BMW M337

BMW M337
BMW 501- the first car to use the M337
Overview
Production1952-1958
Layout
ConfigurationStraight-6
Displacement2.0–2.1 L (122–128 cu in)
Cylinder block materialCast iron
Cylinder head materialCast iron
ValvetrainOHV
Combustion
Fuel typePetrol
Chronology
PredecessorBMW M78

The BMW M337 is a straight-6 OHV petrol engine installed at a slanted angle which was produced in three variants (M337/1, M337/2 and M337/3) from 1952-1958. Built to power BMW's first new car after World War II, the M337 engine was a replacement for the BMW M78.

Design

Compared with its M78 predecessor, the M337 features a revised cylinder head, a new inlet manifold and a reinforced crankshaft with bigger, more modern bearings.[1]: 88 [2] As per the M78, the M337 has an iron engine block, an iron cylinder head and overhead valves with two valves per cylinder.[3]: 46 

Versions

Model Displacement Power Torque Year
M337/1 1,971 cc (120.3 cu in) 48 kW (65 PS; 64 hp)
at 4,400 rpm		 129 N⋅m (95 lb⋅ft)
at 2,000 rpm		 1952-1954
M337/2 54 kW (73 PS; 72 hp)
at 4,400 rpm		 130 N⋅m (96 lb⋅ft)
at 2,500 rpm		 1954-1955
M337/3 2,077 cc (126.7 cu in) 135 N⋅m (100 lb⋅ft)
at 2,500 rpm		 1955-1958

M337/1

The first version of the M337 engine has a displacement of 120.3 cu in (1,971 cc). It produces 48 kW (65 PS) at 4,400 rpm and 129 N⋅m (95 lb⋅ft) at 2,000 rpm.[4]

Applications:

M337/2

In 1954, a revised engine was released which produced 54 kW (73 PS) at 4,400 rpm and 130 N⋅m (96 lb⋅ft) at 2,500 rpm.[1][4][3]: 48  The compression ratio for this engine is 6.8:1.

Applications:

M337/3

The final version of the M337 had an increase in bore of 2 mm (0.079 in), which increased displacement to 2,077 cc (126.7 cu in). The compression ratio was also increased to 7.0:1. Despite these changes the M337/3 produced no more power than the previous version. However torque increased to 135 N⋅m (100 lb⋅ft) at 2,500 rpm.[1]: 92 [4]

Applications:

References

  1. ^ a b c Norbye, Jan P. (1984). BMW - Bavaria's Driving Machines. Skokie, IL: Publications International. ISBN 0-517-42464-9.
  2. ^ "BMW 501". Auto- und Motorrad-Welt (in German). Köln: Deutscher Sportverlag Kurt Stoof. 20 March 1953.
  3. ^ a b Noakes, Andrew (2008). The Ultimate History of BMW. Parragon Books. ISBN 978-1-4075-3512-8.
  4. ^ a b c "BMW M337". www.6enligne.net. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012.