Although there has been much fanfare and excitement surrounding BMW’s new M3 and Z4, there is one bit of information than has been sorely overlooked – the death of the company’s tried and true 3.2L inline-six.
Internally known as S54B32, BMW’s cast iron 3.2L six-pot has been a pillar of the company’s performance lineup for years. The straight-six started out life as a 3.0L in the 1990s before eventually growing to its familiar size of 3.2L.
Despite its rather modest displacement, the naturally aspirated engine produced 333 horsepower – and upwards of 343 horsepower in European applications – easily breaking the magic 100hp/L threshold. The S54B32 was lasted used in the Z4 M Roadster and M Coupe, but also saw duties in the previous-generation M3.
But the M3 has moved on to V8 power and the Z4 will now be using BMW’s 3.0L twin-turbocharged six, so the S54B32 has officially ridden off into the sunset. The death of the 3.2L is a sad milestone for gear heads everywhere, but at least the engine’s successor has the performance o ease the transition.
12/30, 1:23 PM
posted by:
bmwmpower
Sad day. Long live the S54
12/30, 1:29 PM
posted by:
hummah
Aww that is rotten! They should keep the old girl around and stick it in a lightened 3-series. Or they could make a silly fast 1-series if they can fit it under the hood. I like the 3.0TT, but the 3.2 is the stuff of legends…
12/30, 1:38 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
If BMW were GM, this engine would be used until the year 3064.
12/30, 2:26 PM
posted by:
sakio327
If BMW were GM, they would be selling a 9-series SUV with a pickup bed on it.
12/30, 2:43 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
If BMW were GM we’d all be speaking German and some guy named Adolf would be hosting The Price Is Right.
12/30, 3:04 PM
posted by:
Borat
… and the funny mustache would still be fashionable along with only one nut and Ford foundation would be displaying the cross from Fuhrer presented to grandpa Henry…
12/30, 4:51 PM
posted by:
bmwmpower
They’d also be giving away 3-series at employee prices!
12/30, 5:13 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
I’d take a 3-series with 0% financing.
But in all seriousness… if the 3.2L is gone… what is the 328i using? Isn’t that still a naturally aspirated inline 6?
12/30, 7:11 PM
posted by:
A4
yes but its not a 3.2
this is a great engine.. i think id rather have this than the 35 series twin turbo motor.
12/30, 7:14 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
The 328/528/X3/X5 use a naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter six, the 335/535/X5 si/X6 use a turbocharged version of that same 3.0 motor.
12/30, 7:14 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
I forgot the 128 and 135 also use those same two motors.
12/30, 8:56 PM
posted by:
A True Gear Head
Farewell S54!!! Best inline 6 ever made!!! No i take that back, it was the best engine ever made.
12/30, 9:10 PM
posted by:
A True Gear Head
The N54 (engine from the 335/135) is awesome, its a lot easier to get more power out of it than the S54. BMW pretty much did everything they could to get every single hp out of the ol S54, which makes sense why theyre getting rid of it I guess. Hopefully they bring it back its definitely the best N/A engine ever made
12/30, 9:20 PM
posted by:
jonmiles
that was the first comment from “howsmydriving” that I actually laughed at
12/31, 9:35 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
Honestly I don’t know if GM has any engine that could match this in terms of power, durability and economy. The LS-series is good… but I don’t think it’s that good.
12/31, 10:59 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
I don’t think the BMW 3.2 is so “tried and true.” The version used in the E46 M3 had its share of major problems, including lunching its main bearings and grenading. The list of failed engines of 2001 – 2004 M3’s is long and troublesome. Don’t believe me? Look online yourself.
The problem led to 2 or 3 recalls, and prompted BMW to extend the warranty of the engine to preserve resale value of M3’s – otherwise their resale value would be in the toilet.
RaineMan – You’re wrong. VERY wrong. Case in point: in 2002, the M3 produced 333hp, and its fuel economy was so poor it got slammed with the gas guzzler tax. I know, I had one on order. In 2002, the GM LS6 in the Z06 produced 405 hp, and got much better fuel economy than the M3, avoiding the gas guzzler tax. The LS6 also has proven to be very durable and reliable over the years, helping the C5 Z06 to be a formidable track car right out of the box. No grenading engines like the E46 M3 had.
12/31, 3:40 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
I wonder if BMW used the plastic water pumps in the 3.2 also. Haha
12/31, 5:19 PM
posted by:
A True Gear Head
My brothers m3 has 120,000 miles and not one problem with the engine, he just changed the oil every 4k miles and he tracked it on weekends, so please dont bring up the LS, its good I know, but it sounds like any other v8, yawwwnnn
01/01, 11:27 PM
posted by:
56oval
At over 100hp per liter from a naturally aspirated engine, the S54 is a masterpiece that few other engines could hope to achieve!
In fact, I’d love to see a list of engines that do over 100hp/liter w/o forced air.