BMW automotive engine families listed as OHV V8. Specifications below retain the source's separate family and variant labels.
Family specifications
BMW OHV V8 engine
| Field | Reported value |
|---|---|
| Production | 1954–1965 |
| Configuration | 90° V8 |
| Displacement | 2.6 L (2,580 cc) 3.2 L (3,168 cc) |
| Cylinder bore | 74 mm (2.91 in) 82 mm (3.23 in) |
| Piston stroke | 75 mm (2.95 in) |
| Cylinder block material | Aluminium |
| Cylinder head material | Aluminium |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | BMW M60 |
Variant specifications
Versions
| Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M502/1 | 2,580 cc (157.4 cu in) | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 bhp) at 4,800 rpm | 184 N⋅m (136 lb⋅ft) at 2,500 rpm | 1954–1961 |
| M502/100 | 2,580 cc (157.4 cu in) | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 bhp) at 4,800 rpm | 185 N⋅m (136 lb⋅ft) at 2,500 rpm | 1961–1963 |
| M502/110 , M533 | 2,580 cc (157.4 cu in) | 110 PS (81 kW; 108 bhp) at 4,900 rpm | 186 N⋅m (137 lb⋅ft) at 3,000 rpm | 1961–1963 |
| M506/1 | 3,168 cc (193.3 cu in) | 120 PS (88 kW; 118 bhp) at 4,900 rpm | 214 N⋅m (158 lb⋅ft) at 2,500 rpm | 1955-1961 |
| M506/140 , M534 | 3,168 cc (193.3 cu in) | 140 PS (103 kW; 138 bhp) at 5,400 rpm | 242 N⋅m (178 lb⋅ft) at 3,000 rpm | 1961-1963 |
| M503/1 | 3,168 cc (193.3 cu in) | 140 PS (103 kW; 138 bhp) at 4,800 rpm | 220 N⋅m (162 lb⋅ft) at 3,800 rpm | 1956-1961 |
| M507/1 | 3,168 cc (193.3 cu in) | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) at 5,000 rpm | 240 N⋅m (177 lb⋅ft) at 4,000 rpm | 1956-1959 |
| M503/160 , M532 | 3,168 cc (193.3 cu in) | 160 PS (118 kW; 158 bhp) at 5,600 rpm | 245 N⋅m (181 lb⋅ft) at 3,600 rpm | 1961-1963 |
Recorded vehicle applications
M502/1
- 1954-1958 BMW 502 — 100 PS (74 kW)
- 1955-1958 BMW 501 V8 — 95 PS (70 kW).
- 1958-1961 BMW 2.6 — 95 PS (70 kW)
- 1958-1961 BMW 2.6 Luxus — 100 PS (74 kW)
M502/100, M502/110 and M533
- 1961-1963 BMW 2600 — 100 PS (74 kW)
- 1961-1963 BMW 2600L — 110 PS (81 kW)
M506/1
- 1955-1961 BMW 3.2
M503/1 and M507/1
- 1956-1960 BMW 503 — 140 PS (103 kW)
- 1956-1959 BMW 507 — 150 PS (110 kW)
- 1957-1961 BMW 3.2 Super — 140 PS (103 kW)
M506/140, M503/160, M532 and M534
- 1961-1963 BMW 3200 L — 140 PS (103 kW)
- 1961-1963 BMW 3200 S — 160 PS (118 kW)
- 1961-1965 BMW 3200 CS — 160 PS (118 kW)
BMW automotive engine directory
Design, development and variant notes
BMW's early production V8 has a 90-degree layout, aluminium block and heads, wet iron cylinder liners and a central camshaft operating pushrods. It has no single official family code, so it is commonly called the BMW OHV V8.
The family includes 2,580 cc and 3,168 cc versions, with different carburettors, compression ratios and outputs. The larger version was used in several 3.2-litre BMW models.
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 OHV V8 engine. Wikipedia contributors; CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision oldid 1347754015; 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 initial 2,580 cc version is listed at 74 × 75 mm, 7.0:1 compression and 74 kW with a Solex 30 PAAJ carburettor. The initial 3,168 cc version used an 82 mm bore, a 75 mm stroke, 7.2:1 compression and 88 kW.
Further specifications from the cited article
Additional facts are adapted from this Wikipedia revision by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 3,168 cc version initially used a 32 mm Zenith carburettor. Talbot-Lago reduced the V8 bore to 72.5 mm for the America to keep displacement below the French 2.5-litre tax threshold.