Inside BMW's Greatest Engine

BMW might have built one of the best all-round engines ever. It’s tuneable, reliable and you’ll find it in everything from the 1 series to the X7. This thing can fit in a hatchback and power one of those monstrous SUVs that BMW seem to love making.

Some people are even comparing it to the famous Toyota 2JZ, an engine well-known for its ridiculous reliability and ability to withstand serious power. Oh, and it was in the Mark 4 Supra which, according to the internet, can do no wrong.

So why is this being compared to one of the most iconic engines ever? And what engineering makes this thing so popular?

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So the 2JZ, the engine from that car from that movie franchise that so many of us love - and this B58 engine in the new 1 series - what makes them so similar?

The basic similarities are that they’re both inline sixes, they’re both 3 litres and they’re both turbocharged. Despite coming from different manufacturers, you’ll also find both engines in a Supra.

Toyota controversially turned to BMW to develop an inline six for the 5th generation of Supra after an almost 20-year wait. Toyota got a lot of stick for not making their own engine from scratch, but when it comes to straight sixes, BMW is a pretty good choice.

A lot of the comparisons to the 2JZ have come from the B58s ridiculous tunability. Video games, movies and the internet have given the old Supra a reputation for being insanely over engineered and endlessly tunable.

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[OVERDRIVE.studios]

So would you take a B58 or a 2JZ in your next car?

[garygritter]

One thing I love is that people had a meltdown about the BMW engine in the Supra but people seem to forget that the McLaren F1 had a BMW engine and people seem to love that 🤦‍♂️

[guillaumed]

You forgot one thing the B58 is made with the same block as the B57 which is a diesel! It is very reinforced.

[suspect]

I love the B58 in my 340i....just a tune making ~360whp on 93 octane. Never have I tuned a platform that is so easy to make power on yet stays so reliable and maintains OK fuel economy

[marksmith]

The B58 is a true testament that BMW started out as an engine making company! Smooth instant linear power coming from that inline 6 cylinder that puts a grin in my face when I press the gas pedal :)

[DjNikGnashers]

Love the B58 in my M140i.
It's a fantastic engine, and with a 200 cell cat and remap, mine made 455bhp/634nm, awesome in a 1 series.

[pantiesgonewild]

glad i picked up the 340i over the 335i without knowing and never heard the existence of the 340i B58 over 2 yrs ago, not a single issue, super reliable, 382whp with just mhd flash tune and insanely great on gas, sad i got hit by 15 yr old driver bak in oct., hope to buy another 340i or maybe m340 next year

[pboytrif]

Got a B58 in my 2018 m140i and a simple tune to 420bhp. 9 months ownership and not a single hiccup, it’s just the most incredible car I’ve owned! And for £25k second hand I can’t imagine a better bang for my buck! No ragrats

[aowen]

B58 is also closed deck, and not open deck as shown in the video. Agree it’s a very good motor. Seems like BMW left the best for last. Now if they could have done this engine in the early 2000s and put it in a E46 Coupe that would be a dream car to many just like the MK4 Supra.

[loooopeytunes]

BMW rarely have issues with its engine block, the block is very reliable. The real issue is the plastics and electronics inside the engine that'll breakdown sooner than you expected

[NotMyAccount]

The new 1 series is a FWD car that has its biggest engine a 2L 4 cylinder. The 1 series you are talking about is out of production since 2019

[ibefast]

B58 is the work of the N54 being super fast but super unreliable and the N55 being slow but super reliable, Those 2 engines helped developed the B58!!

[michaelanderson]

Had an m240i for 7 years, not one issue, will be keeping it for as long as i possibly can. A sublime car

[Alexfuckallya]

Great engine, even stock is insane!! Im in love with my 340i

[high_drivexxx]

The N52, N54, N55, and B58 are all wildly impressive when you take a step back and look at their competition. Yes, they have some faults. But it's nothing overly wild considering the performance and driving dynamics you get.

[zdude]

Still loving the N54 in my 2009 BMW Z4 e89 35i after 144, 000 miles.

[canadian]

Just picked up my m340i a week ago. Absolutely love it so far. Being gentle with the break in period, but even right off the bat the fuel efficiency along with the underrated power output is fantastic. Attached to that transmission it comes with its smooth as butter.

[hughg.rection]

My SOLE concern is the timing chain placement, since it’s in the back now. Hopefully the chain tensioner is accessible without removing the engine, because that’s the only typical weak point with BMWs. The chains themselves are usually not the problem

[dukecat]

In your video at 4:19 mintues you should a block which is a open deck the B58 is a closed deck system. Just a head up. Closed deck system is a more stronger engine design.

[kipzonderkop]

I’ve been wanting an m140i and I’ll get it as soon as I can afford it, nice to know it has such a good engine 😂🙌🏼