BMW M30, M102 and M106 engines

BMW automotive engine families listed as M30, M102, M106. Specifications below retain the source's separate family and variant labels.

Family specifications

BMW M30 engine

FieldReported valueProduction1968–1995ConfigurationStraight-6Displacement2,494 cc (152 cu in) 2,788 cc (170 cu in) 2,986 cc (182 cu in) 3,210 cc (196 cu in) 3,295 cc (201 cu in) 3,430 cc (209 cu in)Cylinder bore86.0 mm (3.4 in) 89.0 mm (3.5 in) 92.0 mm (3.6 in)Piston stroke71.6 mm (2.8 in) 80.0 mm (3.1 in) 86.0 mm (3.4 in) 88.0 mm (3.5 in)Cylinder block materialCast ironCylinder head materialAluminiumValvetrainSOHCFuel typePetrolPredecessorBMW M20SuccessorBMW M50 and M60

Variant specifications

Versions

VersionDisplacementPower outputTorqueYearM30B25V2,494 cc (152.2 cu in)110 kW (150 PS; 148 bhp) at 6,000 rpm211 N⋅m (156 lb⋅ft) at 3,700 rpm1968M30B252,494 cc (152.2 cu in)110 kW (150 PS; 148 bhp) at 6,000 rpm215 N⋅m (159 lb⋅ft) at 3,700 rpm1981M30B28V2,788 cc (170.1 cu in)125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp) at 6,000 rpm235 N⋅m (173 lb⋅ft) at 3,7001968M30B282,788 cc (170.1 cu in)135 kW (184 PS; 181 bhp) at 5,800 rpm240 N⋅m (177 lb⋅ft) at 4,200 rpm1977M30B30V2,986 cc (182.2 cu in)132 kW (180 PS; 178 bhp) at 6,000 rpm255 N⋅m (188 lb⋅ft) at 3,700 rpm1971M30B302,986 cc (182.2 cu in)147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp) at 5,500 rpm272 N⋅m (201 lb⋅ft) at 4,300 rpm1971M30B323,210 cc (195.9 cu in)147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp) at 5,500 rpm285 N⋅m (210 lb⋅ft) at 4,300 rpm1976M30B33V3,295 cc (201.1 cu in)140 kW (190 PS; 188 bhp) at 5,500 rpm289 N⋅m (213 lb⋅ft) at 3,500 rpm1973M30B343,430 cc (209.3 cu in)160 kW (218 PS; 215 bhp) at 5,800 rpm310 N⋅m (229 lb⋅ft) at 4,200 rpm1982M30B353,430 cc (209.3 cu in)155 kW (211 PS; 208 bhp) at 5,700 rpm305 N⋅m (225 lb⋅ft) at 4,000 rpm1988

Recorded vehicle applications

M30B25V

1968–1977 E3 25001974–1975 E9 2.5 CS1973–1976 E12 525 — 107 kW (145 PS; 143 hp), Solex 4A1 carburettor [ citation needed ]1976–1981 E12 525

M30B25

1981-1987 E28 525i1981-1986 E23 725i

M30B28V

1968-1977 E3 2800 / 2.8L — 125 kW (170 PS; 168 hp)1968-1971 E9 2800 CS — 125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp)1971-1971 E3 Bavaria — 125 kW (168 hp), United States only1974-1976 E12 528 — 121 kW (165 PS; 163 hp) dual Zenith INAT carburettors1976-1978 E12 528 — 125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp), Solex 4A1 carburettor1977-1979 E23 728 — 125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp), Solex 4A1 carburettor

M30B28

1977-1978 E12 528i — North America only, 129 kW (173 bhp), 9.0:1 compression ratio1978-1981 E12 528i — 130 kW (177 PS; 175 hp)1979-1986 E23 728i1979-1987 E24 628CSi1981-1987 E28 528i

M30B30V

1971-1975 E9 3.0 CS1971-1972 E9 3.0 CSL1971-1974 E3 3.0 S / 3.0 L / Bavaria1976-1979 E24 630 CS — 136 kW (185 PS; 182 bhp), Pierburg 4A1 carburetor1977-1979 E23 730 — 135 kW (184 PS; 181 bhp), Solex 4 A 1 carburettor

