Best BMW Engines

3.0L Twin-Turbo M I6

M2, M3, M4

The 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six of the X3 M, X4 M, M3, M4 and M2 (2019 onwards). So far it has...

3.0L Turbo I6

2 Series, 5 Series, 1 Series, 7 Series, GR Supra, 6 Series, 4 Series, 3 Series, X5, X6, X3, 8 Series, X7, Z4, X4, 340i

Arguably BMW's best modern petrol: a smooth, strong 3.0 turbo six from the 340i to the Toyota Supra,...

M43 1.6/1.8/1.9 NA I4

3 Series

BMW's simple 8-valve four-cylinder (1993-2002): M43B16 and M43B18 in the E36 316i/318i, E34 518i and...

2.0-2.8L NA I6

3 Series, 5 Series, Z3

Smooth, linear inline-six with bulletproof internals — 300,000 km is routine. Budget a full cooling-...

2.2-3.0L NA I6

5 Series, 3 Series, Z4, X5, Z3

The last of the simple BMW straight-sixes: smooth, linear and very long-lived (around 330,000 km wit...

S68 4.4 V8 Twin-Turbo

XM, 7 Series, X5, M5

BMW M's current 4.4 twin-turbo V8 (2022-), with both turbos inside the V and a 48-volt mild-hybrid m...

3.0L Turbo Diesel I6

5 Series, 3 Series, X3, 7 Series, X6, X5, 4 Series, 8 Series, X7, 6 Series

Smooth, torquey straight-six diesel in single-, twin- and (until 2020) quad-turbo form. Strong long-...

2.0L Turbo I4

Mini, Cooper, 1 Series, Countryman, Convertible, Clubman, X1, X2, X3, GR Supra, 3 Series, 5 Series, X4, 4 Series, 2 Series Active Tourer, Z4, 2 Series, 6 Series, 320i, 320i GT, 320i Touring, 330i GT, 330i Touring, 420i Gran Coupe

B58s little brother. Efficient, smooth. Remap to 260hp safe. Best modern 4-cyl BMW.

B37 1.5 Diesel I3

Clubman, Countryman, Mini, Cooper, X1, 1 Series

Three-cylinder version of the B47 diesel (BMW 114d-216d, X1 sDrive16d, MINI One D / Cooper D). Fruga...

2.5-3.0L NA I6

5 Series, 3 Series, X1, 1 Series, X5, 6 Series, Z4

Port-injected naturally aspirated straight-six, smooth and long-lived - owners regularly see 200,000...

1.5L Turbo I3

1 Series, Countryman, Cooper, Mini, Clubman, Convertible, X2, X1, 3 Series, 2 Series Active Tourer, i8, 116i, 118i, 318i

BMW B38 three-cylinder turbo (BMW 116i/118i, 218i, 318i, X1 18i and the MINI One and Cooper): smooth...

2.0L Turbo Diesel I4

1 Series, Clubman, Countryman, Cooper, Mini, X2, X1, 5 Series, 2 Series Active Tourer, 4 Series, X4, 3 Series, X3, 2 Series, X5, 320d, 320d GT, 320d Touring, 420d Gran Coupe

Torque-rich, frugal, and the N47 chain problem is gone (chain is still at the back, just robust now)...

3.0L Turbo I6

1 Series, X5, 7 Series, 3 Series, X3, 2 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, M2, 335i GT, 435i

The N54's single-turbo successor and a far more dependable engine: nothing in it is known to destroy...

3.0L Turbo Diesel I6

5 Series, X5, 3 Series, 7 Series

The diesel six that made the 330d, 530d and X5 3.0d. Smooth, torquey and long-lived - 400,000 km car...

M47 2.0 Diesel I4

1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series

Pre-N47 diesel. Early M47D20 (non-common-rail) is simple. M47TU (2001+) has swirl flaps that can des...

M44 1.9 DOHC I4

3 Series, Z3

E36 318is, 318ti Compact and Z3 1.9 (1996-2000). 1.9 16V twin-cam with a duplex timing chain and rol...

