BMW M62B46 engine

M62B46 is a gasoline power unit, which provides a working volume of 4.6 liters. The motors maximum power is about 347 horsepower. It was developed and produced specifically for installation on BMW X5 cars.

M62B46 engine specifications

Advantages

The characteristics of the M62B46 immediately appealed to fans of the Bavarian company as soon as the world saw the BMW X5 E53, which quickly gained a reputation as a sporty SUV characterized by dynamism. But the power of the standard 4.4-liter M62B44 engine was not enough for fans of fast driving. Therefore, it was decided to modernize it.

In order to make the car go much faster, Alperina made a lot of effort. They took the cylinder block from the standard M62B44 engine and added one millimeter to the cylinder diameter. Also, the standard crankshaft with a piston stroke of 82.7 millimeters was replaced with a new version that provides 85 millimeters. Mahle pistons were used, with the previous connecting rods. The result was the M62B46 power unit.

In addition, the cylinder head gasket, camshafts for the intake and exhaust valves, as well as the oil pan and valve cover were also replaced. The camshafts on the powertrain received phases of 249, and a lift of 10.5. Valve diameters have not been changed: inlet valves are 30.5, and exhaust valves are 35 millimeters.

Bosch DME M7.2 was used as the electronic control unit. This power unit can be found under the hood of BMW X5 E53 cars. The motor was successful, but just two years after the start of production it was replaced by the N62B48, as it was technically obsolete.

Disadvantages

M62B44 motors are characterized by an increased noise level during operation. Owners of cars that have passed more than 150 thousand kilometers may encounter such troubles. The reason for this is a stretched timing chain. Less often, such problems can be caused by the chain bypass bar, tensioner bar or the unit itself, and also the Vanos system can fail. The life of these parts is about the same, so you should check their condition when a malfunction is detected.

This motor is not without leaks. The valve cover gasket often fails, resulting in leaks. In this case, the part will have to be replaced and the problem will go away. Also, there may be sweat in the area of the coolant bath. The coolant bath itself, the gaskets on the pump and the intake manifold will have to be replaced.

Owners of M62B44 engines may also encounter the problem of uneven operation of the power unit. As a rule, the cause of this malfunction is air inflow in the area of the intake manifold. Can also fail the crankcase ventilation valve, broken mass air flow sensor, or throttle position sensor. Not infrequently to this leads and clogging of the throttle flaps. The only good thing is that you can order spare parts for M62B46 from Japan, as they are inexpensive.

Among other things, after 250,000 miles, the engine begins to consume more lubricant. This problem can be eliminated by replacing the oil caps. The engine cushions also rarely pass more than 200 thousand kilometers. The generator is also characterized by a low resource.

It is essential to use only quality oil for the engine, it is best to choose the oil recommended by the manufacturer. It is not worth saving money on it. Regular maintenance, competent care, and the use of quality spare parts from Japan will prolong the normal operation of the engine, and provide a good operational life.

Technical specifications

BMW M62B46 engine provides 4619 cubic centimeters of working volume. This was achieved thanks to the fact that the cylinders are 93 millimeters in diameter and the piston stroke is 85 millimeters. In addition to this displacement, these characteristics provided a maximum compression ratio of 10.5 to one.

The maximum torque of the powertrain is reached at 3.7 thousand rpm, and is 480 Nm. Peak performance is observed at 5,700 rpm and equals 347 horsepower.

For normal operation it is necessary to use high-octane gasoline of good quality. In this case, the fuel consumption per hundred kilometers traveled averages about 15 liters.

The M62B46 V8 engine layout provides four valves per cylinder. This results in the need for four camshafts, two for each cylinder head.

Tuning

Add a meaner camshaft, like the 258s. You’ll also have to install a sport exhaust system and do some program tuning. The result is about 370 horsepower. It is pointless to do simple chip-tuning.

To increase the output of the powertrain, you can try installing a compressor with sport shafts. The choice in favor of the compressor will allow you to provide a power of more than 400 horses. On the car market there is a huge number of kits for such modifications, but their cost is relatively large, so you will have to lay out a normal amount. We will have to buy such a kit and install a Bosch 044 pump. Set the pressure at 0.5 bar and the result is 400+ horsepower. It is expensive to build a version with a turbo, it is easier to change the motor or the car.

This engine is installed on the following models:

BMW X5 (E53)