In 1977, Renault entered Formula One with a turbocharged engine.
After the success Renault had, BMW decided to develop its own turbo engine.
BMW announced the new program in April 1980.
The engine was based on the BMW M10, a four-cylinder, 1.5 litre, normally aspirated (non-turbocharged) engine designed in the late 1950s.
The racing version, the M12, had been successful in Formula Two and other series.
The prototype 1.4 litre turbo engine soon developed 600 bhp.
It used a single Kühnle, Kopp & Kausch (KKK) turbocharger,  Bosch electronics, and fuel injection.
This engine was developed into the M12/13, the race engine BMW supplied to five teams from 1982 to 1988.

BMW first made a deal to supply the M12/13 engine only to the Brabham.
Testing of the M12/13 started in late 1980.
A new car, Brabham BT50 was design for the engine.
The new car was not finished until will into the 1981 season.
The team's lead driver, Nelson Piquet, tested the BT50 throughout 1981.
The car was unreliable until Bosch improved the electronics.

Brabham began the 1982 season with two BMW-powered BT50 chassis.
Because of reliability problems, the BT50 was not used at all the races that year.
BMW saw their first win in 1982 Canadian Grand Prix, where the cool conditions helped the turbocharged engine.
The BT50 was used for the rest of the season.
The car was still unreliable, and the drivers only made four finishes the rest of the season.

In 1983, the reliability of the BMW engine was improved.
The new Brabham BT52 allowed Nelson Piquet to win the Drivers' Championship.
Brabham finished third in the Constructors' Championship.
BMW also began supplying its engines to the German ATS team this season.
Manfred Winkelhock, the only driver for the team, was unable to score any points.

For 1984, BMW expanded to three teams, supplying the M12/13 to Arrows.
In 1985, BMW was back to two teams.
ATS had left Formula One.
Piquet won one race, the 1995 French Grand Prix.
It was the only win for BMW that year.

For the 1986 season, BMW was back to three teams with the addition of Benetton.
Benetton had the most success, scoring 19 points, and winning the Mexican Grand Prix.
In 1987, BMW only supplied Brabham with works engines.
Arrows and Ligier used the "Megatron", a rebadged BMW engine.
At the end of the year, Benetton team owner Bernie Ecclestone decided not to compete the following year.
This ended the BMW turbo engine.
The Arrows team still used the "Megatrons" engine for 1988.
They finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship, their best finish in the team's 25-year history.

For 1989, the technical regulations were changed to ban turbocharged engines.
During the M12/13 engine's time in F1, the engine had won the 1983 Drivers' Championship and nine Grands Prix.
It also took 14 pole positions and set 13 fastest laps.
In 1977, Renault entered Formula One with a turbocharged engine. After the success Renault had, BMW decided to develop its own turbo engine. BMW announced the new program in April 1980. The engine was based on the BMW M10, a four-cylinder, 1.5 litre, normally aspirated (non-turbocharged) engine designed in the late 1950s. The racing version, the M12, had been successful in Formula Two and other series. The prototype 1.4 litre turbo engine soon developed 600 bhp. It used a single Kühnle, Kopp & Kausch (KKK) turbocharger,  Bosch electronics, and fuel injection. This engine was developed into the M12/13, the race engine BMW supplied to five teams from 1982 to 1988.
BMW first made a deal to supply the M12/13 engine only to the Brabham. Testing of the M12/13 started in late 1980. A new car, Brabham BT50 was design for the engine. The new car was not finished until will into the 1981 season. The team's lead driver, Nelson Piquet, tested the BT50 throughout 1981. The car was unreliable until Bosch improved the electronics.
Brabham began the 1982 season with two BMW-powered BT50 chassis. Because of reliability problems, the BT50 was not used at all the races that year. BMW saw their first win in 1982 Canadian Grand Prix, where the cool conditions helped the turbocharged engine. The BT50 was used for the rest of the season. The car was still unreliable, and the drivers only made four finishes the rest of the season.
In 1983, the reliability of the BMW engine was improved. The new Brabham BT52 allowed Nelson Piquet to win the Drivers' Championship. Brabham finished third in the Constructors' Championship. BMW also began supplying its engines to the German ATS team this season. Manfred Winkelhock, the only driver for the team, was unable to score any points.
For 1984, BMW expanded to three teams, supplying the M12/13 to Arrows. In 1985, BMW was back to two teams. ATS had left Formula One. Piquet won one race, the 1995 French Grand Prix. It was the only win for BMW that year.
For the 1986 season, BMW was back to three teams with the addition of Benetton. Benetton had the most success, scoring 19 points, and winning the Mexican Grand Prix. In 1987, BMW only supplied Brabham with works engines. Arrows and Ligier used the "Megatron", a rebadged BMW engine. At the end of the year, Benetton team owner Bernie Ecclestone decided not to compete the following year. This ended the BMW turbo engine. The Arrows team still used the "Megatrons" engine for 1988. They finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship, their best finish in the team's 25-year history.
For 1989, the technical regulations were changed to ban turbocharged engines. During the M12/13 engine's time in F1, the engine had won the 1983 Drivers' Championship and nine Grands Prix. It also took 14 pole positions and set 13 fastest laps.
BMW in Formula One