The S63B44 engine has a rich history. It first rolled off the assembly line back in 2009, but it is still in production today. What can explain such a long period of production?
The fact is that this power unit combines several features that made it so popular.
We are talking about:
- Low weight. The weight has been reduced thanks to the aluminum alloy of
the cylinder block. - High strength. This is due to the properties of the same alloy, which has performed well
in tests and proven reliable operation. - Excellent efficiency. The S63B44 is equipped with an
injector, which has improved the fuel delivery system and made it possible to achieve
high driving dynamics. - Durability. With proper and regular maintenance, this motor will run
reliably for many years.
S63B44 engine specifications
Power, hp. | 555 – 575 |
Fuel type | Gasoline AI-95 AI-98 |
Volume, cm*3 | 4395 |
Maximum torque, N*m (kg*m) at rpm. | 680 (69) / 5650; 750 (77) / 5000 |
Fuel consumption, l/100 km | 11.1 – 16.8 |
Engine type | V-twin, 8-cylinder. |
Additional information about the engine | Digital engine management system, Double VANOS timing control system |
CO2 emission, g/km | 258 |
Cylinder diameter, mm | 89 |
Number of valves per cylinder | 4 |
Maximum power, hp (kW) at rpm. | 555 (408) / 6000; 575 (423) / 6500 |
Blower | Twin turbocharging |
Start-stop system | yes |
Compression ratio | 9.3 – 10 |
Piston stroke, mm | 88.3 |
Advantages
The S63B44 has a peak torque of 680 Nm, which is not bad. As a rule, engines with similar technical characteristics are very demanding to the quality of
fuel and can give factory parameters only with fuel with high octane number. Of course, if you value good dynamics and at the same time care about your “iron
horse”, it is recommended to use AI-98 gasoline.
With this type of fuel S63B44 shows simply excellent results, giving a head start to other models from the same Motorsport GmbH. But an important advantage of this motor is that it
works perfectly well on AI-95. This allows:
- reduce fuel consumption;
- use lubricants in the medium price segment;
- save on maintenance.
The low octane rating reduces the dynamics of a car with the S63B44 installed. But this can be compensated for by installing a turbo or a number of add-ons. As a result, you get a
rather sharp car, which perfectly holds the road, gives a good afterburner and at the same time moderately consumes fuel.
Regular diagnostics, preventive maintenance, cleaning and oil change will help to avoid difficulties with the engine S63B44, and this already indicates its other feature – reliability. That is why this unit has been produced for 10 years and does not lose its relevance. Here it is also worth paying attention to the presence of a stepless lift system Valvetronic III, as well as a significant revision of Double-VANOS. This also made it possible to improve the performance of the powertrain. One more advantage should be noted. The S63B44 motor is quite common not only abroad, but also in Russia. If you encounter a problem and need a new cylinder head, crankshaft or other spare parts, they can be purchased without much trouble and at an adequate price. This indicator is considered crucial for BMW enthusiasts who are wary of high operating costs.
Disadvantages
Unfortunately, 70-80% of all owners face problems with S63B44, and many have a negative attitude to this unit, but the reason may lie in the elementary lack of
timely maintenance. But this engine has characteristic shortcomings that need to be highlighted.
These are:
- Water hammer. In most cases it is observed when the vehicle is idle for a long time.
The problem is solved by installing the latest revision injectors. - Ignition skipping. The cause lies in the plugs, and if you replace them with M-type devices, you
can avoid such difficulties. - The same oil consumption. This problem is partially solved by replacing rings and
overhauling the engine, but you should be prepared that even such measures will not
significantly reduce the consumption of lubricants.
Technical specifications
The S63B44 engine is considered to be very powerful. Of course, it has both advantages and disadvantages, and this will be discussed further. However, you can not deny one obvious factor – it has 560 “horses” (412 kW), which makes it surprisingly sharp.
To explain the good dynamics can also be explained by the fact that the S63B44 is an eight-cylinder motor with a total volume of 4395 cubic centimeters. It has 32 valves, and the compression ratio is 10 to 1.
An important indicator is the power index. It is 127 hp per 1 liter of volume. All the above characteristics show that the V-engine BMW S63B44 has outstanding parameters. It is intended for Bavarian cars of the following models:
- 5 series – F10 and F16;
- 6 Series – F06 Gran Coupe, F12 convertible and F13 coupe.
Here, it’s important to highlight the goals of the engineers at Motorsport GmbH. Asked the question “How can we build a cooling system without increasing the weight of the
engine?”, they looked at 2010 and 2011 models, including:
- X5M E70;
- X6M E71;
- Wiesmann GT MF5.
Other models, such as the 550i in the F10 and 650i in the F13 version, also contributed. As a result, the engine S63B44 has been equipped with water cooling, which ensures that
the power unit remains intact even under heavy loads, preventing peak temperatures from occurring.
On the question of sustainability
It should not be forgotten that the S63B44 engine meets the EURO 5 standard. Despite the fact that not every motorist in Russia cares about the environment, many appreciate this power unit for this quality.
Compliance with the EURO 5 standard has one more important plus, which is worth mentioning, namely – moderate fuel consumption. When driving within the city limits, the S63B44 consumes 14 liters, and on the highway – about 8 liters. Unfortunately, it does not do without pitfalls.
Do you want to avoid breakdowns of the power unit? You have to pour oil all the time, and S63B44 consumes it in large quantities – 1000 g per 1000 km. Many people are frightened by this figure, considering that the standard consumption in the city and without acceleration is about 60-80 g. Nevertheless, this is a distinctive feature of S63B44.
When choosing oil, you should give preference to 5W-40 and 5W-30. To prevent serious malfunctions, it is recommended to change it after every 7-10 kilometers of travel.
Increasing power to 600 horsepower.
Boosting the S63B44 engine is not only possible, but even recommended in some cases. It helps to make the car sharp, increasing acceleration. As a last resort, you can resort to chip tuning. Together, these methods help to raise the engine power from 560 hp to 600 hp, which is considered excellent.
There is a risk of wear and tear, and it is quite large. Any modification that differs from the factory one entails a number of difficulties. There are known cases when the forced motor S63B44 came into disrepair due to excessive heating. If you decide to increase power, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the engine and prepare for regular replacement of piezo injectors, oil caps and other parts.
What we have in the end
The S63B44 engine is a great example of what a V-8 should be. Of course, there are more powerful power units, which at the same time consume less oil.
But together with S63B44, such models as M5, M6, X5M and X6M serve their owners well with dynamics and durability.
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