BMW M20

The BMW M20 is a straight-six SOHC piston engine produced from 1977-1993. It was released in the 1977 in the E12 520/6 and E21 320/6 and began to be phased out following the introduction of the M50 engine in 1990.

Like the larger capacity M30 engine it is derived from, the M20 has a SOHC and 2 valves per cylinder. While the M30 camshaft is chain driven, the M20 camshaft and auxiliary shaft are driven by a timing belt. Initially released with a carburetor, later models used Bosch fuel injection.

History

With displacements ranging from 1991 cc to 2693 cc, it was the "little brother" to the larger BMW M30. It has 91 mm (3.6 in) bore-spacing instead of the 100 mm (3.9 in) of the M30 six-cylinder and the M10 four-cylinder engines.

Powering the E21 and E30 3-Series, as well as E12, E28 and E34 5 Series cars, it was produced for nearly two decades, with the last examples powering the E30 325i touring built until April 1993.

Early versions of the M20 were sometimes referred to as the "M60", although the M60 code has since been used by BMW for a V8 engine produced from 1992-1996.