The most popular and best BMW engines - models, types, cars

You will have expenses, a rural youth car, a very small car - there are enough ideas for the development of the abbreviation BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke). Interesting that they are still being made. Some people directly mock this brand, arguing that such cars are chosen only by lovers of fast driving sideways and bass speakers behind the back seat. Others value driving comfort, BMW engines and steering precision. 

Can the views of these two groups be reconciled? Let's try to go beyond the stereotypes and present several iconic and recommended engines used in cars of this brand. In this text, you will learn the purpose of BMW engines, which will help you choose the perfect car for yourself.

BMW engine marking - how to read it?

The popular model on Polish roads, namely the BMW E46 323i, has a 6-cylinder petrol engine. What is the capacity? Is it 2.3 liters? Well, no, because the real volume of this unit is 2494 cm³, which means 2.5 liters. And this is not only about this model. Therefore, before we move on to the presentation of the best BMW engines, it is worth explaining the methodology for naming individual designs. And it's not difficult, with a few exceptions.

Individual BMW engines are identified by numbers and letters. Each code starts with a letter - M, N or S. There is then space to indicate the range of the number of cylinders. In the case of BMW it looks like this:  

• 4-cylinder units - numbers 40-47;
• 6-cylinder units - numbers 50 and above;
• 8-cylinder engines - from 60;
• 12-cylinder designs - from 70 and above.

The exceptions mentioned above are a few petrol engines such as the N13 1.6L 4-cylinder, 4-liter turbocharged 26-cylinder engine, and the N20 which is a variant of the N4 and also has XNUMX cylinders.

However, this is not the end, because BMW engines have a slightly different marking. The character string, for example, N20, is also followed by a letter indicating the type of fuel (B - gasoline, D - diesel), then a number indicating power (20 - 2 liter engine) and a design code. , for example, TU.

BMW E46 engines - the best units available

It cannot be denied that at present the BMW 3 Series in the E46 version, produced from 1998 to 2005, is one of the most popular models in our country. In addition, reviews of the BMW e46 are rather positive. The engine range includes 13 petrol and 5 diesel engines. In fact, they are all in the power range from 1.6 to 3.2 liters. One of the most frequently recommended is the M52B28 engine with 2.8 liters, 6 cylinders in a row and 193 hp. However, this is not all that is worth paying attention to in this version.

Here we must pay tribute to the 2.2-liter unit. This is an M54B22 6-cylinder engine with 170 hp. In addition to occasional coil failures and delicate oil consumption, they are, according to users, one of the most durable six-cylinder units, perfect for everyday use. The performance may not be as exciting as in the larger versions, as the car is not the lightest (over 1400kg).

In this list there is a place for a diesel engine, and this is of course the M57D30. This is a three-liter unit that once won the "Best Engine of the Year" award. Currently, this is one of those models that are used not only for efficient movement, but also for tuning. BMW E46 engines do not leave much choice in diesel units, and the BMW 3.0 engine diesel it is especially durable.

BMW E60 – engines worth looking at

To the list of other cars that the Poles willingly choose, we must add the BMW with the E60 engine from the 5th series. Production began in 2003 and continued until 2010. There are 9 different petrol designs (some in different power options like the N52B25) and 3 diesel designs ranging from 2 to 3 liters. When it comes to the BMW E60, the least trouble-free engine is certainly the petrol model N53B30, i.e. a six-cylinder and three-liter unit with direct fuel injection. This eliminated the difficulties with the warhead that were available in the N52 installations.

There is no big surprise in the diesel category - the three-liter M57D30 with 218 hp still reigns here. It must be admitted that, despite the significant curb weight of the car (more than 1500 kg), fuel consumption of about 9 liters is an acceptable result. In addition, these BMW engines are among the most durable.

BMW X1 - great crossover engines

When it comes to BMW, it's impossible not to notice the commercial vehicle segment that the X1 fits into. This is a combination of great comfort and acceptable maneuverability in the city (the shape is similar to the X3, a floor slab from the 3rd series). And which BMW X1 engines would you recommend?

There are more diesel engines on offer than gasoline engines in this segment. This does not mean that all of them are worth recommending. According to drivers, the N47D20 engine is the best. According to the vast majority, this is a very pleasant to use design with decent performance and moderate fuel consumption. However, it should be remembered that in these motors the timing drive is located on the side of the gearbox and is carried out by a chain. That is why it is extremely important to service your car regularly and use very good quality oil.

In the range of BMW 1 gasoline engines, the N20B20 unit with a capacity of 218 or 245 hp receives very good reviews. With such dimensions of the car (up to 1575 kg), fuel consumption at the level of 9 liters is not a tragedy. According to user feedback, this design is very strong and reliable, and at the same time it has a very good work culture. The disadvantage may be that the injection system is quite sensitive and, by the way, expensive to replace. For the rest, there is not much to complain about.

Other most popular drives in BMW

In the beginning, it is worth mentioning the 4-cylinder design that was installed in the BMW 3 Series, i.e. M42B18. This 140 hp BMW engine and 16 valves have a very good resource and work culture (of course, for 4 cylinders). He is not a big fan of tuning with LPG, but runs on gasoline without problems. Of course, it is worth considering its younger brother M44B19 with the same power.

It is useful to know which BWM engine is still worth trusting. Of course, this is a slightly larger design often used in motorsports. We are talking about the M62b44 unit with a capacity of 286 hp. According to many drivers, this is a great-sounding engine that runs great on gas and is capable of traveling hundreds of thousands of kilometers. Since this is not a new model, careful maintenance should be carried out when buying.

BMW engines - what to remember?

BMW engines don't always have to be expensive. A very well-maintained copy pays off with trouble-free operation for many years. However, you should be careful that many popular models, such as the E46, E60, E90 and especially the good E36, can bear the marks of desperate speed enthusiasts. It is impossible to deny the reliability and high work culture of BMW engines, although there were incidents. So which engine will you choose? Perhaps one of the above?