M54 Vs. N52. Can Anyone Do A Head To Head Comparison?

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#1 · Dec 10, 2019 Any E46 owners who moved to E90 have experience with both? Is one engine notably better than the other? In which ways is one better or worse than the other? Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Dec 10, 2019 I’ve had an X3 with the M54 and I’ve had a few E90s with the N52. Maintenance wise, they’re pretty similar and seem to leak in basically the same places. Oil filter housing, Valve Cover, Oil Pan. The CCV system is simpler on the N52, just one hose really, and the rest is built into the valve cover. Parts are a bit cheaper though. Performance-wise, I thought the M54 was torquier, but fell on its face at higher RPMs, while the N52 feels a bit soft down low and comes alive above 4000. Different vehicles, different transmissions though. The M54 sounds better than the N52. I know a lot of that is due to the exhaust system, but my X3 just sounded great. My E91 doesn’t really make any sound at all. That’s all I can really think of. #3 · Dec 11, 2019

mrothwell said: I've had an X3 with the M54 and I've had a few E90s with the N52. Maintenance wise, they're pretty similar and seem to leak in basically the same places. Oil filter housing, Valve Cover, Oil Pan. The CCV system is simpler on the N52, just one hose really, and the rest is built into the valve cover. Parts are a bit cheaper though. Performance-wise, I thought the M54 was torquier, but fell on its face at higher RPMs, while the N52 feels a bit soft down low and comes alive above 4000. Different vehicles, different transmissions though. The M54 sounds better than the N52. I know a lot of that is due to the exhaust system, but my X3 just sounded great. My E91 doesn't really make any sound at all. That's all I can really think of. Click to expand...

you say e91, so I assume you've got a n52 in 328 trim without a three stage manifold? It fixes the down low issue, highly recommended. I never owned anything with an M54 so I can't comment on that, but I can say that bolting a DISA manifold onto the n52 is transformative with regards to low end torque. the motr is actually useful from 2500 -4500. Show more replies 0 Reply #4 · Dec 11, 2019 My kids have 2003 330xi M54 and 2006 330xi N52 and besides above comments that I would agree with, M54 coolant expansion tanks sucks more, they both explode, but the M54 one is harder to change. Valve cover and oil filter housing are easier to deal with on M54. PCV on M54 is more complicated harder to change and when it fails fills vacuum booster with oil and ruins it. M54 water pump is 20 bucks and not electric and super easy to change, N52 is exactly the opposite. M54 throttle response though is so much nicer than the mushy N52 throttle response, much prefer the M54 for how it responds. #5 · Dec 11, 2019 Really? Based on the video I saw, the N52 oil filter housing gasket seems way easier. No need to remove the alternator like on M54. Way easier. #7 · Dec 11, 2019 Oh BTW, bleeding the cooling system after replacing radiator hoses is SO MUCH EASIER in the N52. You haven't had excitement until you drive around in your car with a gallon of premixed coolant, waiting for the temp gauge to start rising. Maybe it will? MAYBE IT WON'T!! #8 · Dec 11, 2019 1) Oil Filter Housing / Oil Cooler Gasket 2) VANOS solenoids 3) Updating the modules / engine update 4) CCV 5) Valve Cover Gasket 6) Water pump / thermostat 7) DISA 8) Spark plugs / coils 9) Tensioner / idler pulley / belt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxrj1e9SOHQ #11 · Dec 12, 2019 This might be of interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFDZT0oKYBQ&t=27s #13 · Dec 12, 2019 so did I. it's currently 16 degrees out, and I've started and ran the car as cold at -15, which is about as cold as it ever gets here. not a single issue. even with the early 06 manifold that was supposedly redesigned to prevent the PCV port from freezing. #14 · Dec 12, 2019 (Edited) the dealer even did the PCV heater recall after I swapped the manifold. #15 · Dec 12, 2019 So, my car didn't get recalled? It's a 2009 E91. I called my dealership and they said it wasn't on the list to be done. I replaced the PCV heater when I did the hose, I'd prefer if my car didn't catch on fire. 0 Reply #16 · Dec 12, 2019 no ideas what metric BMW uses to do recall work. I told them it had an 06 330 manifold installed, they looked it up, said it was the same part and no issues to replace it even though it wasn't factory. #17 · Dec 13, 2019

nsjames said: no ideas what metric BMW uses to do recall work. I told them it had an 06 330 manifold installed, they looked it up, said it was the same part and no issues to replace it even though it wasn't factory. Click to expand...

I think it's based on build date of the car and parts availability. On my E61, I knew about the recall over 3 years ago. I got the notice of recall this past July. I am hesitant to allow them to do the work as I have seen posts regarding dealer **** ups where they break parts while doing the work, then deny responsibility and stick the customer with a bill. BTW, I regularly see low temperatures of -30 to -40 during the winter, so I think having the heated PCV is probably a good thing. Show more replies 0 Reply #19 · Sep 10, 2023

EconoBox said: Any E46 owners who moved to E90 have experience with both? Is one engine notably better than the other? In which ways is one better or worse than the other? Click to expand...

Hi there! I had an e46 330i zhp and then got an e90 328i. The e90 was automatic whereas the e46 was a manual. So i can’t tell you precise differences and the transmission could change the feel of the drive. I’ve launched both cars in a race. The zhp definitely had a more aggressive tone and higher redline. If you have driven both cars for enough miles, you can definitely feel a difference. However, if you don’t have much experience in one and then flipped to the other, you definitely won’t tell a difference. The zhp does feel more powerful. #20 · Sep 15, 2023 I only have experience with the M54 and N54, if I were to do it again I'd probably buy an N52 to avoid any potential turbo issues. I love my N54 but every owner is paranoid about the turbos. This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread. Insert Quotes Post Reply

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