N52 Swap

[nando]

AFAIK there's no specific weak point on the motors themselves. the waterpumps "only" last ~100k miles (mine went to 130k), but I can't tell if that's a bad thing or if modern BMW owners are just whiny little bitches (N54 pumps are plastic and last about half as long). BPC has taken theirs up to 8200rpm and the only thing that happened is the lifters bled out. Then they proceeded to build a 500whp turbo kit and it still hasn't blown up (they did break a 325i transmission though). It revs to 7k stock, and has CNC'd ports like an S54 head.

The N52 is really under appreciated because it's not a turbo, which is all the fanboys fawn over these days - IMO, it pisses all over all the other N/A 24v motors, aside from the M versions. Stock versions of it make 265bhp while weighing about as much as an M42, and they have a torque curve that would give an M30 a limp dick. :)

They are also super smooth and fuel efficient. With the 6 speed and a 3.15 rear end, my 330i got 36mpg on a recent trip down to Seattle and back. My M20 is lucky if it breaks 20, and it makes like half the power.

I can do swap tunes for these of course - I'm almost done with the 2nd one ever. Funny how I've wanted to swap my E30 for like 8 years and I've helped like 30 other people do it but mine just sits in the garage. :p

Early engines had valve lifter noise issue that was corrected in late 2008 production cars.

it's really not that common, and not even a big deal if it does happen. I can't imagine it would ever affect somebody that revs their engine on a daily basis - it's caused by air in the lifters, and is pretty harmless. Also, I've owned 2 early N52 cars and neither had this problem. But if you never go above 3k rpm and don't let it warm up, I could see air building up and it being a problem.

[wazzu70]

It's not going to be widely publicized. The motors I have are old Sunbelt pieces from Turner/Bimmerworld cars which ran World Challenge and Grand Am/Conti before the turbo cars came around. If I'm not mistaken they stopped using Sunbelt and started using Roush-Yates around 2013 or 14 but I could be completely wrong on that, I never worked for either team just talked to people who did.

What I have looks like stock cams, aftermarket pistons, but haven't really looked at what else is there

Apparently the earlier engines had the pistons you are talking about. The later engines after 2012 also ran a restrictor plate. Cams on both engine versions were stock. The cars were running stock rwhp with some optimisation. The car was nice to drive apparently due to the broad power/torque curve.

This is according to one of the drivers, so most likely accurate :)

[e30s50dan]

Hope this will start a N52 sub-forum

[cwlo]

So I got a hold of a really nice 45k N52 very inexpensively. Popping the valve cover confirms its age, so hopefully its all good!

I put on the Z4 engine mount arms, but they do not place the engine well. Engine is about 2" too far forward, and also a bit too high. Probably have to make something custom. In a way, this is a good development, as the Arc Asylum subframe placement was requiring a couple inches of the oil pan to be removed. By being able to go back 2", it might eliminate/reduce oil pan modification, and more importantly, having to fab an oil pickup tube. Will see as this progresses. Brake Booster will be tight, and is another one that will become clearer in time, but I can always go to an N54 intake manifold, which should allow most boosters to fit.

Stay tuned.

Chris

[Jb325is]

I searched all over but couldnt find anything other than a few youtube videos about these cars.

Im really curious of the specs

It's not going to be widely publicized. The motors I have are old Sunbelt pieces from Turner/Bimmerworld cars which ran World Challenge and Grand Am/Conti before the turbo cars came around. If I'm not mistaken they stopped using Sunbelt and started using Roush-Yates around 2013 or 14 but I could be completely wrong on that, I never worked for either team just talked to people who did.

What I have looks like stock cams, aftermarket pistons, but haven't really looked at what else is there

[MrBurgundy]

Early engines had valve lifter noise issue that was corrected in late 2008 production cars.

^^^^^^^^

[2mAn]

Turner raced the N52 in Grand Am/Koni challenge.

I searched all over but couldnt find anything other than a few youtube videos about these cars.

Im really curious of the specs

[wazzu70]

Turner raced the N52 in Grand Am/Koni challenge.

[DesertBMW]

Does the N52 have a solid Motorsports pedigree? Any achilles-heels like the m54 oil pump shaft?

Early engines had valve lifter noise issue that was corrected in late 2008 production cars.

[cwlo]

JB might be able to answer the Motorsport durability better than I.

I have a couple X3's with the N52 and I just love the torque, smoothness, and willingness to rev. Looking at the block, it is quite a step up in rigidity from the M54, with the crank girdle. Doesn't have the harmonic issue like the M54 that I am aware of either.

[hoveringuy]

Does the N52 have a solid Motorsports pedigree? Any achilles-heels like the m54 oil pump shaft?

[2mAn]

I'll be watching your progress

[wazzu70]

Any idea if they used different cams? Always been curious if they were OEM or not.

[Jb325is]

I have some N52 heads, a crank, a block and some MAHLE Motorsport pistons from an old World Challenge team if you guys want to mess with them. I would sell cheap

[cwlo]

Thanks Desert, Good and helpful info!

As with any swap, there are compromises. I am looking forward to seeing how everything fits together on this swap. I've measured the intake manifold, and compared it to my m54, but its hard to get an accurate reading in the car. It does look like its pretty close though, and definitely smaller than an S54. Time will tell.....It looks like I'll be getting the N52 later next week.

Anyway, considering you can get a reliable 300bhp out of an N52 with a few mods nowadays, it will be an awesome combo.....sort of a cross between an S54 and M54, and lighter than both.