M30B30

1971-1975 E9 3.0 CSi — 147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp)1972-1973 E9 3.0 CSL — 147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp)1972-1975 E3 3.0 Si — 147 kW (197 bhp)1975-1978 E12 530i — North America only, 131 kW (176 bhp)1976-1976 E12 530 MLE — South Africa only, 147 kW (197 bhp)1977-1978 E24 630CSi — North America only, 129 kW (173 bhp)1986-1995 E32 730i — 138 kW (185 bhp)1988-1990 E34 530i — 138 kW (185 bhp)

M30B32

1973-1975 E9 3.0 CSL — 152 kW (206 PS; 203 hp), 3,153 cc (192.4 cu in)1976-1984 E24 633CSi — 145 or 147 kW (197 or 200 PS; 194 or 197 bhp) in Euro spec, 128–130 kW (172–174 bhp) in USA spec1976-1979 E3 3.3 Li — 147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp)1977-1984 E23 733i — 147 kW (200 PS; 197 bhp) in Euro spec, 130–145 kW (174–194 bhp) in USA spec1979-1981 E12 533i — North America only, 135 kW (181 bhp)1979-1986 E23 732i — 144 kW (196 PS; 193 bhp)1982-1984 E28 533i — North America only, 135 kW (181 hp; 184 PS)1984-1986 E30 333i — South Africa only, 145 kW (194 hp; 197 PS), special ALPINA Intake plenum and exhaust manifold, modified L-Jetronic Injection. Only 210 (including six test cars) were produced for local Group 1 homologation.

M30B33V

1973-1975 E3 3.3 L

M30B34

1982-1987 E23 735i / L71982-1987 E24 635CSi / L6 — 218 PS (160 kW) in Euro spec1985-1988 E28 535i / 535is / M535i

M30B35

1988-1989 E24 635CSi1986-1992 E32 735i1987-1992 E34 535i1988-1989 Rayton Fissore Magnum 3.5

M102

1980–1982 E23 745i

M106

1982–1986 E23 745i

BMW automotive engine directory

Design, development and variant notes

The M30 'big six' is an iron-block, aluminium-head SOHC engine with a chain-driven camshaft and two valves per cylinder. Early engines used carburettors and later versions used electronic injection.

The M90/M30B35LE uses an M88-related block with an M30 single-cam head. M102 and M106 are turbocharged members of the wider family; their specifications are distinct from naturally aspirated M30 variants.

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.

VariantBore (mm)Stroke (mm)Compression ratioSource qualifierM30B25V8671.69.0:1Original carburetted versionM30B28V86809.0:1Original carburetted version; specifications varied by market and yearM30B3289868.8:1—M30B33V8988—Carburetted versionM30B34928610.0:1 or 8.0:110.0:1 in Europe and most markets; 8.0:1 in North America and Japan, as described in the source

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 M30. Wikipedia contributors; CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision oldid 1383681870; 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

M102, also identified as M30B32LAE, is listed as a 3,210 cc turbocharged version using a KKK K27, an air-to-air intercooler and 7.0:1 compression. M106, also called M30B34MAE, increased displacement to 3,430 cc and used Bosch Motronic.

For M30B35, the article distinguishes a 155 kW, 305 N⋅m version from a 162 kW, 315 N⋅m non-catalyst version in certain markets. It also gives inconsistent M102 power figures in different passages, so confirm against a primary specification.

Further specifications from the cited article

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

The early M30B25V uses an 86 × 71.6 mm bore and stroke; M30B28V uses 86 × 80 mm. Both are described with 9.0:1 compression and twin Zenith 35/40 INAT carburettors. The US M30B30V is listed at 127 kW at 5,800 rpm.

The source gives M30B32 dimensions of 89 × 86 mm and M30B33V dimensions of 89 × 88 mm. It identifies the 1979 732i as BMW's first application of Bosch Motronic and describes the US M30B32's change from L-Jetronic to Motronic in June 1981.

M30B34 dimensions are listed as 92 × 86 mm. The source distinguishes a 10.0:1, 160 kW specification in Europe and many other markets from an 8.0:1, 136 kW specification in North America and Japan.

The article gives 0.62 bar boost for the M102 and 0.41 bar for the M106. Separately, the Alpina B10 Biturbo's modified twin-turbo M30 is listed at 265 kW at 6,000 rpm and 520 N⋅m at 4,000 rpm; it is not the standard M102 or M106.