BMW engines

BMW is one of those brands you cannot understand only through design, luxury or dynamic behaviour. Its identity starts much earlier, in the engine. The brand’s own history is tied to building engines from the beginning, and BMW started producing car engines in 1933.

From the first inline-sixes to the high-rev naturally aspirated engines of BMW M, via high-torque diesels, V8s, V12s, plug-in hybrids and today’s electric platforms, BMW’s evolution is also the evolution of its engines.

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BMW petrol engines

• M78 inline-six petrol (1933–1950)
• M328 inline-six petrol (1936–1940)
• M335 inline-six petrol (1939–1941)
• M337 inline-six petrol (1952–1958)
• OHV V8 petrol (1954–1965)
• M10 four-cylinder petrol (1960–1988)
• M30 inline-six petrol (1968–1994)
• M20 inline-six petrol (1977–1993)
• M88 / S38 inline-six petrol (1978–1989)
• M102 turbo inline-six petrol (1980–1982)
• M106 turbo inline-six petrol (1982–1986)
• S14 four-cylinder petrol (1986–1990)
• M70 V12 petrol (1987–1996)
• M40 four-cylinder petrol (1987–1995)
• M42 four-cylinder petrol (1989–1996)
• M50 inline-six petrol (1989–1996)
• M43 four-cylinder petrol (1991–2002)
• M60 V8 petrol (1992–1996)
• S50 inline-six petrol (1992–1999)
• S70 V12 petrol (1992–2000)
• M73 V12 petrol (1993–2002)
• M52 inline-six petrol (1994–2000)
• M44 four-cylinder petrol (1996–2001)
• M62 V8 petrol (1996–2005)
• S52 inline-six petrol (1996–2000)
• S62 V8 petrol (1998–2006)
• M54 inline-six petrol (2000–2006)
• S54 inline-six petrol (2000–2008)
• N40 four-cylinder petrol (2001–2004)
• N42 four-cylinder petrol (2001–2004)
• N62 V8 petrol (2001–2010)
• N73 V12 petrol (2003–2016)
• N45 four-cylinder petrol (2004–2011)
• N46 four-cylinder petrol (2004–2007)
• N52 inline-six petrol (2005–2015)
• S85 V10 petrol (2005–2010)
• N54 turbo inline-six petrol (2006–2016)
• N43 four-cylinder petrol (2007–2011)
• N53 inline-six petrol (2007–2014)
• S65 V8 petrol (2007–2013)
• N63 twin-turbo V8 petrol (2008–present)
• N55 turbo inline-six petrol (2009–2019)
• S63 twin-turbo V8 petrol (2009–present)
• N74 twin-turbo V12 petrol (2009–2022)
• N13 turbo four-cylinder petrol, BMW-PSA collaboration (2011–2016)
• N20 turbo four-cylinder petrol (2011–2017)
• B38 turbo three-cylinder petrol (2013–present)
• S55 twin-turbo inline-six petrol (2014–2021)
• B48 turbo four-cylinder petrol (2015–present)
• B58 turbo inline-six petrol (2015–present)
• S58 twin-turbo inline-six petrol (2019–present)
• S68 mild-hybrid twin-turbo V8 petrol (2022–present)

BMW M78 (1933-1950)

The M78 was one of BMW’s first car engines. It was an inline-six that appeared in the thirties and marks the start of a long tradition of this architecture at the brand.

It was not yet the modern sporting BMW we know today, but it is an important base for understanding the later mechanical DNA of the company: longitudinal engines, smoothness and an architecture that would become essential to BMW’s identity.

BMW M328 (1936-1940)

The M328 is one of the most important historic engines of BMW’s first stage. Tied to the BMW 328, one of the brand’s most emblematic pre-war sports cars, this inline-six helped build BMW’s image as a manufacturer able to combine lightness, engineering and performance.

Its importance is not only in the figures, but in what it represented: an agile, technical BMW with a sporting focus at a time when the brand was still defining its personality as a car maker.

BMW M335 (1939-1941)

The M335 was another pre-war inline-six, of larger displacement, designed for bigger and more powerful models. Although its run was short, it belongs to that first stage when BMW started to consolidate the inline-six as a technical solution closely tied to its identity.

