M52b28 weight differences? Curious and I searched

[M-technik-3]

Thinking maybe done the road of getting one, couple of Z3's being parted out so lighter would be key.

[nando]

pretty sure it's in the engine weights thread sticky (I think if you google BMW engine weights, you'll find the thread). AFAIK it's about the same as an M54 ~350lbs or so.

[M-technik-3]

Thanks, I'll poke a bit more. M52's seem to be all over the place in dollar amounts these days so might even consider a doing a m54.

[2mAn]

AluM52 will be the lightest, obviously because its single vanos. I think the M54 is still heavier. Going from a M20 with Power Steering to the Alu M52 with no power steering left no weight gain at all for me. I only mention the power steering to be thorough. I picked up the bare aluminum block when the engine was being built and it was damn light.

edit: The two times I weighed my car at a scale it was 2400# with the M20, then 2450# with the M52, but I had added a Lukebox as well which weighed in at 60# when I removed it.

[nando]

yeah, I don't think they are really any lighter. Maybe a couple lbs. The engines are really similar, and the M54 is newer and uses more modern manufacturing and materials. Both are similar in weight to an M20.

[M-technik-3]

This was an M44 car so it's going to gain weight on the nose and forward of the nose but will have more torque and hp plus gearbox that works.

[nando]

yeah for double the HP and torque potential it's probably worth the ~50lb penalty. The iron block 4 cylinders aren't that light when compared to the aluminum 6's.

[M-technik-3]

Not only that the M44 is a vacuum line nightmare plus owner says it's a toasted engine so scrap metal it goes.. Had it been an M42 I'd would have gave it to a lemons team.

[Jaker]

M52 single Vanos block (identical architecture for engine building as iron block) is 45lbs lighter. And my Getrag E36 trans has been fine for quite a long time now with 250-270whp and 225-240ft/lbs torque and it's 20lbs lighter than the E36 ZF 5 speed.

[ba114]

Iron block M50B20 and M50B25
engine _____ weight(kg) _ weight(lbs)
VANOS _____ 198 _______ 436.5


Aluminum block M52B28
engine _______ weight(kg) _ weight(lbs)
VANOS _______ 170 _______ 374.8

[nando]

May as well post the source:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=233682

M54 and aluminum M52 are almost identical.

[Jaker]

I have personally weighed both bare blocks and the weight difference between the single Vanos iron and aluminum blocks is 45lbs.

[nando]

OK? if you read the link and what I'm saying, I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm not saying the iron block M52 is the same weight as aluminum. I'm saying the aluminum M52 is the same weight as the M54.. ;)

[Jaker]

Agreed and understood. Just wanted to be clear that the posted complete engine weights don't really paint an accurate picture. It's not a 60ish lb weight diff.

[ba114]

May as well post the source:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=233682

M54 and aluminum M52 are almost identical.

Thanks for that. I no longer had the source, only the part i had copied and pasted into my thread due to changing from m52 to m50 :)