5 Common ISSUES With the BMW N52 Engine | Explanations & Solutions 

I’ve owned 4 N52 BMW’s This video taught me some more things I didn’t know! I had a 07 BMW X3 3.0si (N52B30)… when I purchased the car it had 167,000 miles, Needed to do spark plugs and a valve cover gasket. I had it all the way until 182K miles and it was totaled. The Valvetronic Motor is another common fault point. This occurred on my second 07 X3 With 192,000 miles. The valvetronic motor failed. Same with my 09 328i X-Drive With 178,000 miles. What happens is the valvetronic motor fails and oil will start to seep out of the worn gasket, then fill into your cylinders. That turns the crankshaft and you’ll develop a misfire & Reduced engine power. My went into limp mode. Easy repair. Takes an hour if you know what you’re doing. Other than oil leaks and those pesky Vanos Solonoids the N52 is a fantastic motor! Easy to work on, Cheap parts, Efficient and reliable and somewhat powerful! I’ve had pretty good experiences with my 4 BMW’s that have had the N52 Inline 6 Motor! They all made it past 170K miles! Pretty impressive for your average German saloon.

With the ticking issue, After doing some research I decided to try it. I put the car in park and hold it at 3500 revs for 3 minutes. I haven't heard the ticking for over a year now.

You left out a key fix- the plastic connector on the coolant to head connection right above the vanos solenoids. Replace it with an aluminum one - the best $10 you will ever spend.

mine is at 373,000 kms with regular maintenance and she still runs and drives almost next to new

Thank you for making this informative video keep making it's not a broken record I'm glad you keep bringing these things up on these different intricate engines I plan on getting one of these e90s sedans

Really enjoying these videos Omar good work 👍👍👍

Cool video, if you have a n52 engine I high recommend you replace the whole valve cover when replacing the gasket. The pcv valve is known to fail and it’s built into the valve cover, I just had to replace mine after replacing the vcg 20k miles ago! I’m currently at 170k.. also the valvetronic motor seal is known to leak as well, you’ll see oil in spark plug well 3 & 4

N52B30 best BMW engine of all time!

Love my N52 203K miles on that bish and she’s going strong

just subbed and liked. Such a well made informative video

I've got a 2011 328i E92 and it's such a great daily for me. I've had it for 5 years, drive it hard everyday (seriously, i beat on it all the time i live out on country roads) i've left it sitting for months at a time, and it just has always worked for me. upgraded the cooling system to a CSF radiator and everything else is oem. liquimoly oil changes 160k miles.

Good video man u know the problems .

Very good and frank review of N52 engine as I have experience it after 3 years now. But I guess it is better than the notorious Audis engine

no you're not a broken record I needed to hear this

Ha you look like Bradley Cooper! regards from Ireland. Great vid, I am thinking about getting this in a z4

2yrs from now and it definitely is helpful 💯

As much as you feel that you've spoken about these issues before. I highly appreciate this video very much. I always prefer short a sweet videos that gets to the point. I am considering buying the e90 (2006) adn this helps so much in regards to all i need to look into and perhaps have all the above changed and a precaution, so that i can keep track on the issue that may come by again after stated mileage in the video. Kudos and thanks again!

Just got a f22 2017 m240i. Love the power and sound from stock b58. Can’t wait to upgrade.

I got a e92 from year 12.06 for like 3 years now. Im from germany and the car is a italian reimport. Best car i ever bought. it has now about 149000km on it. No leaks. no oil consumption. But as you said this valve lifter problem is common mine had it too. But only ive i drive short distances. Like to my work and home. im driving every weekend a longer distance. Letting the engine out you know. Didnt had this problem another time for now.. Changin the oil every 15000km

Great content Omar all of these issues happen to my n51 sulev coupe at 100,000 miles

I love my 06 325i but I’d be lying if I wasn’t constantly under the hood. Nothing too big, just oil leaks, and some issues with my vvt system. It also has performance mods which probably doesn’t help

Thnx for the info

My ‘06 E63 630i sport is on 83k miles.. the only issue I have is an occasional lifter tick. But I do real short journeys which doesn’t help. Great engine though..

