BMW 730d (E38) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW 730d in the third 7 Series generation (E38, built 1994–2001) was built with one engine, the M57D30: a 3.0 L diesel inline-6 with 184 hp.

This guide tells you which engine your 730d has, what goes wrong with it, what a replacement costs from our stock and what else to plan for when you fit one.

• Generation: third 7 Series, 1994–2001
• Body styles: E38 (saloon)
• Engines: M57D30
• Output: 184 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 52 from 376,00 €

Which engine is in your 730d?

M57D30 in the 730d

The M57D30 was used in the E38 730d, built 1998–2005. It is a 3.0 L turbocharged diesel inline-6 with 184 hp and 390 Nm.

Reading the code: M marks an M-series code, the naming BMW used for its engine families up to the early 2000s; 57 is the family number; D stands for diesel; 30 is the capacity in decilitres, so 3.0 litres.

730d engines by model year

The 730d kept the same engine for the whole E38 run, which makes ordering simple: any unit with the same code fits, subject to the gearbox, drive type and sump.

Other cars with the same engine as the 730d

A replacement engine does not have to come from another 730d. These models left the factory with the same engine code, so a unit from any of them is a candidate donor once the sump, mounts and ancillaries are matched to your car.

M57D30: BMW E39 530d, BMW E46 330d, BMW E53 X5 3.0d.

How to confirm your engine code

The 730d only used the M57D30, but the exact version can still change with the build date, gearbox and market. Send us the last seven characters of the VIN and we read the engine code from BMW's records, or look for the code stamped on the block. How to find your BMW engine code.

Known 730d engine problems

The M57D30 in the 730d shares the known weak points of the M57 family. Full M57 guide.

Swirl flaps. The swirl flaps can loosen and break off, and a broken flap can enter a cylinder and destroy the engine.

EGR valve and cooler. The EGR valve clogs and the cooler can leak.

Injectors. Injectors leak or fail, especially piezo versions.

Turbocharger. Turbos wear and actuators stick.

Thermostat and viscous fan. Thermostats fail and cause slow warm-up.

Symptoms to watch for on the 730d

Rattle for a few seconds after a cold start. The classic sign of a weak timing chain tensioner or stretched chain. It must be checked quickly: a chain that jumps a tooth can bend valves.

Whistle, loss of boost or limp mode. A split charge pipe, a sticking wastegate or worn turbo bearings. Check the pipes first, then the turbo shaft for play.

Black smoke under acceleration. Too much fuel for the air available: boost leaks, a sticking EGR valve, a dirty air mass meter or a leaking injector.

Hard starting when cold. Glow plugs or the glow plug control unit. On older diesels, also check the injection pump and fuel lines for air leaks.

Sudden metallic noise followed by misfire. On diesels with swirl flaps, a broken flap or screw can enter a cylinder. Stop the engine immediately; continued running usually destroys the piston and head.

Looking after the 730d engine

• Oil: 5W-30 BMW Longlife-04, about 6.5 to 7.5 litres.
• Service interval: Oil every 10,000 to 15,000 km.
• Timing drive: Timing chain at the front.
• Workshop notes: Fit swirl flap blanks when installing a used M57. Conversions need the right sump and wiring.

Buying a used engine for the 730d: checklist

1. Gearbox and flywheel match. Manual and automatic engines differ at the flywheel or flexplate, and sometimes at the crankshaft spigot. Make sure the engine you buy matches your gearbox or that you transfer the right parts.
2. Ask how the donor car was damaged. Most good used engines come from cars with body damage. A front-end impact can crack sensors, the timing cover or the sump; a rear or side impact usually leaves the engine untouched. The yard records the damage on each unit.
3. Photographs from every side. Good suppliers photograph the actual engine you will receive. Look for the block stamp, the sump, the timing cover and any broken brackets or connectors in the pictures.
4. List of what is fitted. Engines are sold with different ancillaries: some have the turbo, injectors, manifolds, alternator and starter, others are long blocks. Agree the list in writing so you know which parts must come from your old engine.
5. Warranty terms in writing. Read what the warranty covers, how long it runs and what fitting conditions apply. Most warranties require a qualified workshop, new fluids and filters, and replacement of the cooling parts that caused the original failure.
6. Turbocharger shaft play and oil. Rotate the compressor wheel by hand. A small amount of side play is normal; in-and-out play or wheel contact with the housing is not. Oil pooled in the intake or intercooler pipes points to worn seals.
7. Injector correction values. On a diesel that can be run before removal, the injector correction values show whether one injector is delivering more or less fuel than the others. Large deviations mean an injector is on its way out.
8. Swirl flaps. Check whether the swirl flaps are in place, blanked or removed. Broken swirl flaps are a known cause of engine failure on several BMW diesels, so many owners fit blanking plates when the intake is off.
9. Timing chain noise. Listen for a rattle at the front of the engine for the first seconds after a cold start. On an engine that cannot be run, look at the chain guides through the oil filler or with the valve cover off.

