BMW 501: Which Version Should You Buy?
The BMW 501 catalogue data presents one generation, one Sedan body style, and two versions carrying the same exact name: 2.0 MT. Both were produced from 1952 through 1958 and share nearly every recorded specification. The meaningful choice is therefore between the 2.0 MT with 65 hp (48 kW) and the 2.0 MT with 72 hp (54 kW).
The BMW 501 catalogue data presents one generation, one Sedan body style, and two versions carrying the same exact name: 2.0 MT. Both were produced from 1952 through 1958 and share nearly every recorded specification. The meaningful choice is therefore between the 2.0 MT with 65 hp (48 kW) and the 2.0 MT with 72 hp (54 kW). The more powerful version delivers 7 hp and 6 kW more from the same 1,971 cc engine, while the available data shows no corresponding difference in transmission, drive, cylinder arrangement, induction, front suspension, or front brakes.
BMW 501 generations and version choice
The BMW 501 has one recorded generation, identified as 1 generation, covering 1952–1958. It is listed as a Sedan and contains two versions. Because there is only one generation in the supplied catalogue, there is no intergenerational change to compare and no separate restyling entry.
Both versions are called 2.0 MT, so the power output must be included whenever they are compared. The first 2.0 MT produces 65 hp (48 kW), while the second 2.0 MT produces 72 hp (54 kW). Their production periods are identical: 1952–1958.
BMW 501 specs and engine comparison
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 MT (65 hp) | 65 hp / 48 kW | not measured | 1,971 cc | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | No | Manual, 4-speed | RWD |
| 2.0 MT (72 hp) | 72 hp / 54 kW | not measured | 1,971 cc | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | No | Manual, 4-speed | RWD |
The two BMW 501 engines have the same recorded basic configuration. Each 2.0 MT uses a 1,971 cc Gasoline engine with 6 cylinders in an Inline layout, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, a Carburetor fuel system, and a Front, longitudinal installation. Both versions pair that engine with a 4-speed Manual gearbox and RWD.
The 65 hp 2.0 MT produces approximately 33.0 hp per litre, calculated from 65 hp and 1,971 cc. The 72 hp 2.0 MT produces approximately 36.5 hp per litre from the same displacement. The difference is about 3.6 hp per litre in favor of the 72 hp version.
Measured directly against the lower-powered car, the 72 hp version offers about 10.8% more horsepower. Its 54 kW output is 12.5% greater than the 48 kW figure of the 65 hp version. Torque, engine speed at peak output, compression ratio, and bore-and-stroke figures are not measured, so those items cannot be used to explain how the higher output was achieved.
BMW 501 performance and economy
| Version | 0–100 km/h | Top speed | City consumption | Highway consumption | Combined consumption | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 MT (65 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 2.0 MT (72 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
The catalogue does not measure acceleration or maximum speed for either 2.0 MT. It would therefore be unsafe to convert the 7 hp advantage into a claimed acceleration or top-speed improvement. The 72 hp version is stronger on recorded engine output alone, but its real-world performance advantage is not measured.
Fuel consumption is also not measured for either version. City, highway, and combined consumption are unavailable, as are CO₂ emissions and environmental classifications. Consequently, there is no numerical basis for calling either 2.0 MT more economical or cleaner.
BMW 501 dimensions, weight, and chassis specs
| Version | Kerb weight | Gross weight | Ground clearance | Fuel tank | Wheel sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 MT (65 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 2.0 MT (72 hp) | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Kerb weight and gross weight are not measured for either BMW 501 version. Weight per horsepower therefore cannot be calculated reliably. Ground clearance, fuel-tank capacity, and wheel sizes are likewise not measured.
The recorded chassis equipment is the same for both versions. Each 2.0 MT has Independent, torsion front suspension and Drum front brakes. Rear-suspension and rear-brake specifications are not measured. The identical Sedan body classification and matching recorded chassis data leave engine power as the only quantified distinction relevant to choosing between them.
Which BMW 501 version should you buy?
Choose the 2.0 MT with 72 hp (54 kW) when maximum recorded output is the priority. It provides 7 hp and 6 kW more than the 2.0 MT with 65 hp (48 kW) without changing the listed 1,971 cc displacement, 6-cylinder Inline layout, 4-speed Manual gearbox, or RWD configuration. Its calculated specific output is approximately 36.5 hp per litre, compared with about 33.0 hp per litre for the 65 hp version.
Choose the 2.0 MT with 65 hp (48 kW) only if its lower output suits your requirements or if factors outside this dataset favor it. The supplied information contains no prices, sale listings, condition reports, ownership costs, reliability records, or parts-availability figures. It is therefore impossible to say whether the extra 7 hp of the 72 hp version requires extra money or whether that money would represent good value.
For a specification-led decision, the 2.0 MT with 72 hp is the clearer choice because it leads in the only measured category that differs. For a purchase decision involving value, condition, performance, economy, or weight per horsepower, neither version can be declared superior from the available figures: price is not measured, condition is not measured, acceleration is not measured, top speed is not measured, consumption is not measured, and weight is not measured.