Introduction to BMW Engine Codes
For decades, BMW has used a systematic coding system for its engines. These codes help mechanics, parts dealers, and enthusiasts identify the correct engine and find matching replacement parts. Understanding these codes is essential for anyone working with or interested in BMW vehicles.
How BMW Engine Codes Are Structured
Similar to chassis numbers, BMW engines are also identified by their own codes. The system is logically structured and follows clear rules:
The Three Letter Categories
M-Engines: Originally developed by BMW. This was the first and most commonly used designation.
N-Engines: Newer BMW engines, introduced after the M-series was exhausted.
S-Engines: High-performance engines from the M-Division. These engines are based on M or N engines but have been optimized by BMW Motorsport for better performance.
Structure of Engine Codes
Example: M47D20
- M47 = Engine type (Engine family 47 of the M-series)
- D = Fuel type (Diesel)
- 20 = Displacement (2.0 liters)
Fuel Designation
“B” = Benzin/Gasoline (Petrol engine)
“D” = Diesel
The displacement is always expressed in whole liters. A “20” means 2.0 liters, a “30” means 3.0 liters, and so on.
BMW Gasoline Engines – Complete Overview
| Engine Code | Models | Production Years |
|---|---|---|
| M10B16 | 114 (1602), 116 (1600), E6 (1602 Touring), E21 (315, 316) | 1967-1984 |
| M10B18 | 114 (1802), E6 (1802 Touring), E12 (518), E21 (318, 318i), E28 (518, 518i), E30 (316, 318i) | 1974-1988 |
| M10B20 | 114 (2002, 2002ti, 2002tii), E6 (2002 Touring, 2002tii Touring), E12 (520, 520i), E20 (2002 Turbo), E21 (320, 320i) | 1966-1977 |
| M115 | 115 (1500) | 1962-1966 |
| M118 | 118 (all) | 1963-1971 |
| M15 | 120 (all), 121 (all) | 1966-1972 |
| M20B20 | E12 (520/6), E21 (320/6), E28 (520i), E30 (320i), E34 (520i) | 1977-1991 |
| M20B23 | E21 (323i), E30 (323i) | 1978-1986 |
| M20B25 | E30 (325i), E34 (525i) | 1985-1994 |
| M20B27 | E28 (525e), E30 (325e) | 1981-1988 |
| M30B25 | E3 (2500), E9 (2500cs), E12 (525), E28 (525i) | 1973-1987 |
| M30B28 | E3 (2800), E9 (2800cs), E12 (528, 528i), E23 (728, 728i), E24 (628CSi), E28 (528i) | 1975-1987 |
| M30B30 | E3 (3.0s, 3.0si, 3.0L), E9 (3.0cs, 3.0csi), E23 (730), E24 (630cs), E32 (730i, 730iL), E34 (530i) | 1971-1994 |
| M30B32 | E3 (3.3L), E9 (3.0CSL), E23 (732i, 733i), E24 (633csi) | 1974-1986 |
| M30B33 | E3 (3.3L) | 1975-1977 |
| M30B34 | E24 (635csi) | 1978-1988 |
| M30B35 | E12 (535i), E23 (735i), E24 (635csi), E28 (535i, M535i), E32 (735i, 735iL), E34 (535i) | 1979-1993 |
| M30B45 | E23 (745i) | 1983-1986 |
| M40B16 | E30 (316i), E36 (316i) | 1987-1994 |
| M40B18 | E30 (318i), E34 (518i), E36 (318i) | 1987-1994 |
| M42B18 | E30 (318is), E36 (318is) | 1989-1996 |
| M43B16 | E36 (316i) | 1993-1999 |
| M43B18 | E34 (518i), E36 (318i, Z31.8) | 1990-1999 |
| M43B19 | E36 (316i, Z3 1.9) | 1999-2003 |
