View source for BMW M73

{{Infobox automobile engine
| name = BMW M73 engine
| image = BMW 750iL Individual - Flickr - The Car Spy (21).jpg
| production = 1993&ndash;2002
| manufacturer = [[BMW]]
| configuration = 60° [[V12 engine|V12]]
| valvetrain = [[SOHC]]
| timing = Chain
| fueltype = {{ubl|[[Petrol]] 95 RON|Hydrogen}}
| displacement = {{cvt|5379|cc|L|1|order=flip}}
| bore     = {{cvt|85|mm|2}}
| stroke    = {{cvt|79|mm|2}}
| predecessor = [[BMW M70]]
| successor = [[BMW N73]]
}}

The [[BMW]] '''M73''' is a [[Naturally aspirated engine|naturally-aspirated]], [[Overhead camshaft engine|single overhead camshaft (SOHC)]], [[V12 engine|V12]] [[petrol engine]] which replaced the [[BMW M70]] and was produced from 1993 to 2002. It was used in the BMW [[BMW E38|E38 7 Series]], [[BMW E31|E31 8 Series]] and [[Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph]].

==Design==
Compared with its M70 predecessor, the M73 features an updated roller-rocker valve-train and an increased displacement, due to a [[bore (engine)|bore]] increase of {{cvt|1|mm|in|2}} ending with a cylinder bore of 85mm and a stroke increase of {{cvt|4|mm|in}} to have a final piston stroke of 79mm.<ref>{{cite web|title=Information on M73 engines|url=http://www.bmwheaven.com/database/engine.php?type=M73#/153|website=www.bmwheaven.com|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref> While most other engines in the BMW range had switched to [[Overhead camshaft#dual overhead camshaft|dual overhead camshafts]] with [[Multi-valve#Four valves|four valves per cylinder]], the M73 used a [[Overhead camshaft#Single overhead camshaft|single overhead camshaft]] and with two valves per cylinder. However, BMW engineers did create a prototype four-valve per cylinder V12, called the M72, which developed {{cvt|265|kW|PS hp|0}} and {{cvt|530|Nm|lbft|0}} of torque. However, this 48-valve engine did not fulfill the comfort demands of the large sedan class in all respects and, as a result, did not go into production.<ref name="bmwblog.com">{{cite web|title=BMW Super Bild Of The Day: 5.4 liter BMW V12|url=http://www.bmwblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-super-bild-of-the-day-5-4-liter-bmw-v12/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118080006/http://www.bmwblog.com/2012/05/24/bmw-super-bild-of-the-day-5-4-liter-bmw-v12/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 18, 2013|website=www.bmwblog.com|access-date=5 August 2017}}</ref>

These engines have two separate [[Motronic|Bosch Motronic]] [[engine control unit]]s,<ref>{{cite book|title=M73 Training Reference Manual|page=2|url=http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/Pdf/M73TechBrief.pdf|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> which are connected to a third single Siemens control unit, called EML.<ref>{{cite web|title=E38 750iL Engine electrical system engine |url=http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=GJ01-EUR-07-2001-E38-BMW-750iL&diagId=12_0885|website=www.realoem.com|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref>
The engine utilizes four knock sensors mounted on the heads, a cam position sensor mounted on the right head and two crank sensors, one for each ECU. Throttle by wire is used. Similar to its predecessor, the M70, spark distributors are still present for each cylinder bank.

