Another N52 swap attempt!

[Striker01]

Not really swap related but I hate putting messed up stuff back on the car, since I needed that dash out to fill a couple holes on the firewall I decided to fix some cracks. What a tedious process, I don't ever want to do another one. A few tips if anyone does this. When you spray the texture back on make sure you start spraying before the stream is over the part and make long steady strokes. The front side turned out almost like the factory vinyl but the top didn't. I should've applied the texture thicker and sanded it with a little more pressure. I used 400 grit with light pressure. It's not even close to perfect but way better than it was.

Dremeled out the gaping cracks down to where the foam wasn't cracked anymore.



Used plastic welding fiber to fill the cracks as close to level as possible.



I didn't get a picture of the filling process but I used padded dash filler, followed with SEM vinyl products.

Finished product.

[Striker01]

Been traveling a lot lately but found time to get the brake booster connector and harness put together.





Unfortunately I broke the connector so I'll try and get another one without having to buy the whole kit.

[Striker01]

Good looking motor, look at those headers!

Thanks!! Lots of work but rewarding to see them on the motor, knowing I modified them. Engine is ready to go in. Time to push it into the corner and start engine bay work. Been procrastinating that job.

[hoveringuy]

Good looking motor, look at those headers!

[ome30]

That is one spiffy looking valve cover, good call on checking the crank clearance!

[Striker01]

Thanks again adam.nonis!! Got those cam bolts installed. They are shallow and the exhaust side are super difficult to get a torx on. While I was in there I installed MILVs, that turned into a nightmare. Dropped one of the spring spacer washers under the exhaust cam and down an oil passage. So the oil pan had to come back off, gave me a chance to check crank clearance though, I forgot the first time.

I didn't like the way my original valve cover fit, the two areas on the back of the head between the outside and center bolts were bowed and it didn't even seem like they were pinching the gasket to the head. I was going to run it and change later if it leaked because the BMW ones are so expensive. I found that some companies are offering an aluminum option, not a bunch of reviews but the few I read were positive. Only complaint is the valvetronic bracket. They're cheap enough its worth a shot and I'm pleased, see how it does in the long run.

The gasket appears to be sealed nicely all the way around, great here where my original didn't fit well.



The bracket didn't line up with the mounting holes on the edge and center valley, looked like it spread because these bolts were tightened down too much. I loosened these two bolts and tightened them after the cover was torqued down.





Made a bracket to secure the dipstick. All the dents are from "massaging" it because I wasn't smart enough to mock up the dipstick placement with the power steering bracket in place.

[hoveringuy]

At some point when I switched from N54 to DISA intake I fit the Tesla booster just to prove that it fits.

[Striker01]

I don't think it will either, I believe those who are/have run the E90 booster were running the N54 intake.

So you're running the Tesla iBooster? That's likely my long term plan too, feel free to share anything about that here.

I posted some info here https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/for...booster/page16.

I haven't worked out the reservoir yet. reservoir supply is on the side pointing towards the driver's fender and brake line outputs point down. I want to use elbows from the master and some short tubing to use the e30 reservoir. You reminded me I need to order a connector kit for power.


I'll make some kind of bracket/shelf for the reservoir to sit on and mount it here.




I have an extra extended clevis I can send you, if you decide to go this route. Not sure why they made me two.

[DEV0 E30]

I don't think the E90 booster will fit with the 3 stage intake, didn't look into that. I have an electric booster.

I don't think it will either, I believe those who are/have run the E90 booster were running the N54 intake.

So you're running the Tesla iBooster? That's likely my long term plan too, feel free to share anything about that here.

[Striker01]

I love this project! I picked up a parts car for an n52 swap a couple of years ago, and am getting closer to starting this project. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you are going to need the DSC module to have a functional cruise control. The DME will need the wheel speed signals which it recieves over the PT CAN from the DSC module. I am planning on retrofitting the DSC from my parts car to have DSC as well as a functional ABS system, but I am unsure of the conversion for the ring pickup on the axles. I am also tempted to install the instrument cluster from the doner car but I have not really looked into this yet. On a side note, I have had great luck/pedal feel using the E90 brake booster in a previous s52 swap. Has anybody looked into this for the N52 Swap?

From reading up on the MSV70 DME it seems like the ECU takes care of the cruise function. It gets a speed signal on pin 17 of X60001, from DSC, but Nando can program it to accept the E30 speed from C101. I hope it doesn't use the data bus for that as well. I guess I'll find out.

I don't think the E90 booster will fit with the 3 stage intake, didn't look into that. I have an electric booster.

[TurboDirty]

I love this project! I picked up a parts car for an n52 swap a couple of years ago, and am getting closer to starting this project. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you are going to need the DSC module to have a functional cruise control. The DME will need the wheel speed signals which it recieves over the PT CAN from the DSC module. I am planning on retrofitting the DSC from my parts car to have DSC as well as a functional ABS system, but I am unsure of the conversion for the ring pickup on the axles. I am also tempted to install the instrument cluster from the doner car but I have not really looked into this yet. On a side note, I have had great luck/pedal feel using the E90 brake booster in a previous s52 swap. Has anybody looked into this for the N52 Swap?

[Striker01]

Yeah, I plan to bypass the IVM for that diag to ECU, no need to pass through it. I've never wired a swap, just want to understand the components.

[hoveringuy]

I don't remember that much about the IVM except 80% was not applicable, it mainly provides power to the few power hogs (Valvetronic motor & water pump) and that the K-line is supposed to go through it for your OBD plug, but it broke my OBD and that worked fine again when it was wired direct to ECU.

[Striker01]

Been geeking out on wiring stuff. Doesn't seem overly complicated but be nice to be certain of what I can and can't pull out of the harness before install. Couldn't find much on the IVM. Got the multimeter after it and traced pins to confirm wiring diagrams. Kind of annoying because its listed all over the place, figured it'd be nice to have one diagram. You guys that have Z4 experience or have done this swap please look this over and see if I made any mistakes. I traced all the traces except for the ones that require power from the relays or I couldn't find documentation on. All the pins mapped out were verified. didn't want to apply power and accidentally let all the smoke out.

[Striker01]

I'd love to have working cruise after the swap. This seems great

Hopefully it works!