Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines BMW S38B35, S38B36 and S38B38 inline 6 engines

Greetings:

I own a 1991 BMW E34 ///M5. Probably one of the sweetest rides ever to emerge from a BMW factory. It took three techs 2 weeks to hand assemble the car. In all about 8000 of these cars were sold worldwide from 1989-1995. My car now has 90,000 miles on it and it still runs very strong.

The engineering in the engine is amazing for a 20 YO vehicle. The S38 engine has its roots in a Formula 1 engine BMW raced in the 1980's.

-inline 6 3.5l, 3.6l, 3.8l displacement (286hp, 315hp and 340hp)
-aluminum head, cast iron block
-naturally aspirated
-24 valve DOHC with double row timing chain
-six (6) individual throttle bodies with fuel injection
-equal length stainless steel headers
-10.5:1 compression
-Bosch Motronic Engine Management
-redlines @ 7250 R.P.M.
-unique dual length intake plenum assembly
-produces about 90 BHP per liter of displacement

The engine is very docile and tractable for street use. The sound of the engine running at > 6000 R.P.M. is amazing. I don't know the flow numbers for the head but they do flow very very well.

I've seen videos of dyno runs where forced induction produces in excess of 900 HP.

Does anyone else on board own one?

Cheers,

Mark

Not that old, but my son has two newer Bimmer sixes and he loves them both. I hold an Inliners record with one - his wifes twin turbo sedan grocery getter. It ran 13's. I think it was in DD/ Gas class.