Engine code
S68 · 4,395 cc · twin-turbocharged V8 with 48 volt mild hybrid · US-market 2024 X5 M60i, X6 M60i, X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, production from April 2023
The S68 is BMW M's 4.4 liter (4,395 cc) twin-turbocharged V8 with 48 volt mild-hybrid technology. BMW's US press releases name it in the 2024 X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, and in the 2024 X5 M60i and X6 M60i. It was built for the US market at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina plant, with production starting in April 2023. The XM's V8 has the same capacity, bore and stroke, but BMW's XM release does not print the code S68. BMW's parts data used by this site ends in December 2019, before the S68, so parts numbers and fitment for this engine are beyond its scope.
Quick read
- Ownership position: Not established yet. We are still researching this engine.
- Reliability: Not established yet. The NHTSA recalls read for the cars that carry it do not describe the engine.
- Cost to own: Not established yet. We are still researching this engine.
- Power potential: Not established yet. BMW lists 523 hp in the M60i models and 617 hp in the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition.
- Main watch item: None established from a BMW document.
S68 At a Glance
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Sold in US-market BMWs | Yes: BMW's US PressClub names it in the 2024 X5 M60i, X6 M60i, X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, built in South Carolina. |
| Layout | V8, two twin-scroll turbochargers, cross-bank exhaust manifold, 48 volt mild hybrid. |
| Factory output | 523 hp in the M60i models and 617 hp in the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, both with 553 lb-ft. |
| Engine oil | Not established yet. |
| Reliability profile | Not established yet. |
| Typical annual planning budget | Not established yet. |
| Common tuned street range | Not established yet. |
| Before buying | Confirm the exact model and build date, and ask a BMW dealer to check the VIN for open recalls. |
Where you find it
BMW's parts data stops in December 2019, so the table comes from BMW's US press releases. Later model years and other S68 applications are not established.
| Market | Models | Output and torque | Model year and production |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | X5 M60i xDrive and X6 M60i xDrive | 523 hp at 5,500-6,000 rpm, 553 lb-ft at 1,800-4,600 rpm | 2024, production at Spartanburg from April 2023 |
| US | X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition | 617 hp at 6,000 rpm, 553 lb-ft at 1,800-5,800 rpm in the release text (1,800-5,500 rpm in its data table) | 2024, production at Spartanburg from April 2023 |
| US | XM (code not printed by BMW in the release) | V8 alone: 483 hp at 5,400-7,200 rpm, 479 lb-ft at 1,600-5,000 rpm. With the electric motor: 644 hp and 590 lb-ft. | Production at Spartanburg from the fourth quarter of 2022 |
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine code | S68 in BMW's press releases. BMW's service documents also carry the longer designation S68B44. |
| Configuration | V8, two twin-scroll turbochargers, cross-bank exhaust manifold |
| Displacement, bore and stroke | 4,395 cc, 89.0 mm bore and 88.3 mm stroke |
| Compression ratio | 10.5:1 |
| Valvetrain | VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing and Double-VANOS camshaft timing |
| Injection | High Precision Injection. For the XM's V8, BMW gives a maximum injection pressure of 350 bar. |
| Boost control | Turbochargers mounted close to the exhaust manifold, with an electrically controlled blow-off valve (X5 M Competition release). |
| Hybrid system | 48 volt mild hybrid |
| Output, M60i models | 523 hp at 5,500-6,000 rpm |
| Torque, M60i models | 553 lb-ft at 1,800-4,600 rpm |
| Output, X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition | 617 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque, X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition | 553 lb-ft at 1,800-5,800 rpm in the release text, 1,800-5,500 rpm in the same release's data table |
| Oil capacity and grade, coolant, firing order | Not established yet. |
Factory Deep Dive
Turbochargers and exhaust
BMW's M60i release describes M TwinPower Turbo technology with a cross-bank exhaust manifold feeding two twin-scroll turbochargers. The X5 M Competition release adds that the turbocharging was developed further, with the turbochargers mounted close to the exhaust manifold and an electrically controlled blow-off valve.
Valvetrain and injection
BMW lists VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing, Double-VANOS camshaft timing and High Precision Injection for the engine in the M60i models. The M60i release gives no injection pressure.
Mild hybrid
BMW pairs the engine with 48 volt mild-hybrid technology. In the M60i release BMW says this supports response and power delivery under acceleration.
Variants
BMW's releases give three different outputs for the 4.4 liter V8 family in US-market cars: 523 hp, 617 hp and, in the XM, 483 hp from the V8 alone. BMW does not explain in those releases how the engines differ internally, so this guide does not either.
Service Parts at a Glance
Not established yet. BMW's parts data used here ends in December 2019, before the S68, so no part numbers are listed.
Known Failure Points and Service Items
No BMW document read for this guide describes a recurring S68 engine fault. The NHTSA recall summaries read for the 2024 and 2025 X5, X6, X7 and XM concern other systems.
- 23V471000 and 23V622000: knee air bags in 2024 X5, X6 and X7 models (including the M60i and M versions) and the 2023 XM.
- 24V104000, 24V697000, 24V739000 and 26V422000: the integrated brake system, in recalls that cover X5, X6, X7 and XM models among others.
- 24V345000: front seat belts in the 2024 XM and the 2025 X5, X6 and X7 models.
- 24V139000: the tailgate panel on 2024 XM vehicles.
Sources: NHTSA recall data, X5 2024, XM 2024, X5 2025. Ask a BMW dealer to check your VIN for open recalls.
Reliability Verdict
Not established yet. We are still researching this engine.
Power Potential
Not established yet. We are still researching this engine. BMW's published figures are 523 hp and 617 hp for the cars named above.
Cost of Ownership
Not established yet. We are still researching this engine.
Common Questions
What is the BMW S68 engine?
The S68 is BMW M's 4,395 cc twin-turbocharged V8 with 48 volt mild-hybrid technology, named in BMW's US press releases for the 2024 X5 M60i, X6 M60i, X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition.
Which BMWs have the S68?
BMW's US press releases name the S68 in the 2024 X5 M60i xDrive, X6 M60i xDrive, X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition; the XM has a 4,395 cc V8 whose code the XM release does not print, and other applications are not established here.
How much horsepower does the S68 make?
BMW lists 523 hp at 5,500-6,000 rpm in the M60i models and 617 hp at 6,000 rpm in the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, with 553 lb-ft in both.
What are the S68's bore and stroke?
BMW gives the S68 an 89.0 mm bore, an 88.3 mm stroke, a displacement of 4,395 cc and a compression ratio of 10.5:1.
Was the S68 sold in the US?
Yes, BMW's US press releases cover the 2024 models, which BMW built at its Spartanburg, South Carolina plant starting in April 2023.
Sources
- BMW Group PressClub USA, The 2024 BMW X5 and X6, 7 February 2023.
- BMW Group PressClub USA, The 2024 BMW X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, 21 February 2023.
- BMW Group PressClub USA, The first-ever BMW XM, 27 September 2022.
- NHTSA recall data for the BMW X5, X6, X7 and XM, model years 2024 and 2025.
