The BMW M54 is a straight-6 DOHC piston engine which replaced the M52 and was produced from 2000-2006. There was no "technical update" (TU) version of the M54 produced, therefore the engine specifications remained the same throughout its 7-year production. The M54 began to be phased out following the introduction of the BMW N52 in 2004.

This a series of inline six-cylinder engines with four-valve technology, which made its debut in 2000. It is the further development of the BMW M52 and was replaced in 2004 by the BMW N52 . The M54 engines have a camshaft adjustment for inlet and outlet side ( stepless double VANOS ). Crankcase and cylinder head are made of aluminum. 

Compared to its predecessor M52, the displacement of the M54B22 and M54B30 has been increased by a slightly longer stroke of 0.2 l each. The partially significant increases in output (28 kW in the case of the 3-liter engine) were, however, achieved for the most part by reducing the flow resistance on the inlet and outlet side of the engine.

According to BMW, the resonance intake system already introduced in the M52TU in 1998 was designed to enable a high degree of cylinder filling over a wider engine speed range through a speed-dependent two-stage variation of the effective intake pipe length, thus ensuring improved elasticity. The variable control of the exhaust valves should also optimize the torque in the lower speed range.

The M54 was installed in the models Z4 2.2, 2.5 and 3.0 respectively from 2002 to 2005. From 2006, the M54 installed in the Z4 was replaced by the N52 engine. In addition, he came in the 3 Series E46 series as 320i, 325i and 330i, in the 5 Series E39 as 520i, 525i and 530i, in the 5 Series E60 as 520i, 525i and 530i and in the 7 Series E65 as 730i used. In the Z3 he was from 2000 to 2002 as 2.2i and 3.0i installed.

The 3-liter version M54B30 was on the annual list "the 10 Best Engines" of the American trade magazine "Ward's Auto World" from 2001 to 2003.

The first introduced M54 variant with 3 liters of displacement and 170 kW / 231 hp already fulfilled the exhaust emission limits D4 and ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) . The BMW M56, the emission-optimized version of the BMW M54, met the even stricter SULEV emission standard (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) .

The main differences between the M54 and its M52TU predecessor are the non-return fuel system, a fully electronic throttle (without mechanical backup), an electronically controlled thermostat and that the North American engines no longer use an iron block. The M54 uses an aluminium block and aluminium cylinder head with cast iron cylinder liners and, like the M52TU, the M54 features variable valve timing to both camshafts (called dual VANOS by BMW) and a dual length intake manifold (called "DISA" by BMW).

Models

M54B22

The 2,171 cc (132 cu in) M54B22 produces 125 kW (168 hp) at 6100 rpm and 210 N·m (150 lb·ft) of torque at 3500 rpm.

Applications:

• 2000-2006 E46 320i, 320Ci
• 2000-2003 E39 520i
• 2000-2002 E36/7 Z3 2.2i
• 2003-2005 E85 Z4 2.2i
• 2003-2005 E60/E61 520i

M54B25

The M54B25 is a 2,494 cc (152 cu in) engine with an 84 mm (3.3 in) bore and 75 mm (3.0 in) stroke. Output is 141 kW (189 hp) at 6000 rpm and 245 N·m (181 lb·ft) of torque at 3500 rpm.

Applications:

• 2000-2002 E36/7 Z3 2.5i
• 2000-2006 E46 325i, 325xi, 325Ci
• 2000-2004 E46/5 325ti
• 2000-2004 E39 525i
• 2003-2005 E60/E61 525i, 525xi
• 2003-2006 E83 X3 2.5i
• 2002-2005 E85 Z4 2.5i

M54B30

At 2,979 cc (182 cu in), the M54B30 is the largest M54 engine. The extra capacity is achieved using an increased stroke of 89.6 mm (3.5 in). Power is 170 kW (230 hp) at 5,900 rpm and torque is 300 newton metres (220 lb·ft) at 3,500 rpm.There was also a slightly more powerful version of the M54B30 that could be ordered as part of the M Performance package in Canada or the Performance package in the USA. This engine used different camshafts and reprogrammed engine management to develop 175 kW (235 hp) at 5,900 rpm and 301 newton metres (222 lb·ft) at 3500 rpm and have a slightly higher redline of 6800 rpm (although the Canadian cars still show the limiter at 6500 rpm on the tachometer).

The M54B30 was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list through 2001-2003.

