How do you know what kind of engine do you have!

[Silverninja]

:dunno: I have a 1997 M3 and I 'm not sure what kind of engine I have. Some people have told me that my engine should say M Power on it. My engine doesn't say that........Is it possible that a 97 M3 engine might not say it or is my engine a regular V6. How do you find that out? Need help! :dunno:

[obmd1]

:dunno: I have a 1997 M3 and I 'm not sure what kind of engine I have. Some people have told me that my engine should say M Power on it. My engine doesn't say that........Is it possible that a 97 M3 engine might not say it or is my engine a regular V6. How do you find that out? Need help! :dunno:
there ought to be a sticker on the door sill, or under the hood over the radiator

[bimmere46]

:dunno: I have a 1997 M3 and I 'm not sure what kind of engine I have. Some people have told me that my engine should say M Power on it. My engine doesn't say that........Is it possible that a 97 M3 engine might not say it or is my engine a regular V6. How do you find that out? Need help! :dunno:


V6???

[turanuk]

V6???

he probably means I6.

[Silverninja]

My bad! Still kind of new to my M3! But how can you tell what kind of engine it is? Are there numbers on the engine I should be looking for?

[my_e36]

Europe M3 (actually, non-US) have BMW M Power on the rocker cover
They are usually S50 and S52 engine (3.0l, 3.2l respectively)

US M3 has a detuned version to conform with emission law and has a modified M50 and M52 engine (again, 3.0l and 3.2l respectively) which *MAY NOT* have the M Power on it.

[Silverninja]

Europe M3 (actually, non-US) have BMW M Power on the rocker cover
They are usually S50 and S52 engine (3.0l, 3.2l respectively)

US M3 has a detuned version to conform with emission law and has a modified M50 and M52 engine (again, 3.0l and 3.2l respectively) which *MAY NOT* have the M Power on it.
How do I find out for sure about my engine?

[wag-zhp]

Take pictures and post them here. I'm sure someone here can ID it for you. You could also take it to a reputable shop that services BMWs.

[wag-zhp]

Oh yeah, don't ask about the tachometer and why it doesn't go to zero when the car isn't moving.... ;)

[bauerhockey66]

My 95 M3 has the BMW M Power on the engine cover....

[palomino]

you have an I6 (I=inline) not a V6, just like every other 6 cylinder BMW out on the roads today.

[bmwireland]

:dunno: I have a 1997 M3 and I 'm not sure what kind of engine I have. Some people have told me that my engine should say M Power on it. My engine doesn't say that........Is it possible that a 97 M3 engine might not say it or is my engine a regular V6. How do you find that out? Need help! :dunno:

its best to go to a bmw agent with chassie number if you want to make 100 % sure of engine cc.

[ImperialDuckM3]

Here the answer you been searching for. EVERY //M that are sold in the US has the M-Power cover on. There's no if and or but. If it doesn't come with the car, most likely the previous owner sold it and put a non-M cover on the engine.

To really see if you do have an //M engine is TWO way.

ONE, check the VIN number ALL //M sold in the U.S start with WBS...... and Non-M has WBA.....

SECOND, on your engine Block on the right side by the intake manifold the VIN number should be on it and like stated above it should start with WBS for //M.

[e36phil]

you may have an e36 M spec, which is a basic e36 with all the M features and options on it, including body kit, bucket seats, stearing wheel, it just won't have the M engine in it. all M engines have bmw M power written on the engine, if yours doesn't, then it's not an M engine. it's a regular inline 6. wheather it's 2 liter, 2.5, 3.0, you can tell what engine it is by checking the number. i'm not sure if they sold M spec cars in the u.s. but in europe it's not uncommon.

[e36phil]

heres an even better way to find out, and this way you're sure. enter your vin number on thi site and it will tell you exactly what car you have, from the month it was made to the model.


http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do