| M43TUB19 | E46 (316i, 318i, 318ci) | 1998-2001 |
| M44B19 | E36 (318is, 318ti, Z3 1.9) | 1995-1999 |
| M50B20 | E34 (520i), E36 (320i) | 1989-1995 |
| M50B25 | E34 (525i, 525ix), E36 (325i) | 1989-1996 |
| M52B20 | E36 (320i), E39 (520i) | 1993-2000 |
| M52TUB20 | E36 (Z3 2.0i), E46 (320i) | 1998-2000 |
| M52B25 | E36 (323i, 323ti), E39 (523i) | 1995-2000 |
| M52TUB25 | E46 (323i, 323ci) | 1998-2000 |
| M52B28 | E36 (328i, Z3 2.8i), E38 (728i, 728iL), E39 (528i) | 1994-2001 |
| M52TUB28 | E46 (328i, 328ci) | 1998-2000 |
| M54B22 | E36 (Z3 2.2i), E39 (520i), E46 (320i, 320ci), E60 (520i), E61 (520i), E85 (Z4 2.2i) | 2000-2007 |
| M54B25 | E39 (525i), E46 (325i, 325ci), E60 (525i), E61 (525i), E83 (X3 2.5i), E85 (Z4 2.5i) | 2000-2007 |
| M54B30 | E36 (Z3 3.0i), E39 (530i), E46 (330,330ci), E53 X5 3.0i), E60 (530i), E61 (530i), E83 (X3 3.0i), E85 (Z4 3.0i) | 2000-2007 |
| M60B30 | E32 (730i, 730iL), E34 (530i), E38 (730i, 730iL) | 1992-1996 |
| M60B40 | E31 (840ci), E32 (740i, 740iL), E34 (540i), E38 (740i, 740iL) | 1992-1996 |
| M62B35 | E38 (735I, 735iL), E39 (535i) | 1996-1999 |
| M62TUB35 | E38 (735I, 735iL), E39 (535i) | 1998-2003 |
| M62B44 | E31 (840ci), E38 (740i, 740iL), E39 (540i) | 1995-1999 |
| M62TUB44 | E38 (740i, 740iL), E39 (540i), E53 (X5 4.4i) | 1999-2004 |
| M62B46 | E53 (X5 4.6is) | 2001-2003 |
| M70B50 | E31 (850i), E32 (750i, 750iL) | 1987-1994 |
| M73B53 | E31 (850i), E32 (750i, 750iL) | 1994-2001 |
| N42B18 | E46 (316i, 316ti) | 2001-2004 |
| N42B20 | E46 (318i, 318ci, 318ti) | 2002-2003 |
| N43B16 | E81 (116i), E87 (116i), E90 (316i), E91 (316i) | 2007-2009 |
| N43B20 | E60 (520i), E61 (520i), E81 (116i, 118i, 120i), E82 (120i), E84 (X1 18i), E87 (116i, 118i, 120i), E88 (118i, 120i), E90 (318i, 320i), E91 (318i, 320i), E92 (320i), E93 (320i) | 2007- |
| N45B16 | E87 (116i) | 2004-2007 |
| N45B20 | E90 (320si) | 2006- |
| N46B18 | E46 (316i, 316ti) | 2004-2005 |
| N46B20 | E46 (318ci), E60 (520i), E61 (520i), E83 (X3 2.0i), E85 (Z4 2.0i), E87 (118i, 120i), E90 (318i, 320i), E91 (318i, 320i), E92 (320i), E93 (320i) | 2003-2010 |
| N52B25 | E60 (523i, 525i, 525xi), E61 (523i, 525i, 525xi), E83 (X3 2.5si), E85 (Z4 2.5i, Z4 2.5si), E89 (Z4 23i), E90 (323i, 325i, 325xi), E91 (323i, 325i, 325xi), E92 (325i, 325xi), E93 (325i) | 2005- |
| N52B30 | E60 (530i, 530xi), E61 (530i, 530xi), E63 (630i), E64 (630i), E65 (730i), E66 (730iL), E70 (X5 30i), E81 (130i), E82 (125i, 128i), E83 (X3 3.0si), E85 (Z4 3.0i), E86 (Z4 3.0si), E87 (130i), E88 (125i, 128i), E90 (330i, 330xi), E91 (330i, 330xi) | 2004- |
| N53B25 | E60 (523i), E61 (523i) | 2007-2010 |
| N53B30 | E60 (525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi), E61 (525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi), E63 (630i), E64 (630i), E84 (X1 25ix, X1 28ix), E89 (Z4 30i), E90 (325i, 325ix, 330i, 330ix), E91 (325i, 325ix, 330i, 330ix), E92 (325i, 325ix, 330i, 330ix), E93 (325i, 330i), F01 (730i), F02 (730iL), F10 (523i, 528i), F11 (523i, 528i), F25 (X3 28i) | 2007- |