The hydrogen versions of the engine feature a <math>\lambda \ge 3.0</math> lean burn concept,<ref name="Schüers_100">{{cite journal |last1=Schüers |first1=Andreas |last2=Abel |first2=Alois |last3=Fickel |first3=Hans-Christian |last4=Preis |first4=Michael |last5=Artmann |first5=Richard |date=February 2002 |title=Der Zwölfzylinder-Wasserstoffmotor im BMW 750hL |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03226613 |journal=MTZ Motortechnische Zeitschrift |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=100 |doi=10.1007/BF03226613 |access-date=|url-access=subscription }}</ref> which allows quality torque control similar to a Diesel engine (i. e. no engine throttling).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schüers |first1=Andreas |last2=Abel |first2=Alois |last3=Fickel |first3=Hans-Christian |last4=Preis |first4=Michael |last5=Artmann |first5=Richard |date=February 2002 |title=Der Zwölfzylinder-Wasserstoffmotor im BMW 750hL |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03226613 |journal=MTZ Motortechnische Zeitschrift |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=103 |doi=10.1007/BF03226613 |access-date=|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Due to the lower [[Heat of combustion#Lower heating value|LHV]] of a hydrogen-air mixture, and the fact that the engine was designed as a Bi-Fuel (petrol and hydrogen) engine, the power output is reduced by 38 per cent compared to the petrol only version of the engine.<ref name="Schüers_100" />

== Models ==
{| class= "wikitable sortable"
|-
!Version!!Displacement!!Power!!Torque!!Year
|-
![[#M73B54|M73B54]]
|rowspan=3|{{cvt|5379|cc|cuin|1}} ||rowspan=2|240kw 
(326hp) <br /> at 5,000&nbsp;rpm
| rowspan="326" |{{cvt|490|Nm|lbft|0}} <br/> at 3,900&nbsp;rpm ||1994
|-
![[#M73TUB54|M73TUB54]]
|1998
|-
!M73 (Hydrogen)<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schüers |first1=Andreas |last2=Abel |first2=Alois |last3=Fickel |first3=Hans-Christian |last4=Preis |first4=Michael |last5=Artmann |first5=Richard |date=February 2002 |title=Der Zwölfzylinder-Wasserstoffmotor im BMW 750hL |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03226613 |journal=MTZ Motortechnische Zeitschrift |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=99 |doi=10.1007/BF03226613 |access-date=|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| {{cvt|150|kW|hp|0}} at 5,800&nbsp;rpm | {{cvt|300|Nm|lbft|0}} at 3000&nbsp;rpm
|2001
|}

===M73B54===
Applications:
* 1994–1998 [[BMW 7 Series (E38)|E38]] 750i/750iL/L7
* 1994–1999 [[BMW 8 Series (E31)|E31]] 850Ci

===M73TUB54===
Due to more stringent emissions standards, the 1999 model year marked the addition of an electronically heated catalyst,<ref>{{cite web|title=BMW M70, M72 and M73 V12 Engines|url=http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/m70.html|website=www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk|access-date=5 August 2017|archive-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107232007/http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/m70.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> variable MAP thermostat, and water cooled alternator.

Applications:
* 1998–2001 [[BMW 7 Series (E38)|E38]] 750i/750iL/L7/hL
* 1998 [[Cardi Curara]]
* 1999–2002 [[Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph]]
* 2009–2010 [[Simbol Design Lavazza GTX]]
* 2013 [[Monte Carlo Automobile]] Rascasse

=== M72B54 prototype===
In 1989, as part of a feasibility study, BMW's engine development department produced a four-valve version of its V12 engine. Only one engine was produced, having an up-sized variant of the M70B50 engine called the M72B54. Bore and stroke was increased to 85mm and 79mm and the total displacement of 5.4L was achieved, matching the values of the standard M73 engine. The power and torque both increased to {{cvt|265|kW|hp|0}} and {{cvt|530|Nm|lb·ft|0}} respectively.<ref name="BMW M72 twelve-cylinder four-valve engine">{{cite web|title=BMW M72 twelve-cylinder four-valve engine|url=http://www.mwrench.com/pictures/general/V12%2048%20valve.jpg/|website=www.mwrench.com}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Awards ==
* 1999 [[International Engine of the Year]] - Best Above 4.0&nbsp;Litre category winner<ref name="bmwblog.com"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
* [[List of BMW engines]]

{{BMW automotive petrol engines: 1980s to 2000s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bmw M73}}
[[Category:BMW engines|M73]]
[[Category:V12 engines]]
[[Category:Gasoline engines by model]]