the BMW Engine FAQ

[Chapel]

Horsepower quotes may not always reflect US Rating
If there are two HP numbers, lower HP number generally denotes US rating

M10 - Straight 4 cylinder SOHC 8V. 1966-1987. 83kg 180lbs
Used in 1502, 1600-2, E21 316/318i/320-4, E30 316, 2002tii and 2002 turbo
1.5 (75bhp), 1.6 (85bhp), 1.8 (90-98bhp), 2.0 (100bhp), 2.0i (125bhp), 2.0tii (130bhp), 2.0turbo (170bhp)

M20 - Straight 6 cylinder SOHC 12V. Baby Six. 1977-1992. 117kg 258lbs
Used in E21 320, E21 320i/6, E28, E30, E34, E21/30 323i, E30 325e and E28 528e
2.0i (129bhp), 2.3i (143bhp), 2.5i (170bhp), 2.7e (125bhp)

M30 - Straight 6 cylinder SOHC 12V. Big Six. 1973-1993. 143kg 315lbs
Used in E12 525/528, E28 525i, E23 725i, 2800CS, E28 528i, E23 728i, 3.0CS/i/L, 3.0Si, E12 530i, E23 730i, 3.3Li, 633, 732i, 733i, 535i, 635i, 735i, E12 M535
2.5i (150bhp), 2.8i (184bhp), 3.0 (185-208bhp), 3.3 (200-206bhp), 3.5 (218bhp)

M102 - Straight 6 cylinder SOHC 12V Turbo. Big Six Turbo. 1984-1986. 145kg 320lbs.
Used only in the E23 745i
3.2L or 3.4L Turbo (252bhp)

M40 - Straight 4 cylinder SOHC 8V. Replaced the M10. 1987-1993. 81kg 178lbs
Used in post 87 E30 316i/318i, E34 518i, Pre 93 E36 316i
1.6 (102bhp), 1.8 (122bhp)

M42 - Straight 4 cylinder DOHC 16V. 1989-1996. 100kg 220lbs
Used in E30 and E36 318is, Z3
1.8 (138-142bhp)

M43 - Straight 4 SOHC 8V. 1993-1998. 83kg 183lbs
Used in post-93 E36 316i/318i, E34/39 518i.
1.6 (102bhp), 1.8 (115bhp)

M43TU - Straight 4 SOHC 8V. 1998 on. 83kg 183lbs
Used in E46 318i
1.9 (118bhp)

M44 - Straight 4 DOHC 16V. 1996 on. 102kg 225lbs
Used in E36 318iS, Z3
1.9 (142-150bhp)

M50/M50TU - Straight 6 DOHC 24V/Straight 6 DOHC 24V with Single VANOS. 1989-1998. 136kg 299lbs
Used in E36 320i/325i, E34/39 520i/525i, Variation of this was used in the Early US E36 M3
2.0 (150bhp), 2.5 (192bhp), 3.0 (240bhp) Sometimes referred to as S50US. Engine shares more common parts with M50 than Euro S50, but is a motorsport engine.

M52/M52TU - Straight 6 DOHC 24V with Single VANOS/Straight 6 DOHC 24V with Double VANOS. 1996-1999. Iron Block in US, Alloy Block in Europe. 118kg 260lbs (alloy) 140kg 308lbs
Used in E39 520i/523i/528i, E36 323i/328i, E38 728i, Variation of this was used in late US E36 M3.
2.0 (150bhp), 2.5 (170bhp), 2.8 (193bhp), 3.2 (240bhp) Sometimes referred to as S52US. Engine shares more common parts with M52 than Euro S50, but is a motorsport engine.

M54 - Straight 6 DOHC 24V with Dual VANOS. 2000-present. 126kg 277lbs
Used in late model Z3, all E39 and E46 six cylinder models
2.0 (150bhp), 2.2 (170bhp), 2.5 (184-192bhp), 2.8 (193bhp), 3.0 (231bhp)

M56 - Straight 6 DOHC 24V Dual VANOS with ULEV. 2002-present. 127kg 280lbs
Used in some E39 and E46 six cylinder models
2.5 (184bhp)

M60 - V8 DOHC 32V. 1992-1996. 146kg 321lbs
Engine blocks were made of Nikasil (Silicone Injected Nickel) which were prone to failure over time. Many have been replaced with the newer Alusil (Silicone injected Aluminum) engines/
Used in E34 530i, E32 730i, 740i, 840i
3.0 (218bhp), 4.0 (286bhp)