My 07 530i rolling past 178k and still super tight and smooth.

just bought mine last week 83k miles on my 128i 6 spd manual i roll onto throttle from a stop or on the highway and it shudders and lights up the chk engine then loses power until you restart.

I have an 06 e87 n52 3ltr. The valve tick is an issue but only if you leave the car for a few days. I find you can drive around town/highway, doesn't matter, just do it for around 30 minutes and it goes away.

Just replaced the vanos gears and timing guides on my n52. Really pissed me off considering it’s only got 53k miles

Love my n52. The only thing i hate about my 05 325i is the manual transmission, and that's due to the stupid dual mass flywheel design flaw, which recks the clutch.

Great info have n54 and n52 my ol reliable ? My n52🖤🖤🖤

My Z4 E86 117k just regular maintenance easy to work on

How is the all aluminum block with no casted inserts is not a major issue with this engine? Unlike M54 this one cant hold any significant HP load, Unless I am wrong, if I am wrong please explain someone

Which diagnostic tool do you prefer??

Some of the N52B30 and N52B25 have issues with the starter motor. I changed mine a couple a days ago after a complete death and a friend of mine, he own a 325i 2007, had the same problem

How good it a six speed manual in a 328i? It's good brah.

120,000 today for my 238i happy to know i can last 200,000

Change the oil every 7500km with BMW 5w-30 or Shell 5w-30 and never have any engine issue

To get rid of the ticking, get out there are drive your car in a spirited fashion, you’ll find the ticking goes away. You’re probably doing small trips at low load and BMWs were designed to be driven by enthusiasts, not grannies. You certainly don’t need to replace the whole valve train!

Very good video, I recently changed my engine oil, and I stopped getting the engine oil reading, could you explain

Around 100K refresh the cooling system, change the plugs and could and address any oil leaks and the engine will last forever.

Is this for the 3ltr or the 2.5 ltr.

Rate my N52, although its loving oil atm

*I dragged one of these BMWs at the traffic light yesterday in my 90% stock 04 GS300, no turbo*

I have a E90 BMW 328xi with this engine. Once in a while exhaust smells or a burnt smell comes into my interior from the behind the fire wall and climate vents. I need help understanding what’s going on... thoughts???

Lol, N52 is rock solid reliable engine. Common issue #1 may require a new cylinder head. No big deal. BTW, if your hydraulic lifters are not pumping up properly your valves have reduced lift, meaning less power and possibly compromised air/fuel mixing in the chamber (reduced efficiency, increased emissions). The ticking is the follower crashing into the lifter, not a good situation. If this noise gets loud enough to be picked up by the knock sensors it could lead to reduced ignition timing, poor efficiency, higher exhaust gas temperature, and then reduced cat converter/O2 sensor life. Infrequent oil changes with poor quality oil increases deposits, which could be why the lifters (and VANOS solenoids) get fouled and don’t work properly.

Noooooo man please dont sell the car i love seeing the n52 videos

The more you know. #knowledge

Just brought an 130I M Sport for my son. I drove it out of Auckland and was not super impressed with it. It was a 5 hour drive home and we beat the shit out of it. It goes real good now! We call that a Maori tune up here in NZ lol. It will now live were the sane people are in the country's and enjoy daily long runs. This is a great engine with plenty of power and fun to drive. Cheap to run too.

I have a 2008 328xi and at 120k miles I had to do -eccentric valve sensor ($1,200, more depending on your mechanic) -new ecu ($1,300, more depending on your mechanic and shops that program used ecus suck) -valve cover gasket ($500) -battery ($200 plus you have to program it) -shocks all around ($400 labor by myself and suspension work on BMWs is a pain) -starter I can't personally recommend any BMW tbh. Just get a Honda lol. If you want a BMW get a 1999 or older, like a e36. You can buy a mid 2000's BMW for like $3k-8k these days, but the maintenance will end up costing more than the car is worth in under 2 years.

