BorgWarner Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Issued common stock	Capital in excess of par value	Common stock held in treasury	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Noncontrolling interests	Employee Stock Option [Member] Common stock held in treasury	Performance Shares [Member] Common stock held in treasury	Restricted Stock [Member] Common stock held in treasury
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares				(18,489,037)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 2.5	$ 1,121.9	$ (727.2)	$ 3,177.4	$ (14.0)	$ 71.8
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013		246,421,893
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared					(116.1)		(24.9)
Stock incentive plans			5.4					$ 11.5
Stock incentive plans, shares	283,000
Net issuance for executive stock plan			(13.3)						$ 24.7
Net issuance of restricted stock			(1.6)							$ (1.3)
Net issuance of restricted stock, shares		(31,273)
Treasury stock reissued, shares								283,090	336,883	326,074
Purchase of treasury stock				$ (139.9)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares				(2,417,547)
Net earnings attributable to BorgWarner Inc.	$ 655.8				655.8
Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest, net of tax	31.7						31.7
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(369.6)					(369.6)
Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	$ (3.9)						(3.9)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 2.5	1,112.4	$ (832.2)	3,717.1	(383.6)	74.7
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		246,390,620
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares				(19,960,537)
Dividends declared					(116.7)		(28.5)
Stock incentive plans			(1.8)					$ 18.6
Stock incentive plans, shares	440,000
Net issuance for executive stock plan			2.4						$ 0.0
Net issuance of restricted stock			(3.3)							$ 18.2
Net issuance of restricted stock, shares		(3,563)
Treasury stock reissued, shares								439,653		532,951
Purchase of treasury stock				$ (363.0)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares				(8,074,303)
Net earnings attributable to BorgWarner Inc.	$ 609.7				609.7
Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest, net of tax	36.7						36.7
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(226.6)					(226.6)
Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(5.1)						(5.1)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,631.5	$ 2.5	1,109.7	$ (1,158.4)	4,210.1	(610.2)	77.8
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		246,387,057
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares				(27,062,236)
Dividends declared					(113.4)		(26.0)
Stock incentive plans			(19.4)					$ 32.4
Stock incentive plans, shares	794,000
Net issuance for executive stock plan			12.8						$ 0.0
Net issuance of restricted stock			1.2							$ 19.2
Treasury stock reissued, shares								793,230	0	414,464
Purchase of treasury stock				$ 274.8
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Deconsolidation	$ 4.8
Purchases of treasury stock, shares				(8,269,550)
Net earnings attributable to BorgWarner Inc.	118.5				118.5
Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest, net of tax	41.7						41.7
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(111.9)					(111.9)
Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(5.1)						(5.1)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 3,301.9	$ 2.5	$ 1,104.3	$ (1,381.6)	$ 4,215.2	$ (722.1)	$ 83.6
Ending Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016		246,387,057
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Treasury Stock, Common, Shares				(34,124,092)