The BMW M54 is a naturally aspirated straight-6 petrol engine produced from 2000 to 2006. It was released in the E53 X5 and is the replacement for the M52 engine. The S54 is the equivalent high performance engine, used in the E46 M3, the Z3 M Coupรฉ/Roadster and the E85/E86 Z4 M.
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How do I know my BMW engine code?

What cars have the N52 engine?
The N52 was predominately found in the E90 325i, 328i and 330i, and the E60 525i and 528i models, as well as various others such as the 128i, X1, and Z4 to name a few. The N52 was produced from 2004 up until 2015 when it was replaced by the turbocharged N20 engine.
What engine is in a E46 M3?
The E46 M3 is powered by the S54 straight-six engine and has a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time of 5.1 seconds for the coupรฉ, with either the manual or SMG-II transmission.
Is M54 a good engine?
The M54 engine is a naturally aspirated inline-6 that was primarily featured in the 2000-2006 E46 3-series, in addition to the Z3/Z4 and X3/X5 models of the time. They are known to be overall great performers, reliable, and tons of fun.
What year E46 is best?
- VANOS Oil Pump.
- VANOS Solenoid.
- Camshaft Sprocket Bolts.
- Exhaust Camshaft Hub.
Why E46 is the best?
It had a high-revving inline-6 engine, and lightweight construction, capturing the essence of the iconic BMW M3 E30. Since then, people considered the E46 generation as the greatest M car built due to its simplicity, appeal, and just overall design of it all.
Does E46 M3 have Turbo?
Pushing out over 1000whp, this stunning turbocharged E46 M3 finished in Laguna Seca blue is a simply staggering performance build that’s on a whole other level. Feature from Performance BMW. Words: Elizabeth de Latour.
How do I find out what engine I have?
“You can identify your car’s engine type by the VIN found in the owner’s manual or under the hood. The eighth digit contains the information on the engine.”
How do I know what size engine I have?
You can find your vehicle’s engine size on your window sticker. It will be listed under Vehicle Description on top of the window sticker.
How do I find my engine number?
Engine – It is found on the body of the car’s engine. The manufacturers ensure that the number is very clearly visible. It is imprinted on a mental sticker and placed strategically so that it is easy to see when the hood of the car is opened.
Is my BMW N52 or N51?
BMW N51 VS N52 The easiest way to know what engine your car is equipped with is to check the emissions label under the hood. The N51 will say “SULEV”, while the N52 will have “ULEV”.
How much HP can a N52 handle?
BMW N52 Tunes They’re showcased all over the place for their ability to pick up 50-100+ horsepower on certain turbo BMW engines. However, tunes are a bit different on naturally aspirated engines.
What year is BMW N52 engine?
The BMW N52 is a naturally aspirated straight-six petrol engine which was produced from 2004-2015. The N52 replaced the BMW M54 and debuted on the E90 3 Series and E63 6 Series. The N52 was the first water-cooled engine to use magnesium/aluminium composite construction in the engine block.
Is E46 M3 fast?
Fresh from the dyno, the M3 claimed the title of “Fastest BMW” with a speed of 178mph.
What engine is in an M3?
The M3 is powered by BMW’s S58 twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, which produces 473 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque in standard form. It’s paired to a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the rear wheels exclusively.
Is M54 better than N52?
According to Wikipedia the earlier M54 makes slightly more power at 228hp vs 215hp for the latter N52. Probably not enough difference to worry about. Although there does seem to be a 35ft-lb torque difference, in favour of the older engine.
Can you turbo a M54?
The M54 comes standard as a straight-6 naturally aspirated engineโmeaning it doesn’t have any turbochargers or superchargers installed by default. If you install an aftermarket turbocharger, you can boost the car’s horsepower up into the high 300s or low 400s.
How much power can you get out of a M54?
The M54 can pick up a decent chunk of power with the above 4 mods. 3.0L engines in the 30i models will probably see somewhere in the ballpark of 20-30 horsepower with all the above mods. Smaller variants will likely end up on the lower end of that, if not a bit less. It may not be quite enough power for some.
How much HP does a BMW E46 M3 have?
The owner estimates the M3 is making around 355 horsepower (265 kilowatts) at the crank, versus an original output of 333 hp (248 kW).
Is BMW M3 a sports car?
Rather, let’s talk BMW M3. In the eyes of many, it’s the sports car from the Fatherland. Bimmer has been making their racing machine since 1986. Over those many long years, the M3 has undergone many changes.
Which is more reliable E46 or E90?
E90 vs E46: Reliability However, the E46 engines are generally more reliable than the E90 engines. Additionally, the E46 has less standard equipment and electronics that may cause problems. Look for a well maintained E46 that has some of the common repairs already done and you’ll likely have a reliable experience.
Why are E46 M3 so expensive?
The BMW E46 M3’s all-round excellence and increasing scarcity have led to high prices. The BMW E46 M3’s timelessness means finding one to call your own takes a considerable amount of money, especially for models in pristine condition. The magic of this car is that it can be many things to many drivers.
Is an E46 a sports car?
The BMW M3 E46 Coupรฉ took the hearts of real sports car fans by storm when it launched in 2000. With a low weight construction and the high-rev concept of its inline 6-cylinder engine, for many it embodied a return to the virtues of the iconic BMW M3 E30.
Who designed E46 M3?
The talented BMW exterior designer, Erik Goplen, the same very guy who designed the iconic E46 3 Series, is back in action with the new F25 BMW X3.