I just got a 2004 bmw series 3 320i and the temperature gauge runs constantly on red even when I first start the car any fix for this ??

I have owned a BMW 530i from new in 2005 and was one of the first N52 engines. The engine has always been brilliant revving to 7000 rpm with ease. The car has been frugal and mixed driving around 31 mpg, Holiday long trip 34 to 36 mpg (UK gallon) and short journeys around 23 mpg. I did not have the first issue which is the lifters, car has done 156k and still quiet, The water pump did fail at around 103k but I had a water leak that I feel helped it fail. It should be pointed out it is mounted on the exhaust side of the engine and this is probably not a good environment, having said that 10 years is good reliability. Suspect that if the car is in a hotter climate the pump may be under more pressure. I have had the issue with the oil filter housing around 120k and my dealer changed the mounting as well as the engine material is different to the mounting and it distorts over time. The rocker cover has just started failing and it is annoying but will get it changed shortly however on some forums the vacuum diaphragm collapses and causes the engine idle to hunt, which mine does a bit so this needs to changed at the same time, its part of the rocker cover assembly. The Vanos issue I have not had however their are several videos showing how the clean the vanos solenoids and vanos stop valves, the solenoids are ok to do the stop valves are difficult to access and you need to remove the front wheel and liner to get access and its fiddly, worth doing as they do get dirty.

Great vid bro. Mine is a 2008 325i SE with a 2996cc engine. Is mine an N52 engine?

I got an 09 e92 xdrive I bought from my sister lollll, leaking oil right now, I replaced the coolant/oil filter housing gasket and it seem to help a little bit. I’m nervous driving it around afraid something would sudden break because it’s a bmw lolll. At least I have a Nissan 350z as a back up. After this video, I feel even more nervous 😩

How is the oil consumption on N52 ? Some have bad experience there. (Edit : Since a year, I learned more about N52. Only early N52b25 have oil burning problem.)

I'm sorry I'm confused is the 2.5 the N52 and the N53 is the 3.0 in the 330i? Or is the N52 two generations? 2.5 and 3.0? If so is the 2.5 reliable?

my check engine light is on and i just changed the oil however im getting rough ideling at 115k miles,wtf is going on!??

I sometimes forget to like

todo en ingles, no entiendo nada, hay 6 motores n52, el 258cv es el bueno

More 335i videos

Make sure everyone replaces their cooling hoses . mines bursted at 100,000 miles . oh and Waterpump ans Thermo .

Bradley cooper, is that you? 😜

I put marvels mystery oil into my friends e46 and it got rid of the lifter tick immediately

Hey comment section I need some help. I’m trying to buy my first car and found a good deal on a 328i and the owner has all the service records done at bmw up till 2 months ago it’s a one owner car but I’m still hesitant to buy it as it will be my first car lmk if I should jump on it or not?

Got all issues with my N52n engine.

Just rev to 3k at idle for 3 mins to flood them again

밸브리프트 소음, 바노스, 전자식워터펌프, 누유 해외에서도 똑같은 증상이구나...

What's the annual maintenance cost of this engine type ??

why don’t you try to get a bmw that you salvage good content and entertaining to watch

What happened to this car?

Dude.....he used his turn signal😵

Im pretty sure you are Bradley Cooper. Like, actually

Personally had the VANOS system fail on me at 120,000km (70,000miles ish) and that cost me about $3500 haha

Great engines, but not long lasting. Not unusual to replace head gaskets or have cracked cylinder heads. They have problems you NEVER see in a Toyota. Of course no other engine compares in terms of power or efficiency.

I think these cars are junk the leak oil because of all the plastic under the hood. I know a few other manufacturers are moving this way like Toyota. But Toyota valve covers don’t crack like BMW does. My 2011 BMW 328x drive is not a bad looking car but engineered to be the worst car built.

Bmw🤮

These cars barely survive the lease term. Fancy looking but complete junk underneath, which is why the used ones are dirt cheap.

Love my N52 203K miles on that bish and she’s going strong