S = Motorsport. Probably actually stands for Sonder, which is German for special. Solid lifters and individual throttle bodies.
N = New Generation.
VaNoS = BMW's variable valve timing system. Not the most complex around, but it works. [Explanation here]
So, here we go.
M10 = 4 cylinder SOHC, dates back to 1962, survived until 1985, displacement from 1.5 to 2.0 liters. M10 whackos love to point out that it was the basis for the 1000+hp turbo BMW F1 engines, and the beloved S14.
M20 = "baby 6" inline 6 cylinder SOHC, dates back to 1976, survived until 1991, displacement 2.5 or 2.7. An M20 "i" engine likes to rev, and M20 "e" engine likes to pretend it is a diesel. Timing belts are a 60k item like clockwork. All "e" engines were 2.7; some guys put "i" heads on "e" blocks. This does get you more displacement with the ability to pass 4000 rpm, but kills the compression.
M30 = "big 6" inline 6 cylinder SOHC. The BMW granpappy engine, dates back to 1962, survived until 1993. Is the basis for the excellent S38 engines. By 1993, was pretty much bulletproof.
M42 = 1.8 liter replacment for M10. SOHC 4 cylinder. Peppy little thing, known for a profile gasket problem. Probably all had that repair by now. Maybe. Dates from 1991 318is (which makes it a totally different car than the 1985 318i...) and died with OBDI at the end of 1995.
M44 = 1.9 liter replacment for M42. BMW did this with all their engines for MY96; used OBDII as an opportunity to make across the board changes.
M50 = replacement for M20. 2.5 and 2.0 displacement, 2.0 not available in US. DOHC! With a timing chain! And no more valve adjustments. Only appeared in US for two models years... 91 and 92 525i, 92 325i/is.
M50TU = 1993-1995. M50 with a few changes... lost the double valve springs. Gained VaNoS on intake cam. Torque curve much better. Horsepower curve falls off sooner though - M50 cams were peakier than M50TU.
M52 = Replaced M50TU as M44 replaced M42... OBDII changeover. 1996 through 1999. Displacement bump to 2.8, 2.5 available as "323i". Torquier, of course. Different intake manifold design choked high end horsepower a bit. Available with an aluminum block in the Z3.
M52TU = Replaced M52 in 1999. Still 2.8 and 2.5. Added VaNoS on the exhaust cam.
M54 = replaced M52TU when the E46 328 and 325 became the 330 and 325 and the displacement numbers made sense again. Dual VaNoS, all aluminum, dual resonance intake manifold. Added drive-by-wire throttle.
M60 = DOHC V8. 3.0 and 4.0 available, first gen plagued by block failures. Lots of websites about this, [Koala Motorsport] is the true expert on the subject.
M62 = OBDII revision of M62. 3.0 dropped for US market. 4.0 became 4.4. First came out in 1996 7 series.
M70 = SOHC V12, 5.0 liter. First BMW engine with electronic throttle control, probably before its time. Has a bad reputation because the two cars it came in (E31 8 series and E32 7 series) were both trouble prone, but the engine isn't really to blame. Except for the oil leaks.
M73 = OBDII revision of M70. Displacement bump to 5.4 liters.
S14 = the hallowed buzzbox powerplant of the E30 M3 (which deserves its own page, probably). 2.3 liters in US form. In Sport Evolution form, 2.5 liters. 2.0 liters in rare Italian market non-M3 form. DOHC 4 cylinder, individual throttle bodies (as all the S-series motors except for the bastardize US versions have). High revving. Well known for success in DTM racing. Requires special tools, special plugs, special valve shims, and special knowledge. E30 M3 CD from Koala is a great help.
S38 = Motorsport development of the M30 engine. First version was actually the M88/3, as installed in the M1. S38B35 was the E24/E28 M5/M6 engine. 3.5 liters, individual throttles, other finicky stuff as the S14. Great torque, loves to rev, classis BMW engine. US versions benefit hugely from Jim Conforti/Eurpsport/Turner DME EPROM. S38B36 came out in the E34 M5, at 3.6 liters. Added a dual resonance intake manifold. Later cars, mostly non-US, grew to 3.8 liters, added coil-on-plug ignition. Still no knock sensors though, even though the Motronic M3.1 DME was capable of it.
S50 = Euro E36 M3 engine. 3.0 and 3.2 forms. 3.0 has intake VaNoS, but fully variable between two settings, rather than just A or B. Individual throttle bodies, seperate DME for VaNoS control. Totally different block and head castings than US E36 M3 motor. 3.2 added exhaust VaNoS, again fully variable. More advanced Siemens electronics. Dual pickup oil pump and trick oil pan (standard on Euro spec 3.0 M3 GT, came in trunk of US Spec M3 Lightweight)
S50US = US Spec 95 M3 motor. 3.0 liter version of M50TU, complete with single throttle body. Great engine, just not the Euro spec one that everyone craves.
S52 = US Spec 96-99 M3 motor. 3.2 liter version of M52. As above.
S54 = E46 M3 motor. Update of S50B3 Euro motor. Still 3.2 liters, now with drive by wire on the 6 throttle bodies. 8000rpm redline, and fat torque curve. Has had many quality problems with the crank and rod bearings, leading to multiple recalls, blown engines, and a scary reputation for reliability.
S62 = E39 M5 engine. 5.0 liter, individual throttle bodies, drive by wire.
S70 = 850CSi engine, 5.6 liter V12. S series engine in a non-M car. Weird.
N62 =
N52 =
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