M62/M62TU - V8 DOHC 32V/V8 DOHC 32V Single VANOS. 1996-present. Alusil Engine block. Pre 98 engines were non-VANOS. 140kg 308lbs
Used in E38 730i/740i, E39 540i, X5 and 840i
3.5 (235bhp), 4.4L (286bhp), 4.6 (340bhp)

M70 - V12 SOHC 24V. 1988-1994. 155kg 341lbs
Used in E32 750il, 850i
5.0 (300bhp)

M73 - V12 SOHC 24V Single VANOS. 1995-2001. Pre 98 engines were non-VANOS. 150kg 330lbs
5.4L (326bhp)


S14 - Straight 4 DOHC 16V Solid Lifter Valvetrain and Individual Throttle Bodies. 1987-1991. 106kg 234lbs
Used in the E30 M3 and Italian only E30 320is
2.0L (195bhp) 2.3L (192-200bhp), 2.5L (215-238bhp)


Original S38 (Also known as M88 and M88/3)- Straight 6 DOHC 24V Solid Lifter Valvetrain and Individual Throttle Bodies. 1979-1980, 1986-1990. 146kg 321lbs
Used in M1, E28 M5, M6, SA E23 745i
3.5L (277-286bhp)


Updated S38 - Straight 6 DOHC 24V Solid Lifter Valvetrain and Individual Throttle Bodies. 1988-1996. 151kg 332lbs
Used in E34 M5
3.6 (315bhp), 3.8 (340bhp)


S50 - Straight 6 DOHC 24V Solid Lifter Valvetrain with Single VANOS and Individual Throttle Bodies. (Dual Vanos on 3.2Ls) 1992-2000. 152kg 333lbs
Used in non-US E36 M3
3.0 (286bhp), 3.2L (321bhp)

[img]http://********************/kevin/s54-EngineWhole.jpg[/img]
S54 - Straight 6 DOHC 24V Solid Lifter Valvetrain with Dual VANOS and Individual Throttle Bodies. 2001-present. 148kg 326lbs
Used in the E46 M3 and the last of the Z3 M-Coupe and M-Roadster.
3.2 (321-343bhp)


S62 - V8 DOHC 32V Solid Lifter Valvetrain with Dual VANOS and Individual Throttle Bodies. 1999-present. 158kg 348lbs
Used in E39 M5 and Z8
4.9L (400bhp)

S70 - V12 SOHC 24V. 1995-1997. 165kg 363lbs
Used in 850CSi
5.6L (380bhp)


S70/2 - V12 DOHC 48V Solid Lifter Valvetrain with Single VANOS and Individual Throttle Bodies
Used in McLaren F1 (Was originally developed for M8)
6.1 (627bhp)

M21 - straight 6 SOHC 12V Diesel. 1983-1991 126kg 278lbs
Used in 324td, 524d/td
2.4 (112bhp), 2.4 Turbo (115bhp)

M41 - Straight 4 SOHC 8V Diesel. 1995-on. 108kg 238lbs
Used in E36 318tdS
1.7 Turbo (90bhp)

M51 - Straight 6 SOHC 12V Diesel. 1995-on. 132kg 291lbs
Used in E36 325td/S, E34 and E39
2.5 Turbo (115bhp), 2.5 Intercooled Turbo (143bhp)

M47 - Straight 4 DOHC 16V Diesel. 1998-on. 117kg 258lbs
Used in E46 320d
2.0 Turbo (136bhp)

M55 - Straight 6 DOHC 24V Diesel. 2000-on. 132kg 291lbs
Used in E46 and E39s.
2.5 Turbo (170bhp), 3.0 Turbo (183bhp)

M67 - V8 DOHC 32V Diesel. 1999-on. 192kg 423lbs
Used in E38 740d
4.0 Turbo (245bhp)

N44TU - Straight 4 DOHC 16V Dual VANOS with Valvetronic
Used in E46 318i
1.6 (115bhp), 1.8 (143bhp)

N62 - V8 DOHC 32V Dual VANOS with Valvetronic
Used in E65 745i
4.4 (325bhp)

N73 - V12 DOHC 48V Dual VANOS with Valvetronic
Used in E65 760i
6.0 (438bhp)


W10 - Straight 4 SOHC 16V
Used in Mini One, Mini Cooper
1.6 (90-115bhp)


W11 - Straight 4 SOHC 16V with Eaton Supercharger
Used in Mini Cooper S
1.6 Supercharged (163bhp)

[bungy42]

I found an error. The 2000 E46 323's had the M52TU. They didn't get the M54 until 2001.

