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  • BMW M73 V12 Engine (1993-2002)

BMW M73 V12 engine

From 1993 to 2002

 BMW M73 V12 engine  From 1993 to 2002

The BMW M73 is a 60° V12 SOHC piston engine which replaced the M70 and was produced from 1993-2002.

The BMW M73 is a V12 petrol engine of the car manufacturer BMW and was introduced in 1994 as a successor to the M70 . This was used in the BMW 7 Series , BMW 8 Series and in the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph .

The engine block consists of an Alusil alloy, the cylinder heads with overhead camshafts made of aluminum . While most BMW engines were converted to four-valve technology at the time, the M73 remained at two valves per cylinder.

New was the vibration damper on the crankshaft, which now bearings from the eight-cylinder M60 were used. Furthermore, knock sensors were used. The springs on the valves had lower friction due to smaller spring constants. For environmental reasons, the exhaust valves were now without sodium filling.

From model year 1999, the 750i was the first to receive an electrically heated catalyst and from then on, while maintaining the same performance as the demanding American LEV and EU3 / D4 legislation.

The performance of the BMW V12 concept became clear when he helped in a six-liter capacity enlarged version in the closed McLaren BMW 1995 for the first major victory as the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in 1999 the overall victory BMW V12 LMR in the legendary 24 hour race. For racing, the engine power was throttled by Luftmengenbegrenzer to about 580 hp. Without this limit, the X5 Le Mans -Experimentalfahrzeug about 700 hp. 

In 2000 there was the M73 as a variant that could be operated with hydrogen,  in 750hL .The difference to the pure gasoline version are the hydrogen injection valves in the intake system and a special electronic mixture formation system. In hydrogen mode, the engine then makes 150 kW / 204 hp, which accelerated the 750hL in 9.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h and reached a top speed of 226 km / h. On the Nordschleife the 750hL 10 minute limit for a round undercut in operation with hydrogen rather significantly with 9 minutes and 53 seconds. Fifteen 750hL were manufactured in Dingolfing - BMW spoke of "small series" - served as shuttle vehicles at the EXPO 2000 and then completed within the "CleanEnergy World Tour 2001" 150,000 km, which showed the practicality.

Compared with its M70 predecessor, the M73 features increased displacement thanks to increased bore (85mm up from 84mm) and stroke (79mm up from 75mm), and an updated roller-rocker valve-train.While most other engines in the BMW range had switched to DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder, the M73 used SOHC and 2 valves per cylinder.

Some versions of the engine have two separate Bosch Motronic ECUs, while others use a single Siemens ECU.

BMW M73 V12 engine Engine specification

Models

Engine Displacement Power Torque Redline Year
M73B54 5,379 cc (328 cu in) 240 kW (320 hp) @ 5000 490 N·m (360 lb·ft) @ 3900 6000 1994
M73TUB54 1998

M73B54

1994-1998 BMW 7 Series  E38 750i/750iL/L7 engine specs.

Engine Size 5379cc
Cylinders 12
Valves 24
Fuel Type Petrol
Power 326 bhp
Top Speed 155 mph
0-60 mph 6.6 secs
Torque 490 Nm
CO2 Emissions 333 g/km
Euro Emissions Standard 3
Miles Per Tank 396 miles

Applications:

  • 1994-1998 E38 750i/750iL/L7
  • 1994-1999 E31 850Ci

M73TUB54

1999-2002 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph Engine specification.

Engine Size 5379cc
Cylinders 12
Valves 24
Fuel Type Petrol
Power 322 bhp
Top Speed 140 mph
0-60 mph 7.1 secs
Torque 490 Nm, 361 ft-lb
CO2 Emissions 405 g/km
Euro Emissions Standard 3
Miles Per Tank 352 miles

The M73TU won the "Above 4 L" category of the International Engine of the Year awards for 1999.

Applications:

  • 1998-2001 E38 750i/750iL/L7
  • 1999-2002 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph

 

Bmw Engines
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Categories
Bmw Engines | Rolls Royce Engines
Petrol Engines | BMW V12 Engines | BMW Petrol Engines | V12 engines

Technical

  • BMW 8 Series (E31) 5,4 850i technical details and specifications 1994-1999

    No. of cylinders Type 12/OHC
    Capacity 5379 cc
    Compression ratio 10.0:1
    Firing order 1-7-5-11-3-9-6-12-2-8-4-10.
    Minimum octane rating 95 RON
    Ignition system Make Bosch Type Motronic M5.2
    Output power 240 (326hp) @5000rpm
    Compression pressure 10-12 bar
    Oil pressure 0.5-4.5 bar @600rpm
    Thermostat opens 95 °C
    Maximum cranking amps 352-429 amps

Service

  •  

    BMW 8 Series (E31) 5,4 850i Service 1994-1999


    Valve clearance -INLET Hydraulic
    Valve clearance -EXHAUST Hydraulic
    Spark plugs Original equipment Bosch Type F9LCR
    Spark plugs Electrode gap 0.7-0.8 mm
    Spark plugs Tighten 27-33 Nm
    Engine oil grade - Normal climate 10W/40 SAE or 10W/60 Synthetic
    Engine oil grade - cold climate 5W/30 SAE
    Engine oil grade - hot climate 15W/40 SAE
    Engine with filter total 8.0 litres
    Brake fluid Type DOT 4
    Power steering fluid Type Dexron II/CHF 7.1/11 S
    Air conditioning refrigerant quantity 1550±25 grams 
    Air conditioning oil Type 81 229 407 724

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