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BMW N52

Straight-6 DOHC piston engine

BMW N52

Straight-6 DOHC piston engine

FieldValue
nameBMW N52 engine
imageBMW-N52.jpg
production2004–2015
configurationStraight-6
blockMagnesium-Aluminium
headAluminium
valvetrainDOHC, with VVT & VVL
fueltypePetrol
displacement2497 cc
2996 cc
bore82 mm
85 mm
stroke78.8 mm
88 mm
redline7,000 rpm
predecessorBMW M54
successorBMW N53

2996 cc 85 mm 88 mm

The BMW N52 is a naturally aspirated straight-6 petrol engine which was produced from 2004 to 2015. The N52 replaced the BMW M54 and debuted on the E9x 3 Series and E6x 5 and 7 Series.

The N52 was the first water-cooled engine to use magnesium/aluminium composite construction in the engine block. It was also listed as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines in 2006 and 2007.

In European markets, the N52 began to be phased out in favor of its direct injected version, the BMW N53 in 2007. Markets such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Malaysia retained the N52 as the N53 was deemed unsuitable due to the high sulphur content of local fuel.

The engine is equipped with a dual overhead cam 24 valve cylinder head and the crankshaft is held in place with 36 main bearing cap bolts. The static compression ratio is 10.7:1 advertised, requiring the use of 100 RON (94 AKI) fuel.

The N52 and N53 are the last naturally aspirated straight-six engines produced by BMW, ending a history of continuous production of this engine configuration since the BMW M30 in 1968. In 2011, the N52 began to be replaced by the BMW N20 turbocharged four-cylinder engine. N52 production ceased in 2015.

Unlike its predecessors, there is no BMW M version of the N52.

TOC

Design

Rear of N52, with Valvetronic visible

Compared with its M54 predecessor, the N52 features Valvetronic (variable valve lift), a lighter block due to the use of a magnesium alloy and an electric water pump (replacing the belt-driven water pump) and a variable output oil pump. The redline was increased from 6,500 rpm to 7,000 rpm, except for N52B25 (130 kW).

Like the M54, the N52 uses electronic throttle control and variable valve timing (double-VANOS). Higher output versions of the N52 use a three-stage variable length intake manifold (also called "DISA").

The N52 engine block is made from a combination of magnesium and aluminium. Magnesium is lighter than aluminium, however it has a greater risk of corrosion from water and may creep under load at high temperatures; this makes traditional magnesium alloys not suited for withstanding the high loads to which an engine block is exposed. Therefore, BMW used a magnesium alloy for the crankcase shell, with an aluminum 'inner block' to overcome the limitations of magnesium alloys. The cylinder liners are made of Alusil. The N52 debuted with solid cast intake and exhaust camshafts, but during production hollow "hydro-formed" camshafts were phased in to reduce weight. Some engines came from the factory equipped with one solid and one hollow camshaft as the solid shaft was being phased out. Engine performance is not affected by installation of mixed camshafts.

The engine control unit (also called "DME") varies between model years, generally before 2007 the MSV70 was used and onward the MSV80 was used. For specifically the N51 engine the MSV80.1 was used.

Models

N52 shown from the intake side
Front of the N52
Front of the N52, with VANOS units visible
Exhaust side of the N52
Cutaway view of the N52 intake side, showing the cylinders
EngineDisplacementPowerTorqueYears
N52B252497 cc130 kW
at 5,800 rpm230 Nm
at 3,500-5,000 rpm2005-2008
150 kW
at 6,400 rpm250 Nm
at 2,750 rpm2007-2011
160 kW
at 6,500 rpm250 Nm
at 2,750-4,250 rpm2004-2013
N52B302996 cc160 kW
at 6,100 rpm270 Nm
at 2,500-4,250 rpm2006-2010
280 Nm
at 2,500-3,500 rpm2010-2011
170 kW
at 6,500 rpm270 Nm
at 2,750 rpm2007-2013
180 kW
at 6,500 rpm310 Nm
at 2,750 rpm2008-2011
190 kW
at 6,600 rpm300 Nm
at 2,500-4,000 rpm2010-2011
190 kW
at 6,600 rpm310 Nm
at 2,600 rpm2009-2015
195 kW
at 6,600 rpm315 Nm at
2,750-4,250 rpm2005-2009
200 kW
at 6,650 rpm315 Nm at
2,750 rpm2006-2010

N52B25

130 kW Applications:

  • 2006 E90 323i — Canada, Australia and Japan
  • 2004-2007 E60/E61 523i
  • 2006-2008 E85 Z4 2.5i

150 kW Applications:

  • 2007-2011 E90 323i — Canada, Australia and Japan
  • 2010-2011 F10 523i
  • 2009-2011 E89 Z4 sDrive23i

160 kW Applications:

  • 2005-2010 E83 X3 2.5si, xDrive25i
  • 2005-2010 E60/E61 525i, 525xi — except U.S. and Canada
  • 2004-2013 E90/E91/E92/E93 325i, 325xi — except U.S. and Canada
  • 2005-2008 E85 Z4 2.5si

N52B30

The 3.0 L models of the N52 have a bore of 85 mm, a stroke of 88 mm and a compression ratio of 10.7:1. Variations in power output are often due to different intake manifolds and variations of engine management software.

