Everything You Need To Know About The BMW S54 (E46 M3 engine)

Our guide about the BMW S54 engine, as found in the E46 M3, late Z3 M and Z4 M. Ben talks you through the engine layout, technical details, upgrades and tricks/tips.
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[@neilstewart1208]

More please!!! love my s54

[@yungfinstaaa7474]

This was so useful! Thank you Ben and everyone at Hack Engineering for making this video. I am on the hunt for an E46 M3 and this video gave me a bigger insight of the engine!!! :)

[@freedom875cc]

Yesss about time you released a vid! Loving it.

[@paullockwood7219]

You guys are the business. Thanks for posting lads. 👍

[@CoolOutSessions910]

Thank you. I'm gonna upgrade my e36 I've had 12 years with this engine.

[@YeomanDesign]

Awesome video, I’m building an e46 at the moment as well!!👌

[@fetusness]

Very informative thank you brother 🫡

[@Detail_Den_UK]

Great video guys. Although you’ve successfully added to an already large list of expensive things I’d like to do and need to do to my M3. 😂👍🏼

[@YeomanDesign]

I’m building mine at the moment as well!! The list never gets shorter 😂Brilliant cars!!! 👌

[@jamiecollinson4520]

Very Informative! Look forward to watching your next video! 👍

[@nathanielh7677]

Would love a vid discussing rod bearings!

[@YeomanDesign]

I second this!!!

[@brandoncook8300]

Very informative thanks

[@adamstuchlik1576]

Thanks - love this content

[@machina_spirit]

My S54 has 180k+ miles on it, and has seen the track 6 times over the last 7k miles, runs like a champ! But i fear my headgasket may be going bad, between the cylinders like you shown. What are symptoms of it failing between the cylinders? I have no coolant in my oil, car doesn’t overheat on the street, and again engine runs super healthy and strong. The symptom that made me suspect an issue is that its started running hot when pushing it hard last couple times at the track, but the cooling system is fresh!

[@s4ms0n1t3]

The way the head is designed on the s54 you won't get oil and water mixing. Do a compression test to see if the values are where they should be. Symptoms are misfires and pinking which sounds like marbles in can.

[@carfreaks1024]

yes you guys need to do this for the s50b32

[@carfreaks1024]

and s50b32 assembly would be really cool

[@Doggepp]

Do you know what the space is between the pistons on an S50B32, and what is the benefits/drawbacks of an S50B32 compared to a S54? Or maybe video coming on S50 aswell? If so, comparing to S50 would be interesting

[@Doggepp]

@@hackengineering5586 Sounds good! Cheers

[@angi733]

Would love to see compared to S50 B32 too :) I have an S50 Z3M, thanks for the vids :)

[@kellyhersh4042]

How many mites were on the engine at the time of repair? And you said it was a later production year, so not an engine from the first 3 years that more rod bearing issue? I'm looking at buying a Z4M so i definitely want to do my homework. Thanks, great video!

[@KayKay-lf9nq]

Quality content

[@rydaddythanos8968]

Is the lack of thickness of the cylinder walls a major concern if you want to boost this engine... even if your head is held down with new arp studs and nuts?

[@twarken5078]

Mega video, thank you. I’m thinking about creating a CSL spec version out of my standard E46 M3. What are the benefits/detriments to this approach? Really enjoy the car as it is, but would like to explore options. Cheers 👍🏼

[@YeomanDesign]

That’s the dream, I’m building one at the moment as well 👌

[@Linoge279]

with those ARP bolts, you don't need an angle torque right?

[@Brent0285]

best inline six better than 2j or rb26 prove me wrong

[@TheBlackdragon936]

Costs way more to maintain.

[@brucepeninsula2036]

My s54 has 412000km ATM. If you can fix it your self. They are way better motor.

[@xxml9121]

the real question here is how much power it is capable of like how much boost can it handle cuz I need to but a big turbo on my s54 without an engine swap

[@YeomanDesign]

I hear they’re good up to 700bhp, how long it would last is the question tho

[@jurajhrivnak4638]

Hello. Do you experience any piston slap with JE Pistons in the S54?

[@hackengineering5586]

Nope. Often these things happen with improper machine work, which thanks to having everything in house, we haven’t experienced

[@jurajhrivnak4638]

@@hackengineering5586 Thank you so much for your answer! I really appreciate it.

[@JasonRidesmoto]

Can I swap a S54 in a 2003 Z4 that originally had the 2.5 liter?

[@hackengineering5586]

Yes, you can use Z4 M parts

[@YeomanDesign]

Do it!!!!

[@alanchappell4845]

what is the best oil for this engine, using Castrol supercar 10W 60 since castrol TWS discontinued

[@alanchappell4845]

@@hackengineering5586 Thank you, I am in Australia so will see if it is available down under

[@abr5819]

Are you crazy the super car one is the one your supposed to be using not the the damn normal car one !?

[@superdiver.]

Wear a microphone next time? Thanks 👍

[@p3rformanc3fanatic60]

To much echo

[@abr5819]

I heard the arp bolts aren’t good for the s54 something about stretch but don’t qoute me I’m just regurgitating what I read online . I wanna refresh my engine and planning on using factory parts what do you think ?.