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Thread: New BMW guy here, need advice-info on M52tub28. Rebuild-able or must replace?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Farmington, MO, USA
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    2000 528i Sport Wagon

    New BMW guy here, need advice-info on M52tub28. Rebuild-able or must replace?

    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.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    4,154
    My Cars
    BMWs: 1; MINIs: 1
    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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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    1,154
    My Cars
    99 528i/5, 05 ZHP conv
    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.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spartanburg, SC
    Posts
    595
    My Cars
    85 M635, 98 Z3, 00 528iT
    Quote Originally Posted by effduration View Post
    - ...put hood in vertical "service" position,...
    How do you do this? I could do it with my old W124 Mercedes and loved that ability.

    Thanks,

    Eric

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Boston, MA
    Posts
    1,154
    My Cars
    99 528i/5, 05 ZHP conv
    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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