Each car manufacturer assigns an internal code to the car chassis and engine it produces to identify R&D and production projects, and BMW plans these chassis codes and engine codes in an orderly manner. For example, the engine has M, N, B, Codes such as S, P or W are identified, while chassis and bodies are marked with codes such as E, F, G or i.
BMW engine code:
BMW's early engine code identification was very simple, four-cylinder engine code: M10, small-displacement six-cylinder engine code: M20, large-displacement six-cylinder engine code: M30, but as BMW's engine range expanded, they needed to redefine more Meaningful code names.
M series engines first appeared in E12, E21, E23, E24 and other models, and were later replaced by N series engines around 2005-2006. After 2016, B series engines gradually replaced N series engines. Series engines are basically used in BMW standard models.
The exclusive engine models on most BMW M Cars have the "S" code, except for some M models, such as the earliest M2, while the "P" code is used on official motorsport competition engines.
Here’s a brief explanation:
| serial number | meaning | index | illustrate |
| 1 | engine developer | M，N，B | BMW Group |
| P | BMW Motorsport | ||
| S | BMW M GmbH | ||
| IN | Purchased engine | ||
| 2 | Engine type | 1 | R4 inline engine (such as N18) |
| 2 | R4 inline engine (such as N20) | ||
| 3 | R3 inline engine (such as B38) | ||
| 4 | R4 inline engine (such as N43) | ||
| 5 | R6 inline engine (such as N55) | ||
| 6 | V8 engine (such as N63) | ||
| 7 | V12 engine (such as N74) | ||
| 8 | V10 engine (such as S85) | ||
| 3 | Standard engine plan changes | 0 | Standard engine |
| 1-9 | Indicates technical changes, such as combustion methods | ||
| 4 | Working method, fuel and installation location | A | Transversely mounted gasoline engine |
| B | Longitudinal mounting of gasoline engine | ||
| C | Transversely mounted diesel engine | ||
| D | Longitudinal mounting of diesel engine | ||
| AND | Electric ethanol | ||
| H | hydrogen power | ||
| K | Rear transversely mounted gasoline engine | ||
| P | Permanent magnet excited synchronous motor | ||
| 5、6 | Displacement (1/10L) | 30 | 3.0L |
| 16 | 1.6L | ||
| 7 | power registration | K | smallest |
| IN | inferior | ||
| M | medium | ||
| O | Superior (Standard) | ||
| T | Top | ||
| S | super | ||
| 8 | Changes related to authorized release | 0 | New research and development |
| 1-9 | Upgrade and facelift |
Having said this, some people may also be confused. At the end of 2018, BMW launched the B58TU engine. What does TU here mean? Is this B58 with TU the same as the B58 without TU? In fact, it can be understood that they are all B58 series engines, and the ones with TU are upgraded versions of B58. The two letters TU mean Technical Update, technical upgrade.
For example, improvements in fuel injectors, timing chains, tensioners, Vanos gears, cylinder head design and water cooling cycles have all received technological upgrades, which will not be explained in detail here.
Each engine is engraved with the engine code. Where is the specific location and how to check it? The following are the search locations for various BMW engine codes. Different models have slightly different locations.
M code:
M20
M30
M42、M44
M47、M47TU、M47T2
M52、M52TU、M54
M56
M57、M57TU、M57T2
M60、M62
M67、M67TU
M70、M73
N code:
N12、N13、N14、N16、N18
N20、N26
N40、 N43、N45、N45T
N42、N46、N46T
N47、N47S、N47C、N47T、N57、N57S、N57T
N51、N52、N52K、N52T、N53、N54、N55
N62、N62TU
N63, N63O1, N63O2, S63, N74, N74O1, S63T0 engine number 2001 0052 from the right side of cylinders 1-4. S63T0 engine number 2001 0053 from the 5-8 cylinder left side. E72 vehicles must be mounted on the left side of cylinder 5-8.
N73
N74
B code:
B37、B38A、B47、B48A
B38B、B48B
B57
B58
S code:
S50、S52、S54
S55
S62
S63
S70
S65、S85
W code:
W10、W11
The following table provides a detailed introduction to the corresponding chassis and engine models of each BMW series. Please enlarge to view:
BMW chassis code:
The car chassis code we are used to talking about is the development serial number compiled by the automobile manufacturer in order to distinguish different series of models during the research and development process. The correct name should be Development code a>, English: Development Code. Car series with the same chassis number can derive many different models. For example, the chassis code of the current standard-axle 3 Series is G20. There are different models such as 325i, 330i, M340i, etc., all of which have the chassis code G20 and use similar bodies. And the suspension structure, only the configuration of the engine, interior, and on-board equipment is different.
BMW started with Isetta and had a development code name. The development code name of Isetta was 100. Until the launch of the 3000Si in 1968, BMW began to use the letter E as the first letter of the chassis number, and the number of the 3000Si was E3.
BMW 3000Si
The E-series naming has continued for nearly 50 years, and the E93 3 Series hardtop convertible is the last E-code model. Starting from the previous generation 7 Series F01, the F generation began. As BMW's product line gradually enriches, the F+ two-digit development number is too crowded. Starting from the new generation 7 Series G11, the arrival of the G generation also means that many of BMW's technologies and configurations have been completely reborn.