FYI - some N52 oil pan research

[VinniE30]

I spent some time today on http://bmwfans.info/ looking at parts catalogs.
I have been thinking about how one would swap an N52 into an E30 for a while now and one of the major problems I thought of was fitment with the oil pan with the E30 subframe. As we know, you need the E34 M50 oil pan for the typical 24v swaps.

Here is a picture of the N52 oil pan:


Doesn't look like it would fit with the e30 subframe.

Here is the E34 M50 oil pan for comparison:


Obviously the e34 m50 oil pan will not fit the N52.

However, after searching almost all the models that came with an N52 (there are a lot of them) I found the E60 528xi (N52) oil pan:


Looks to me like this might work.

The other models with the N52 had an oil pan like the first picture, however I have not completely looked at every BMW model that the N52 came in.
I looked at 1 series, 3 series, non-xi 5 series, and some more, and they all had the oil pan in the first picture.
I stopped looking when I found the 528xi oil pan. So there very may well be other models with this oil pan or other models with different oil pans than the two different N52 ones I found.

[lifeiskaos]

Obviously the e34 m50 oil pan will not fit the N52.

You sure? Even with an e34 oil pump/pickup?

[VinniE30]

You sure? Even with an e34 oil pump/pickup?

I thought it was pretty obvious just by looking at the parts diagram that the gaskets don't line up.

[hoveringuy]

Good work! I've thought-through the N52 swap and got to a dead-end with the oil pan.

Do you know what the cam wheel patterns look like?

[VinniE30]

Good work! I've thought-through the N52 swap and got to a dead-end with the oil pan.

Do you know what the cam wheel patterns look like?

Don't know..

But I really hope you do a N52 swap. You would be the first, making e30 history.

[jrdeamicis]

The oil pan is meh.

We need to deal with some subframe puzzles and the oilpans will become WAY less of problem.

Steve. If I can get some pictures I know somebody with an N52. I will snap some photos.

[JGood]

Good call, just watch those diagrams. Sometimes they aren't completely accurate. For example, it shows that identical image for the 525xi, 528xi, and the 530xi, which all share that part number (that makes sense). But it also shows that identical image for the 535xi, which has a different part number (and a $300 price difference, so it may be significantly different).

525xi, 528xi, 530xi:
11137547884

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=NV13&mospid=50118&btnr=11_4103&hg=11&fg=10&hl=10

535xi:
11137559859

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=NV93&mospid=50120&btnr=11_4103&hg=11&fg=10&hl=13

Other potential options, all using the same diagrams:

E70 X5 3.0si
11137541223

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=FE43&mospid=50042&btnr=11_3995&hg=11&fg=10&hl=23

E71 X6 35iX
11137560308

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=FG43&mospid=50861&btnr=11_3995&hg=11&fg=10&hl=23

E83N X3 3.0i
11137541221

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=PC73&mospid=49510&btnr=11_3995&hg=11&fg=10&hl=23

E90 328xi
11137543195

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=VC73&mospid=49548&btnr=11_3995&hg=11&fg=10&hl=23

E92N 328xi
11137585432

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=KF33&mospid=52125&btnr=11_3995&hg=11&fg=10&hl=23

I found these by looking up the N52 oil pan gasket part number, then doing a search for all models using that oil pan gasket.

I find it hard to believe each of these models requires a different oil pan, but they aren't significantly different enough that they didn't want create a new image for each one. Might be hard to find genuine pics, being as how new and rarely replaced those parts are.

[VinniE30]

^ nice work!

[VinniE30]

BTW, heres a really cool N52 I found:

E36 M3 throttle bodies, race exhaust manifold, Motec ECU. Standard head and cams but the Valvetronic is locked at full lift

With this set up and 300bhp 260lbs/ft, I struggle getting the power down without oversteer

:firehop:

That's in an e87 (1 series hatchback)

more info:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9529112

He's running it on a motec! there is hope!

[Leo_328i]

BTW, heres a really cool N52 I found:






:firehop:

That's in an e87 (1 series hatchback)

more info:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9529112

He's running it on a motec! there is hope!

That is epic.

[Galactodactyl]

Seems like only a matter of time till the n52 gets inside an e30 bay.

[hoveringuy]

I found this dynojet plot for a stock N52. I think with a better exhaust you could easily add 10 but still not that powerful. It's interesting to see the multiple torque spikes with the 3 stage DISA.

[JGood]

What N52 is that? Isn't there like 5 different version of that engine in various models? Are all US cars 3.0 liter?

[hoveringuy]

What N52 is that? Isn't there like 5 different version of that engine in various models? Are all US cars 3.0 liter?

It's a motor that someone converted from the 2.5 specs to 3.0

All US N52's are 3.0 litres, even the 2.5 versions. The difference in the 2.5 is a crappier 2 stage intake and detuned software. I'm guessing that the magnesium/aluminum block production process couldn't be economically duplicated in two sizes.

The best N52 version is rated at around 268 bhp which would be around 215whp. Makes sense.

I do appreciate the light weight and great torque my M54 has and I imagine the N52 would be even better.

[VinniE30]

I think the N52 could get to 300HP (crank) with better airbox/filter, headers with full exhaust, and tuned on a dyno.