# BMW M337

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Reciprocating internal combustion engine

BMW M337 BMW 501- the first car to use the M337 Overview Production 1952-1958 Layout Configuration Straight-6 Displacement 2.0–2.1 L (122–128 cu in) Cylinder block material Cast iron Cylinder head material Cast iron Valvetrain OHV Combustion Fuel type Petrol Chronology Predecessor BMW M78

The [BMW](/source/BMW) **M337** is a [straight-6](/source/Straight-six_engine) [OHV](/source/Overhead_valve_engine) 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](/source/BMW_M78).

## Design

Compared with its M78 predecessor, the M337 features a revised [cylinder head](/source/Cylinder_head), a new [inlet manifold](/source/Inlet_manifold) and a reinforced [crankshaft](/source/Crankshaft) with bigger, more modern bearings.[1]: 88[2] As per the M78, the M337 has an iron [engine block](/source/Engine_block), an iron [cylinder head](/source/Cylinder_head) and [overhead valves](/source/Overhead_valve_engine) 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:

- 1952-1954 [501](/source/BMW_501)

### 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:

- 1954-1955 [501A](/source/BMW_501#Development_of_the_BMW_501)

- 1954-1955 [501B](/source/BMW_501#Development_of_the_BMW_501)

### M337/3

The final version of the M337 had an increase in [bore](/source/Bore_(engine)) of 2 mm (0.079 in), which increased displacement to 2,077 cc (126.7 cu in). The [compression ratio](/source/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:

- 1955-1958 [501/3](/source/BMW_501#Development_of_the_BMW_501)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Norbye_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Norbye_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Norbye_1-2) Norbye, Jan P. (1984). [*BMW - Bavaria's Driving Machines*](https://archive.org/details/bmwbavariasdrivi00norb). Skokie, IL: Publications International. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-517-42464-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-517-42464-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DeutscherSportverlag_2-0)** "BMW 501". *Auto- und Motorrad-Welt* (in German). Köln: Deutscher Sportverlag Kurt Stoof. 20 March 1953.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-noakes_ultimate_history_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-noakes_ultimate_history_3-1) Noakes, Andrew (2008). *The Ultimate History of BMW*. Parragon Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4075-3512-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4075-3512-8).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-6enligne_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-6enligne_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-6enligne_4-2) ["BMW M337"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120611124634/http://www.6enligne.net/html/modeles/fiche_moteur.php3?idMoteur=15). *www.6enligne.net*. Archived from [the original](http://www.6enligne.net/html/modeles/fiche_moteur.php3?idMoteur=15) on 11 June 2012.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [BMW M337](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M337) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M337?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.