jballance

Hi I am new to the series forum but not new to BMW. My wife has driven several 2-E29's an E34, 2-E39'S and currently an E60. The current car is an 04 525I with the M54B25 motor. We recently drove a 2008 528I with the N52B30 motor and noticed when we stopped at a traffic signal a lot more engine noise kind of a low rumble. Is that typical of that motor? I also read about lifter noise and in some case BMW replacing the head under warranty. Needless to say my wife likes the 5 series cars, she feels safe. I would like to get some opinions about that motor and just general info on a 2008 528I reliability. engine transmission ect...Just after buying the 04 525i we have now we had to replace the torque convertor. BMW helped with the repair.

thanks

I also had a 1974 2002

AchtungE60

An 04 525i has the M54 motor. No problems with this motor (i currently have 3) and the predecessor M52BTU didn't give me any issues...just over 400K on the clock now.
The N52, I would stay away. Actually I'm done with BMW engines after these cars due to their magnesium N52 valvetronic motors. I believe the ticking issue with the lifters was well known on the N52. Friend had an 08 328. Same car pretty much as that 528 and had a ton of issues. After coming out of pocket close to 4k it was traded it in on a Honda.
The torque converter on the 04 525i is most likely the same as the cars with the N52 engines..I don't think they changed the tranny.

twh

I don't think the magnesium engine superstructure is anything to worry about. The wanted to save weight and they did. The pistons and cooling passages are all aluminum. The Al part is dropped into a still hot magnesium super structure and it cools together. The head and lifters problem have no relation to the Mg / Al. Here is a good picture: http://www.mwerks.com/artman/uploads...ck_cutaway.jpg
The right hand side of the picture shows only the internal aluminum part.

I have two N52 cars. A June 2005 build 2006 530xi with 55,000 miles, and an October 2008 build 2009 X5 with 40,000 miles. Both have had the exhaust lifters replaced and not the head. I'd say you might still hear the clicking once in a while if you really try to listen for it. I'm pretty in tune with such noises and I don't hear it frequently. I've never noticed the car run rough or otherwise not very very smooth - either before the lifters were changed or after.

Never had any problems with the engines at all. My '06 xi has had other things when it was under warranty, but these were all typical BMW things and all small things. The X5 has had a few more issues. Nothing engine, but replaced (under warranty): fuel sensor, iDrive screen, radiator, fixed A/C leak.

I'd buy both cars again if I had it to do over.

crewzer

The engine used in the '08 528i is an updated N52 used in the previous 525i... I've seen it called the N52K and the N52KP. For example, power was increased from 215 HP to 230 HP.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer