These Are The 5 Best BMW Engines Ever Made (5 Mercedes Engines That Are Just As Good)

BMW engines are among the top items on the wish lists of many performance drivers because of their ability to deliver free-flowing, high-rpm performance with pleasantly surprising smoothness. And in the modern age that gives inefficient and costly engines, Mercedes-Benz makes some of the most reliable engines you can find, with accolades to prove it.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz have a distinguished history, both in terms of their motorsport and production stock, as witnessed by a quick glance at their product lines.

BMW and Mercedes are both known for developing successful engines, but only a handful of these engines genuinely stand out. We’ve put together the best five from both brands.

10/10 BMW M88 3.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated Inline-Six Engine

On all fronts, the M88 engine is a fantastic power plant. Not only does it have a good power output, but it’s also among the most endearing and fun engines to operate. This is the first ever M engine that BMW built, and it dates back to 1978.

After its amazing time underneath the hood of the incredibly potent M1 supercar, the 3.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-six engine went on to propel the M5, another first of its kind. Depending on the vehicle it was in, though, the engine could churn out anything between 215 and 282 horsepower, with a redline of 6,500 rpm.

Additionally, it propelled the BMW 3.0 CSL, a racecar that produced more than 800 hp at 9,000 rpm, and competed in the Group 5 race series.

RELATED: Here’s What We Love About The BMW M2 Engine

9/10 Mercedes 2.0-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four

The Mercedes-AMG 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four is an iconic engine that gives the Chevy small-block V8 a rough time, to say the least. Found in the most recent AMG CLA45, GLA45, A45, and GLB45 models, this engine, which is internally referred to as the M139, is currently the industry’s most potent turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

As a result of greater boost pressure, the engine generates 416 horsepower and 369 lb-ft, compared to the base tune’s 382 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.

8/10 BMW S85 Engine

Produced between 2005 and 2010, the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 is the first and only 10-cylinder series-produced BMW engine. It was the heart that breathed life into the E60/61 M5.

Wearing a unique code, the V10 was a wild engine both in terms of its performance, a fact underscored by its 500 horsepower output.

Armed with a lofty 7,750 rpm redline, the 10-cylinder belted out a charming sound via its quad-pipe exhaust setup.

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7/10 Mercedes “M275 AMG” AMG Twin-Turbocharged 6.0-Liter SOHC 36 Valve V12

The twin-turbo 6.0-liter engine is a performance-focused beast that is available in a lot of models, from the S65 AMG to Maybach models. Partly based on the 1998 M137 naturally aspirated V12, you’ll find this engine tucked underneath the hood of the S65 AMG Coupe.

Power output varies from 493 horsepower to 510 horsepower and between 590 pound-feet and 612 pound-feet of torque depending on the model.

6/10 BMW S65 4.0-Liter Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine

When it comes to BMW engines, a majority of automotive aficionados consider the S65 to be one of their favorite BMW engines. Available from 2007 through 2013, the S65 was mostly used in the BMW M3.

It’s often regarded as one of BMW’s finest engines, sharing strong attributes like the variable valve timing system and a 12.0:1 compression ratio with the aforesaid S85 V10 engine.

Its 414 horsepower peak output dazzles every gearhead. But what’s even more amazing is the sound it creates as it screams to its impressive 8,450 redline. For the limited-edition M3 GTS, BMW developed an improved model in 2010 with 444 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque.

5/10 Mercedes 3.5-Liter V6 (W211)

Nearly every drive unit produced by the brand after the ’90s had significant issues, but the 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine is an exception. Developed as a retort against supercharged models made by Audi and BMW, its designers concentrated on maximizing capacity.

The outcome had a 24-valve head and could deliver between 272 and 306 horsepower. In contrast to its rivals, Mercedes’ forked six-cylinder engine has a race-inspired sound that we’ve become very fond of.

4/10 BMW S62 4.9-liter V8

The raucous 4.9-liter V8 engine gave birth to one of the most magnificent and aggressive-sounding BMW M vehicles ever – the E39-generation M5.

Dating back to 1998, the S62 V8 is by far the best racing engine BMW has ever produced, particularly in the Dinan DP configuration. The engine produced 394 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque at a redline of 7,000 rpm. In addition to Bentley, Hartge, Ascari, and BMW, this engine was temporarily offered in the BMW Z8.

3/10 Mercedes 7.3-Liter M120 V12 engine

In 1995, Mercedes-AMG released the SL 73 AMG, which featured the most potent V12 engine ever installed in an SL up to that point – the 7.3-liter M120 V12. After a brief hiatus, the SL73 was available again from 1998 to 2001.

Even if the car vanished, its heart continued to beat, producing 547 horsepower in the Pagani Zonda S 7.3 version, 678 horsepower in the Cinque, and most recently, 749 horsepower in the 760 Roadster.

2/10 BMW S58 3.0-Liter Inline-Six (X3/X4 M)

Based on the familiar B58 engine platform, the S58 joined the scene in 2019, replacing the iconic S55 power plant. The S58 is BMW’s most powerful six-cylinder engine yet.

The twin-turbo, 3.0-liter inline-six mill debuted in the X3 M and X4 M SUVs and then found its way into the M3 and M4 compacts. The six-cylinder cranks out 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the base setup. Through the Competition package, output goes up to 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

RELATED: Here’s How The Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Helped Develop The World’s Most Powerful Four-Cylinder Engine

1/10 Mercedes Supercharged 3.2-Liter 18 Valve V6

In 1997, the M112 E32 V6 engine replaced the inline six-cylinder M104 E32 series on the production line. With a compression ratio of 10.0:1 and connecting rods made of fracture-split forged steel, output varied from 215 to 224 horsepower at 5,700 rpm, with at least 232 pound-feet of torque between 3,000–4,800 rpm.

Fitted with a helical twin-screw type supercharger with a 14.5 psi boost, it churned out 349 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 332 pound-feet of torque available between 3,000 and 4,600 rpm. With this engine, the 32 AMG could reach 155 mph.

Sources: Hagerty, BMW, Mercedes-AMG