| BMW N52 engine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 2004–2015 |
| Layout | |
| Configuration | Straight-6 |
| Displacement | 2,497 cc (152 cu in) 2,996 cc (183 cu in) |
| Cylinder bore | 82 mm (3.2 in) 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Piston stroke | 78.8 mm (3.10 in) 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Cylinder block material | Magnesium-Aluminium |
| Cylinder head material | Aluminium |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, with VVT & VVL |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | BMW M54 |
| Successor | BMW N53 |
The BMW N52 is a naturally aspirated straight-6 petrol engine which was produced from 2004 to 2015. The N52 replaced the BMW M54 and debuted on the E90 3 Series and E63 6 Series.
The N52 was the first water-cooled engine to use magnesium/aluminium composite construction in the engine block.[1] It was also listed as one of Ward's 10 Best Engines in 2006 and 2007.[2][3][4]
In European markets, the N52 began to be phased out in favor of its direct injected version, the BMW N53 in 2007. Markets such as the United States, Canada, Australia and Malaysia retained the N52 as the N53 was deemed unsuitable due to the high sulphur content of local fuel.[5]
The N52 and N53 are the last naturally aspirated straight-six engines produced by BMW, ending a history of continuous production of this engine configuration since the BMW M30 in 1968. In 2011, the N52 began to be replaced by the BMW N20 turbocharged four-cylinder engine. N52 production ceased in 2015.[6]
Unlike its predecessors, there is no BMW M version of the N52.
- ^ "BMW Pushes Lightweight Technology with Magnesium". www.worldcarfans.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ^ "10 Best Engines 2006". www.wardsauto.com. January 2006. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Ward's 10 Best Engines 2007". www.wardsauto.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Ward's Auto releases annual 10 Best Engines list". autoblog.com.
- ^ "BMW's N52 versus N53 – what are we missing?". paultan.org.
- ^ "BMW N20 turbo 4 cylinder versus N52 naturally aspirated 6 cylinder". bimmerboost.com.