BMW M2 Competition (F87) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW M2 Competition in the M2 generation (F87, built 2016–2021) was built with one engine, the S55B30: a 3.0 L petrol inline-6 with 431 hp.

This guide tells you which engine your M2 Competition has, what goes wrong with it, what a replacement costs from our stock and what else to plan for when you fit one.

• Generation: M2, 2016–2021
• Body styles: F87 (coupé)
• Engines: S55B30
• Output: 431 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 167 from 3.865,00 €

Which engine is in your M2 Competition?

S55B30 in the M2 Competition

The S55B30 was used in the F87 M2 Competition, built 2014–2020. It is a 3.0 L twin-turbo petrol inline-6 with 431 hp and 550 Nm.

Reading the code: S marks an S-series code, reserved for engines developed by BMW M; 55 is the family number; B stands for petrol (from the German Benzin); 30 is the capacity in decilitres, so 3.0 litres.

M2 Competition engines by model year

The M2 Competition kept the same engine for the whole F87 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 M2 Competition

A replacement engine does not have to come from another M2 Competition. 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.

S55B30: BMW F80 M3, BMW F82 M4.

How to confirm your engine code

The M2 Competition only used the S55B30, 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 M2 Competition engine problems

The S55B30 in the M2 Competition shares the known weak points of the S55 family. Full S55 guide.

Crank hub. The crank hub on heavily tuned engines can slip. Many owners fit a pinned or keyed crank hub when tuning.

Charge pipe. The plastic charge pipe can crack under high boost.

Oil leaks. Valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets leak at higher mileage.

Cooling. Auxiliary radiators and hoses need checking.

Symptoms to watch for on the M2 Competition

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.

Poor low-down torque and uneven idle. VANOS seals or solenoids. The engine may run well at high revs but feel flat and lumpy at low speed.

Limp mode with a Valvetronic fault. The Valvetronic motor, its eccentric shaft sensor or the wiring. The engine runs on a reduced throttle until it is repaired.

Long cranking before the engine starts. On direct-injection engines, a weak high-pressure fuel pump or leaking injector lets pressure drop when the engine is off.

Oil pressure warning or bearing noise at high revs. On M engines, a warning at high revs can be the first sign of bearing wear. Check the oil level and stop driving hard until it is diagnosed.

Looking after the M2 Competition engine

• Oil: 0W-30 or 5W-30 BMW Longlife-01, about 6.5 litres.
• Service interval: Oil every 10,000 km or yearly; shorter for track use.
• Timing drive: Timing chain at the front.
• Workshop notes: Fit a crank hub upgrade if the engine will be tuned.

Buying a used engine for the M2 Competition: checklist

1. 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.
2. Compression or leak-down figures. Even compression across all cylinders tells you more than mileage. Ask for the figures, not just a pass or fail, and compare the highest and lowest readings: a spread above 10 to 15 percent deserves a question.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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. 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.
8. VANOS operation. Rough idle, a rattle from the front of the head and a loss of torque at low revs point to VANOS seals or solenoids. These are serviceable parts and are easier to renew with the engine out.
9. Double VANOS units and solenoids. Ask for the adaptation values or fault history if the engine was running. Solenoids are inexpensive and are often replaced as a matter of course on a used engine.
10. Valvetronic motor and eccentric shaft sensor. The Valvetronic motor and its sensor cause limp-mode faults when they fail. Inspect the connector and the seal around the motor for oil.
11. Injectors and high-pressure fuel pump. Direct-injection engines rely on high-pressure pumps and precise injectors. Ask whether the injectors are original or updated and whether there were fuel pressure faults.
12. Bearing and valve clearance history. M engines are built to tighter tolerances. Ask for the last rod bearing replacement and valve clearance check, and consider an oil analysis if the engine can be run.

BMW M2 Competition replacement engine cost

Our M2 Competition engine stock runs to 167 units, priced from 3.865,00 € to 11.909,00 € with a median of 9.486,00 €.

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.

M2 Competition engine prices by model year

Engines from 2010–2014 have a median of 9.172,00 €, while units from 2020–2024 sit at 9.058,00 €. Newer engines usually cost more because they come from younger donor cars with lower mileage and later updates.

M2 Competition 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.

40 of these come from F87 donor cars, priced from 7.679,00 € to 11.894,00 €. An engine from the same body is the most direct swap because the sump, mounts and ancillaries already match.

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 M2 Competition

Here is a selection of M2 Competition engines currently on our shelves, photographed in the yard. Click any of them for the full photographs, mileage and specification.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2019, 135,500 km11.445,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 168,900 km8.153,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2018, 60,200 km8.805,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2020, 184,400 km10.764,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2016, 156,700 km10.227,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2015, 190,000 km9.185,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2018, 183,700 km11.426,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 25,100 km7.679,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 186,200 km10.721,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 27,100 km11.377,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2016, 100,700 km8.985,00 €BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2014, 70,200 km11.068,00 €

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2019, 135,500 km — 11.445,00 €, reduced from 12.050,00 €. It comes from a 2019 donor car with 135,500 km, and 20 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 168,900 km — 8.153,00 €, reduced from 9.300,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 168,900 km, and 12 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2018, 60,200 km — 8.805,00 €, reduced from 9.550,00 €. It comes from a 2018 donor car with 60,200 km, and 9 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2020, 184,400 km — 10.764,00 €, reduced from 11.500,00 €. It comes from a 2020 donor car with 184,400 km, and 9 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2016, 156,700 km — 10.227,00 €, reduced from 10.950,00 €. It comes from a 2016 donor car with 156,700 km, and 28 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2015, 190,000 km — 9.185,00 €, reduced from 10.000,00 €. It comes from a 2015 donor car with 190,000 km, and 27 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2018, 183,700 km — 11.426,00 €, reduced from 12.000,00 €. It comes from a 2018 donor car with 183,700 km, and 25 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 25,100 km — 7.679,00 €, reduced from 8.750,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 25,100 km, and 7 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 186,200 km — 10.721,00 €, reduced from 11.600,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 186,200 km, and 18 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2017, 27,100 km — 11.377,00 €, reduced from 12.250,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 27,100 km, and 11 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2016, 100,700 km — 8.985,00 €, reduced from 10.000,00 €. It comes from a 2016 donor car with 100,700 km, and 24 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F87 M2 Competition S55B30 Engine 2014, 70,200 km — 11.068,00 €, reduced from 12.550,00 €. It comes from a 2014 donor car with 70,200 km, and 20 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

Will it fit my M2 Competition?

Fitting a replacement engine in the M2 Competition

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. Reset VANOS adaptations. Clear the VANOS adaptations so the ECU learns the camshaft positions of the new engine.
4. Teach the Valvetronic limit stops. Run the Valvetronic learning routine so the ECU knows the eccentric shaft limits.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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

Every M2 Competition engine we sell is drained, sealed at each opening, strapped to a heat-treated pallet and shrink-wrapped before it leaves Hamburg. You receive photographs of the packed engine and a tracking number.

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.

Every engine carries a 12-month warranty on eligible internal failure when a qualified workshop fits it with new fluids and filters. Payment is by card, bank transfer or crypto; your invoice is emailed as soon as you order.

All F87 engines · S55 engine guide · Send us your VIN