M52B28 - E39 vs E36

[Panici]

Hi All,


Wondering if there are any differences between a 1998 M52B28 (not TU) out of an E39 vs a 1996 M52B28 out of an E36.

To my knowledge the exhaust manifolds are different, the E39 motor has the FPR on the fuel rail, and the motor mount arms are different.

Anything other differences i'm missing?


Thanks!

[ForcedFirebird]

Be weary of the 1998 models as that's when the m52tu came out - which is in essence an m54 minus the DBW throttle (dual VANOS, updated head/block cooling route, m54 style intake etc). Up to 1997 the m52's are the same for the most part - aside fromm bolt-ons for chassis fitment.

FPR is small potatoes for a swap as there's many work-arounds such as using a late e36 fuel filter with built in regulator, use an OBD1 e36 fuel rail etc.

[Panici]

Updating my own thread, as I recently took apart the E39 M52 for parts.
The thermostat neck is different between E36 & E39.

I also noticed the E39 head was missing one of the coolant sensor ports that was present in the E36.
Not sure if these were manufacturing year differences though.

[ForcedFirebird]

The e36 had a lot less room for hoses.

The e36 had a couple variants of coolant sensor ports. The e39 should be using the dual output sensor that goes tot he ECU and cluster. The early e36's used two separate sensors like the e30 did, later e36 used the dual sensor, but some heads still had a port with a plug - others have the flat boss, but are missing the sensor hole. I've had add a sensor port to OBD2 heads many times.