Applications:

• 2000-2006 E46 330i, 330xi, 330Ci
• 2000-2004 E39 530i
• 2000-2002 E36/7 Z3 3.0i
• 2003-2005 E60 530i
• 2002-2005 E85 Z4 3.0i
• 2003-2006 E83 X3 3.0i
• 2000-2006 E53 X5 3.0i
• 2002-2005 E65/E66 730i, 730Li

S54

The S54 with the internal engine designation S54B32 is an engine of the BMW M GmbH and was introduced in 2000 in the M3 of the series E46 . The engine is not based on the M54 engine of the BMW AG vehicles, but was developed from the predecessor, the BMW S50B32 , installed mainly in the BMW M3 of the E36 series . The S54 is a 3246 cc high-speed in- line six-cylinder engine. The engine has a camshaft adjustment for inlet and outlet ( stepless high pressure double VANOS). He weighs 212 kg. 

The BMW S50B32 sports engine built into the BMW M3 E36 had , according to many, reached the maximum power level. The main reason for this was the operating design effort and the already almost maxed-out cylinder spacing. This was a further increase in capacity and thus increase performance in the way. As part of the extensive revision, the design features of the S50 were adopted (gray cast iron block, single throttle, double VANOS, exhaust manifold, etc.), but largely revised in almost every detail. There was still a slight increase in displacement against the S50B32 from 3.201 cm ³ to 3,246 cm ³ and an increase of the rated speed of 7,400 min ^-1 to 7900 min ^-1reached. The power increased compared to the S50B32 by almost 7% from 236 to 252 kW, the torque of 350 Nm at 3250 min ^-1 to 365 Nm at 4900 min ^-1 (data see also web link auto motor und sport.de).

The BMW M3 E90 was replaced by the BMW S65 , a high-revving 4-liter V8 engine.

Furthermore, there is a P54 version with 2 l displacement from 2003 . The cylinder head and the one-piece cylinder block are made of aluminum, with the block used cast iron liners.  So the engine weighs 137 kg. When the piston is forged skirt pistons with connecting rods for high-strength steel connecting rods. Six high-performance pencil ignition coils with integrated ignition drivers are used for the ignition. The BMW Motorsport 12A-R6 engine control unit uses three powerful microprocessors; the injection is cylinder-selective. 

 

The S54 is the high performance equivalent to the M54. It was used in the E46 M3, Z3 M Coupé / Roadster, and the E85 Z4 M Roadster / E86 M Coupe. The S54 is technically an evolution of the iron-block S50B32. It shares few major components with the S50 and differences include:

• Increased cylinder bore to 87 mm (from 86.4 mm) for a new total displacement of 3,246 cc (from 3,201 cc)
• Modified camshafts
• Block deck taller by 20mm
• High pressure Double VANOS continuously variable valve timing system with faster operation at high rpm
• Increased compression to 11.5:1 (from 11.3:1)
• More advanced BMW/Siemens MSS 54 engine management control
• Finger-type rocker arms for reduced reciprocating mass and friction
• One-piece aluminum head casting for lighter weight
• Scavenging oil pump to maintain pressure during heavy cornering

S54B32

Applications:

• 2000-2006 E46 M3 (except North America) 252 kW (338 hp; 343 PS), 365 N·m (269 lb·ft)
• 2000-2006 E46 M3 (North America only) 248 kW (333 hp; 337 PS), 355 N·m (262 lb·ft)
• 2000-2002 E36/7 Z3M (except North America) 239 kW (325 PS), 354 N·m (261 lb·ft)
• 2000-2002 Z3 M Coupé / Roadster (North America only) 235 kW (315 hp), 341 N·m (252 lb·ft)
• 2002-2011 Wiesmann Roadster MF3 256 kW (348 PS), 365 N·m (269 lb·ft)
• 2003 E46 M3 CSL 265 kW (360 PS), 370 N·m (270 lb·ft)
• 2006-2008 E85/E86 Z4M (except North America) 252 kW (343 PS), 365 N·m (269 lb·ft)
• 2006-2008 E85/E86 Z4M (North America only) 246 kW (330 hp), 355 N·m (262 lb·ft)

S54B32HP

The upgraded S54 engine used in the E46 M3 CSL, officially designated S54 B32HP, has a high flow carbon fiber air intake, modified valve and camshaft timing, and a retuned DME using a MAP sensor instead of the MAF sensor found in a standard M3. However, the engine is further modified in order to reduce weight – it features a lightweight exhaust manifold (made standard on late models of the normal M3) and thinner exhaust piping. Additionally, the intake and exhaust manifolds are slightly straightened to improve engine responsiveness.