M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
Maybe someone knows the answer.
The engine code as stamped on the side of the block by the dipstick in my car starts 23 6E, this follows the format that I'm familiar with in e30s.
I'm looking at another engine as a replacement and it starts 323EK/1 I'm not happy because this doesn't follow the convention I'm familiar with, but maybe it's from an earlier car?
Can anyone explain please? Jeroen, you normally know your stuff?
The engine code as stamped on the side of the block by the dipstick in my car starts 23 6E, this follows the format that I'm familiar with in e30s.
I'm looking at another engine as a replacement and it starts 323EK/1 I'm not happy because this doesn't follow the convention I'm familiar with, but maybe it's from an earlier car?
Can anyone explain please? Jeroen, you normally know your stuff?
- Jeroen
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Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
Haha well that is a code that is new to me as well. The regular coding on E21 engines has two lines:
line one says displacement, number of cylinders and a 2 digit code for example for a 323i that would be 2.3 litre 6 cylinder which would for example give 23 6 EA
line 2 is the engine number which should match the last 7 digits of the chassis number
do you have a photo?
line one says displacement, number of cylinders and a 2 digit code for example for a 323i that would be 2.3 litre 6 cylinder which would for example give 23 6 EA
line 2 is the engine number which should match the last 7 digits of the chassis number
do you have a photo?
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
I think grinding and hammering in a new code has been taken place in the past, maybe to make a new "matching numbers" car.
Megasquirted '77 E12 520-6
Aspen Silver '96 E39 523i
Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
I always thought that EK meant an engine with CR suited to a Katalyst.
Maybe it is from an E30 323i but even then they were too early for a Kat
Ben
Maybe it is from an E30 323i but even then they were too early for a Kat
Ben
1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
At first I thought it may have been a re-stamp by a reconditioning company, but then I found this website: http://www.ge39.com/files/zeigeinfo.pdf
So this is an M20B23 but built before BMW changed the engine numbering system.
The next question is when did the numbering system change? The car this is from is an '81 but I don't know if it was a replacement from an earlier car. Does anyone know when BMW changed their engine numbering system?
So this is an M20B23 but built before BMW changed the engine numbering system.
The next question is when did the numbering system change? The car this is from is an '81 but I don't know if it was a replacement from an earlier car. Does anyone know when BMW changed their engine numbering system?
- Jeroen
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Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
I've never seen the coding mentioned by you but I can imagine that was used somewhere before the facelift. Mine's a 81 and does have the coding as described:
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
323 EK/1 = 323i from 8/79 up
323 EK = 323i up to 8/79
EK = Einspritzer K-jetronik
323 EK = 323i up to 8/79
EK = Einspritzer K-jetronik
Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
Many thanks
Does anyone know when BMW switched to the newer engine code system?
The car this engine came from is '81 but I'm still wondering if it could be the original?
Does anyone know when BMW switched to the newer engine code system?
The car this engine came from is '81 but I'm still wondering if it could be the original?
- Jeroen
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Re: M20 Engine Code As Stamped On The Block
Never ever seen 323EK on any 323i engine so I can imagine this stopped around 1980 again, as I wrote, my 81 engine says 236EA and that (or likewise 206EA for 320/6) is the only code I remember seeing on E21 M20 engines over the past decades.
Regards/groeten, Jeroen