M50/52 Visual difference - goldish valve cover?

[E30Runt]

New to the E30 scene and the M10 recently went out. Looking into an M50 / M52 for sale. Seller says it's an M52 but I saw that it had a gold valve cover and pics on net point to M50.

So is the M50/52 distinguishable by valve cover color? Also what else should I look out for to tell difference?

Thanks!

[meanEG]

M52 should have plastic oil filter cap, oil fill in the front of the valve cover, coils with 2 bolts

[justin_l_]

Run the vin on the back of the head or the numbers off the side of the block under the intake manifold. Valve covers can be changed out if they went obd1.

[nyChris]

There will be a machined surface behind the driver side engine mount with numbers stamped on it.

Look for these sequences:
25 s 6 1 (2.5L M50)
30 s 6 1 (3.0L S50)
28 s 6 2 (2.8L M52)
25 s 6 2 (2.5L M52)
32 s 6 2 (3.2L S52)

[mpowerful]

25 6 s2 is an m50tu

25 6 s3 is m52

Misquoted in a million threads....

[justin_l_]

25 6 s2 is an m50tu

25 6 s3 is m52

Misquoted in a million threads....

M52b25...

http://www.ge39.com/files/zeigeinfo.pdf

Check this if you want to check for yourself what they are.