Have recently agreed to purchase a 2000 528i wagon that's gotten hot. Guy says engine is 'toast'. Car has 140k and is very clean. Understand that engine is '99 and '00 only. Is it rebuild-able after coolant system failure? Head destroyed? I've not found a replacement engine as of yet. Thanks for any help/advice.
My old race car had that engine (‘99 Z3 2.8 Coupe). I damaged the radiator in a wreck once and managed to overheat it. Blew the head gasket. While I was at it, I put a rebuilt head on there and it ran great from then on.
So anecdotally, an overheated M52tu doesn’t always destroy the bottom end when overheated.
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I like the unicorns.
'99 Z3 Coupe - Jet Black/Black (1-of-114)
'99 M Coupe - Estoril Blue/Black (1-of-82)
'03 540iT - Sterling Gray/Black (1-of-24)
'16 Z4 sDrive35i - Estoril Blue/Walnut (1-of-8)
I have had several of the '99 - '00 M52TUB28. They're good engines, and if it wasn't for the throttle body problems, I would think it is the best of the BMW 6 cyl engines, though there will forever be disagreements on this.
You can certainly rebuild your engine, and I have done a head gasket with engine in car, but I would look to replace that engine, which is easier and most often cheaper. Rebuild your orig engine on a stand afterwards if you want to..
- you can remove the engine and transmission as a complete assembly without taking the front off.
- take radiator out, put hood in vertical "service" position, unbolt AC compressor and PS pump and strap them to sides
- unplug wiring harness at DME and lay it on top of engine. Remove exhaust at down-pipe and pull manifold with engine
- use an engine hoist with a load balancer (a must)
- then freshen up replacement engine and re-attach transmission and re-install
- replace engine mounts if they are original or show any sign of leakage
M52TUB28 engines are getting harder to find, but you can still get them from a dismantler. or find a parts car 5-series, 3-series, Z3 with that engine, do a compression test, and use that as your engine source.
Also - I have gone thru about 6 M54 and M52TU engines that have overheated. About 60% of the time, the head has warped so much that it is uneconomic to have a machine shop resurface it and put it back in service. Also, you would want to time-sert the 14 head bolt threads in the block before re-installing the head.
Last edited by effduration; 01-29-2019 at 10:58 AM.
Study the hood hinges first.
Then unhook hood struts and move hood to near vertical.
Insert an appropriately-sized bolt thru hole in hinge (sideways) to lock it in place
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