BMW OHV V8 engine
Encyclopedia
The BMW OHV V8 engine was the first V8 engine
made by BMW
, produced from 1954 to 1965. This engine is usually named by the fact that it was the only pushrod-driven overhead valve
V8 ever produced by BMW. All subsequent BMW V8 engines would use double overhead camshafts as well as fuel injection
, but the development of the next V8 engine by BMW would not take place for more than three and a half decades.
was a larger and heavier car than BMW had ever made before when it premiered in 1952, and it was the first BMW car made in West Germany
after a long hiatus after World War II
. However, it was powered with an elderly straight-6
from before the war, and though power was increased to 65 hp, it was a sluggish performer. Their primary competitor, Mercedes-Benz
, fielded the W187
in the same class but with superior performance. In order to reassert their status as the producer of sporty sedans, BMW debuted a 501 with a pushrod V8 engine. This was called the BMW 502. This V8 engine was available in 2.6 L (157 in3) and 3.2 L (193 in3) form.
90° V8. The original version had a 74 millimetres (2.9 in) bore and a 75 millimetres (3 in) stroke, giving a displacement of 2580 cc and a power output of 100 hp with a two barrel Solex carburettor. A larger version was introduced in 1955; the bore was increased to 82 millimetres (3.2 in), resulting in a 3168 cc displacement. The larger engine initially produced 120 hp, but was later available in higher states of tune with power ratings up to 160 hp. Commonly fed through Zenith
carburettors, the engine was good for 5900-6500 rpm in its various configurations.
of 1955. The 3.2 L engine was developed in 1956, and was offered in the 502 from that year on. It was initially rated at 120 hp, but ultimately was upgraded and produced up to 160 hp in the 3200S version. The 501/502 range was discontinued in 1964.
was offered from May 1956 to March 1959, during which time it used the 3.2 L engine. In this form, it produced 140 hp. Mated to a four-speed manual
, the relatively heavy grand tourer achieved 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in about 12 seconds and a top speed of around 120 miles per hour (193.1 km/h).
roadster, produced from 1956 to 1959, was offered with the 3.2 L engine producing 150 hp, with a more tuned 160 hp version available. With more power and a lighter body, the 507's performance was fairly good, with 0-60 mph achieved in under 10 seconds and a top speed, depending on gearing, of 141 miles per hour (226.9 km/h). However, the car's stratospherically high price made it extremely exclusive and almost ruined the company due to the cost of production and slow sales.
. The engine produced 160 hp. When this vehicle was taken off the market in 1965, it was the end of an era for BMW, as changing market trends such as the successful BMW New Class
positioned it downmarket, and left the company with little interest in low-volume exclusive coupés. Furthermore, with the final production run of this engine, no V8 engines would power any BMWs until 1991 with the BMW 840i.
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
made by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, produced from 1954 to 1965. This engine is usually named by the fact that it was the only pushrod-driven overhead valve
Overhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
V8 ever produced by BMW. All subsequent BMW V8 engines would use double overhead camshafts as well as fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
, but the development of the next V8 engine by BMW would not take place for more than three and a half decades.
Introduction
The BMW 501BMW 501
The BMW 501 was a luxury saloon car manufactured by BMW from 1952 to 1958. Introduced at the first Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951, the 501 was the first motor car to be manufactured and sold by BMW after the Second World War. The 501 and its derivatives, including the V8 powered BMW 502, were...
was a larger and heavier car than BMW had ever made before when it premiered in 1952, and it was the first BMW car made in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
after a long hiatus after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. However, it was powered with an elderly straight-6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
from before the war, and though power was increased to 65 hp, it was a sluggish performer. Their primary competitor, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
, fielded the W187
Mercedes-Benz W187
The W187 was Mercedes-Benz's line of six-cylinder luxury cars in the early 1950s. It was sold as a sedan, coupe, and cabriolet, all with the 220 model name. Introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951, the 220 sedan was replaced by the W105/W180 line in 1953...
in the same class but with superior performance. In order to reassert their status as the producer of sporty sedans, BMW debuted a 501 with a pushrod V8 engine. This was called the BMW 502. This V8 engine was available in 2.6 L (157 in3) and 3.2 L (193 in3) form.
Details
The engine was an aluminum alloy, longitudinally-mountedLongitudinal engine
In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back....
90° V8. The original version had a 74 millimetres (2.9 in) bore and a 75 millimetres (3 in) stroke, giving a displacement of 2580 cc and a power output of 100 hp with a two barrel Solex carburettor. A larger version was introduced in 1955; the bore was increased to 82 millimetres (3.2 in), resulting in a 3168 cc displacement. The larger engine initially produced 120 hp, but was later available in higher states of tune with power ratings up to 160 hp. Commonly fed through Zenith
Zenith Carburetters
Zenith Carburetters was a British company making carburettors. In 1955 they joined with their major pre-war rival Solex Carburettors and over time the Zenith brand name fell into disuse...
carburettors, the engine was good for 5900-6500 rpm in its various configurations.
BMW 502
The original 2.6 L version of the engine was developed for the BMW 502 and was introduced with it in 1954. A detuned version of the 2.6 L engine was available in the 501 V8BMW 501
The BMW 501 was a luxury saloon car manufactured by BMW from 1952 to 1958. Introduced at the first Frankfurt Motor Show in 1951, the 501 was the first motor car to be manufactured and sold by BMW after the Second World War. The 501 and its derivatives, including the V8 powered BMW 502, were...
of 1955. The 3.2 L engine was developed in 1956, and was offered in the 502 from that year on. It was initially rated at 120 hp, but ultimately was upgraded and produced up to 160 hp in the 3200S version. The 501/502 range was discontinued in 1964.
BMW 503
The BMW 503BMW 503
The BMW 503 is a two door 2+2 seater sports car unveiled by BMW at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show. Production got under way during the summer of the next year, and by 1959, when the 503 was withdrawn, 413 had been built, including 139 cabriolets;-Design:...
was offered from May 1956 to March 1959, during which time it used the 3.2 L engine. In this form, it produced 140 hp. Mated to a four-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, the relatively heavy grand tourer achieved 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in about 12 seconds and a top speed of around 120 miles per hour (193.1 km/h).
BMW 507
The iconic and extremely expensive BMW 507BMW 507
The BMW 507 is a roadster produced by BMW from 1956 to 1959. Initially intended to be exported to the United States at a rate of thousands per year, it ended up being too expensive, resulting in a total production figure of 252 cars and heavy losses for BMW....
roadster, produced from 1956 to 1959, was offered with the 3.2 L engine producing 150 hp, with a more tuned 160 hp version available. With more power and a lighter body, the 507's performance was fairly good, with 0-60 mph achieved in under 10 seconds and a top speed, depending on gearing, of 141 miles per hour (226.9 km/h). However, the car's stratospherically high price made it extremely exclusive and almost ruined the company due to the cost of production and slow sales.
BMW 3200 CS
In its final incarnation, the 3.2 L engine powered the 3200 CSBMW 3200 CS
The BMW 3200 CS was a sports touring car manufactured by BMW between January 1962 and September 1965. It was designed by Bertone and was introduced at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show. More than five hundred were built....
. The engine produced 160 hp. When this vehicle was taken off the market in 1965, it was the end of an era for BMW, as changing market trends such as the successful BMW New Class
BMW New Class
The BMW New Class was a line of compact sedans and coupes produced by German automaker BMW starting with the 1962 1500 and continuing through the last 2002s in 1977....
positioned it downmarket, and left the company with little interest in low-volume exclusive coupés. Furthermore, with the final production run of this engine, no V8 engines would power any BMWs until 1991 with the BMW 840i.