The BMW N74B60 engine was produced in 2009 according to a personal drawing in order to eliminate their errors and simplify the production stages using parts from previous engines released.
This is a gasoline 12-cylinder V-type engine with a cylinder capacity of 5972 cubic centimeters, equal to 6 liters, a cylinder diameter of 89 mm and a piston stroke of 80 mm. The performance of the power unit is 544 horsepower with a torque of 750 Nm / 1500 rpm.
He replaced the N73 Engine, many different components were borrowed from the N63 engine. In order to reduce the cost of manufacturing parts and increase the suitability for repair, all engine elements are made of aluminum, the CPG and the main body are combined with any generation of the engine.
Emphasis should be placed on the merits of this engine. These include a vacuum mechanism with a two-stage vacuum pump, a high-precision fuel injection system, an independent piezoelectric ignition mechanism, a pair of air heaters operating on the principle of indirect through-pressure with indirect cooling, and a Double-VANOS gas distribution system.
An improved arrangement of camshafts and a toothed roller chain, as well as a complete set of all types of groups N74 engine with an individual mechanism for dispensing oil and crankcase ventilation is a hallmark of this series.
The direct injection mechanism, namely jet injection, provides a great opportunity to increase the amount of fuel injected, the duration of injection and to spread the mixture in the combustion chamber.
At the same time, power gains from this, torque and fuel consumption metering mechanism. The increase in the compression ratio of the mixture due to cooling by injected fuel is the difference between this engine and turbo engines with an injection mechanism into the intake manifold.
The entire range of electronic equipment has been improved, which is responsible for the uniformity of the flow of gasoline and the frequency of ignition.
The exhaust system is electronically controlled and, at a noticeable speed, gives out a majestic sound accompaniment for the owner, once again reminding him of twelve cylinders.
The engine has its own automatic transmission, but on the basic sets of the Bavarians of the No 7 series, a typical ZF 8HP is installed. The VIN code can be found at the top parts of the engine in the middle between the air intake mechanisms of the superchargers.
The large-scale production of power units of this series coincided with the production of the BMW 7 model. At this point in time, the engines are still relevant and are produced in significant quantities.
If it is necessary to repair the engine, spare parts are available on the automotive market both from the manufacturer and similar parts from dealers that do not affect its power and operating potential.
N74B60 engine specifications
| Power, hp | 544 |
| Fuel type | Gasoline AI-95 |
| Volume, cm*3 | 5972 |
| Maximum torque, N * m (kg * m) at rpm. | 750 (77) / 1750 |
| Fuel consumption, l/100 km | 12.9 – 13 |
| engine’s type | V-shaped, 12-cylinder, direct injection |
| Number of valves per cylinder | four |
| Maximum power, hp (kW) at rpm | 544 (400) / 5250 |
| Supercharger | Turbine |
| Start-stop system | No |
BMW N74B60 Most Common Problems And Reliability
Manufacturing from scratch and reasonable innovations in the development of the technical scheme have significantly reduced the errors in the engine devices, but with increased use to a guaranteed resource, some shortcomings of the power unit were observed.
Let’s look at common problems.
1. Floating revolutions at minimum revolutions of the crankshaft.
The increase in vibration when the unit reaches the operating temperature at idle causes strong shocks and prevents continuous fuel supply.
This is due to the individuality of the Valvetronic mechanism and is considered a factory defect, which was eliminated later. Ignition coil diagnostics every 100,000 km will prevent the problem of floating speed.
And in case of failure of the oil scraper rings, they need to be replaced. Also, to eliminate the problem of “floating speed”, you need to check the health of the flow meter and the Valvetronic system.
2. The complex structure of the gas distribution mechanism (GRM).
The engine belt is sensitive to the influence of elevated temperatures, therefore it is necessary to carry out a systematic service inspection and replace the components of the timing unit after 100,000 kilometers.
It is believed that the life of the timing chain is much longer than that of the belt and may well work out the full potential of the engine without interruption.
But under enhanced conditions of use or with improper maintenance of it, its components break down, or the assembly itself wears out. In this case, only its replacement is possible.
3. Engine decompression.
Savings on the use of fuel oil from the manufacturer, improper selection of engine oil for the engine, running the engine at low speed for a long time, cold engine, traffic jams result in increased formation of coke on the valves and surfaces of the fuel chamber.
Due to incomplete oxidation of the fuel, carbon deposits are formed. The tightness of the intake tract is violated due to the loss of play in the walls of the valves and piston rings, as a result, the compression drops due to their “occurrence”, or the piston rings are destroyed.
The removal of carbon deposits, the change of sealing rings and sealant carried out in due time will help to avoid a major overhaul, or even replacement of an internal combustion engine.
4. Failure of the cylinder block.
The engine mechanism works on the basis of 2 control units, if one unit fails, then the entire row of cylinders is immediately disconnected.
Replacing the coolant and flushing the mechanism sequentially after two years will help protect against engine overheating due to the large number of moving parts of the engine.
The manufacturer prohibits modifying engine elements due to innovations in the technical schemes of this type of engine. Ignoring the manufacturer’s prohibition can lead to expensive repairs, or adversely affect the engine’s potential.
If the owner nevertheless decides to increase traction, set the engine functionality to the highest speed, or change the fuel supply settings, then the only way to upgrade will be chip tuning.
Electronic firmware will help increase engine power to 609 hp.
Conclusion
Embodies the reliability of the mechanism and a huge potential, hardy and relatively voracious. With regular maintenance will not cause problems to its owner. This engine is installed on the following models BMW 7 Series (F01).
