A pioneering diesel engine for BMW and one of the few diesels

to be exported to the USA.

Design
The BMW M21 engine is an inline 6 cylinder 2.4-liter diesel. Like the base model
BMW M20, the M21 engine has a single overhead camshaft, 2 valves per cylinder
and a timing belt. The M21 was available naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Turbo
models carried the "td" moniker. More on BMW codes...

BMW fitted the M21 engine in the E28 and E34 5 Series 524td and E30 and E36 3
Series 324td models. The 5 Series 524td models were some of the few diesels to be
exported to the USA. The first E28 cars with the new M21 engine were produced
starting in May 1983. It was also offered in the smaller 3 Series vehicle range from
1987.

The engine's high specific output meant high peak pressures in the combustion
chamber, and thus required stronger cylinder-head bolts. For this reason, the top
deck of the block was strengthened as well.

To adapt the engine to mechanical stresses that were higher than those of the base
Otto engine (M20), the connecting rods were strengthened, a forged crankshaft was
used and the effective width of the bearings in the lower inserts was increased by
doing away with their oil grooves.

Inside the pistons a cooling channel was provided for heat extraction; it was
supplied with oil through jets. To accommodate the taller pistons required by the
diesel engine its block was made 10 mm higher.

Injection was carried out by a distributor pump, which was significantly smaller than
the in-line pump that was customarily used for diesel engines.

From 1986 a naturally-aspirated version of the diesel engine was also offered,
developing 86 bhp in the BMW 324d. Among the cost-saving measures in this engine
were the removal of the turbocharger as well as the internal piston cooling and the
oil cooler. The camshaft was redesigned to give longer duration and higher valve lift.
The inlet and exhaust manifolds were adapted to the changed installation conditions
and reduced stresses.

In 1987 digital diesel electronics (DDE) were introduced in the turbodiesel engine.
This electronic regulation and timing system replaced mechanical control of the
otherwise unchanged distributor-type injection pump. Better control by the DDE
further improved fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and torque. Moreover the
accelerator pedal was no longer connected by a a cable to the injector pump but
rather by an electronic link.

In 1989 the non-turbocharged engine was also given DDE. This version was offered
in BMW's small vehicle range until the end of 1990.
 Models

The naturally aspirated version of the M21 engine produced 86 bhp

and 112 ft/lbs of torque, while the turbo diesel produced 115 bhp and
155 ft/lbs of torque at a low 2400 rpms.

E28 BMW 524td

Engine Specifications
Item/Measurement M21D25 M21D25
Vehicle 524td 324d
Number of Cylinders 6 6
Layout in-line in-line
Installation 20° inclined right 20° inclined right
Coolant liquid liquid
Crankcase/Block Material cast iron cast iron
Crankshaft one-piece one-piece
Main Bearings 7 7
Weight (kg) 200 190
Valve Layout sohc sohc
Camshaft Drive timing belt timing belt
Camshaft Bearings 7 7
Valves per Cylinder 2 2
Cylinder Center Distance (mm) 91 91
Displacement (liters) 2.443 2.443
Bore/Stroke (mm) 80/81 80/81
Stroke/Bore Ratio 1.01 1.01
Piston Speed (ms) 13.0 12.4
Valve Timing (IO/IC) 6°btdc/42°abdc 6°btdc/42°abdc
(EO/EC) 46°bbdc/6°atdc 46°bbdc/6°atdc
At Valve Lift (mm) - -
Valve Lift I/E (mm) 9.1/9.1 9.8/9.5
Connecting Rod Length (mm) 130 130
Connecting Rod Ratio r/l 0.31 0.31
Compression Ratio 22.0:1 22.0:1
Fuel Diesel Diesel
Power Output (bhp@rpm) 115/4800 86/4600
Power per Liter (bhp/liter) 47.07 35.20
Power/Weight Ratio (kg/bhp) 1.74 2.21
Torque (mkg@rpm) 21.4/2400 15.5/2500
Torque per Liter (mkg/liter) 8.76 6.34
Mixture Preparation mech/VE-Pu mech/VE-Pu
Maker Bosch Bosch
Designation VE 6/10 VE 6/10
Injection Type swirl chamber swirl chamber
Generator 12 V/1120 W 12 V/1120 W
Supercharging: Type/Pressure turbo/1.9 bar -
Miscellaneous - -
Year of Introduction 1983 1986