160 kW Applications:

  • 2006-2007 E90/E92/E93 325i, 325xi — U.S. and Canada only
  • 2006-2007 E60/E61 525i, 525xi — U.S. and Canada only
  • 2006-2008 E85 Z4 3.0i — U.S. and Canada only
  • 2008-2011 E82/E88 125i
  • 2008-2010 E60/E61 528i, 528xi — U.S. and Canada only
  • 2009-2010 E84 X1 xDrive25i

170 kW Applications:

  • 2007-2013 E90/E91/E92/E93 328i, 328xi — U.S. and Canada only
  • 2008-2013 E82/E88 128i — U.S. and Canada only

180 kW Applications:

  • 2010-2011 F10 528i

190 kW Applications:

  • 2004-2007 E63/E64 630i
  • 2005-2007 E90/E92/E93 330i, 330xi
  • 2005-2008 E65/E66 730i
  • 2005-2009 E60/E61 530i, 530xi
  • 2009-2015 F01 730i
  • 2008-2011 E89 Z4 sDrive30i
  • 2009-2011 E84 X1 xDrive28i
  • 2009-2012 E87 130i
  • 2010-2011 F25 X3 28i

195 kW Applications:

  • 2005-2008 E85/E86 Z4 3.0si
  • 2006-2009 E87 130i

200 kW Applications:

  • 2006–2010 E83 X3 3.0si
  • 2006-2010 E70 X5 3.0si, xDrive30i
  • 2007-2010 E63/E64 630i
  • 2007-2013 E90/E92/E93 330i, 330xi

N51B30

The N51 engine is a SULEV version of the N52 that was sold in parts of the United States that had SULEV legislation. Differences to the N52 versions include a variable-length intake manifold ("DISA") with three stages instead of one, and the static compression ratio lowered from 10.7:1 to 10.0:1. Additionally, the N51 features a secondary air pump ("SAP") not present in the ULEV N52.

Recalls

  • In 2017, BMW recalled 740,000 six-cylinder models due to reports of the heater for the crankcase ventilation valve short-circuiting and causing a fire.
  • In 2023, 155,627 vehicles were issued a recall for VANOS bolts that could loosen or break over time.

References

References

  1. "BMW Pushes Lightweight Technology with Magnesium".
  2. (January 2006). "10 Best Engines 2006".
  3. "Ward's 10 Best Engines 2007".
  4. (7 December 2006). "Ward's Auto releases annual 10 Best Engines list".
  5. "BMW's N52 versus N53 – what are we missing?".
  6. "BMW N20 turbo 4 cylinder versus N52 naturally aspirated 6 cylinder".
  7. "BMW N52 and N53 24 Valve Six Cylinder Engines".
  8. "2007 BMW 525xi".
  9. "www.worldcarfans.com".
  10. (14 May 2019). "The 7 Most Common BMW N52 Engine Problems".
  11. "Inside the N52 Engine".
  12. "TMS1764947 - N52 330 Intake Manifold & Software Upgrade".
  13. "Genuine BMW - 11617559523KT2 Intake Manifold Upgrade Kit".
  14. (7 March 2015). "BMW N52B30 Engine".
  15. "BMW Pushes Lightweight Technology with Magnesium".
  16. "Nikasil Cylinders".
  17. "Engine specifications- N52".
  18. "5'E60 523i".
  19. "2007 BMW Z4".
  20. "2009 BMW 1 Series - Features & Specs".
  21. (8 October 2010). "2011 BMW 528i - Short Take Road Test".
  22. "Test Drive: 2011 BMW 528i".
  23. "Model selection: F'01 LCI - sedan - 730i".
  24. "2007 BMW 3-series E90 Sedan RWD (2WD) range full specs".
  25. "How Do I Know if I Have an N51 or N52 BMW 6-Cylinder Engine?".
  26. "BMW N51 vs N52 Engine Differences".
  27. "RealOEM.com - Online BMW Parts Catalog".
  28. (4 November 2017). "BMW Recalls Roughly a Million Vehicles at Risk of Catching Fire".
  29. "NHTSA Recall 23V-707".
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