Differences between m50 and m52 heads

[Aptyp]

What are they? Are they interchangeable? Are e36 and e39 m52 heads identical?


I found an m52, head may be cracked and I have all m50 OBDI wiring and a spare cylinder head. Help me out here with some good info.

[Stu]

You can use it. You'll find that later heads (maybe all OBD-2, maybe only 98-99, not sure) need less port work when you open them up. M50 head will be fine on an M52 bottomend.

Are you finally gonna get that eta motor out? ;)

[Aptyp]

who knows... seriously, who does know?

[E30FTW]

All vanos M/S5x heads are the same casting.

The only real difference in the number and placement of the sensors under intake ports 1/2.

I've never seen one with different port machining than any other. They are all 400 castings.

[asubimmer]

All vanos M/S5x heads are the same casting.

The only real difference in the number and placement of the sensors under intake ports 1/2.

I've never seen one with different port machining than any other. They are all 400 castings.

not the aluminum block ones...

[10Toes]

Just not double vanos heads.