BMW M337 (1952-1958)

After the Second World War, the M337 allowed BMW to recover part of its activity with inline-six engines. It was an important engine in the reconstruction of the brand and in its gradual return to cars of a certain standing.

This stage mattered especially because BMW needed to recover industrial and commercial credibility. The M337 helped keep alive the tradition of smooth, refined engines at a difficult moment for the company.

BMW OHV V8 (1954-1965)

BMW’s first V8 appeared in the fifties. It was an engine aimed at luxury and representation models, at a stage when BMW also wanted a place in higher segments.

Although BMW would later be recognised mainly for its inline-sixes, this first V8 shows that the brand also explored larger-displacement architectures early on to compete in the premium-car market.

BMW M10 (1960-1988)

The M10 is one of the most important engines in BMW history. It was a simple, robust and very versatile four-cylinder, used in different displacements and models for decades.

Its importance goes well beyond the figures. It went with the Neue Klasse, the BMW 02 and many models that helped define BMW’s compact sporting saloon. It was also a huge technical base for motorsport developments.

The M10 represents, in large part, the birth of modern BMW: relatively light cars, lively engines, a well-sorted chassis and a clear driver focus.

BMW M30 (1968-1994)

The M30 is one of BMW’s great classic engines. It was a large-displacement inline-six used in saloons, coupés and high-end models for more than two decades.

Its longevity shows how important it was inside the brand. For many enthusiasts, the M30 is one of BMW’s great traditional engines.

BMW M20 (1977-1993)

The M20 took the inline-six to more compact, popular models. It was very important in classic 3 Series and 5 Series generations, and helped many drivers associate BMW with smooth, balanced engines that were enjoyable even in mid-displacement versions.

Versus the M30, the M20 was more compact and accessible, but it kept the inline-six architecture that has defined the brand so strongly.

BMW M88 / S38 (1978-1989)

The M88 and its S38 evolution are fundamental engines in BMW M history. The M88 was tied to the BMW M1, while the S38 took that high-performance inline-six idea to sporting saloons such as the first M5.

These engines helped define what a BMW M should be: fast, precise, usable and with real mechanical character. They were not just more powerful engines, but engines with a clear sporting focus.

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BMW M102 (1980-1982)

The M102 was one of BMW’s first production attempts at a turbocharged inline-six. It did not have the commercial weight of other engines, but it is an interesting forerunner of BMW’s later turbo era.

Decades before turbo engines became widespread at the brand, BMW had already tried the idea in high-end models.

BMW M106 (1982-1986)

The M106 continued that first turbo inline-six stage. It evolved the idea started with the M102 and was fitted to representation models.

Its importance is that it anticipated an idea that would become central at BMW decades later: forced-induction inline-sixes that were powerful, usable and rich in torque.

BMW S14 (1986-1990)

The S14 is one of the most legendary BMW M engines. It was the heart of the BMW M3 E30 and combined a four-cylinder architecture with a very marked motorsport character.

Its importance is not measured only in power, but in what it represented: the birth of one of the most iconic sports cars in BMW history. The S14 helped turn the M3 E30 into a cult car.

BMW M70 (1987-1996)

The M70 was BMW’s first modern V12. It appeared in the 7 Series E32 and later in the 8 Series, symbolising BMW’s ambition to compete at the very top of luxury cars.

With this engine BMW showed it could build a smooth, refined and technically advanced twelve-cylinder, aimed at representation models and large coupés.

BMW M40 (1987-1995)

The M40 was one of BMW’s most important four-cylinders in the eighties and nineties. It was used in entry 3 Series and 5 Series models, offering a simple, efficient alternative to the sixes.

It is not one of BMW’s most emotional engines, but it mattered for volume and for its presence in very popular models.

BMW M42 (1989-1996)

The M42 was a more advanced, sporting four-cylinder with a multivalve head. It is especially remembered in versions such as the 318is, where it felt livelier and more dynamic than other entry engines.

Among BMW four-cylinders, the M42 has a special reputation for its balance of lightness, response and reliability.

