Which BMWs have the M57 engine?

The short answer, by model range

• 3 Series: E46 330d, 330Cd and 330xd; E90, E91, E92 and E93 325d, 330d and 335d.
• 5 Series: E39 525d and 530d; E60 and E61 525d, 530d, 530xd and 535d.
• 6 Series: E63 and E64 635d.
• 7 Series: E38 730d; E65 and E66 730d.
• X models: E53 X5 3.0d; E70 X5 3.0d, 3.0sd and xDrive35d; E83 X3 3.0d and 3.0sd; E71 X6 3.0d and xDrive35d.
• Not a BMW: Range Rover L322 3.0 Td6, and the Opel Omega B 2.5 DTI with the 2.5 litre version.

The commonest mistake in this search is the 320d and the 520d. Those are four-cylinder engines — M47, then N47 — and no M57 kit, loom or adapter fits one. If the car has four cylinders it is not an M57, whatever the advert says.

Engine code to chassis: the full table

This is the table to buy a donor from. Read the output column as a range across the generation rather than as the figure for one car: BMW published several intermediate outputs inside each generation and sold some of these models in regional variants. Where an exact figure matters, read it off the vehicle's own papers.

Two things in that table are worth pulling out. The original M57D30 is 2,926 cc and every later 3.0 litre is 2,993 cc, which is the fastest way to separate an early engine from a late one on paper. And the TOP suffix is BMW's marker for the twin-turbo version of a generation — 306D4 in the TU generation, 306D5 in the TU2. Those two are the only M57s with the sequential twin-turbo arrangement and its actuators.

The two engines we sell, and what they are called

We publish two brand-new M57 long blocks, and between them they show why the numeric code matters more than the family name.

Brand New BMW M57N Engine — the 306D4

This is the twin-turbo variant: 272 PS, 560 Nm, cast-iron block, 3.0 litres (2,993 cc), supplied bare. You will see it written two ways on its own page — M57N twin turbo 306d4 in the body copy, and M57D30TU2 TOP in the specification header. Both labels are pointing at the same engine, and the confusion is partly BMW's own: N for neu and TU for technical update name the same generational step, and TOP is the twin-turbo version of whichever generation it is attached to. Buy on the number. 306D4 is the 272 PS twin turbo.

Brand New BMW M57D30TU2 M57N2 Engine — the 306D5

This is the final development of the M57 at 286 PS, 3.0 litres (2,993 cc), inline six, DOHC, 24 valves, common rail. Its direct-fit list is the broadest of the two: E90, E91, E92 and E93 330d, E60 and E61 530d and 535d, E63 and E64 635d, E83 X3 3.0d, E70 X5 3.0d and 3.0sd, E71 X6 35d. It is also supplied bare, as a long block.

So: 306D4 and 306D5 are different engines with the same displacement, the same layout and a 14 PS gap, and they are not interchangeable from the point of view of a kit. Settle the code first. An M57 is not simply an M57.

The clearest illustration of why is our ZF 8HP swap kit. It names 306D3 and 306D5 as its fitment and states that it is not compatible with the earlier cast-iron M57 engines; a version for those is in development and not yet available. If a ZF 8HP is part of your plan, raise it before you buy an engine rather than after.

• Brand new BMW M57N 306D4 twin-turbo engine
• Brand new BMW M57D30TU2 306D5 engine
• BMW M57N2 to ZF 8HP swap kit

Which donor to buy for a conversion

The donor decision is really three decisions — how much power the vehicle can use, which gearbox is going behind it, and how much electronic complexity you are willing to own. The guides below are the shortest honest version.

Simplest electronics, most donors on the market

A single-turbo 306D2 or 306D3. One turbocharger, no sequential control linkage, and the widest choice of donor cars at the lowest prices. For most Defender, Discovery, Patrol, Pajero and Transit builds this is the sensible starting point.

Most power from the family

306D4 at 272 PS and 560 Nm, or 306D5 at 286 PS. Both are twin-turbo, so both bring the actuator and linkage maintenance that goes with it — and both need a driveline behind them that can take the torque.

If a ZF 8HP is going behind it

The swap kit's own fitment is 306D3 and 306D5. That constraint comes before the engine purchase, not after it.

If you are keeping the Land Rover R380 manual

Our M57-to-R380 kit is the smallest conversion we sell and its clutch is warranted to 500 Nm, which makes it a kit for a fast-road setup of around 200 bhp and 500 Nm. A 560 or 580 Nm twin-turbo donor is therefore the wrong starting point for that route — it is not the kit for large off-road tyres, very aggressive driving, or a 300 to 400 bhp build. Those should go automatic.

Tell us the chassis and the gearbox and we will tell you which code to look for in the adverts. It costs you nothing and it is considerably cheaper than buying the wrong engine.

• BMW M57 to Land Rover R380 conversion kit
• BMW M57N2 to ZF 8HP swap kit
• Nissan Patrol BMW M57 conversion kit
• Land Rover Discovery M57 conversion kit
• Mitsubishi Pajero M57 conversion kit
• Land Rover Defender N57 conversion kit
• BMW M57 problems and how to fix them