Motor code confusion

[Nmex528iguy]

My 528I has a dual vanos M52BTU which is pretty much trashed but the body and interior are in showroom shape. This has become my project car since my wife fell in love with it. My first question in finding an engine regards the codes. I know that BMW uses a series of codes to describe the engine and the 52BTU is what is shown for the six. My question is this, I have come to the conclusion that it may be simpler to by a salvaged vehicle than trying to find an engine. My problem is that frequently when I find a 2000 528 the vin plate shows the engine code as as M63xxx which is a V-8. From pictures of the automobile the engine is definitely a six. What gives on the code?

[JimLev]

Welcome to the forum.
The V8's are M62/M62tu.
Is it just your vanos that is trashed or the whole engine?
Last fall I was at the pick and pull down by the Sunport, they had a number of 5 series there.
Don't forget the 3 series also used the 2.8L engine too.

[computiNATEor]

Your 2000 528i had an "M52TUB28" from the factory. Let's dissect that name.

M52 - This is the code that represents the engine "family." Kinda like the "LS" is for GM or the "RB" is for Nissan. The M52 was a development of the M50, which was the I6 that BMW used in the E34 (and numerous others). The M50 was itself a development/replacement for the old BMW M20/M30 inline 6s.

TU = technical update. The TU added variable valve timing to the exhaust camshaft, which is called "dual VANOS" in BMW-speak.

B = gasoline engine, longitudinally mounted.

28 = 2.8 liters of displacement.



All 1998-2000 model year BMW 528i's should have the M52TUB28. The M52TUB28 is a very durable engine, and does not suffer from the piston ring carbonization issue (unlike the M54s that replaced it). If I recall correctly, the M52TUB28 has an aluminum engine block with iron cylinder liners.

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Here's a great article explaining the BMW engine codes.

http://bimmertips.com/bmw-engine-cod...ion-explained/