BMW automotive engine families listed as M78. Specifications below retain the source's separate family and variant labels.
Family specifications
BMW M78
| Field | Reported value |
|---|---|
| Production | 1933–1950 |
| Configuration | Straight-six engine |
| Displacement | 1.2 L (1,182 cc) 1.5 L (1,490 cc) 1.9 L (1,911 cc) 2.0 L (1,971 cc) |
| Cylinder bore | 56 mm (2.20 in) 58 mm (2.28 in) 65 mm (2.56 in) 66 mm (2.60 in) |
| Piston stroke | 80 mm (3.15 in) 94 mm (3.70 in) 96 mm (3.78 in) |
| Cylinder block material | Iron |
| Cylinder head material | reverse-flow, iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Valvetrain drive system | chain |
| Fuel system | 2 × horizontal draught carburettor |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | BMW M337 |
Variant specifications
Models
| Model | Displacement | Power | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 303 version | 1,182 cc (72.1 cu in) | 22 kW (30 PS) | 1933-1934 |
| 315 version | 1,490 cc (90.9 cu in) | 25 kW (34 PS) | 1934-1937 |
| 315/1 version | 1,490 cc (90.9 cu in) | 29 kW (40 PS) | 1934-1937 |
| 319 version | 1,911 cc (116.6 cu in) | 33 kW (45 PS) | 1935-1937 |
| 319/1 version | 1,911 cc (116.6 cu in) | 40 kW (55 PS) | 1935-1937 |
| 326 version | 1,971 cc (120.3 cu in) | 37 kW (50 PS) | 1936-1950 |
| 320 version | 1,971 cc (120.3 cu in) | 33 kW (45 PS) | 1937-1938 |
| 327 version | 1,971 cc (120.3 cu in) | 40 kW (55 PS) | 1937-1953 |
BMW automotive engine directory
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 M78. Wikipedia contributors; CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision oldid 1381658056; accessed 2026-11-10.