I can never remember the BMW engine nomenclature

"Hermann" (hermann) 02/18/2016 at 13:42 • Filed to: BMW, Timeline, Engines

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So I made a handy timeline in every engineer’s best friend.

I know Wikipedia has a similar one, but it's not really accurate and it doesn't include all engines

I still need to work on the organization and color codes to make it more readable. I’m colorblind, so I had to pick some pretty strong colors.

Did I miss anything?

Also, pretty much every source gives a year to each engine, so correct me if something’s wrong. And some engines like the S62 was in production until much later because they sold engines to boutique car manufacturers, so I picked the latest BMW production car.

dogisbadob > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 13:52

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What is the A/B/C mean?

miadaman? yes please > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 14:09

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I’m not going to pretend I understand what a “Benzin” is, but that’s some fine Excel work.

Hermann > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 14:12

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It’s just an example of the different styles of each category.

TheNeonDriver - Now with More BMW! > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 14:13

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Did not know that the N55 was in production from ‘09. Interesting.

Chariotoflove > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 14:14

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Honestly, I don’t understand any of the BMW nomenclature people use around here. I don’t mean model names. I mean when people say “E-ninety-this” or “E-eighty-that” or whatever. I figure they’re just talking some private enthusiast’s dialect that I never learned about chassis versions or something.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > miadaman? yes please 02/18/2016 at 14:20

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I think it’s italian or spanish for gasoline

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Chariotoflove 02/18/2016 at 14:46

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It’s like saying what generation the car is. Also it covers every different engine used in that generation.

miadaman? yes please > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 02/18/2016 at 14:49

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Turns out it’s German for petrol, so you are correct sir.

Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 02/18/2016 at 15:02

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German actually.

finn's arm > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 15:56

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I had no clue that the N54 was still in production. I’m curious about the longevity of the B-series 6 cyl engines w/ the timing chains next to the firewalls.

Chariotoflove > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 02/18/2016 at 16:00

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I figured it’s something like that from the syntax. I just don’t speak Bimmerese. ;)

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Chariotoflove 02/18/2016 at 16:03

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And now they have alpha numeric codes starting with f and g as well.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 17:36

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M30 ftw.

Hermann > finn's arm 02/18/2016 at 18:07

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It's only alive because of the Z4. Which also has a pretty impressive longevity.

Hermann > dogisbadob 02/18/2016 at 18:08

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It’s just an example of the different styles of each category.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Hermann 02/18/2016 at 20:30

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Isn’t there more overlap? I thought M52 made it one or two years into the e46

Hermann > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 02/19/2016 at 04:58

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As I said, it kinda depends on who you ask. I tried relying on the sense of when the car they were in was last in production mostly.

But you’re right. The M52 was in production up to the 2000 E46 and E38. I’ll fix it.

DasWauto > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 02/19/2016 at 14:16

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German, it does mean gasoline though.