I haven’t driven a car with an M54 engine, but it takes a lot more power if wanting to charge. I’d love to put a supercharger on mine instead of buying a new car, but I do worry about the more delicate engine... not that I’ve had any issues with mine so far.
Which would you pick? N52 (silver engine cover) or N52k (black engine cover)
- Thread starter shuey
- Start date
“I’m going to the BMW museum in Munich in 2 weeks and so I’ll enquire on the N52 black vs silver plastic cover debate 
“
...they have different ecu’s thats for sure. The black cover indicates an integral ccv which is supposedly better than the external one on the silver top. But if they do go wrong I suppose it’s less serviceable. Whether it includes the updated head design to stop bleeding oil pressure out of the valve lifters is a bit unknown. Wikipedia says that mod wasn’t done as standard until Dec 2008.
“...they have different ecu’s thats for sure. The black cover indicates an integral ccv which is supposedly better than the external one on the silver top. But if they do go wrong I suppose it’s less serviceable. Whether it includes the updated head design to stop bleeding oil pressure out of the valve lifters is a bit unknown. Wikipedia says that mod wasn’t done as standard until Dec 2008.
ph001 said:“I’m going to the BMW museum in Munich in 2 weeks and so I’ll enquire on the N52 black vs silver plastic cover debate
...they have different ecu’s thats for sure. The black cover indicates an integral ccv which is supposedly better than the external one on the silver top. But if they do go wrong I suppose it’s less serviceable. Whether it includes the updated head design to stop bleeding oil pressure out of the valve lifters is a bit unknown. Wikipedia says that mod wasn’t done as standard until Dec 2008.
Are you thinking of the valve cover itself? When that changed to a black plastic version I’m aware of the internal ccv but I think the thread is referring to the clip on plastic cover which sits above it.
I don’t think the black one of those signified anything? :?
Rob
R60BBA said:Smartbear said:shuey said:
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
Silver engine covers are for 06-07 cars, black engine covers came in from 57 onwards.
My first Si 86 was a 56plate with black engine cover :?
Ok, I think we need some clarification here. We have two different covers. The first one covers the coil packs and spark plugs so we will call that the coil pack cover. The second (underneath) covers the camshafts so we will call the the cam cover.
This is the black coil pack cover on the N52 engine from Nov 2006 (note this is the engine build date so typically ends up on 57 plate cars onwards, but if the engine was put into the car build very quickly it's possible you could see the black cover on 56 and 07 plate cars):
What we are not sure about is what you find under that cover but I strongly suspect that all black coil pack covers have black plastic cam covers underneath because you can see the fixing points on the coil pack covers are different. This has the improved integrated CCV system built into the cover:
The presence of the black cam cover also means a revised ECU (MSV80) instead of the older MSV70 fitted to the silver covered cars. It's a faster tri-core ECU but the map is probably identical. I'm not sure if this also indicates the revised cylinder head design to minimise 'ticky' hydraulic valve lifter noise because Wikipedia says that was implemented Dec 2008 which basically excludes all E85/86 cars.
This is the silver coil pack cover:
..and underneath we have the magnesium cam cover which does not have the CCV built in:
This is the black coil pack cover on the N52 engine from Nov 2006 (note this is the engine build date so typically ends up on 57 plate cars onwards, but if the engine was put into the car build very quickly it's possible you could see the black cover on 56 and 07 plate cars):
What we are not sure about is what you find under that cover but I strongly suspect that all black coil pack covers have black plastic cam covers underneath because you can see the fixing points on the coil pack covers are different. This has the improved integrated CCV system built into the cover:
The presence of the black cam cover also means a revised ECU (MSV80) instead of the older MSV70 fitted to the silver covered cars. It's a faster tri-core ECU but the map is probably identical. I'm not sure if this also indicates the revised cylinder head design to minimise 'ticky' hydraulic valve lifter noise because Wikipedia says that was implemented Dec 2008 which basically excludes all E85/86 cars.
This is the silver coil pack cover:
..and underneath we have the magnesium cam cover which does not have the CCV built in:
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/showthread.php?t=806805
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/showthread.php?t=806805
North West Surrey
ph001 said:
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!
shuey said:
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? :lol:
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
Senior member
Thanks Guys, interesting read
I now know I have an N52K
I’ll sleep well tonight
I now know I have an N52K
I’ll sleep well tonight
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.... :roll:
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?
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?