BMW from the USA with the B58 engine - why it's worth it and what to watch out for

BMWs from the USA are very popular and customers often ask about them, especially about cars with the three-litre B58 engine - from the M340i and the X5 xDrive40i to the Z4 M40i. We explain why an American BMW is worth a look, what the B58 is, which models have it and what to watch out for when buying at auction.

Why it's worth looking for a BMW in the USA

• A huge choice - the USA is one of BMW's largest markets. The plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, builds the X3, X5, X6, X7 and XM, so there are especially many of these models at American auctions.
• Generous equipment - cars for the American market usually have an automatic gearbox, leather upholstery and packages that are paid extras in Europe.
• Petrol engines - since model year 2019, BMW hasn't sold diesel cars in the USA. When looking for a younger BMW, you choose between petrol engines and plug-in hybrids.
• Documented servicing - in the USA, BMWs from model year 2017 onwards come with free scheduled maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles under the BMW Ultimate Care programme. Many cars were therefore serviced at a BMW dealer in their first years, and the visits often show up in the Carfax report.
• A lower price - for the same money you can buy a BMW that's newer, more powerful or better equipped than in Poland. We explain where the price difference comes from in Why are cars from the USA cheaper and when does importing pay off?

The B58 engine in brief

The B58 is a three-litre, inline six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. BMW introduced it in 2015 in the 340i (F30), where it replaced the N55. Its key features:

• a single twin-scroll turbocharger - with an intercooler built into the intake system, so the engine responds quickly to the throttle,
• a closed-deck aluminium block - stiffer than an open-deck design, it copes well with high boost pressure,
• 500 cm³ modules - the B58 belongs to the same family as the three-cylinder B38 and the four-cylinder B48, so many parts are shared,
• plenty of power - depending on the model and year, from about 320 to over 380 PS.

The B58 has made the Ward's 10 Best Engines list, an American ranking of the year's best engines, several times. Toyota also uses it in the GR Supra 3.0.

Which models have the B58

At American auctions you'll most often find the B58 in these models:

• 2 Series - M240i (F22, F23 and G42),
• 3 and 4 Series - 340i (F30), M340i (G20), 440i (F32, F33, F36), M440i (G22, G23, G26),
• 5, 7 and 8 Series - 540i (G30), 740i (G11 and G70), 840i (G15, G14, G16),
• SUVs - X3 M40i, X4 M40i, X5 xDrive40i and sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive40i,
• Z4 - Z4 M40i (G29),
• Toyota - GR Supra 3.0.

How a US B58 differs from a European one

The engine's design is the same. The differences come from emissions rules: since 2018, cars for the European market have had a petrol particulate filter (OPF) in the exhaust, while American ones usually don't. The engine calibration is also different.

The M340i shows it best. In Europe it has 374 PS, while the American version has 382 hp according to BMW, which is about 387 PS. Some other models with “M40i” in the name are similar.

Excise duty: 3.0 or 2.0

Every BMW with the B58 has a capacity of about 3.0 litres, so the excise duty is 18.6% of the car's value. If you want lower excise duty, consider a 2.0 version, such as the 330i, 430i, 530i or X3 xDrive30i. For an engine up to 2000 cm³, the excise duty is 3.1%. You'll find the full list of costs on the USA car import costs page.

Advantages of the B58

• Refinement - an inline six runs smoothly and quietly, which you'll appreciate especially in a big SUV.
• Performance and flexibility - full torque is available from low revs, so the car accelerates hard without changing down.
• A good gearbox - in most models the B58 is paired with the eight-speed ZF automatic, which mechanics rate highly.
• A reputation for durability - with regular oil changes, the B58 is considered more durable than its N54 and N55 predecessors.
• Parts availability - the engine has been fitted to more than a dozen models for almost a decade, so there's no shortage of parts.
• Reasonable fuel consumption - for a three-litre engine with over 300 PS.

What to watch out for when buying

No engine is fault-free. The most common issues with the B58 are:

• oil and coolant leaks - from the plastic oil filter housing, the water pump or the cooling system, usually at higher mileage,
• crankcase ventilation and the valve cover - in the first years, the diaphragm of the ventilation valve built into the valve cover can fail,
• spark plugs and ignition coils - they wear over time, especially in cars with tuned engines.

Modified cars are a separate matter. It's easy to raise the B58's power with software alone, so auctions include cars with a changed engine map or a modified exhaust. You don't know how such a car was driven, and a missing catalytic converter can be a problem at the roadworthiness test. If information about modifications is in the auction description, in the Carfax or AutoCheck report or in other databases, we'll tell you before the auction.

How we check a BMW before the auction

Before the auction, we check the car's history in a Carfax or AutoCheck report: accidents, service records, mileage and the number of owners. We look at the auction photos, the damage description and the title status. We explain how to read such a report in How to read a Carfax and AutoCheck report. On request, we also order an on-site inspection by an independent expert.

A car from the USA has to be adapted to European rules, mainly the lights. The scope of changes depends on the model and year, so before the auction we'll tell you what a particular BMW needs.

Find your BMW

You'll find current BMWs from Copart and IAAI auctions in our BMW auctions from the USA catalogue. Choose a car and send us the LOT number or VIN through the Contact page. Before the auction, we'll work out the full delivered cost for free, and if the car isn't worth buying, we'll tell you straight.