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BMW B58 TU1 Engine Coming With Up To 388 PS

Introduced in 2015, the B58 displaces 3.0 liters and serves as the successor to the N55 engine family. The inline-six turbo received the TU1 technical upgrade at the 2018 Aachen Colloquium for Engine Technology, and according to BMW, the OL specification is much obliged to deliver 388 PS (382 horsepower) and 500 Nm (369 pound-feet) of torque on full song.
BMW B58 engine 53 photos
Photo: BMW
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Coincidence or not, the output of the B58 TU1 OL is mirrored by the range-topping Z4. The B58 TU1 ML, meanwhile, has 340 PS (335 horsepower) and 450 or 500 Nm (332 or 369 pound-feet) on offer. Given time, this engine architecture will be taken to the extreme with the S58, which will serve as the beating heart of four performance models: M3, M4, X3 M, and X4 M.

So what’s the difference between the B58 and the B58 TU1? First of all, the injection system now operates at a pressure of up to 350 bar compared to the previous 200 bar. Increasing the pressure makes a significant contribution in reducing the number of soot particles, and in accordance to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure, we should look forward to a reduction of “more than 50 percent.”

The injection system is complemented by a one-piece chain drive, which eliminates the base wheel of the previous two-piece layout. The optimized design of the slide rail is another highlight, promising less friction in the chain drive. More to the point, BMW quotes an improvement of 30 percent.

In regard to the cylinder head, the all-new design with an integrated manifold enables the more efficient distribution of heat. The turbocharger has been adapted to the different manifold, with BMW saying that this solution brings a weight saving of two kilograms compared to the B58 from 2015.

Last, but certainly not least, thermal management is further improved by the split-cooling system. What that means is, two cooling circuits work their magic on the cylinder head and crankcase, keeping the engine at optimal operating temperature.

Based on the only diagram released by BMW on the B58 TU1, the engine will be used in models ranging from the Z4 to the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, 8 Series, and X5. But knowing the Bavarian automaker, the B58 TU1 will - sooner or later - be offered in the 4 Series, 6 Series, X3, X4, X6, and X7.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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