The BMW M52TU, M54, and M56 engines are all related by their aluminum engine blocks. Until then, all prior M-series straight-six engines had used iron cases, making them strong but very heavy. The...
Starting a family is as expensive as ever; food costs are bananas, hospital stays can bankrupt you, and now there’s college tuition to save for. On top of everything else, you may need to swap out that sleek sports car for something with the all-important third row for hauling a family. Although...
The BMW E46 was a marvel when it debuted nearly a quarter century ago. Since then, it has remained relatively lightweight, with a powerful and exotic engine, sublime handling characteristics, and genuine character that laughs at the stereotype that German-made machines lack soul. However, its...
Engineers have been looking for ways to improve the internal combustion engine since its creation. Various reasons have spawned updates and evolutions, but these days, the general driver is efficiency. Greenhouse emissions are bad, and carbon-neutral modes of transportation don’t exist yet, so...
The E46 M3 has remained an icon of BMW’s M division since they reached owners in late 2000. With a screaming straight-six upfront, a six-speed manual in the middle, and drive sent to the wheels at the rear, it was an absolute force to be reckoned with as it beat supercars with double the sticker...
Sports cars and pickup trucks are at two ends of the automotive spectrum. One is the king of the everyday, utilitarian vehicle, designed to be used simply to move things around. The other is completely selfish, only benefiting whoever drives it as they use it for its intended purpose,...
The United States offers a near-unparalleled space to be an automotive enthusiast. With some of the lowest gas prices on the planet, an enormous amount of aftermarket companies, and an abundance of available models to choose from, it’s genuinely tough to beat what we offer. Unfortunately, our...
Cam bearing ledge wear is the most common VANOS-related performance issue on high-mileage N52 and N54 engines and the earliest series of N55s. Due to an overlook in design, there's a seal that will eventually wear and cause a myriad of issues. Although it may appear as a simple oil leak and some...
BMW introduced the pencil-style ignition coil to the US market in 2001 with the S54 engine. The one-piece (coil and spark plug connector are integral) design simplified the preceding two-piece, and within a few years, all of BMW’s engines were using the new style. The M54 engine received these...
The E36 and E46 M3s are some of the most accessible sports cars available on the second-hand market. BMW got it right around the new millennium, offering sport sedans with qualities that enthusiasts could get behind. Specially designed engines provided impressive power and an otherworldy noise...
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