BMW Engine Family Tree — From M10 to B58

Inline-Four Evolution

M10 (1961-1987)

• BMW's first modern four-cylinder
• 1.5L-2.0L, SOHC
• Used in: 2002, E21 3 Series
• Legendary: 2002 Turbo used a turbocharged M10

M40 (1987-1994)

• Replaced M10, SOHC with belt drive
• 1.6L-1.8L
• Used in: E30 316i/318i, E36 316i/318i

M42/M44 (1989-1999)

• DOHC four-cylinder, sportier than M40
• 1.8L-1.9L
• Used in: E36 318is, Z3 1.9

N42/N46 (2001-2011)

• Valvetronic introduced
• 1.8L-2.0L
• Used in: E46 318i, E90 318i/320i

N20 (2011-2017)

• First turbocharged four-cylinder in decades
• 2.0L turbo, 245 hp
• Timing chain issues on early models

B48 (2015-present)

• Modular architecture (500cc/cylinder)
• 2.0L turbo, 184-258 hp
• Dual injection on TU1 revision

Inline-Six Evolution

M30 (1968-1994)

• BMW's first modern inline-six
• 2.5L-3.5L, SOHC
• Used in: E12, E28, E24, E32, E34
• Legendary: 3.5L in E28 M535i

M50 (1990-1996)

• DOHC, first VANOS (single)
• 2.0L-2.5L
• Used in: E34 520i/525i, E36 320i/325i

M52 (1994-2000)

• Aluminum block, double-VANOS (TU)
• 2.0L-2.8L
• Used in: E36 323i/328i, E39 523i/528i

M54 (2000-2006)

• Refined M52, Alusil liners
• 2.2L-3.0L
• Used in: E46 325i/330i, E39 525i/530i

N52 (2004-2015)

• Magnesium/aluminum block, Valvetronic
• 2.5L-3.0L
• Last NA inline-six for mass market

N54 (2006-2016)

• First modern turbo six, twin-turbo
• 3.0L, 306 hp
• Started the turbo era

N55 (2009-2018)

• Single twin-scroll turbo, Valvetronic
• 3.0L, 306 hp
• More refined than N54

B58 (2015-present)

• Modular architecture, current generation
• 3.0L turbo, 340+ hp
• Dual injection on TU1
• Widely considered BMW's best-ever inline-six

M Division Engines

S14 (1986-1991) — E30 M3

• 2.3L-2.5L four-cylinder, 200-238 hp

S50/S52 (1992-1999) — E36 M3

• 3.0L-3.2L inline-six, 286-321 hp

S54 (2000-2008) — E46 M3, Z4 M

• 3.2L inline-six, 343 hp, 8,000 rpm

S65 (2007-2013) — E9x M3

• 4.0L V8, 414 hp, 8,400 rpm (only V8 M3)

S55 (2014-2018) — F8x M3/M4

• 3.0L twin-turbo I6, 431-450 hp

S58 (2019-present) — G8x M3/M4

• 3.0L twin-turbo I6, 473-510 hp