BMW 730d replacement engine cost

Across 52 730d engine units in our stock today, prices start at 376,00 € and reach 4.250,00 €. The median — the price in the middle of the range — is 2.174,00 €.

Prices depend on the exact version, the donor's mileage, how complete the engine is and the demand for that code. Higher-output versions, low mileage and dressed engines with turbo, injectors and ancillaries cost more; long blocks and higher mileage cost less.

730d engine prices by model year

Engines from 2000–2004 have a median of 1.738,00 €, while units from 2020–2024 sit at 3.363,00 €. Newer engines usually cost more because they come from younger donor cars with lower mileage and later updates.

730d engine prices by mileage

Mileage matters less than history on a well-maintained BMW engine, but it is a useful guide. A low-mileage unit from a younger car gives you more life for a modest premium.

On top of the engine, budget for the workshop's labour and the parts that are best replaced while the engine is out: engine mounts, the rear main seal, cooling parts, a clutch or converter seal, fluids and filters.

Replacement engines in stock for the 730d

Here is a selection of 730d engines currently on our shelves, photographed in the yard. Click any of them for the full photographs, mileage and specification.

BMW E46 330d M57D30 Engine 2002376,00 €BMW E39 530d M57D30 Engine655,00 €BMW E60 535d M57D30 Engine 20061.429,00 €BMW X5 3.0d E70 M57D30 Engine 2010 · 60,000 km3.108,00 €BMW 330d E91 M57D30 Engine 20113.378,00 €BMW M57D30 Engine1.780,00 €BMW M57D30 Complete Engine X5 3.0d E70 20081.897,00 €BMW M57D30 Complete Engine 330d F30 20171.321,00 €BMW 530d F10 M57D30 Engine 2013 · 165,000 km3.300,00 €BMW 330d M57D30 F31 2016 Engine For Sale1.445,00 €Buy BMW 330d G20 M57D30 Engine 20241.734,00 €BMW 330d E91 M57D30 Engine 2012849,00 €

BMW E46 330d M57D30 Engine 2002 — 376,00 €, reduced from 700,00 €. It comes from a 2002 donor car, and 7 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW E39 530d M57D30 Engine — 655,00 €, reduced from 1.000,00 €. It comes from a recorded donor car, and 11 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW E60 535d M57D30 Engine 2006 — 1.429,00 €, reduced from 1.750,00 €. It comes from a 2006 donor car, and 13 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW X5 3.0d E70 M57D30 Engine 2010 · 60,000 km — 3.108,00 €, reduced from 3.600,00 €. It comes from a 2010 donor car with 60,000 km, and 12 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW 330d E91 M57D30 Engine 2011 — 3.378,00 €, reduced from 4.250,00 €. It comes from a 2011 donor car, and 7 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW M57D30 Engine — 1.780,00 €, reduced from 2.300,00 €. It comes from a recorded donor car, and 19 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW M57D30 Complete Engine X5 3.0d E70 2008 — 1.897,00 €, reduced from 2.100,00 €. It comes from a 2008 donor car, and 17 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW M57D30 Complete Engine 330d F30 2017 — 1.321,00 €, reduced from 1.700,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car, and 19 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW 530d F10 M57D30 Engine 2013 · 165,000 km — 3.300,00 €, reduced from 3.850,00 €. It comes from a 2013 donor car with 165,000 km, and 13 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW 330d M57D30 F31 2016 Engine For Sale — 1.445,00 €, reduced from 1.750,00 €. It comes from a 2016 donor car, and 9 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

Buy BMW 330d G20 M57D30 Engine 2024 — 1.734,00 €, reduced from 2.100,00 €. It comes from a 2024 donor car, and 10 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW 330d E91 M57D30 Engine 2012 — 849,00 €, reduced from 1.300,00 €. It comes from a 2012 donor car, and 20 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

Will it fit my 730d?