BMW M50 (1989-1996)

The M50 marked a new stage for BMW’s sixes. With a multivalve head and a more modern concept, it was an important technical jump versus earlier engines.

It was key in models such as the 3 Series E36 and 5 Series E34, and consolidated the move towards more efficient, finer and more performance-focused engines.

BMW M43 (1991-2002)

The M43 was an evolution more oriented to reliability, consumption and everyday use. It progressively replaced earlier four-cylinders and appeared in many BMWs of the nineties and early two-thousands.

Its role was less sporting than other engines from the brand, but very important in entry versions.

BMW M60 (1992-1996)

The M60 was the modern V8 that brought this architecture back to the BMW range in the nineties. It was used in the 5 Series, 7 Series and 8 Series, and let the brand compete hard among large high-performance saloons and coupés.

It was an important engine because it opened the way to a long family of modern BMW V8s.

BMW S50 (1992-1999)

The S50 was the high-performance inline-six used in the M3s of the nineties outside the United States. It was a huge jump versus the S14, with more displacement, more power and a much more forceful delivery, without losing its high-rev naturally aspirated character.

It is one of the key engines for understanding the M3’s evolution from the light, motorsport E30 idea towards a more powerful, sophisticated sports car.

BMW S70 (1992-2000)

The S70 is one of BMW’s most special V12s. In its different variants it was tied to high-performance models, and its best-known application outside BMW was the one used in the McLaren F1.

It is worth flagging as a special case: although it is a BMW development, its most iconic application was tied to another manufacturer. That McLaren F1 link associated the S70 with one of the most important supercars in history.

BMW M73 (1993-2002)

The M73 was the evolution of BMW’s V12 in the nineties. It was used mainly in luxury models, with a focus more on smoothness, refinement and representation than on pure sportiness.

It represents a time when large twelve-cylinder engines were still a show of technological prestige among premium brands.

BMW M52 (1994-2000)

The M52 was the natural evolution of the M50. It kept the inline-six architecture, but with gains in efficiency, smoothness and weight.

It is one of the most representative engines of nineties BMWs and appears in well-remembered 3 Series, 5 Series and Z3 models.

BMW M44 (1996-2001)

The M44 continued BMW’s multivalve four-cylinder line. It was especially known in compact and light sporting models, such as some Z3 and 3 Series Compact versions.

Although it does not have the prestige of the sixes, it is an important engine among late-nineties light BMWs.

BMW M62 (1996-2005)

The M62 was an evolution of BMW’s V8, used in a wide variety of high-end models. It is one of the brand’s best-known V8s and appeared in saloons, coupés, SUVs and representation models.

It combined smoothness, torque and performance, reinforcing BMW’s place in the premium segment.

BMW S52 (1996-2000)

The S52 was the variant used mainly in North America. Although less radical than the European S50, it is part of M3 E36 history and of BMW M’s expansion in the United States.

Its importance is more commercial than technical, but it helps explain how BMW adapted its M engines to different markets.

BMW S62 (1998-2006)

The S62 was the naturally aspirated V8 of the BMW M5 E39, one of the most admired models in BMW M history.

It combined displacement, immediate response and a very special balance between luxury saloon and sports car. For many enthusiasts, the M5 E39 and S62 together represent one of BMW M’s high points.

BMW M54 (2000-2006)

The M54 is one of BMW’s best-known naturally aspirated sixes. For many enthusiasts it is one of the last great stages of the classic BMW six before the mass arrival of direct injection, forced induction and new emissions rules.

It was used in very popular models such as the 3 Series E46, 5 Series E39/E60, X3, X5 and Z4.

BMW S54 (2000-2008)

The S54 is one of the most important naturally aspirated sixes from BMW M. Especially tied to the M3 E46, it stands out for its high-rev ability, metallic sound and purely sporting character.

For many enthusiasts it is one of the peaks of BMW’s naturally aspirated era. BMW M also lists it among its most emblematic engines.

BMW N40 (2001-2004)

The N40 was a more modern four-cylinder family, designed to meet new efficiency and emissions demands in entry models.

