The BMW M10 - The little engine that Could!

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The BMW M10
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Manufactured by BMW from 1961–1987


The BMW M10/M12 was an I4 piston engine produced from 1961 to 1987. Displacement ranged from 1499 cc to 1990 cc. The engine was designed by noted engineer and race driver Baron Alex von Falkenhausen. He was asked to design a small-displacement (1.3 L) engine, but felt that this would be insufficient for the company's future needs. Therefore, he designed a block that could be expanded to 2.0 L and delivered it at 1.5 L.

The design was very successful, with over 3.5 million produced, and it served the company for over 20 years.

The M10 engine is also one of the most successful engines in racing. Starting with the European Touring Car Championship, it was also used in Formula 2, then the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft, where it was turbocharged by Paul Rosche according to FIA Group 5 rules.

The M10 block went on to Formula 1, winning the 1983 championship for Nelson Piquet and Brabham — something which very few 20 year old road car engine designs accomplish. The same applies for the rise in power: twenty-fold from 75 hp to about 1500 hp.

 
Here's a little History of my M10 obsession

 

Here's the ONE that started everything...

 

Bought in the fall of 1999 this was my 84' 318i that started my obsession with the E30 318i series BMW. This car has seen it's last days and its shell lives in a wrecking yard somewhere in Idaho. Even a BMW can only tolerate so much from a concrete divider. All parts worth saving are now a part of one of my other 318i's or are sitting in a box in my shed waiting for there inevitable return to the open road/track!

 

Next we have here number THREE...

 

 

This is my '85 318i daily driver, again picked up on Ebay but in the summer of 2004. It had an original 78K on it when shipped from Chicago and the CarFax proved this to be accurate. The previous owner took very good care of it and it was dealer maintained all it's life. Of course there were a few things that needed to be "fudgen'd?" with but all in all she's a highly reliable and well maintained version of the '84-'85 line of 318i. This will be my youngest daughters car soon, maybe to soon! I must say she does love BMW's!!!

 

Now let me introduce number TWO... 
 

This is my $505 Ebay special I picked up in the summer of 2002. It's a '85 318i, go figure? It looked like it met my needs perfectly as the body was straight, rust free and had never been in an accident. The bonus came when I drove it 300 miles home without a single issue. This car is no longer the mild mannered 1.8L-M10/E30 it was when bought. All but the shell has been changed or upgraded and more in the works!

 

***SOLD*** Fellow AutoX'r Tyson now owns this

 

This car belonged to my friend and mechanic Steve Cobb. Steve guided me in the build of my track car, mentored me, befriended me and shared my passion for E30 BMW's. Steve suddenly died last December 2006 and his family was nice enough to let me acquire his 1986 325es. Steve had done some serious work to this car and it is now a 325es/is Stroker. When the cam rolls on it plants you back in the seat and roars like a small block V8 and it isn't even boosted YET! hehehe...  ;^)   (RIP Steve!)