BMW automotive engine families listed as M337. Specifications below retain the source's separate family and variant labels.
Family specifications
BMW M337
| Field | Reported value |
|---|---|
| Production | 1952-1958 |
| Configuration | Straight-6 |
| Displacement | 2.0–2.1 L (122–128 cu in) |
| Cylinder block material | Cast iron |
| Cylinder head material | Cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Predecessor | BMW M78 |
Variant specifications
Versions
| Model | Displacement | Power | Torque | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M337/1 | 1,971 cc (120.3 cu in) | 48 kW (65 PS; 64 hp) at 4,400 rpm | 129 N⋅m (95 lb⋅ft) at 2,000 rpm | 1952-1954 |
| M337/2 | 1,971 cc (120.3 cu in) | 54 kW (73 PS; 72 hp) at 4,400 rpm | 130 N⋅m (96 lb⋅ft) at 2,500 rpm | 1954-1955 |
| M337/3 | 2,077 cc (126.7 cu in) | 54 kW (73 PS; 72 hp) at 4,400 rpm | 135 N⋅m (100 lb⋅ft) at 2,500 rpm | 1955-1958 |
Recorded vehicle applications
M337/1
- 1952-1954 501
M337/2
- 1954-1955 501A
- 1954-1955 501B
M337/3
- 1955-1958 501/3
BMW automotive engine directory
Design, development and variant notes
Developed from the M78 for BMW's post-war car range, the M337 retains an iron block and head with two overhead valves per cylinder. Changes include the head, inlet manifold and crankshaft bearings.
M337/1 and M337/2 displace 1,971 cc; M337/3 uses a larger bore for 2,077 cc. The later version increased torque without increasing the preceding version's listed peak power.
Data adapted from the cited Wikipedia revision by Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0. Production dates and fitments reflect that revision; verify the exact engine code, market and vehicle before applying a specification.
Sources
Curated reference notes. Applicability follows the cited sources; hardware testing by this wiki is not implied.
- Wikipedia: List of BMW engines. Wikipedia contributors; CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision oldid 1382309748; accessed 2026-11-10.
- Wikipedia: BMW M337. Wikipedia contributors; CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision oldid 1347753948; accessed 2026-11-10.
Further Wikipedia-sourced details
The following additional information is drawn from the cited Wikipedia revision by Wikipedia contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. An open-ended date reflects the source snapshot, not confirmed current production or fitment.
Additional technical and variant notes
The article gives 6.8:1 compression for M337/2. M337/3 enlarges the bore and displacement to 2,077 cc and uses 7.0:1 compression; it is listed with more torque but the same peak power as M337/2.