[UD///M]

I found another. The M44 was not rated at 150 HP. It was the same 138 as the M42 but with a *slight* increase in torque.

[1995red318i]

wow, awesome post.
thanks a lot, i'll be saving this one

[Chapel]

the M44 has 150bhp in Europe
the N44TU has 142bhp in Europe (and is not available in the US)
and the E46 323i had the 2.2L M54 in europe...
Most of my data is direct from Germany
I didnt represent most US cars

[segal3]

M60 was also used in E32 740i

~Matt Segal

[dysphunxion]

Got any weight info? Anyone know the weights of the following motors...

S38 3.8 as found in e34 euro M5
M30 as found in e9 coupes
M60/M62 4.0 & 4.4 V8

[RRdawho?]

What was the 92' E36's engine's called, was it also the M50?

[dysphunxion]

What was the 92' E36's engine's called, was it also the M50?

Yep, 2.5l non-VANOS M50.

[fodive]

Wow...good post

[EstorilBlauM3]

Thanks for posting all the info.

[JamesM3M5]

Awesome post. I had no idea the Valvetronic was available in a 4-cylinder!!

The 1980-1981 M1 engine was called the M88. 1985-1986 M5 and M635CSi had M88/3. The engine you have pictured is a mechanical-fuel-injected M88 used in racing M1s. It has smaller tappets and a single-row timing chain than the S38.

The M88/3 was also used in the South African E23 745i in place of the turbocharged M102.

The S38B35 started in 1987/88 model year M5 and M6. The real update came with the 1989 S38B36 that the US saw in the 1991-93 M5. The S38B36 featured 315HP, while it's stroked version S38B38 was Euro only and had 340HP.

The M102 was also a 3.2L originally. They went to a 3.4L in 1985 models.

The S14 was also used as an S14B20 in the Italian E30 320is tariff-beater. Engines over 2.0L are heavily taxed, so BMW made a de-stroked S14 with 195HP. The headers are huge compared to the US 192HP 2.3L.

"TU" stands for Technical Update, and usually refers to the addition of VANOS.

The S52 was US only, not Euro only. The S50B32 is the proper name for the 1996-2000 Euro E36 M3 engine with dual-VANOS and solid lifters.

[Hawaii]

does anyone know where to get info for a 540i V8 engine swap into a 325i.

[Croak]

One little note, calling the US S50/S52 M3 engines M50/M52's because they share more common parts with the regular M50 is good in theory.

But the S indicator means the unit was assembled by the Motorsport division, no matter what the parts commonality is with a non Motorsport, so US M3 powerplants are indeed S50/S52.

[EvanL]

The picture above the S54 and below the S52 is actually a S50B32 engine. The euro engines had the nomenclature of S50B30 for 3.0, and S50B32 for the 3.2.

[Kevlar]

when this is complete, we can host it for the public on the main page.

[///MDriver]

That's quite a list. Great work!

[PortalBMW]

S70/2 was single vanos on both OBDI and OBDII versions. S50 B32 was produced from later 95 to 00.

[PBalla]

sweet kev, keep us updated...

i was curious, the s52 is over 300 hp? so there are 300 hp e30s out there?

who here has done the s52 in an e30 btw?

[PortalBMW]

Originally posted by Pharshballa
sweet kev, keep us updated...

i was curious, the s52 is over 300 hp? so there are 300 hp e30s out there?

who here has done the s52 in an e30 btw?

S52 is 240 HP and there are plenty of S52 E30's running around.

[PBalla]

S52 - Straight 6 DOHC 24V Solid Lifter Valvetrain with Dual VANOS and Individual Throttle Bodies. 1996-2000.
Used in non-US E36 M3
3.2 (321bhp)

so the non-US s52 is diff from US s52 apparently.

[PortalBMW]

There is no NON US S52.

[LA e46]

Great post! does anyone know the weight difference between the euro M52 with the alloy block compared to the US M52 and the iron block?

[PBalla]

Originally posted by PortalBMW
There is no NON US S52.

well it says used in non-us e36 m3

[PortalBMW]

read the whole thread.