A series of gasoline engines BMW M50 on 2.0 and 2.5 liters was produced from 1990 to 1996 and was installed on two models of the German concern: 3-Series E36 or 5-Series E34. Only Asian market offered a special version for 2.4 liters under the M50B24TU index.
The R6 range includes: M20, M30, M52, M54, N52, N53, N54, N55 and B58.
BMW M50 Engine Specifications
Modification: M50B20
| Displacement | 1991 cc |
| Power system | Injector |
| Engine power | 150 hp |
| Torque | 190 Nm |
| Cylinder block | Cast iron R6 |
| Cylinder head | Aluminum 24v |
| Cylinder diameter | 80 mm |
| Stroke | 66 mm |
| Compression ratio | 10.5 |
| Engine features | No |
| Hydraulic compensators | Yes |
| Timing Chain/Belt | Chain |
| Variable Valve Timing (VVT) | No |
| Turbocharger | No |
| Oil capacity/Recommended oil | 5.75 l 5W-30 |
| Fuel type | Regular |
| Euro class | EURO 1 |
| Average lifespan | 400 000 km |
Modification: M50B20TU
| Displacement | 1991 cc |
| Power system | Injector |
| Engine power | 150 hp |
| Torque | 190 Nm |
| Cylinder block | Cast iron R6 |
| Cylinder head | Aluminum 24v |
| Cylinder diameter | 80 mm |
| Stroke | 66 mm |
| Compression ratio | 11 |
| Engine features | No |
| Hydraulic compensators | Yes |
| Timing Chain/Belt | Timing Chain |
| Variable Valve Timing (VVT) | single VANOS |
| Turbocharger | No |
| Oil capacity/Recommended oil | 5.75 l 5W-30 |
| Fuel type | Regular |
| Euro class | EURO 2 |
| Average lifespan | 350 000 km |
Modification: M50B25
| Displacement | 2494 cc |
| Power system | Injector |
| Engine power | 192 hp |
| Torque | 245 Nm |
| Cylinder block | Cast iron R6 |
| Cylinder head | Aluminum 24v |
| Cylinder diameter | 84 mm |
| Stroke | 75 mm |
| Compression ratio | 10.5 |
| Engine features | No |
| Hydraulic compensators | Yes |
| Timing Chain/Belt | Chain |
| Variable Valve Timing (VVT) | No |
| Turbocharger | No |
| Oil capacity/Recommended oil | 5.75 l 5W-30 |
| Fuel type | Regular |
| Euro class | EURO 1 |
| Average lifespan | 400 000 km |
Modification: M50B25TU
| Displacement | 2494 cc |
| Power system | Injector |
| Engine power | 192 hp |
| Torque | 245 Nm |
| Cylinder block | Cast iron R6 |
| Cylinder head | Aluminum 24v |
| Cylinder diameter | 84 mm |
| Stroke | 75 mm |
| Compression ratio | 11 |
| Engine features | No |
| Hydraulic compensators | Yes |
| Timing Chain/Belt | Timing Chain |
| Variable Valve Timing (VVT) | single VANOS |
| Turbocharger | No |
| Oil capacity/Recommended oil | 5.75 l 5W-30 |
| Fuel type | Regular |
| Euro class | EURO 2 |
| Average lifespan | 350 000 km |
The dry weight of the M50 motor is 198 kg
Fuel consumption двс BMW М 50
The 1994 BMW 525i with manual transmission as an example (l/100km):
| City | 12.1 l |
| Highway | 6.8 l |
| Combined | 9.0 l |
Which cars have the Engine М50 2.0 – 2.5 l
| 3-Series E36 | 1990 – 1995 |
| 5-Series E34 | 1990 – 1996 |
Problems & disadvantages of the М50
Cooling System Failure: Radiator & Thermostat
The M50 engine’s cooling system is prone to failure due to age and normal wear and tear, with the exception of the water pump which has a common failure point.
Common failures on the M50 include radiator, hoses, thermostat and coolant expansion tank.
If not repaired immediately, engine overheating can occur at idle or during driving as well as coolant leakage from either radiator or thermostat housing; this may lead to warping of engine head resulting in total engine failure.
Cracked Expansion Tank & Coolant Leaks
The radiator expansion tank is a plastic container that holds engine coolant and is pressurized.
Prolonged heat exposure can cause hairline cracks in the tank, leading to leaks or even explosions.
M50 expansion tanks should be replaced as preventive maintenance after 100k miles due to potential wear and tear, broken nipples, mounting damage etc.
Water Pump Failure
The M50 and its successor, the M52, both have plastic impellers in their water pumps which can wear down over time.
Symptoms of a failed water pump include overheating after driving for awhile, whining noise from the engine bay and check engine light with limp mode.
To avoid being stranded on the side of the road due to a bad water pump it is recommended to replace it as preventative maintenance when reaching 60k-80k miles with an aftermarket metal impeller version costing around $50.
Bad Ignition Coils and Spark Plugs
BMW used “canister-style” ignition coils before 1990, which used wires to connect each spark plug. The M50 engine was one of the first BMW engines to use coil packs for better performance and gas mileage.
Coil packs are a common failure point on the M50 engine, needing replacement every 30,000-50,000 miles as preventative maintenance.
Symptoms that indicate bad ignition coils or spark plugs include:
- rough idling and acceleration;
- cylinder misfires;
- slow starts in cold weather;
- overall poor performance;
- and cranking but not turning over.
Rough Idle from Faulty Idle Control Valve or TPS
Rough idling can be caused by a bad idle control valve or throttle position sensor.
The idle control valve is located near the throttle body and intake manifold, and if faulty will send incorrect readings to the engine’s computer resulting in variable and sporadic speeds. It can be removed, cleaned, and fixed with this issue.
A faulty throttle position sensor sends bad data back to the ECM which then incorrectly tells the engine how quickly it should revolve; common symptoms include poor idling as well as surging/jerking/hesitation from the engine while driving or at idle along with an illuminated malfunction light on dash.
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