The 6.0-liter 12-cylinder BMW N73B60 engine was assembled from 2002 to 2008 and was installed only on 7-Series sedans in the back of the E65, including the extended modification of the E66. The N73B60 was the first direct injection petrol engine in BMW history.
Other modifications of N73: N73B68.
The engine was installed on:
- BMW 7-Series E65 in 2002 – 2008.
Specifications
| Production years | 2002-2008 |
| Displacement, cc | 5972 |
| Fuel system | direct injection |
| Power output, hp | 445 |
| Torque output, Nm | 600 |
| Cylinder block | aluminum V12 |
| Block head | aluminum 48v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 89 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 80 |
| Compression ratio | 11.3 |
| Features | Valvetronic |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | double VANOS |
| Turbocharging | no |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-40 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 8.5 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 4 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for BMW 760Li 2004) — city — highway — combined |
20.2 9.5 13.4 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~320 000 |
Disadvantages of the N73B60 engine
- The main problems are associated with rapid coking due to the direct injection system;
- The Double VANOS system is a modest resource here, sometimes less than 150,000 km;
- Still often there are vibrations at low speeds due to a malfunction of Valvetronic;
- After 150,000 km of run, they often stretch here and require replacement of the timing chain;
- The weaknesses of this motor also include a tendency to leaks and oil consumption.