Will the M57D30 fit my BMW E38 730d?

The M57D30 is the original engine for the BMW E38 730d, which makes it the straightforward choice. The third 7 Series was built 1994–2001, and the M57D30 was produced 1998–2005, so check that your car's build date falls inside that window. Confirm the drive type (rear-drive or xDrive), the gearbox (manual or automatic) and the emissions standard, because these can change the sump, the flywheel and the software. Send us the VIN and we check all of it for you.

How much is a replacement engine for a BMW E38 730d?

We have 52 M57D30 engines in stock, priced from 376,00 € to 4.250,00 €. Delivery to your door is included, and the engine carries a 12-month warranty when fitted by a qualified workshop. Add fitting labour and the parts you replace at the same time — seals, cooling parts and mounts — to estimate the total.

Engine swaps and upgrades for the 730d

These engines were fitted to other versions of the E38 at the factory, which makes them the most practical upgrades: the body was designed around them and many parts are shared.

Can I fit the M52B28 in my 730d?

It is a full conversion: the M52B28 runs on petrol and the M57D30 on diesel, so the fuel system, wiring, engine control unit, instrument coding and usually the gearbox change too. The gain is 9 hp and 0 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the M52TUB28 in my 730d?

It is a full conversion: the M52TUB28 runs on petrol and the M57D30 on diesel, so the fuel system, wiring, engine control unit, instrument coding and usually the gearbox change too. The gain is 9 hp and 0 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the M62B35 in my 730d?

It is a full conversion: the M62B35 runs on petrol and the M57D30 on diesel, so the fuel system, wiring, engine control unit, instrument coding and usually the gearbox change too. The gain is 51 hp and 0 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Fitting a replacement engine in the 730d

1. Inspect or replace the timing chain parts. Look at the guides and tensioner. On high-mileage engines, replacing them now costs far less than doing it later.
2. Prepare the turbo. Fit new oil feed and return seals, clean the intercooler and pipes of any oil or debris from the old engine, and prime the turbo with oil before starting.
3. Code the injectors and bleed the fuel. Enter the injector correction codes into the ECU, check the glow plugs and bleed the fuel system so the engine does not crank dry.
4. Fill with the right oil and prime it. Fill with new oil of the correct specification and a new filter. Crank with the fuel and ignition disabled until oil pressure builds.
5. Coding and adaptations. On modern BMWs, the engine ECU must be matched to the car's immobiliser (CAS, FEM or BDC). Reset adaptations, register the battery and clear faults with diagnostic software.
6. First start and leak check. Start the engine, let it idle and watch oil pressure, temperature and fault codes. Check for leaks and bleed the cooling system.
7. First 1,000 km. Drive gently for the first few hundred kilometres, vary the engine speed and avoid full load. Change the oil and filter after about 1,000 km to remove any assembly debris.

The full fitting and first-start procedure.

Delivery, warranty and payment

Before a 730d engine leaves our Hamburg yard it is drained of oil and coolant, every opening is sealed, and it is strapped to a pallet and wrapped. We send photographs of the packed unit and the tracking details.

Door-to-door delivery is included to the address you give at checkout. Typical delivery takes three to five working days within Germany and neighbouring countries and five to ten working days to the rest of Europe and the UK.

A 12-month warranty covers eligible internal failure when the engine is fitted by a qualified workshop with new fluids and filters. You can pay by card, bank transfer or crypto and receive the invoice by email straight away.

All E38 engines · M57 engine guide · BMW 730d engines for sale · Send us your VIN