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

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
bg1
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Which would you pick? N52 (silver engine cover) or N52k (black engine cover)

Post by bg1 » Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:28 am

No Black Top fan boy ever mentions that the N52K is 'COST SAVING'.

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

Post by Jameszy » Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:14 pm

bg1 wrote: Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:28 am No Black Top fan boy ever mentions that the N52K is 'COST SAVING'.
They aren't mutually exclusive though are they? You can have an improved engine, whilst also saving on costs? I haven't heard of the plastic valve cover being a weak point for the latterly released N52k?

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

Post by Jameszy » Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:16 pm

ph001 wrote: 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!
Agreed - that is interesting for such a prone part in the Z4 (and related models using the N52). The previous owner replaced the water pump in my N52K as preventative maintenance, so can't provide meaningful feedback

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

Post by Mr Tidy » Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:02 pm

Jameszy wrote: Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:16 pm ph001 wrote: ↑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!
Agreed - that is interesting for such a prone part in the Z4 (and related models using the N52). The previous owner replaced the water pump in my N52K as preventative maintenance, so can't provide meaningful feedback
In my (limited) experience I''m not convinced it was much of an improvement.

The water pump on my N52K one died at 60K miles, but my earlier N52 one seemed to be running the original pump when I sold it on 91K. :?
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Which would you pick? N52 (silver engine cover) or N52k (black engine cover)

Post by Davemtkd » Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:59 pm

100% definitely the N52K because

1. It's black
2. It's what I have

:driving: :D :D
06 Z4 E86 3.0si Sapphire Black, Red Interior

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

Post by Spark Model » Mon May 03, 2021 5:28 pm

[youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=76BzgLkiwvY[/youtube]

This explains the differences between the two well.

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

Post by kis » Tue May 04, 2021 2:52 pm

Spark Model wrote: Mon May 03, 2021 5:28 pm
Embedded for you :)
My E85 Z4 3.0i SMG

BMW Family History (past and present):
1 Series - E87
3 Series - E46 Coupe, E46 M3, E90 (x3)
4 Series - F36, F82 M4
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Which would you pick? N52 (silver engine cover) or N52k (black engine cover)

Post by ph001 » Tue May 04, 2021 9:31 pm

Spark Model wrote: Mon May 03, 2021 5:28 pm [youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=76BzgLkiwvY[/youtube]

This explains the differences between the two well.
An extremely ill-informed video. Just about everything he states is either not relevant for UK models or is just plain wrong. What a muppet.
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Which would you pick? N52 (silver engine cover) or N52k (black engine cover)

Post by Spark Model » Mon May 17, 2021 10:22 am

ph001 wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 9:31 pm
Spark Model wrote: Mon May 03, 2021 5:28 pm [youtube]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=76BzgLkiwvY[/youtube]

This explains the differences between the two well.
An extremely ill-informed video. Just about everything he states is either not relevant for UK models or is just plain wrong. What a muppet.
Please enlighten us

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

Post by 1536Z4 » Thu Feb 02, 2023 12:12 pm

Casper355 wrote: Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:26 am 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?
Thought I would reply to this old post just in case you are still a forum member and if anyone else is interested . My E86 production date is 02/2008 and it has the black plastic valve cover and also MSV70 DME not the MSV80 . On real oem it also confirms that it should have the MSV70 DME so the information about the DME change earlier in this post seems to be inaccurate .
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