BMW S38


The BMW S38 is a straight-6 DOHC petrol engine which replaced the M88 and was produced from 1984–1995. The S38 was originally produced for North America as an equivalent to the M88 with slightly lower power output. In 1989, power output of the S38 was increased and it became the worldwide replacement for the M88.
In 1998, the BMW M5 switched to the S62 V8 engine. There is therefore no direct successor to the S38, however the BMW S50 engine took over as BMW's high performance straight-6 engine.

Design

The S38 is based on the M88/3 engine. Compared to the M88/3, the S38 has a lower compression ratio, simplified exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, dual-row timing chain and a shorter camshaft duration. As per the M88/3, the S38 uses a DOHC valvetrain with shim-and-bucket valve actuation. Air intake is via six individual throttle bodies with intake trumpets, fed by a cast aluminum intake plenum.

Versions

S38B35

The initial version of the S38 has a bore of and a stroke of.
Applications:
  • 1986–1987 E28 M5 - Canada, Japan and US
  • 1986–1988 E24 M6 - Canada, Japan and US
  • 1987–1989 E24 M635CSi - models with catalytic converter

    S38B36

For the S38B36, the displacement was increased to. This was achieved by increasing the stroke by to, by using a new forged steel crankshaft. Other changes included revised camshafts, compression ratio increasing to 10:1, a variable-length inlet manifold, equal length stainless steel exhaust headers a hotwire mass airflow sensor and Bosch Motronic engine management.
Applications:
  • 1988–1992 E34 M5
  • 1989–1993 E34 M5 - Canada and US

    S38B38

In late 1991, BMW further enlarged the S38 engine to, by increasing the bore to and the stroke to. Power increased to at 6,900 rpm and torque increased to at 4,750 rpm.
The engine management was upgraded to Motronic 3.3 and the ignition system was upgraded to coil-on-plug ignition. Other changes included the compression ratio increasing to 10.5:1, a dual-mass flywheel, an exhaust manifold made of Inconel, larger intake and exhaust valves, lighter pistons, and the throttle bodies increasing by to.
Applications:
  • 1991–1995 E34 M5 - European-specification