Manufacturer BMW Configuration Straight-6 Predecessor none | Production 1978–1989 Displacement 3,453 cc (211 cu in) Successor S38 | |
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The BMW M88 is a straight-6 DOHC piston engine produced from 1978-1989. It is based on the M49 motorsport engine, which was used in the BMW 3.0CSi.
Contents
Design
BMW engineers used a 4-valve head and a single-row timing chain. Kugelfischer fuel injection was used with individual throttle valves and the distinctive six inlet pipes.
M88/1
The M88/1 was the first iteration of the M88 and was fitted to the BMW M1. It produced 277 hp (207 kW) @ 6500rpm and 239 lb·ft (324 N·m) @ 5500rpm. A dry sump is used.
M88/2
For Group 5 racing, the M88 engine was turbocharged and became known as the M88/2. This race engine produced up to 900 hp (670 kW).
M88/3
The M88/1 engine was modified for use in the M635CSi and E28 M5, this engine was known as the M88/3. The Kugelfisher fuel injection was replaced with Bosch Motronic and the engine produced 286 hp (213 kW). It has a compression ratio of 10.5:1.
The M88/3 was also fitted to the South African 745i, due to packaging problems with the turbocharged M102 engine which was used in other markets.
M90
The M90 engine is a lower performance SOHC engine that was based on the M88/1. It utilizes the same block from the M88 and maintains the same bore and stroke, but borrows its head from the BMW M30 engine family. Different years of M90 engines used both Bosch Motronic and Bosch L-Jetronic engine management systems. Typically identified by a white L painted on the block behind the oil filter housing.