BEST BMW M10was an straight-4 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 25 years.The Soviet UZAM 412 engine powering the Moskvitch 412 after 1967 has similar design in several aspects, especially the cylinder head.As BMW M12, the engine is also one of the most successful engines in racing.[citation needed] Starting with the European Touring Car Championship, it was also used in Formula Two and in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft, where it was turbocharged by Paul Rosche according to FIA Group 5 rules.The M12 went on to Formula One, 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: twentyfold from 75 hp (56 kW) to about 1,500 hp (1,100 kW).The BMW S14 engine for the first BMW M3 was based upon the M10 block. In the M3, the M10 block design is still winning races today.The BMW M40 series of engines replaced the M10 in the late 1980s.
source : wikipedia.com