It is not one of BMW’s most remembered families, but it is part of the shift towards more electronically controlled petrol engines adapted to stricter rules.

BMW N42 (2001-2004)

The N42 introduced more advanced technical solutions, such as variable valve timing and technologies aimed at cutting consumption without losing response.

It was an important engine in BMW’s shift towards more sophisticated naturally aspirated units, especially in four-cylinder versions.

BMW N62 (2001-2010)

The N62 took BMW’s naturally aspirated V8 into a more technological stage, with solutions aimed at better efficiency, response and refinement.

It was an important engine in the 2000s 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and X5, before turbo V8s took over.

BMW N73 (2003-2016)

The N73 was a modern naturally aspirated V12, used in top representation models. It is the last great stage of BMW’s naturally aspirated V12 before forced induction reached this architecture.

Its role was tied more to luxury, smoothness and exclusivity than to sportiness.

BMW N45 (2004-2011)

The N45 was a naturally aspirated four-cylinder used in entry versions. Its importance is more about volume and range rationalisation than sporting character, although more interesting variants existed in specific models.

BMW N46 (2004-2007)

The N46 evolved the N42 idea with gains in efficiency, electronic management and refinement.

It was one of the usual engines in entry BMWs during the first half of the 2000s.

BMW N52 — 2005-2015

The N52 was one of BMW’s last great naturally aspirated sixes. It brought modern solutions and kept a smooth, progressive, very characteristic delivery.

It represents the close of an era at BMW: the naturally aspirated six as the central engine in a large part of the range.

BMW S85 (2005-2010)

The S85 was a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V10 used in the M5 E60 and the M6. It is one of BMW M’s most extreme engines, with a clear nod to the V10 Formula 1 era.

BMW M highlights this engine in its history for its radical character, high rev limit and its role in one of the most singular stages of the M division.

BMW N54 (2006-2016)

The N54 was an important turn. It brought the turbo six back to the modern BMW range and marked the start of a new stage of high-performance forced-induction engines.

Its tuning potential, response and headroom made it very popular among enthusiasts.

BMW N43 (2007-2011)

The N43 was a naturally aspirated four-cylinder with direct injection. It is one of the last phases of naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engines before turbocharging became general at BMW.

BMW N53 (2007-2014)

The N53 was a naturally aspirated six with direct injection. Although it did not have the same global presence as other BMW engines, it is one of the last attempts to evolve the naturally aspirated six before the turbo took over the range for good.

BMW S65 (2007-2013)

The S65 was the naturally aspirated V8 of the M3 E90/E92/E93. It derived conceptually from the S85, but with two fewer cylinders, and became the first and only V8 fitted to a production BMW M3.

BMW M notes that the S65 reached a maximum of 8,400 rpm, becoming one of the most special production engines developed by the division.

BMW N63 (2008-present)

The N63 was BMW’s first great modern twin-turbo V8 and a key engine in the brand’s high-performance models from the late 2000s.

It was the definitive step from naturally aspirated V8 to turbo V8 in the regular range, with more torque, more power and a much more forceful delivery.

BMW N55 (2009-2019)

The N55 progressively replaced the N54 and became one of BMW’s most widespread turbo sixes.

Versus the N54, it aimed at more efficiency, a more rational construction and an equally forceful response, becoming a key engine in the shift towards modern BMW.

BMW S63 (2009-present)

The S63 is the high-performance version developed by BMW M from the twin-turbo V8 idea. It has been used in models such as the M5, M6, X5 M and X6 M, and is the most sporting side of BMW’s modern turbo V8s.

BMW N74 (2009-2022)

The N74 was BMW’s twin-turbo V12, used in top representation models and also in Rolls-Royce applications inside the group.

It is one of the last great twelve-cylinder engines from the brand and marks the end of a stage when the V12 was one of the highest expressions of mechanical luxury.

BMW N13 (2011-2016)

BMW-PSA collaboration

The N13 was BMW’s version of the Prince engine, a family developed jointly by BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroën. At BMW it was used as a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder, especially in compact models such as the 1 Series F20.

It is important to mark it as a collaboration because it does not follow the same in-house development pattern as other BMW engine families.

