N74 — 6.0L V12 Twin-Turbo
Isle & Alpine · Engine Guide
N74 — 6.0L V12 Twin-Turbo
BMW's flagship twelve-cylinder — two straight-sixes on a common crank.
Key Specifications
Displacement5,972 cc
ConfigurationV12 · twin turbo
Bore × Stroke89.0 × 80.0 mm
Compression10.0:1
Output535–600+ hp (variant)
Torque553–627 lb-ft
InjectionPiezo direct
ControlDual DME (one per bank)
Fitted To
F01/F02 760LiG11/G12 M760LiRolls-Royce GhostWraith / DawnPhantom
Oil Specification
Oil Spec
BMW Longlife-01.
What Makes It Special
The N74 is essentially two N54-style inline-six banks joined at a 60° V on a common crankshaft. It uses centrally-mounted, outward-opening piezo injectors and twin turbochargers mounted on the outside of the V (not in the valley like the N54).
Each bank has its own DME control unit, making the N74 a dual-ECU engine. It was developed alongside the N63 V8 and shares the same piezo injection technology.
Maintenance Watch Items
- Twin DME modules — both must be healthy; diagnosing misfires means identifying the affected bank.
- Turbo oil supply lines — can carbon up over time.
- Coolant system complexity — two banks means more hoses and more potential leak points.
- Valve stem seals — can cause smoking on startup as the engine ages.
- A low-volume, high-complexity engine — parts are expensive and labor is extensive.