BMW Engine codes / naming convention explained

BMW engine codes contain an order of numbers and letters which represent specific technical information.  Although at first glance these numbers may seem random, they actually have a meaning.  This is very similar to a VIN or Vehicle Identification Number.  It is a way more manufacturers to record which version the vehicle has.

Understanding the meaning of how the engine codes are written will allow one to remember them easier and apply what they mean to other models.  These engine codes can also be important to the owner when finding replacement parts or learning more about the vehicle specifications.

In the tables below, the example engine code in the upper left hand corner is a typical engine naming convention.  The BOLD portion of the engine code is explained in each table.  The rows below show the different options and the meanings for these configurations.

It is important to note, the format below is for BMW engines created since the mid 1980's.  Previous generation motors had a simpler naming designation, M10 were 4 cylinders, M20 were small displacement 6 cylinders and M30s were large displacement 6 cylinders.  Since BMW vehicle production expanded greatly in the 1980s onward, many new engine variants were created and the basic engine naming convention of the past would simply no longer.  Introducing the naming convention below provide detailed information about the engine in a short format.

Make sure to check out the images below with the engine codes written in the bottom left corner.  See if you can decode the engine model and apply what you learned above.