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BMW S14 DOHC straight-4 Petrol Engine
From 1986 To 1990

The BMW S14 is a straight-4 DOHC piston engine which was used in the E30 M3. It is based on the M10 block and the M88 head with two cylinders removed. The successor to the S14 is the S50 six-cylinder engine (since it was used in the following M3).
The BMW S14 is an engine series of the German motor vehicle manufacturer BMW, which was developed for the first intended for motor sports as Homologationsmodell first BMW M3 .
This is a DOHC - rows - four-cylinder - petrol engine in four-valve technology with manifold injection and individual throttle butterflies . He came in the BMW M3 (E30) and in particular Portugal and Italy model BMW 320is the vehicle series E30 used.
Although the BMW S14 followed the BMW S50 in the BMW M3 , but the S50 can not be considered the successor to the S14 due to the fundamentally different dimensions (cylinder spacing, bore, stroke, outer dimensions) and the different engine concept (six instead of four-cylinder).
This engine built on the already proven in motorsport M10 cylinder block and had like this a cylinder distance of 100 mm. On this cylinder block, a cylinder head of the M88 / 3 shortened by two combustion chambers was tentatively set. The later series cylinder heads were based on the design, especially from the tests to the previous racing engines of the type M49 and M88 were present many results and experience. The two overhead camshafts are driven by a duplex chain . The mixture is supplied separately for each cylinder via its own intake manifold and throttle .
As a production engine, the S14 in the M3 E30 had capacities of 2.3 (S14B23) and 2.5 (S14B25) liters with outputs from 143 kW / 195 hp to 175 kW / 238 hp, for the export market Portugal and Italy were there due to the local Luxury tax on vehicles with more than 2 liters displacement reduced to just this displacement S14B20 with at least 141 kW / 192 hp.
In racing, the S14 developed in the first stage of development as 2.3 l about 220 kW / 300 hp, the used from 1990 2.5 l even reached up to 264 kW / 360 hp.
The four-cylinder engine has a five-fold mounted crankshaft, which is insensitive to torsional and bending vibrations at the usual in motor sports very high speeds due to their short length. The inlet valve bore of the adopted cylinder head increases to 37.5 mm and inclines 18 °. The exhaust valves with a diameter of 32 mm and a 20 ° incline face each other in an almost perfect V to ensure a quick charge change. Further performance improvements were achieved by relieving the pistons with milled valve pockets, as well as an oil cooler. The oil sump is equipped with a so-called oil planer to calm the moving oil quantities. This oil planer sits between the crankshaft area and the oil sump.
The engine is controlled by a Digital Engine Electronics (DME), which automatically adjusts the cold start behavior without a cold start valve and, depending on the altitude, adapts the ignition angle and / or mixture formation.Two separate throttle bodies are used, each incorporating two throttle butterfly plates.
Engine Model Data
engine | capacity | Valves / cyl. | Bore × stroke | compression | construction time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S14B20 | 2.0 l (1990 cm 3) | 4 | 93.4 mm × 72.6 mm | 10,8: 1 | 1987-1989 |
S14B23 | 2.3 l (2302 cm 3) | 4 | 93.4 mm × 84.0 mm | 10.5: 1 | 1986-1989 |
1986-1989 | |||||
1989-1991 | |||||
S14B23 Evo II | 2.3 l (2302 cm 3) | 4 | 93.4 mm × 84.0 mm | 11.0: 1 | 1987-1988 |
S14B25 Sport Evolution | 2.5 l (2467 cm 3) | 4 | 95.0 mm × 87.0 mm | 10.2: 1 | 1990 |
Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Redline | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S14B20 | 1990 cc | 141 kW (192 PS; 189 hp) @ 6900 | 210 N·m (155 lb·ft) @ 4900 | 7300 | 1987-1990 |
S14B23 | 2303 cc | 147 kW (200 PS; 197 hp) @ 6750 | 240 N·m (177 lb·ft) @ 4750 | 1986-1990 | |
S14B23 EVO2 | 2302 cc | 162 kW (220 PS; 217 hp) @ 6750 | 245 N·m (181 lb·ft) @ 4750 | 1988-1990 | |
S14B25 EVO3 | 2467 cc | 175 kW (238 PS; 235 hp) @ 7000 | 240 N·m (177 lb·ft) @ 4750 | 1989-1990 |
S14B20
This version was only sold in Portugal and Italy. It has a 1990 cc capacity (achieved by shortening the stroke to 72.6 mm) and produces 141 kW (192 PS) .
Applications:
- 1987-1990 E30 320iS (Italy and Portugal only)
S14B23
The E30 M3 was initially released with the 147 kW S14B23. Versions equipped with a catalytic converter produced 143 kW (194 PS; 192 hp) and 230 Nm.
Applications:
- 1986-1990 E30 M3
S14B23 EVO2
This update of the S14B23 produced 162 kW (220 PS; 217 hp), or 158 kW (215 PS; 212 hp) if equipped with a catalytic converter. Changes include a revised intake camshaft profile and modified exhaust camshaft timing, increased compression, and a more efficient cylinder head intake port design.Larger diameter exhaust header tubes are used.
Applications:
- 1988-1990 E30 M3
S14B25 EVO3
In 1989, the displacement was enlarged to 2467 cc and this engine produced 175 kW (238 PS; 235 BHP). Higher lift intake and exhaust camshafts were used.
Applications:
- 1989-1990 E30 M3
Technical
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Technical specifications BMW M3 3 Series (E30) S14B23 2.3L
No. of cylinders 4/OHC Capacity 2302 cc
Compression ratio 10.5:1
Suitable for unleaded petrol Yes
Minimum octane rating 98 RON
Fuel system Bosch Type Motronic ML3.1
Starter motor Bosch Type 0 001 108 042
Minimum starting voltage 10.0 V
Alternator Bosch Type 0 120 469 804
Ignition coil Bosch Type 0 221 118 335
Firing order 1-3-4-2
Distributor Bosch 0 261 200 071© Motor car
Service
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Service specifications BMW M3 3 Series (E30) S14B23 2.3L
Spark plugs Electrode gap 0.8 mm
Spark plugs Tightening 15-25 Nm
Spark plugs Original equipment Bosch Type X5DTC
Fuel system System pressure 2.3-2.7 bar
Injector 2-3 Ohm
Valve clearance -INLET 0,26-0,35 mm cold
Valve clearance -EXHAUST 0,26-0,35 mm cold
Oil pressure 0.5-2.0 bar
Radiator cap 1.3-1.5 bar
Thermostat opens 80 °C
Drive belt size - alternator 9.5x875 mm
Cooling system 10.5 litres
Engine oil grade - normal climate 10W/30 SAE or 10W/40 Synthetic
Engine oil grade - cold climate 5W/30 SAE
Engine oil grade - hot climate 20W/50 SAE
Engine with filter 4.4 litres
Tightening torques Cylinder head (Renew bolts)
Stage 1 Tighten 48-52 Nm
Stage 2 Tighten 78-82 Nm
Stage 3 Wait 15 minutes
Stage 4 Tighten 98-102 Nm© Motor car
Maintenance
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