For the past two years, Red Bull Driftbrothers brothers Joe and Eli Hountondji have been using a BMW M4 Competition in their daily drift business. With a spectacular design, a roof-top exhaust system and a full-bodied sound, the brothers glide smoothly through race day and shows.
They specifically optimized the M4’s “raucous” propulsion from BMW M’s S58 turbocharged engine, which is the power unit in the BMW M3 and M4, as well as the X3 M and X4 M models. But the S58 engine they race with is extraordinary! How much modifications does this inline six-cylinder engine need to undergo and tuned to deliver more than 1,000 horsepower? Can it handle the harsh, sustained stress of a drift track?
“Yes, it can,” says Eli Hountondji, who has performed with the S58 engine at more than 30 events. To provide the final proof, aerospace engineers packed up the engine and took it back to its birthplace for dismantling by BMW M experts.
The next 2JZ?An in-depth look at the performance of the BMW S58 engine
After two years of driving it, Eli and Joe Hountondji brought their modified S58 engine to BMW M to tear it down and take a look inside. The detailed analysis also compared the S58 with the famous Toyota 2JZ, which is very well-known in the modification industry and is also suitable for modification with a thousand horsepower!
What’s the difference?
How the tuned powerplant differs from the standard S58 engine. In their M4 race car, in addition to a larger exhaust turbocharger, Eli and Joe also used a special fuel injection system with new software (MoTec), changed from a twin turbo to a dual-row silicon carbide ball bearing The Xona Rotor features a single turbocharger, additional intake manifold fuel injection, a larger cooling package and an additional radiator at the rear of the car, as well as a tailor-made exhaust system. The cylinder head’s exhaust and intake ports are flow-optimized to handle the engine’s massive horsepower output. Of particular note is the fact that the crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons have not been changed or replaced during the entire period and remain completely original.
The result is clear
Despite its considerable horsepower (1,039 ps), it is in excellent condition with very minimal wear. After the engine was disassembled, clear results emerged: despite the extremely high power output, often for long periods of time, the engine was still in good condition. There are no signs of wear on the pistons, combustion chambers, connecting rods, main bearings and crankshaft. The high-pressure fuel injector is intact and 100% sealed. The cylinder head gasket is also in very good condition.
The inlet and outlet areas of the piston head and cylinder head contain traces of a large amount of fuel injection. These dark residues cannot be ignored, but they have no impact on the engine’s operating performance and reliability. BMW M’s engine experts are very happy and proud. Eli is also very happy to see it and will continue to bring the next 30 drift events!
BMW M S58: M’s most iconic engine
When it was launched as early as 2019, the BMW M S58 engine, in addition to a forged crankshaft, closed water channel crankcase and 350 bar fuel injection, also demonstrated its novel and first manufacturing process in the automotive industry: 3D printed cylinder head. This process achieves complex geometries that cannot be completed with traditional manufacturing methods, and can also significantly reduce weight compared to traditional casting methods, making this engine lighter and with a lower center of gravity than the S55 engine of the previous generation M3/M4. The most important thing is that through Technology can produce more complex cooling water channels, greatly improving heat dissipation efficiency beyond traditional casting technology! This creates a more powerful power output.
In the highest original configuration, the inline six-cylinder engine installed in the BMW M4 CSL has a maximum horsepower of 550 hp. In addition, it delivers the high-performance output most needed for ultimate driving pleasure in all other BMW M models, the M3 and M4 series, as well as the M2, X3 M and X4 M.