| N54B30 | E71 (X6 35i), E82 (135i), E88 (135i), E90 (335i, 335xi), E91 (335i, 335xi), E92 (335i), E93 (335i), F01 (740i), F02 (740iL) | 2007- |
| N55B30 | E70 (X5 35i), E71 (X6 35i), E89 (Z4 35i, Z4 35si), E90 (335i, 335ix), E91 (335i, 335ix), E92 (335i, 335xi), E93 (335i), F07 (GT 535i), F10 (535i), F11 (535i), F25 (X3 35i) | 2009- |
| N62B36 | E65 (735i), E66 (735iL) | 2001-2003 |
| N62B40 | E60 (540i), E65 (740i), E66 (740iL) | 2002-2010 |
| N62B44 | E53 (X5 4.4i), E60 (545i), E61 (545i), E63 (645Ci), E64 (645Ci), E65 (745i), E66 (745iL) | 2002-2007 |
| N62B48 | E53 (X5 4.8is), E60 (550i), E61 (550i), E63 (650i), E64 (650i), E65 (750i), E66 (750iL), E70 (X5 4.8i) | 2003- |
| N63B44 | E70 (X5 50i), E72 (X6 50i), F01 (750i), F02 (750iL), F07 (GT 550i, GT 550ix), F10 (550i, 550ix) | 2008- |
| N73B60 | E65 (760i), E66 (760iL) | 2003-2006 |
| N74B60 | F01 (760i), F02 (760iL) | 2009- |
BMW M-Power / Motorsport Engines
The S-series represents BMW’s high-performance engines developed by the legendary M-Division. These engines are the heart of the M-models and offer exceptional performance and driving pleasure.
| Engine Code | Models | Production Years |
|---|---|---|
| S14B20 | E30 (320is) | 1987-1990 |
| S14B23 | E30 (M3) | 1986-1991 |
| S38B35 | E24 (M635csi), E28 (M5) | 1984-1989 |
| S38B36 | E34 (M5) | 1988-1992 |
| S38B38 | E34 (M5) | 1992-1996 |
| S50B30 | E36 (M3) | 1992-1995 |
| S50B32 | E36 (M3, Z3 M) | 1995-2001 |
| S54B32 | E36 (Z3 M), E46 (M3, M3 CSL), E85 (Z4 M), E86 (Z4 M) | 2001-2009 |
| S62B50 | E39 (M5), E52 (Z8) | 1998-2003 |
| S63B44 | E70 (X5 M), E71 (X6 M) | 2009- |
| S65B40 | E90 (M3), E92 (M3), E93 (M3) | 2007- |
| S70B56 | E31 (850csi) | 1993-1996 |
| S85B50 | E60 (M5), E61 (M5), E63 (M6), E64 (M6) | 2005- |
BMW Diesel Engines – Complete Overview
BMW diesel engines are known for their efficiency, durability, and surprising performance capability. Diesel variants are marked with the letter “D” in the engine code.
| Engine Code | Models | Production Years |
|---|---|---|
| M21D24 | E28 (524d, 524td), E30 (324d, 324td), E34 (524td) | 1983-1991 |
| M41D18 | E36 (318tds) | 1994-2000 |
| M47D20 | E39 (520d), E46 (318td, 320d) | 1998-2005 |
| M47TUD20 | E46 (320d, 320cd, 320td), E60 (520d), E61 (520d), E83 (X3 2.0d) | 2001-2009 |
| M47TU2D20 | E60 (520d), E61 (520d), E87 (118d, 120d), E90 (318d, 320d), E91 (318d, 320d) | 2004-2007 |
| M51D25 | E34 (525td, 525tds), E36 (325td, 325tds), E38 (725tds), E39 (525td, 525tds) | 1990-2001 |
| M57D25 | E39 (525d) | 2000-2004 |
| M57TUD25 | E60 (525d), E61 (525d) | 2003-2007 |
| M57D30 | E38 (730d), E39 (530d), E46 (330d, 330cd), E53 (X5 3.0d) | 1999-2004 |
| M57TUD30 | E46 (330d, 330cd, 330xd), E53 (X5 3.0d), E60 (530d, 530xd, 535d), E61 (530d, 530xd, 535d), E65 (730d), E66 (730Dl), E83 (X3 3.0 |