BMW M52B28 engine

The BMW M52B28 engine first saw the light of day in 1995. It is also known as BMW E39 M52B28, because it was installed on cars of the German concern with this body, as well as with the bodies of E36 and large-size model E38 728i. This is the senior representative of its lineup, which still provided motors B20, B25, B24 and S52B32, so there are often confrontations like bmw s52b32 vs m52b28.

The M52B28 motor did not differ from the European representatives of its range – it also had an aluminum cylinder block. The cylinders themselves were coated with nicasil, so owners often have questions of the sort how to know whether the engine is lined or with nicasil. American kits were characterized by a cast-iron block, so liners were installed only on them. M52B28 BMW was distinguished by a square geometry – its dimensions were 84 by 84 centimeters. At the same time, it was possible to achieve the same cylinder diameter as on the B25 version. The crankshaft M52B28 was characterized by an increased stroke. M52B28 pistons had a compression height of 31.8 millimeters. The cylinder head was used the same as on the modification of the power unit M50B25TU. The injectors were also used, already proven for 250 cc.

M52B28 characteristics, which satisfied its owners, quickly gained popularity. In 1998, a modified version of the power unit was produced, which was called M52TUB28. This modification was characterized by the installation of cast iron liners and the replacement of the single system of gas distribution phases on the double – Double VANOS. The camshafts were also replaced, and new pistons and connecting rods were installed. The intake manifold was redesigned and featured variable geometry. High pressure in the cooling system, which almost all M52B28 reviews talk about, was no longer a problem. The throttle linkage became electronic. This motor was used on cars of the German concern, which had the index 28i.

M52B28 engine specifications

Disadvantages

Like the junior M50 series, the M52B28 is also very prone to overheating. This is a severe problem that can lead to cylinder head failure, followed by symptoms of a punctured cylinder head. If overheating is noticed, it is worth immediately cleaning the radiator and trying to remove any air plugs in the cooling system.

• Increased oil consumption. The piston rings of this engine are very subject to wear. When repairing, it is worth paying attention to the cylinder walls, if they are in good condition, then it will be enough only to replace the rings. If the cylinders have also succumbed to wear, then it will be necessary to liner them. There is often a need BMW E38 M52B28 removal of the KVKG (crankcase gas ventilation valve), which can also lead to increased oil consumption.
• Ignition starts to miss. The hydraulic compensators that the M52B28 valve cover covers can become clogged, resulting in reduced cylinder performance. This causes the control unit to shut it down. Replacing the hydraulic compensators will help solve the problem.
• The oil cap indicator light is illuminated. The cause of this problem could be the oil cup, or the oil pump.
• The timing system is also subject to wear. Symptoms include high fuel consumption, severe power loss and unstable engine speed. This can be repaired using the repair kit.

In addition to all of the above, the engine may simply refuse to run. This can be caused by failure of the crankshaft or camshaft position sensors. The cylinder head mounting threads are also not particularly reliable. The thermostat can leak at any time. You need to know what plugs to put and pour only quality fuel to keep the engine in working condition. Given the rather large age and driving style of almost all owners of BMWs with such power units – it is worth thinking several times before buying.

Modifications

Only one modification was produced, since the parameters of the base engine fully satisfied consumer demands. The characteristics of these power units are as follows:

1. M52B28 – the motor was produced from 1995 to 2000 and was the basic power unit. With 280 Nm of torque it was able to remove about 13 horsepower. This was achieved thanks to a compression ratio of 10.2.
2. M52TUB28 – was produced from 1998 to 2001, and was characterized by the same power and torque. However, a number of modifications allowed to get rid of a perennial problem. All users were concerned about the increased oil consumption, which was accompanied by a stench from the pipe. The air consumption of the M52B28 was also eliminated.

Tuning

The easiest option for increasing powertrain output is to buy a good exhaust manifold. Then you should add a cold air intake for the powertrain, and equip it with SD52B32 camshafts. After that, you need to re-flash the electronic control unit to match the new iron. This makes it possible to get about 250 horsepower for a small fee. An alternative tuning option is boring the cylinders to a working volume of 3 liters. You will have to accompany this by replacing the crankshaft with a node from the M54B30 model. Then the standard pistons are sharpened so that their dimensions are reduced by 1.6 millimeters. The rest of the powertrain elements are better not to touch, except for the intake manifold, which is best installed from the M50B25 engine.

You can try to make a turbocharged version of the motor. For installation, it is best to choose a Garrerr GT35 supercharger, which is fully compatible with the stock piston. The electronic engine control unit is replaced by a Megasquirt. When the pressure reaches 0.7 bar, it is possible to remove about 400 horsepower from this powertrain. Despite the fact that the engine becomes almost twice as powerful, its reliability does not suffer in any way. Standard motor pistons can withstand up to 1 bar of pressure. If it is necessary to increase the power to 450 horsepower, the standard pistons will have to be replaced with forged pistons with a compression ratio of up to 8.5.

Compression engine enthusiasts have the option of purchasing a kit from ESS, which is designed and built based on the Lysholm. This will make it possible to achieve around 300 horsepower without having to replace the piston system.

This engine is installed on the following models:

BMW 3-Series (E36)

BMW 5-Series (E39)