Is 2JZ made by BMW?

As a quick definitive answer before jumping into the details – the iconic 2JZ engine family was created solely by Toyota engineers in Japan. BMW had no part in designing or manufacturing any variant of the 2JZ during its 1990-2002 production run.

2JZ Background and Origins

First seeing light in 1991, the 2JZ (and its little brother, the 1JZ) represented the pinnacle of Toyota‘s flagship inline-6 engine development. Built as a successor to the already robust JZ series, it leveraged advanced materials and innovations to reach new heights of smooth power delivery and bulletproof reliability.

Over its 11-year span, the 2JZ grew into the legendary tuning platform it remains today through continual refinement across three main factory variants:

• 2JZ-GE – The base naturally-aspirated model producing up to 220hp intended for non-sport models.
• 2JZ-GTE – The fire-breathing twin-turbo performance version packing up to 320hp designed largely for Toyota‘s top-flight sports cars.
• 2JZ-FSE – A later release with advanced direct fuel injection technology for increased efficiency.

It was the forced induction 2JZ-GTE that captured enthusiast hearts right away. Installed in halo cars like the JDM Toyota Aristo, Mark II, Crown, Chaser, and of course, the legendary 4th-gen Toyota Supra sports car.

2JZ-GTE Engine Details and Innovation

For tuners and speed freaks, the 2JZ-GTE represented the perfect blend of immense power potential and over-engineered reliability. Core reasons it stood above contemporaries of the era include:

• Sequential Twin Turbos – Two identically sized turbochargers activated in stages for instant response andreduced lag.
• Forged Steel Components – Forged crank, connecting rods and more ready for big boostpressure right off the factory floor.
• Reinforced Deck – Thicker open-deck block design strengthened with extra ribbing to resist cracking under huge horsepower numbers.
• Robust Head Gasket – Top-quality multi-layer steel head gasket able to contain 80+ psi of boost pressure without compromise.

It‘s this combination of forward-thinking innovation and overbuilt durability that has allowed properly modified 2JZs to achieve over 1,000 horsepower reliably – a barrier unthinkable from most production-based engines even today!

No wonder the 2JZ became a legend almost overnight in the mid-90‘s Japanese tuning scene before achieving global notoriety. Even stock, its 280 hp turbocharged output significantly outpaced European rivals while showing hints of its immense potential.

2JZ-GTE Tuner Perspective and Real-World Examples

Renowned engine builders like Stephan Papadakis have heaped praise on the 2JZ‘s amazing bones:

"There is no production engine that I know of then or now that can hold together as well as the 2JZ. The deck is so thick on that block…You can double and triple the horsepower with the right equipment."

His own monster 2JZ drag engine pushes over 1,700whp on race gas – territory only possible due to Toyota‘s over-engineering.

But you need not build some insane, budget-breaking beast to experience the 2JZ‘s magic. Bolt-on mods like intakes, turbos, injectors and tunes eliciting 500-800hp are commonplace.

Groups like Underground Racing even offer turnkey 2JZ supercar conversions delivering supercar slaying performance for a fraction of the cost:

Clearly, whether aiming for 800 reliable street hp or 4-digit dyno domination, the Toyota 2JZ engine stands alone as the tuner‘s powerplant of choice for outrageously quick real-world builds.

2JZ vs BMW Engine Tuning Potential

So that covers the 2JZ itself – an icon born solely out of Toyota‘s skunkworks. But how does it compare then to equivalent contemporary BMW engines often positioned as alternatives? Plainly said – there exists no BMW inline-6 production engine before or since with similar tuning pedigree.

BMW makes wonderfully refined street engines, but none designed from the outset for extreme performance like the 2JZ. Even their legendary high-revving S54 tops out around 800hp before needing expensive forged internals and machining.

By comparison, a 2JZ bolted to similar upgraded turbos, fuel system and tuning unlocks 50-100% more power without cracking open the block!

The B58 – A Modern 2JZ Successor?

But what about discussing more recent BMW mills – say the B58 powering the new Supra sports car co-developed with Toyota? Surely its advanced design surpasses the older 2JZ?

Actually – diehard 2JZ fans consider the B58 a spiritual successor benefiting from technology and insight Toyota originally pioneered in the older engine:

• Closed-deck block reinforced for high boost like the 2JZ-GTE.
• Beefy crank and rods that echo Toyota‘s emphasis on durability.
• High performance B58 variants use an over-engineered design for tuning potential.

Make no mistake though – as a clean sheet 2020s era motor, the B58 introduces major steps forward in emissions, efficiency and packaging vs 1990s era 2JZ.

However, when it comes to extreme four-digit horsepower builds, all signs point to the older Toyota turbo icon retaining its crown…for now. Its uniquely overbuilt design from day one gives it a durability edge over any BMW counterpart.

2JZ Legacy and Toyota-BMW Supra Partnership

The late 90s heyday of the 2JZ neatly aligns with the peak years of Japanese performance car dominance globally. Hits like Gran Turismo introduced new generations of fans to its legendary status virtualized.

Thus, the outrage years later when Toyota announced their new Supra sports car – spiritual 2JZ successor – would share BMW underpinnings. Brand purists wondered how it could claim legitimate bloodline inheritance without Toyota‘s legendary turbo six underhood.

But as detailed above, the 2JZ was always Toyota‘s alone – the capstone to their own engine development ambitions during Japan‘s bubble economy years. BMW deserves credit for recognizing its magic and collaborating to channel its essence into the new Supra.

In that sense then, the partnership respects the 2JZ legacy. This time around, Toyota wisely acknowledges standing on the shoulders of giants (and Germans) to reincarnate its icon for the modern era.

Final Thoughts

The one-of-a-kind 2JZ engine remains a uniquely Japanese icon born of one brand alone – Toyota. From its legendary debut in the JDM luxury Aristo to eternal fame powering the Mk4 Supra, its flawless track record proves itself the undisputed champ of production-based performance.

BMW makes truly great road and race mills, but none greased lightning like the 2JZ. For those craving four-digit horsepower 3am highway roll races, it stands in a class of its own…precisely why it birth the tuning culture we enjoy today.

So to answer plainly again – no friends, 2JZ certainly wasn‘t made by BMW! But the engineers in Munich likely pop sake in its honor all the same.