Tech - News
The 5 Most Dependable BMW Engines Ever Built
By JOE CAPRARO
M20
The M20 powered the E30 series of BMWs from the late ’70s through the early ’90s. E-30’s with this engine commonly ran past the 200,000-mile mark.
The SOHC design was simple enough for many mechanics to keep running on their own, which is why so many E30s are still in the clutches of their loyal owners.
M50
When the E30 series gave way to the E36, so did the M20 engine to the M50, a motor that introduced BMW’s variable valve timing VANOS system.
BMW produced several variations of the M50 with displacements that ranged from 2.0 to 2.5 liters. The DOHC motors had four valves per cylinder, an iron block, and an aluminum head.
M54
BMW introduced the M54 in 2000, placing it in a wide range of models from the X3 and X5 to the E46 3 Series, the E85 Z4, and the E65 7 Series between 2000 and 2006.
With its technical advances, the M54 delivered 228 horsepower and 221 ft-lb of torque. It carried a reputation for reliability, winning Ward’s best engine from 2001 to 2003.
N52
The N52 was introduced in 2004 and used 2.5 and 3.0 versions in various models until 2015, when BMW transitioned to turbocharged engines for its entire lineup.
The engine incorporated many of the features of the M54, including an electronic throttle and double VANOS systems, but it also introduced an electric water pump.
B58
Debuting in 2015, the B58 is BMW’s current inline 6-cylinder offering. It could be BMW’s most dependable and technologically advanced motor yet.
The B58 is remarkably heat-efficient and inherits BMW’s VANOS valve timing and Valvetronic valve lift systems from its predecessors.