S50/S54 3.0-3.2 M Straight-Six

M3

BMW M's high-revving naturally aspirated straight-sixes: the S50 (3.0 and 3.2) in the European E36 M...

M41D17 1.7 Diesel

3 Series

E36 318tds. Pre-common-rail indirect injection. Simple, economical. No swirl flaps, no DPF. Timing b...

M51 2.5 Diesel I6

3 Series, 5 Series

BMW's 2.5-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel with indirect injection and a timing chain (1991-2001), use...

3.0L Turbo Diesel I6

4 Series, 3 Series, X5, 5 Series, 7 Series, X3, 6 Series

Smooth, strong 3.0 diesel six from single-turbo 204 PS to the 381 PS tri-turbo (N57S). Most cars are...

S63 4.4 V8 Twin-Turbo

M5, 6 Series

BMW M twin-turbo hot-V V8 (2010-): X5 M/X6 M (E70/E71, F85/F86, F95/F96), M5 F10/F90, M6 and M8. Str...

S62 5.0 V8

M5

The 4.9-litre V8 of the E39 M5 (1998-2003) and Z8. Huge, high-revving and charismatic, but it needs ...

N63TU 4.4 V8 Twin-Turbo (2012-)

6 Series, 8 Series, 7 Series, 5 Series, X5

The updated hot-V V8 (from 2012-2013) with Valvetronic, forged internals, new valve stem seals and a...

S65 4.0 V8

M3

The 4.0 V8 of the E90/E92/E93 BMW M3 (2007-2013, 420 hp, 8,300 rpm): eight individual throttle bodie...

3.0L Twin-Turbo M I6

M3, M4, M2

M3/M4/M2 Competition twin-turbo six - huge, tunable power. The known weak spot is the friction-held ...

1.6L Turbo I4

3 Series, 1 Series

BMW's longitudinal version of the Prince 1.6 turbo, with Valvetronic (114i-120i F20, 316i/320i ED F3...

M62 4.4 V8

X5, 5 Series

BMW's 1996-2005 V8 of the E38 735i/740i, E39 535i/540i, X5 4.4i/4.6is and Range Rover L322. Smooth a...

2.0L Turbo I4

3 Series, Z4, X1, 1 Series, 4 Series, 2 Series, X3, 5 Series, X5, 320i Touring, 420i Gran Coupe

Punchy turbo four. One known flaw (timing chain class-action 2012-15). After fix: 200k+ km.

1.6-2.0L NA I4

3 Series, 1 Series, X1

BMW four-cylinder of the E46/E87/E90 era. The timing chain and its short original tensioner are the ...

N43 1.6/2.0 DI NA I4

1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series

Direct-injection, naturally aspirated four (116i-120i, 316i-320i, 520i). The big risk is the timing ...

2.0L Turbo Diesel I4

Clubman, Cooper, Mini, Countryman, Paceman, 1 Series, X3, X1, 5 Series, 3 Series, 4 Series, 220d, 320d Touring, 420d Gran Coupe

BMW's 2007-2015 four-cylinder diesel (1.6 and 2.0, 95-218 PS). Its defining fault is the timing chai...

3.0L DI I6

6 Series, 5 Series, 3 Series

Direct-injection version of the N52 for Europe only (it needs low-sulphur fuel). It shares the N54 f...

S85 5.0 V10

M5

E60 M5 / E63 M6 V10 with an 8,250 rpm redline - spectacular and expensive to keep. Rod bearings wear...

N63 4.4 V8 Twin-Turbo (2008-2014)

6 Series, X5, 5 Series

The original twin-turbo hot-V V8 (2008-2014: 550i F10, 750i F01, 650i F12/F13 to 2012, X5 50i E70, X...

3.0L Twin-Turbo I6

Z4, 1 Series, 5 Series, 3 Series

BMW's first twin-turbo six: huge tuning headroom, but the fuel and turbo hardware is the weak link. ...

N62 4.4/4.8 V8

5 Series, X5, 7 Series

Valve stem seal failure (30%+ by 160k km). Coolant transfer pipe leak = 40+ hours labour. Timing cha...