Which would you pick? N52 (silver engine cover) or N52k (black engine cover)

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Thu May 03, 2018 12:11 pm

Just as a final aside...it turns out the CCV in the black cam cover is serviceable after all:

https://vanos-bmw.com/product/111275522 ... -n52n-n52k

What I'm not clear on is how this connects back to the sump - does anybody know?

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Thu May 03, 2018 5:04 pm

Bit of research over on Bimmerfest suggest the later black cam cover N52 is known as the N52K and has the following changes:

The engine underwent minor modifications in September 2006 and is now designated
N52K. With the introduction of the N52K, modifications were made in following areas:

• Cylinder head cover
• Lighter Camshafts (hydroformed)
• Revised stronger conrods
• Stem diameter of exhaust valves increased to 6 mm instead of 5 mm
• Torsional vibration damper revisions
• Crankcase ventilation valve now integrated into cam-cover
• New digital hot-film air mass meter (HFM)
• New Throttle valve (EGAS8)
• Faster DME (tri-core MSV80)
• New, 2nd gen electric water pump (still fail though!)

Quite a comprehensive list of changes if it's to be believed!

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... p?t=806805

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Thu May 03, 2018 5:52 pm

I wonder if the power drop on the e89 using this engine is down to the larger diameter valve stems?
Rob

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Thu May 03, 2018 7:58 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Thu May 03, 2018 5:04 pm Bit of research over on Bimmerfest suggest the later black cam cover N52 is known as the N52K and has the following changes:

The engine underwent minor modifications in September 2006 and is now designated
N52K. With the introduction of the N52K, modifications were made in following areas:

• Cylinder head cover
• Camshafts
• Crankshaft
• Stem diameter of exhaust valves increased to 6 mm instead of 5 mm
• Torsional vibration damper
• Crankcase ventilation
• Hot-film air mass meter (HFM)
• Throttle valve
• Digital motor electronics

Quite a comprehensive list of changes if it's to be believed!

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... p?t=806805

Thanks for that!

Ties in nicely with what I found with my 2 Coupes - current one built in August 2006 and has the silver top, previous one was built in October 2006 and had the black cover.

Marlon · Post by **Marlon** » Thu May 03, 2018 8:06 pm

Interesting, I certainly wasn't aware of these minor modifications

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Sun May 06, 2018 8:59 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Thu May 03, 2018 5:04 pm Bit of research over on Bimmerfest suggest the later black cam cover N52 is known as the N52K and has the following changes:

The engine underwent minor modifications in September 2006 and is now designated
N52K. With the introduction of the N52K, modifications were made in following areas:

• Cylinder head cover
• Camshafts
• Crankshaft
• Stem diameter of exhaust valves increased to 6 mm instead of 5 mm
• Torsional vibration damper
• Crankcase ventilation
• Hot-film air mass meter (HFM)
• Throttle valve
• Digital motor electronics

Quite a comprehensive list of changes if it's to be believed!

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... p?t=806805

Thanks Ph001 - was wondering why there would be two different covers. Quite a comprehensive list of tweaks too.

Anyway just tested my first z4c - flipping awesome! Coming from a 350z, can’t believe how much better z4 feels. Anyway two more to test before I pick... even tempted to go all the way and go for a z4m!

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sun May 06, 2018 9:03 pm

shuey wrote: ↑Sun May 06, 2018 8:59 pm Anyway just tested my first z4c - flipping awesome! Coming from a 350z, can’t believe how much better z4 feels. Anyway two more to test before I pick... even tempted to go all the way and go for a z4m!

That makes me feel better - I wondered if I should have tried a 350Z before getting a Z4C, but it doesn't sound like I missed anything!

And I agree, the Z4C is really special. An M was out of my budget, but if it's within yours then why not?

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Mon May 07, 2018 10:31 am

If I'm perfectly honest the z4 M is way out of my budget - but there's two for sale for 15k on autotrader. and I'm not sure if they would ever drop any lower, so my thinking is I could probably always sell it back at 15k. trying to work last time I did something silly as double my car budget!

earthdweller · Post by **earthdweller** » Tue Jun 19, 2018 5:06 pm

Thanks Guys, interesting read

I now know I have an N52K

I’ll sleep well tonight

shuey · Post by **shuey** » Sun Jun 24, 2018 5:32 pm

And here’s some official documentation that took me a week of hunting on the tinterweb to find. Sorry pages in wrong order

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Sun Jun 24, 2018 9:31 pm

Good find! The waterpump thing is very interesting indeed. Looks like there maybe was an improved version after all. I can feel a poll coming on!

enzed4 · Post by **enzed4** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 2:38 am

Perhaps a good reason to buy the last model in any run. Hopefully it will incorporate every positive improvement or enhancement found necessary over the model's life. Makes me feel a bit better about my 2008 Z4. However, I'm now foolishly considering a 2009 E89, so I imagine I'd be experiencing all the pain of any 'new' model release....

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:05 am

enzed4 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 2:38 am Perhaps a good reason to buy the last model in any run. Hopefully it will incorporate every positive improvement or enhancement found necessary over the model's life. Makes me feel a bit better about my 2008 Z4. However, I'm now foolishly considering a 2009 E89, so I imagine I'd be experiencing all the pain of any 'new' model release....

Hi, if it’s the 3.0 sdrive it should have the later incarnation of the n52 engine at least

Rob

enzed4 · Post by **enzed4** » Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:57 am

Smartbear wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 8:05 am
enzed4 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 25, 2018 2:38 am Perhaps a good reason to buy the last model in any run. Hopefully it will incorporate every positive improvement or enhancement found necessary over the model's life. Makes me feel a bit better about my 2008 Z4. However, I'm now foolishly considering a 2009 E89, so I imagine I'd be experiencing all the pain of any 'new' model release....
Hi, if it’s the 3.0 sdrive it should have the later incarnation of the n52 engine at least
Rob

Yes, I thought about that after posting - the engine will be more or less the same (but higher output) as what I currently have

Casper355 · Post by **Casper355** » Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:26 am

Picking up this old topic. My Z4 roadster does have the black cover N52 with the plastic valve cover. The car is from December 2006. Recently I have been troubleshooting for a problem and the DME also came across.

According to the information here I should have the MSV80. I found out I have the MSV70 DME mounted. Can anyone give me more information on this? Did they use a combination of parts for the first months for the N52 with black cover?

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