BMW Engines

M50/M52

2.0-2.8L NA I6

1990–2000

3 Series, 5 Series, Z3

Smooth, linear, bulletproof. Classic BMW feel. Simple maintenance. Cheap parts.

B58

3.0L Turbo I6

2015–present

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

Possibly BMWs best engine ever. Forged internals, insane tuning (600hp+). 300k+ ...

M54

2.2-3.0L NA I6

2000–2006

5 Series, 3 Series, Z4, X5, Z3

Peak old-school BMW. Raspy, high-revving, raw. The benchmark. 300k+ km routine.

N52

2.5-3.0L NA I6

2004–2015

5 Series, 3 Series, Z4, X5, 1 Series

Last great NA six. Lighter (magnesium block), smoother, higher-revving than M54....

M50

M50 2.0/2.5 NA I6

1990–1996

Cast iron block legend. One of BMW's most reliable ever. M50TU added single VANO...

M57

3.0L Turbo Diesel I6

1998–2012

5 Series, X5, 3 Series, 7 Series

Legendary diesel six. Powered E46 330d to E90 335d. Smooth, torquey, reliable. S...

B48

2.0L Turbo I4

2014–present

X3, 4 Series, Z4, 2 Series Active Tourer, 3 Series, GR Supra, 1 Series, 5 Series, X2, X1, 2 Series, X4, 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 B...

M43

M43 1.6/1.8/1.9 NA I4

1991–2002

3 Series

Cast iron block workhorse. Timing chain not belt (unlike M40). Simple, cheap to ...

B47

2.0L Turbo Diesel I4

2014–present

1 Series, X1, 3 Series, 2 Series, X3, X4, 5 Series, 4 Series, 2 Series Active Tourer, X5, X2, X6, 7 Series, X7, 8 Series, 320d, 320d GT, 320d Touring, 420d Gran Coupe

Torque monster, sips fuel. Fixed N47 flaws. Chain front-mounted. Avoid city-only...

B57

3.0L Quad-Turbo Diesel I6

2016–present

530d, X5 30d

B47 big brother. Inline-6 diesel smoothness. Single to quad-turbo variants. Exce...

S50/S54

S50/S54 M3 Engines

1992–2006

M3

E36 M3 (S50) and E46 M3 (S54). High-revving NA legends. S50B32 is bulletproof. S...

M44

M44 1.9 DOHC I4

1996–2001

Z3, 3 Series

DOHC successor to M42. E36 318is and Z3 1.9. Smooth rev-happy nature. Roller roc...

N57

3.0L Turbo Diesel I6

2008–2020

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

M57 successor. Single to tri-turbo variants. N57S/N57D30T1 = 381hp. Excellent cr...

N55

3.0L Turbo I6

2009–2016

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

Fixed N54. Known issues cheap + documented. 200k+ km proven. Good tuning base.

S68

S68 4.4 V8 Twin-Turbo

2023–present

7 Series, X5, M5

Latest M V8. XM/M5 G70. Cross-plane crank, 48V mild hybrid on some variants. Too...

B37

B37 1.5 Diesel I3

2015–2020

3-cylinder modular diesel. Shared architecture with B47/B57. Quiet for a 3-cyl. ...

B38

1.5L Turbo I3

2014–present

2 Series Active Tourer, 1 Series, 3 Series, X1, i8, 116i, 118i, 318i

Budget modern BMW. Reliable but not exciting. 136hp adequate for city. Limited t...

S62

S62 5.0 V8

1998–2003

M5

E39 M5 V8. High-revving naturally aspirated masterpiece. Rod bearing concerns at...

M41

M41D17 1.7 Diesel

1994–1999

3 Series

E36 318tds. Pre-common-rail indirect injection. Simple, economical. No swirl fla...

M51

M51 2.5 Diesel I6

1991–2000

3 Series, 5 Series

Pre-common-rail indirect injection diesel. Cast iron tractor engine. Injection p...

S58

3.0L Twin-Turbo M I6

2019–present

M3, M2, M4, XM

Brute force 500+ hp. M-car care mandatory. Youngest M engine — early data.

S55

3.0L Twin-Turbo M I6

2014–2018

M4, M2, M3

Track weapon. M-car level care mandatory. Fragile if abused.

S63

S63 4.4 V8 Twin-Turbo

2011–present

M5

F10/F90 M5 engine. Hot-V turbo layout. More reliable than N63 base engine due to...

M47

M47 2.0 Diesel I4

1998–2007

Pre-N47 diesel. Early M47D20 (non-common-rail) is simple. M47TU (2001+) has swir...

M62

M62 4.4 V8

1996–2003

X5, 5 Series

E39 540i/E38 740i V8. Alusil block, Nikasil issues on early units. VANOS failure...

N20

2.0L Turbo I4

2011–2015

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

Punchy turbo four. One known flaw (timing chain class-action 2012-15). After fix...

N13

1.6L Turbo I4

2011–2015

1 Series, 3 Series

Prince engine (BMW/PSA). Timing chain issues. Adequate power but questionable lo...

S65

S65 4.0 V8

2007–2013

M3

E90/E92 M3. High-revving 8,300rpm V8. Rod bearing failure is THE concern — can d...

N43

N43 1.6/2.0 DI NA I4

2007–2011

1 Series, 5 Series, 3 Series

Direct injection 4-cyl. Injector failure, high-pressure fuel pump issues, lean-b...

N63

N63 4.4 V8 Twin-Turbo

2008–present

X5, 8 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series

Hot-V design cooks turbos and injectors between cylinder banks. Oil consumption,...

S85

S85 5.0 V10

2005–2010

M5

E60 M5 V10. Derived from F1 tech — 8,250rpm redline. Rod bearing failure endemic...

N62

N62 4.4/4.8 V8

2001–2010

5 Series, 7 Series, X5

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

N47

2.0L Turbo Diesel I4

2007–2014

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

Rear-mounted timing chain = catastrophic failure risk. Notorious. Replaced by B4...

N54

3.0L Twin-Turbo I6

2006–2010

1 Series, Z4, 3 Series, 5 Series

Huge tuning potential ("European 2JZ"). Constant problems. Project car, not dail...

N42/N45/N46

1.6-2.0L NA I4

2001–2011

3 Series, 1 Series, X1

Slow, poor economy, unreliable. No reason to buy when 6-cyl options exist at sam...

N53

3.0L DI I6

2007–2011

5 Series, 3 Series

N54 reliability without turbo power. Worst of both worlds. EU only.