BMW M44 Engine (1996-00)

The BMW M44 was an inline, four-cylinder petrol engine that was introduced in 1996. The M44B19 engine had an 85.0 mm bore and an 83.5 mm stroke for a capacity of 1895 cc.

The M44 engine had a cast iron block, an aluminium alloy cylinder head, a variable length intake manifold (BMW’s ‘DISA’), double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 10.0:1 and a maximum engine speed of 6500rpm.

Compared to its M42 predecessor, changes for the M44 engine included:

• A spheroidal cast-iron crankshaft with four counterweights (the M42 had a forged crankshaft with eight counterweights);
• Redesigned connecting rods and pistons;
• Conical valve springs (previously cylindrical double valve springs);
• A smaller upper valve plate;
• The balance weights in the camshafts were cast with the camshafts themselves;
• A redesigned timing chain tensioner to reduce wear;
• The introduction of Bosch Motronic M 5.2 engine management (previously Bosch Motronic M 1.7);
• A hot film mass air flow sensor (previously a vane-type sensor);
• Adoption of a sound-insulating cross-flow hose in the intake system and an intake silencer to reduce induction noise;
• Roller bearings for the rocker arms; and,
• The variable length intake system which vary lengths 600rpm earlier.