The inline-six is BMW’s bread and butter. Certainly, the model has been making them since no less than the Thirties, with the M78 debuting within the BMW 303. Later, the model obtained acclaim with rock star six-cylinders just like the M88 within the mid-engined BMW M1, praised for its output, sonorous snarl, and race heritage. A lot later, the S54 debuted within the E46 M3, setting a benchmark by churning out over 100 horsepower per liter.
And whereas the BMW M engines deservedly get loads of the headlines, there are a variety of inline-sixes that sort of fly beneath the radar. One in every of them is the N52 engine, which changed the M54 engine within the mid-2000s. Seems, the one inline-six with out a direct M equal is definitely the one you need.
What Makes the N52 Engine Nice
Together with mainstays just like the M54 and M50 engines, the N52 engine is a direct descendant of the unique BMW M30 engine. However solely the N52 sports activities a magnesium and aluminum block, making it lighter than its predecessors. A better redline and introduction of Valvetronic variable valve carry allowed the engine to be extra responsive and extra highly effective than the older M code engines, too.
In the true world, the N52 has different, much less tangible promoting factors. It made its approach beneath the hood of just about each mannequin in BMW’s steady on the time. From the Z4 to the X1 to the 740i, there’s an N52-powered automotive for everybody. Which means spare components are extraordinarily accessible and no scarcity of DIY supplies (movies, walkthroughs, and so on), making N52 possession simple and…dare we are saying it, comparatively cheap.
Downsides of the N52
Nothing is ideal, and the N52 isn’t any exception. For one, the N52 is way from unique. It lacks the character that makes engines just like the S54 really feel actually particular. It’s additionally removed from a powerhouse, making simply 255 horsepower in its highest-output N52B30 guise. Examine that to the S54 – which remodeled 330 horsepower – or up to date turbo models just like the N54 (300-ish horsepower). Simple to see why the N52 will get ignored by fans poring over spec sheets.
The one different actual downside the N52 has is its restricted aftermarket help. Whereas you are able to do the standard tuning, consumption, and exhaust modifications, actual energy positive aspects are restricted and aren’t a very value-packed proposition. For actual energy, you’ll should shell out for a supercharger…which will get pricy rapidly, even when doing your personal work. Notably, all these downsides are additionally inadvertent contributing elements to (or byproducts of) the N52’s repute for reliability.
The N52 Engine is Important to BMW’s Historical past
As we briefly talked about, the N52 by no means obtained an M equal. Whereas the M54 and M52 obtained the S54 and S52, and so forth, BMW by no means invested in an S variant of the N52. The E90 M3 was slated to obtain the far more unique and highly effective V8 engine derived from the V10 within the E60 M5. So there was no have to put money into a high-output six-pot. Which is a little bit of a disgrace; a magnesium/aluminum M inline-six, whereas presenting some attention-grabbing engineering challenges, is an thrilling prospect.
Certainly, the N52 proved to be the final inline-six with out compelled induction that BMW ever made. Barring, after all, the rest-of-world N53 engine which utilized direct injection as an alternative of port injection. For that purpose alone, it’s essential. The icing on the cake is that the final of the naturally aspirated can be maybe the most effective BMW ever made.
