The BMW N63 is a twin-turbocharged petrol V8 engine which has been in production from 2008 to present. The N63 is the world's first production car engine to use a "hot-vee" layout, with the turbochargers located inside the "V" of the engine. It is also BMW's first turbocharged petrol V8 engine. The engine has been widely noted for its mechanical issues, undergoing several recalls.
The N63 replaced the BMW N62 (a naturally aspirated V8 engine) and was first used in the 2008 X6 xDrive50i.
The S63 engine is the BMW M high-performance version of the N63.
Alpina versions of the N63 are used in various F01 7 Series, F10 5 Series, G11 7 Series, G15 8 Series and G30 5 Series models.
Design The airflow path through the engine uses a "hot-vee" layout, where the exhaust manifolds and turbochargers are located between the cylinder banks (on the "inside" of the V8) and the intake manifolds are located on the outside of the engine. This is opposite to the traditional layout for a V8, where the intake is inside the "V" and the exhaust manifold is on the outside. The hot-vee layout reduces the width of the engine and decreases the exhaust runner length from the exhaust valves to the turbochargers. The engine uses air-to-water intercoolers, therefore improving throttle response.
Similar to the N54B30, the initial N63 (including the S63) did not use Valvetronic (variable valve lift) because its benefit of reducing of intake vacuum is not as important in turbocharged engines. Due to the presence of turbocharging, the N63 does not use a variable-length intake manifold.
The N63 is BMW's first V8 engine to use direct injection.
The N63/S63 uses a bore of and a stroke of [except for the Chinese market and a stroke of ].
2012 technical update In 2012, a "Technical Update" was applied to the N63, resulting in the N63TÜ variants (also known as N63B44O1). The main upgrade was the addition of Valvetronic. Other changes include revised turbochargers, removal of the blowoff valve, lighter pistons, forged connecting rods and crankshaft, addition of a valve cover labyrinth oil catch/return system, new valve stem seals, revised fuel system and addition of a second coolant pump.
2016 technical update A second Technical Update occurred in 2016, resulting in the N63TÜ2 variants (also known as N63B44O2). The major changes are the use of twin-scroll turbochargers, a wider powerband and the oil/coolant heat exchanger being moved to within the "V" of the engine.
2018 technical update A third Technical Update was introduced in 2018. Two variants are offered: N63B44M3 and N63B44T3. N63B44M3 features improved thermal shielding for the crankcase and the cylinder head, and a new ignition system. The N63B44T3 gains higher pressure (5000psi) injectors, larger twin-scroll turbochargers, a redesigned intake manifold, and an upstream cooling radiator.
Models Engine Displacement Power Torque YearsN63B40A 3,982 cc at 5,500 rpm at 1,750-4,500 rpm 2012–2015 at 5,500 rpm at 1,750-4,500 rpmN63B44O0 4,395 cc at 5,500-6,400 rpm at 1,750-4,500 rpm 2008–2013N63B44O1 at 5,500-6,000 rpm at 2,000-4,500 rpm 2013–2016N63B44O2 at 1,800-4,500 rpm 2016–2020N63B44M3 at 5,250-6,000 rpm at 1,500-4,750 rpm 2018–presentN63B44T3 at 5,500-6,000 rpm at 1,800-4,600 rpmS63B44O0 at 6,000 rpm at 1,500-5,650 rpm 2010–2013S63B44T0 at 6,000-7,000 rpm at 1,500-5,750 rpm 2011–2018S63B44T2 at 6,000-6,500 rpm at 2,200-5,000 rpm 2015–2018S63B44T4 at 5,600-6,700 rpm at 1,800-5,600 rpm 2018–present at 5,600-6,700 rpm at 1,800-5,800 rpm 2019–present
N63B40A This smaller variant was sold in the Chinese market. Due to a shorter stroke length of , the capacity is reduced to .
Applications: 2013–2016 F12/F13 650i (China only, version) 2013–2017 F01/F02 facelifted 750i/750Li (China only, version) 2014–2017 BMW F15 facelifted BMW X5 50i 2015–2017 BMW F16 facelifted BMW X6 50i
N63B44O0 The initial version of the N63 produces and .
Applications: 2008– 2014 E71 X6 2008– 2012 F01/F02 750i/750Li 2009– 2012 F07 550i GT 2010– 2013 F10/F11 550i 2011– 2013 E70 X5 2011– 2013 F12/F13 650i 2011–2014 Wiesmann GT MF4
N63B44O1 (N63TÜ) The first technical update resulted in an increase of and .
Applications: 2013–2015 F01/F02 750i/750Li 2013–2017 F07 550i GT 2014–2016 F10/F11 550i 2014–2018 F15 X5 2014–2019 F16 X6 2013–2018 F12/F13 650i 2013–2019 F06 650i
N63B44O2 (N63TÜ2) The second technical update resulted in peak torque being produced over a 200 rpm wider band.
