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

[TomK]

From a guy who had both engines on the scales in front of him
"The S65 is not any lighter than the S54. I was under this assumption for a long time myself. It's heavier by a few pounds. You must be thinking about block to block, then that is true. But long block to long block, it is not correct."

S65 is more than M54 or N52 but less than S54.

[Steve84N]

Fair enough, most quoted weights put the S65 at 202kg and the S54 at 217kg. Must depend what you include in the number.

[TomK]

I always thought it was the case too. The V8's weight will be further to the centre of the car though in any case which would be nice. one day

[Steve84N]

My M156 is about 200kg dry so no real difference to an S54 as it runs 8.5l of oil and just over 10l of coolant. It certainly doesn't feel nose heavy. 776cc per cylinder gives bloody big holes in the block!

[ph001]

I would also argue it is detrimental to engine as it's metal on metal contact with impact.

If you could point to even a single piece of evidence that it results in engine damage, I would accept your argument

[Magicarcher]

When I was looking for mine, I looked at a lot of cars 25% N52, 75% M54. All the N52 engines sounded really tappety at idle, they may well have been fine and lasted forever, but I just didn't like the sound, so I deliberately went for a M54 in the end (80% of them sounded smooth).

[jamie_z4]

When I was looking for mine, I looked at a lot of cars 25% N52, 75% M54. All the N52 engines sounded really tappety at idle, they may well have been fine and lasted forever, but I just didn't like the sound, so I deliberately went for a M54 in the end (80% of them sounded smooth).

My mates got a z4 coupe which the hva are noisy all the time not just when cold, it's a 2 grand job at bmw. I think I'll live with the lack of 30bhp to avoid this issue!

[srhutch]

I would also argue it is detrimental to engine as it's metal on metal contact with impact.

If you could point to even a single piece of evidence that it results in engine damage, I would accept your argument

Can you provide evidence that it doesn’t?

[mr wilks]

When I was looking for mine, I looked at a lot of cars 25% N52, 75% M54. All the N52 engines sounded really tappety at idle, they may well have been fine and lasted forever, but I just didn't like the sound, so I deliberately went for a M54 in the end (80% of them sounded smooth).

You sure you aren't confusing the injector tick with the " tappety" noise on the N52 idle ive now had 7 N52 3.0 & all ticked over sweet with no tappet / lifter noise cold or warm

[buzyg]

Fascinating reading this thread. S65 lighter than S54. Me want.

[Smartbear]

I would also argue it is detrimental to engine as it's metal on metal contact with impact.

If you could point to even a single piece of evidence that it results in engine damage, I would accept your argument

Can you provide evidence that it doesn’t?

I think the fact we don’t see any posts about engine damage swings it into the no damage caused camp?
Rob

[shuey]

So just to clarify - Z4 Coupe only comes with N52? I’m just wondering why some couples have a silver engine cover and some have a black cover? I assumed the later year coupes came with n52 and the initial launch coupes came with m54.

Apologies for my ignorance if I’m wrong

[Smartbear]

So just to clarify - Z4 Coupe only comes with N52? I’m just wondering why some couples have a silver engine cover and some have a black cover? I assumed the later year coupes came with n52 and the initial launch coupes came with m54.

Apologies for my ignorance if I’m wrong

Nope, all coupes came with the n52 engine unless you’re looking at the 3.2l M version. None came with the m54.
The black/silver plastic engine cover means nothing, I think it’s what they had in the spares store at the time
Rob

[jamie_z4]

So just to clarify - Z4 Coupe only comes with N52? I’m just wondering why some couples have a silver engine cover and some have a black cover? I assumed the later year coupes came with n52 and the initial launch coupes came with m54.

Apologies for my ignorance if I’m wrong

Nope, all coupes came with the n52 engine unless you’re looking at the 3.2l M version. None came with the m54.
The black/silver plastic engine cover means nothing, I think it’s what they had in the spares store at the time
Rob

is it Rob? I was always of the assumption that 06-07 cars were silver then late 07-09 cars were black

[Smartbear]

So just to clarify - Z4 Coupe only comes with N52? I’m just wondering why some couples have a silver engine cover and some have a black cover? I assumed the later year coupes came with n52 and the initial launch coupes came with m54.

Apologies for my ignorance if I’m wrong

Nope, all coupes came with the n52 engine unless you’re looking at the 3.2l M version. None came with the m54.
The black/silver plastic engine cover means nothing, I think it’s what they had in the spares store at the time
Rob

is it Rob? I was always of the assumption that 06-07 cars were silver then late 07-09 cars were black

If we’re talking the plastic clip on cover, I’ve seen posts on here from all years with both colours?
I think there was a survey once
Rob