BMW N20 (2011-2017)

The N20 was a key engine in BMW’s shift to modern turbo four-cylinders. It replaced many entry naturally aspirated sixes and became one of the brand’s most used engines during the 2010s.

Its arrival mattered because it changed the philosophy of many BMW versions: less displacement, a turbo, more torque and better official consumption figures.

BMW B38 (2013-present)

The B38 is a turbo three-cylinder from BMW’s modern modular family. Architecturally it is far from the brand’s traditional sixes, but it represents the new stage of compact, efficient engines shared across different group models.

It also matters because it served as the combustion base in hybrid applications such as the BMW i8.

BMW S55 (2014-2021)

The S55 marked the definitive arrival of the turbo in the modern M3 and M4. It replaced the naturally aspirated S65 and completely changed the model’s character: more torque, more efficiency and a much more forceful delivery from low revs.

It was a controversial engine for some purists, but fundamental to understanding the modern evolution of BMW M.

BMW B48 (2015-present)

The B48 is BMW’s modern turbo four-cylinder. It belongs to the same modular family as the B38 and B58, and has become one of the central engines of the current range.

Its role is comparable to what engines such as the M10 or N20 had in other eras: being the volume base for a large part of the range.

BMW B58 (2015-present)

The B58 is BMW’s great modern six. It belongs to the current modular family and has been used in a wide variety of models, from saloons and SUVs to sports cars.

It is one of the most valued engines of BMW’s recent stage for its balance of performance, efficiency, smoothness and room to evolve. It also keeps the inline-six tradition alive in an industry increasingly oriented to compact, electrified engines.

BMW S58 (2019-present)

The S58 is BMW M’s current high-performance six. It is used in models such as the M2, M3, M4, X3 M and X4 M.

It is a twin-turbo, closed-deck engine with a much more radical approach than the regular B58. It represents the current development phase of BMW’s sporting six.

BMW S68 (2022-present)

The S68 is BMW M’s modern twin-turbo V8, adapted to the new stage of mild electrification and higher efficiency demands.

It represents the continuity of the high-performance V8 in the current range, but already in a context where hybridisation and electronic management carry more and more weight.

BMW diesel engines

• M21 inline-six turbodiesel (1983–1993)
• M51 inline-six turbodiesel (1991–2000)
• M41 four-cylinder turbodiesel (1994–2000)
• M47 four-cylinder diesel (1998–2006)
• M57 inline-six diesel (1998–2011)
• M67 V8 diesel (1998–2009)
• N47 four-cylinder diesel (2006–2014)
• N57 inline-six diesel (2008–2020)
• B37 three-cylinder diesel (2012–present)
• B47 four-cylinder diesel (2013–present)
• B57 inline-six diesel (2015–present)

BMW M21 (1983-1993)

The M21 was BMW’s first great diesel. It was a turbocharged inline-six that let the brand enter territory where it had not previously carried much weight.

It was the starting point of a long BMW diesel tradition, especially important in Europe.

BMW M51 (1991-2000)

The M51 evolved BMW’s diesel-six idea. It was used in nineties saloons and helped consolidate BMW’s image as a maker of refined, performance-oriented diesels.

Smoothness, torque and long-distance ability were the keys of this family.

BMW M41 (1994-2000)

The M41 was a smaller-displacement turbo-diesel four-cylinder, designed for entry models.

Although it did not have the prestige of the sixes, it mattered for widening BMW’s diesel offer in more rational segments.

BMW M47 (1998-2006)

The M47 was one of BMW’s most important four-cylinder diesels. It was fitted to very popular models and helped the brand compete hard in Europe, especially in 18d and 20d versions.

It was a key engine for bringing modern diesel into the wider BMW range.

BMW M57 (1998-2011)

The M57 is probably one of BMW’s most respected diesels. It is an inline-six highly valued for torque, smoothness, reliability and its ability to move saloons and SUVs with real authority.

For many people it is one of the great European diesel engines of its time. Its balance of performance and durability made it a reference.