Applications: 2016–2019 G11/G12 750i/750Li sDrive/xDrive 2017–2020 G30/G31 M550i xDrive
N63B44M3 (N63TÜ3) Applications: 2019-2020; G05 X5 xDrive50i 2019-2020; G07 X7 xDrive50i
N63B44T3 (N63TÜ3) Applications:
2018– G14/G15/G16 M850i xDrive 2019–2022; G11/G12 750i/750Li sDrive/xDrive 2020–2023; G30/G31 M550i xDrive 2020–2023; G05 X5 M50i 2020–2023; G06 X6 M50i 2020–2022; G07 X7 M50i 2021–2022; G07 Alpina XB7 2021-2026; G14/G15/G16 Alpina B8 Gran Coupe 2022–2023; Range Rover (L460) 2022-2023; Range Rover Sport (L461)
S63
The S63 is the BMW M version of the N63, which debuted in the BMW X6 M and was used in the BMW M5 models from 2011 to 2023. The S63 uses two twin-scroll turbochargers plus a pulse tuned, cross-engine exhaust manifold to keep constant exhaust pulses flowing to the turbos at every 180 degree rotation.
S63B44O0 Applications: 2010–2013 E70 X5 M 2010–2013 E71 X6 M 2011–2014 Wiesman GT MF5
S63B44T0 A technical update to the S63, known as the S63B44T0, debuted on the F10 M5 sedan. This version uses Valvetronic, a 10:1 compression ratio (compared with 9.3:1 for the non-TU version) and 1.5 bar of boost (compared with 1.3). It is the first BMW M engine to use Valvetronic. The rev limit was increased from 6800 rpm to 7200 rpm.
Applications: 2011–2017 F10 M5 2012–2018 F12/13 M6 2013–2018 F06 M6 Gran Coupe
S63B44T2 The S63B44T2 debuted on the 2015 X5 M and X6 M models.
Applications: 2015–2019 F85 X5 M 2015–2019 F86 X6 M
S63B44T4 The S63B44T4 debuted on the 2018 M5.
Applications: 2018–2023 F90 M5 2018–2023 F90 M5 Competition 2021 F90 M5 CS 2019–2026 F91/92/93 M8 2019–2026 F91/92 M8 Competition 2020–2023 F95 X5 M 2020–2023 F95 X5 M Competition 2020–2023 F96 X6 M 2020–2023 F96 X6 M Competition
P63
The P63 is the BMW Motorsport version of the N63, which debuted in the BMW M8 GTE.
Alpina Alpina uses a variant of the N63 engine, which was hand-assembled at the Alpina plant in Buchloe before being transported to the BMW production line.
For the 2013 model year, the Alpina engine received Valvetronic like all other N63 engines.
Engine Power Torque Compression ratio YearsM1 at 5,500 rpm at 3,000-4,750 rpm 9.2:1 2009–2012M1/1 at 5,200-6,250 rpm at 2,800-5,000 rpm 2012–2014M2, M2/110.0:1 2012–2015M2/2 at 6,000 rpm at 3,500-4,500 rpm 2015- M5 (N63M30) at 5,750-6,250 rpm at 3,000-5,000 rpm2016- M5/1 (N63B44T3 type) at 5,500-6,500 rpm at 2,000-5,000 rpm10.5:12020-
M1 Applications: 2009–2012 Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo: based on the BMW F01 7 Series 2010–2011 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo Sedan/Touring: based on the BMW F10/F11 5 Series.
M1/1 Applications: 2012–2014 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo Sedan/Touring: based on the BMW F10/F11 5 Series
M1/2 Applications: 2011–2015 Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Coupé/Cabrio: based on the BMW F12/F13 6 Series
M2, M2/1 Applications: 2014–2015 Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Gran Coupé: based on the BMW F06 6 Series 2012–2015 Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo: based on the BMW F01 7 Series
M2/2 Applications: 2015 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo Edition 50 Sedan/Touring: based on the BMW F10/F11 5 Series 2015–2016 Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Edition 50 Coupé/Cabrio: based on the BMW F12/F13 6 Series 2016 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo: based on the BMW F10/F11 5 Series 2016–2019 Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo: based on the BMW F06/F12/F13 6 Series
M5 The Alpina engine code is N63M30A.
Applications: 2016–2019 Alpina B7 Bi-Turbo: based on the BMW G12 7 Series 2017–2024 Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo: based on the BMW G30/G31 5 Series
An evolution of this engine, with better power delivery, is of the N63B44T3 type.
Applications:
2019–2022 Alpina B7: based on the BMW G12 7 Series 2020-2026 BMW F93 M8 Competition 2021–2025 Alpina B8: based on the BMW G16 8 Series
North American recall In December 2014, BMW North America released a voluntary recall ("Customer Care Package") relating to issues with timing chain stretch, fuel injectors, mass air flow sensors, crankcase vent lines, battery, engine vacuum pump, low pressure fuel sensor and revising the oil service interval.
In 2019 NHTSA addressed the multitude of issues with BMW N63 engines, various class action lawsuits in tow, and never officially declared a mass recall in regard to valve seal issues inherent in the N63 line.
See also BMW List of BMW engines
References