BMW M50 and S50 engines

BMW automotive engine families listed as M50, S50. Specifications below retain the source's separate family and variant labels.

Family specifications

BMW M50 engine

Field	Reported value
Production	1990–1995
Configuration	Straight-6
Displacement	1,991 cc (121 cu in ) 2,494 cc (152 cu in )
Cylinder bore	80 mm (3.1 in) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Piston stroke	66 mm (2.6 in) 75 mm (3.0 in)
Cylinder block material	Cast iron
Cylinder head material	Aluminium
Valvetrain	DOHC
Fuel type	Petrol
Predecessor	BMW M20 and M30
Successor	BMW M50TÜ

BMW M50TÜ engine

Field	Reported value
Production	1992–1996
Configuration	Straight-6
Displacement	1,991 cc (121 cu in ) 2,394 cc (146 cu in ) 2,494 cc (152 cu in )
Cylinder bore	80 mm (3.1 in) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Piston stroke	66 mm (2.6 in) 72 mm (2.8 in) 75 mm (3.0 in)
Cylinder block material	Cast iron
Cylinder head material	Aluminium
Valvetrain	DOHC , VVT
Fuel type	Petrol
Predecessor	BMW M50
Successor	BMW M52

BMW S50 engine

Field	Reported value
Production	1992–2000
Configuration	Straight-6
Displacement	2,990 cc (182 cu in ) 3,201 cc (195 cu in )
Cylinder bore	86 mm (3.4 in) 86.4 mm (3.40 in)
Piston stroke	85.8 mm (3.38 in) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Cylinder block material	Cast iron
Cylinder head material	Aluminium
Valvetrain	DOHC , with VVT
Fuel type	Petrol
Predecessor	None
Successor	BMW S52 and S54

Variant specifications

Models

Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque	Years
M50B20	1,991 cc (121.5 cu in)	110 kW (150 PS; 148 hp) at 6,000 rpm	190 N⋅m (140 lb⋅ft) at 4,700 rpm	1990-1992
M50B25	2,494 cc (152.2 cu in)	141 kW (192 PS; 189 hp) at 6,000 rpm	245 N⋅m (181 lb⋅ft) at 4,700 rpm	1990-1992

Models

Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque	Years
M50B20TÜ	1,991 cc (121.5 cu in)	110 kW (150 PS; 148 hp) at 5,900 rpm	190 N⋅m (140 lb⋅ft) at 4,200 rpm	1992-1996
M50B24TÜ	2,394 cc (146.1 cu in)	138 kW (188 PS; 185 hp) at 5,900 rpm	240 N⋅m (180 lb⋅ft) at 4,200 rpm	1992-1996
M50B25TÜ	2,494 cc (152.2 cu in)	141 kW (192 PS; 189 hp) at 5,900 rpm	250 N⋅m (180 lb⋅ft) at 4,200 rpm	1992-1996

Models

Engine	Displacement	Power	Torque	Years
S50B30	2,990 cc (182.5 cu in)	210 kW (286 PS; 282 hp) at 7,000 rpm	329 N⋅m (243 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm	1992-1995
S50B30 (M3-R)	2,990 cc (182.5 cu in)	240 kW (326 PS; 322 hp) at 7,200 rpm	320 N⋅m (236 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm	1994
S50B30GT	2,990 cc (182.5 cu in)	217 kW (295 PS; 291 hp) at 7,100 rpm	323 N⋅m (238 lb⋅ft) at 3,900 rpm	1994-1995
S50B30US	2,990 cc (182.5 cu in)	179 kW (243 PS; 240 hp) at 6,000 rpm	225 lb⋅ft (305 N⋅m) at 4,250 rpm	1994-1995
S50B32	3,201 cc (195.3 cu in)	236 kW (321 PS; 316 hp) at 7,400 rpm	350 N⋅m (260 lb⋅ft) at 3,250 rpm	1995-2000

Recorded vehicle applications

M50B20

1990-1992 E34 520i
1991-1995 E36 320i

M50B25

1990-1992 E34 525i, 525ix
1991-1992 E36 325i, 325is

M50B20TÜ

1992-1994 E36 320i
1992-1996 E34 520i

M50B24TÜ

1993-1995 E36 325iA/2.4
1992-1996 E34 525iA/2.4

M50B25TÜ

1993-1995 E36 325i, 325is
1992-1996 E34 525i, 525ix

S50B30

1992-1995 E36 M3 (except for U.S.)

S50B30 (M3-R)

1994 E36 M3-R (Australia only)

S50B30GT

1994-1995 E36 M3 GT Coupé

S50B30US

1994-1995 E36 M3 (U.S. only)

S50B32

1995-1999 BMW M3 (E36) (except Canada and the United States)
1996-2000 BMW M Coupé and M Roadster (except Canada and the United States)

BMW automotive engine directory

Design, development and variant notes

The M50 replaced the M20's belt-driven single-cam layout with a chain-driven, four-valve twin-cam head, iron block and electronic multi-point injection. The 1992 M50TU added inlet-cam VANOS.

The S50 family powered M applications. European and North American S50B30 variants are different designs and outputs, while the S50B32 is a later larger-displacement version.

Variant dimensions and compression

These values are associated with the named variant and source qualifier; equipment and market specifications can differ. A dash means the value is not listed here.

Variant	Bore (mm)	Stroke (mm)	Compression ratio	Source qualifier
M50B20	80	66	10.5:1	Original non-TU version
M50B25	84	75	10.0:1	Original non-TU version
S50B30	86	85.8	10.8:1	Version used outside the North American market
S50B30US	86	85.8	—	North American version
S50B32	86.4	91	11.3:1	—

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 M50. Wikipedia contributors; CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision oldid 1383681750; 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 one-off 1993 E34 Enduro Touring concept used an enlarged M50B30TÜ; Wikipedia lists 181 kW and 316 N⋅m for it. This was a concept rather than a normal production variant.

The source's S50B30GT table lists 217 kW, while its prose gives 220 kW. The discrepancy is retained for verification instead of choosing one as authoritative.

Further specifications from the cited article

Additional facts are adapted from this Wikipedia revision by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The S50B32 is listed with 86.4 × 91 mm bore and stroke, 11.3:1 compression and a 7,600 rpm redline. Its article describes continuously adjustable dual VANOS, Siemens MSS50 management and an additional oil pickup.

Unaccented search spellings

Search equivalents using U in place of Ü: M50B20TU, M50B24TU, M50B25TU, M50B30TU, M50TU.