BMW M67 (1998-2009)

The M67 was BMW’s diesel V8, a less common engine but very representative of a time when large high-performance diesel saloons still made commercial sense, especially in Europe.

Its existence shows how far diesel came to occupy an important place even in luxury segments.

BMW N47 (2006-2014)

The N47 replaced the M47 and became one of BMW’s most widespread four-cylinder diesels.

It was very important commercially, although it is also known for timing-chain problems in certain versions, an aspect that has marked its reputation heavily.

BMW N57 (2008-2020)

The N57 took over from the M57 as BMW’s great modern diesel six. It improved efficiency, emissions and performance, and was used in a huge variety of models, from saloons to high-end SUVs.

It represents one of the last great stages of the diesel six before more intense regulatory pressure on this type of engine.

BMW B37 (2012-present)

The B37 is the three-cylinder diesel in BMW’s modern modular family. It was used in compact and entry models, chasing very low consumption and greater technical rationalisation inside the group.

BMW B47 (2013-present)

The B47 is BMW’s modern diesel four-cylinder. It replaced the N47 and is part of the brand’s modular strategy, with gains in efficiency, smoothness and emissions.

It is one of the most important diesel engines of BMW’s recent stage.

BMW B57 (2015-present)

The B57 is BMW’s modern diesel six. It continues the tradition started by the M21, M51, M57 and N57, but adapted to a stage of greater regulatory and technological pressure.

It is one of the last great expressions of the diesel six inside the brand.

BMW hybrid and electric engines

With BMW hybrids and electrics it is better to talk about drivetrain systems than about individual engines. In this stage mechanical identity no longer depends only on a combustion block, but on the combination of combustion engine, electric motor, battery, power electronics and vehicle architecture.

• BMW ActiveHybrid (2009–2015)
• BMW i3 eDrive (2013–2022)
• BMW i8 plug-in hybrid (2014–2020)
• BMW plug-in hybrid eDrive (2015–present)
• BMW fifth-generation eDrive (2020–present)
• BMW sixth-generation eDrive / Neue Klasse (2025–present)

BMW ActiveHybrid (2009-2015)

The ActiveHybrid name represented one of BMW’s first electrification stages. It was applied to models such as the 7 Series, 5 Series and 3 Series, combining petrol engines with electric assistance to improve efficiency and response.

It was an early phase, still closely tied to the traditional combustion engine, but important for opening the way to later plug-in hybrids.

BMW i3 eDrive (2013-2022)

The BMW i3 was one of the most important models in the brand’s electric transition. Its eDrive system marked a new stage for BMW, because it was not about adapting a combustion car to electrification, but about creating an electric vehicle from a specific architecture.

The i3 mattered especially because it showed that BMW could propose an urban, light, technological electric car different from any other model in its range.

BMW i8 plug-in hybrid (2014-2020)

The BMW i8 combined a turbo three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric system to create a plug-in-hybrid sports car very different from traditional BMWs.

Its importance is not only in the performance, but in having served as a technological showcase for the brand. The i8 represented a different sports-car idea: futuristic design, electrification and efficiency combined with aspirational image.

BMW plug-in hybrid eDrive (2015-present)

From the mid-2010s BMW extended plug-in hybrid technology to models such as the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, X3 and X5.

These eDrive systems combine petrol engines with electric propulsion so you can drive in electric mode in town and keep the versatility of the combustion engine on longer trips.

BMW fifth-generation eDrive (2020-presente)

The fifth generation of the eDrive system was an important jump in BMW’s modern electric range. It was applied in models such as the iX3, i4 and iX, integrating electric motor, power electronics and transmission in a more compact, efficient unit.

BMW used this generation to consolidate its modern electric offensive, no longer limited to experimental or niche models, but extended to SUVs, saloons and higher-volume cars.

BMW sixth-generation eDrive / Neue Klasse (2025-presente)

The sixth generation of eDrive is the next great electric stage for BMW. It is tied to the brand’s new generation of electric models and to the Neue Klasse platform, with gains in efficiency, batteries, range and electrical architecture.

BMW has presented the Neue Klasse as a new technological stage for the brand, with sixth-generation eDrive as one of its central elements.

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