BMW automotive engine families listed as M88/S38. Specifications below retain the source's separate family and variant labels.
Family specifications
BMW M88 engine
| Field | Reported value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Also called | BMW M30B35LE BMW M90 |
| Production | 1978–1989 |
| Configuration | Straight-6 |
| Displacement | 3.5 L (3,453 cc) |
| Cylinder bore | 93.4 mm (3.7 in) |
| Piston stroke | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Cylinder block material | Cast iron |
| Cylinder head material | Aluminium |
| Valvetrain | DOHC (M88) SOHC (M30B35LE/M90) |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | BMW S38 |
Variant specifications
Versions
| Engine code | Power | Torque | Years | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M88 | 204 kW (277 PS; 273 hp) at 6,500 rpm | 330 N⋅m (243 lb⋅ft) at 5,000 rpm | 1978-1981 | BMW M1 |
| M88/1 | 346 kW (470 PS; 464 hp) at 9,000 rpm | 390 N⋅m (288 lb⋅ft) at 7,000 rpm | 1979-1980 | Gr.4 Procar |
| M88/2 | up to 625–735 kW (850–1,000 PS; 838–986 hp) at 9,000 rpm | 847–1,017 N⋅m (625–750 lb⋅ft) at 7,000 rpm | 1979-1981 | Gr. 5 turbo |
| M88/3 | 210 kW (286 PS; 282 hp) at 6,500 rpm | 340 N⋅m (251 lb⋅ft) at 4,500 rpm | 1983–1989 | M635 CSi, M5, 745i (South Africa only) |
| M30B35LE/M90 | 160 kW (218 PS; 215 hp) at 5,200 rpm | 304 N⋅m (224 lb⋅ft) at 4,000 rpm | 1978–1982 | SOHC |
Recorded vehicle applications
M88
- 1978-1981 M1
M88/1
- 1979-1980 Procar BMW M1
M88/2
- Group 5 racing cars ( BMW M1 Group 5 page )
M88/3
- 1983-1989 E24 M635CSi
- 1984-1987 E28 M5
- 1984-1987 E23 745i (South Africa only)
BMW automotive engine directory
Design, development and variant notes
The M88 uses an iron block, aluminium twin-cam head and individual throttle bodies. The M1 road engine used Kugelfischer injection and a dry sump, while the M88/3 used Bosch Motronic in later M cars.
The M88/1 and turbocharged M88/2 are racing variants. S38 specifications and applications vary by version and market; they should not be conflated with the M30-based M90.
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 M88. Wikipedia contributors; CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision oldid 1361607942; 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
M88/1 is the 3,498 cc Group 4 racing development listed at 350 kW in Procar specification. M88/2 is a separate 3,191 cc turbocharged Group 5 engine, for which the source reports up to 670 kW.
Additional recorded applications
| Source version or rating | Vehicle application as recorded |
|---|---|
| M30B35LE | 1979-1981 E12 M535i |
| M30B35LE | 1978-1982 E24 635CSi |
| M30B35LE | 1978-1982 E23 735i |
Further specifications from the cited article
Additional facts are adapted from this Wikipedia revision by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The M88/1 Procar engine used forged pistons, larger valves and different camshafts. The road-going M88/3 is listed at 210 kW at 6,500 rpm and 340 N⋅m at 4,500 rpm, with 10.5:1 compression and Bosch Motronic management.