, filter, and spark plug changes, is crucial. If your car has undergone any previous modifications, inform our technician beforehand.
After tuning, it’s important that you use high-quality motor oils and high-grade fuel (93–94 octane in the US or 98–100 octane in Europe). If premium gas is unavailable in your region or hard to come by, we also offer 91-octane tunes – let us know about that before placing your order.
Please note that while BMW engine tuning is safe and beneficial, it will void your car’s drivetrain warranty (if it is still active) when discovered by your dealership. Additionally, should your mechanic update your ECU software, the remap will be deleted.
If your car is well-maintained and no longer covered by the drivetrain warranty, BMW V8 engine tuning is something worth considering. While your car is probably already plenty powerful (heck, it has a V8!), it’s also very thirsty – tuning the ECU will lower the fuel consumption by a lot.
With the 24% MPG improvement, premium gas at $3.88 per gallon on average, and the average yearly mileage of 15,200 miles, we’re looking at annual savings of up to $540! And our tune costs only $599, so you should get even in less than a year and a half.
Now that’s an investment, if you ask me – and a much easier way to justify such a purchase to your significant other ;)
Over the years, plenty of BMW models came equipped with the V8 engine. When it comes to current production cars, you’ll find the BMW N63, S63, and S68 V8s in the range-topping versions of Bavarian cars. For example: BMW 7 Series (G70), BMW 8 Series (G14/G15/G16/F91/F92/F93), BMW X5 (G05), BMW X6 (G06), BMW X7 (G07), and BMW XM (G09).
While older BMW V8 engines were plagued by some reliability issues, their modern designs seem to hold up pretty well in that regard. The BMW S63 seems to be the least problematic of them, followed by the updated variants of the N63.
The BMW V8 ECU tuning might be worth it if you have a factory-turbocharged engine and your car is no longer covered by the drivetrain warranty. You shouldn’t be considering tuning your vehicle if it’s not well-maintained.
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Over the years, plenty of BMW models came equipped with the V8 engine. When it comes to current production cars, you’ll find the BMW N63, S63, and S68 V8s in the range-topping versions of Bavarian cars. For example: BMW 7 Series (G70), BMW 8 Series (G14/G15/G16/F91/F92/F93), BMW X5 (G05), BMW X6 (G06), BMW X7 (G07), and BMW XM (G09).
While older BMW V8 engines were plagued by some reliability issues, their modern designs seem to hold up pretty well in that regard. The BMW S63 seems to be the least problematic of them, followed by the updated variants of the N63.
The BMW V8 ECU tuning might be worth it if you have a factory-turbocharged engine and your car is no longer covered by the drivetrain warranty. You shouldn’t be considering tuning your vehicle if it’s not well-maintained.
Customer Reviews
Comments
Rate the product
This email is already registered.
Please Log In to continue.
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