E39 528i M52 aluminum block??

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  • Rigmaster
    No R3VLimiter
    • Jul 2004
    • 3464
    #1

    E39 528i M52 aluminum block??

    I just picked up a mostly complete M52 from a '97 528i. Bought it from a guy who said it had a blown head gasket- so they replaced the engine with a junkyard engine and had this left over.

    Here's the confusing part- everything I've seen says only the Z3 2.8 and the non-USA M52's got the Aluminum block- and this engine definitely has an aluminum block. I could not find a VIN tag on it to confirm which car it came from- there are some other numbers stamped into the block- but I can't find anything about them online.

    So, can anyone confirm if any US-spec 528i's came with the aluminum block engine?



    Bret.
    Tags: None
    • 325Projectz
      E30 Mastermind
      • Jan 2005
      • 1956
      #2
      and this engine definitely has an aluminum block.
      why confirm if your sure?
      91 m3

        Comment

        • PiercedE30
          R3V Elite
          • Apr 2005
          • 4220
          #3
          M54's had aluminum blocks, when I go into work in the morning I will check and see if any of the M52's we have pulled out of 528's are aluminum.
          My 2.9L Build!

          Originally posted by Ernest Hemingway
          There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.

            Comment

            • RyanZ06
              Wrencher
              • Apr 2007
              • 226
              #4
              are you positive it came from a 528 and not a 530?

                Comment

                • 02stu
                  E30 Modder
                  • Jan 2005
                  • 872
                  #5
                  humm, I just bought a m52 that came out of a 1997 528i with a blown head gasket to, and oddly enough I also thought it was aluminum from the looks of it. However I was wrong, hold a magnet up to.

                    Comment

                    • Rigmaster
                      No R3VLimiter
                      • Jul 2004
                      • 3464
                      #6
                      Originally posted by 325Projectz
                      why confirm if your sure?
                      I think you missed the point Mr. Helpful.


                      I was trying to determine if it was possible that this engine came from an E39 528i US Spec car. It would be most helpful if someone had a list of engine block casting numbers to confirm what it is I have here.

                      It's dark out right now, but I will be able to give it a better look sometime tomorrow- and hopefully find a VIN sticker on the block or head which should help.



                      Bret.

                        Comment

                        • PiercedE30
                          R3V Elite
                          • Apr 2005
                          • 4220
                          #7
                          get pictures up of each side of the block.
                          I just realised we do have a few E39 aluminum blocks at work. The bottom half of the block looks like a bunch of small squares. It is very odd looking.
                          My 2.9L Build!

                          Originally posted by Ernest Hemingway
                          There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.

                            Comment

                            • matt
                              No R3VLimiter
                              • Oct 2003
                              • 3731
                              #8
                              M52TU?

                              Subscribed.

                                Comment

                                • Rigmaster
                                  No R3VLimiter
                                  • Jul 2004
                                  • 3464
                                  #9
                                  Damn.

                                  It's raining like hell here, and dark, and the engine is sitting in the back of my truck- covered in plastic.

                                  I got a flashlight and checked it out between heavy showers- and I still couldn't find a VIN sticker on it. I did find where it says "E39 M52" on a sticker on the back of the block/head, and the block DEFINITELY is aluminum. The coil packs all appear to be original, and they have "24.10.98" stamped on them- which makes me think this was a LATE '98 production 528i. I looked on realoem and it shows the engine was the same from 09/98-01/2000. SO, that's where we stand. It does not appear to be double vanos- only one bump on the intake side of the front of the head.


                                  here's the realoem link for the engine block:
                                  http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...66&hg=11&fg=10



                                  More to come tomorrow when it's light out and not raining like crazy......


                                  Bret.

                                    Comment

                                    • matt
                                      No R3VLimiter
                                      • Oct 2003
                                      • 3731
                                      #10
                                      09/98 is the start of MY99. If it doesn't have double vanos, it's gotta be an aluminum M52.

                                      How much? :mrgreen:

                                        Comment

                                        • Rigmaster
                                          No R3VLimiter
                                          • Jul 2004
                                          • 3464
                                          #11
                                          Originally posted by matt
                                          09/98 is the start of MY99. If it doesn't have double vanos, it's gotta be an aluminum M52.

                                          How much? :mrgreen:

                                          HEHE.

                                          Not FS right now. I'm trying to get parts together for a 24v E30 swap. I've got an S50, an S52 and now an aluminum M52. I was leaning towards the S50 since it's complete + to me requires the least amount of work to install, but this alum block has got me thinking....... :)


                                          OH, and it's definitely got this intake:

                                          http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...=11&fg=40&hl=2

                                          When I take that part number and run it to see what other cars share that intake, it comes up with E39 528i, E46 323i and 328i as well as Z3 2.5 and 2.8 6 cyls.... :)

                                            Comment

                                            • matt
                                              No R3VLimiter
                                              • Oct 2003
                                              • 3731
                                              #12
                                              Are you 100% sure this isn't a double vanos M52TU... because all indications point to "yes, it is."

                                              http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...70&hg=11&fg=15

                                                Comment

                                                • PiercedE30
                                                  R3V Elite
                                                  • Apr 2005
                                                  • 4220
                                                  #13
                                                  Yea, that is definitely an AL block. Nice grab.
                                                  My 2.9L Build!

                                                  Originally posted by Ernest Hemingway
                                                  There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.

                                                    Comment

                                                    • Rigmaster
                                                      No R3VLimiter
                                                      • Jul 2004
                                                      • 3464
                                                      #14
                                                      Originally posted by matt
                                                      Are you 100% sure this isn't a double vanos M52TU... because all indications point to "yes, it is."

                                                      http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...70&hg=11&fg=15
                                                      Shit Matt, I'm not 100% sure what I ate for breakfast this morning... ;)

                                                      Seriously, it was raining and dark and I'm not 100% sure about the vanos.

                                                      I'll post up some pics tomorrow, so you guys can see what I'm looking at.

                                                        Comment

                                                        • 325Projectz
                                                          E30 Mastermind
                                                          • Jan 2005
                                                          • 1956
                                                          #15
                                                          Originally posted by Rigmaster
                                                          I think you missed the point Mr. Helpful.
                                                          i guess i should of put a smilie in there... <3333

                                                          sounds like a m52tu. get that pic up.
                                                          91 m3

                                                            Comment

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