need help finding M52b28 or head or cut bait?

[ross1]

UPDATE: Cut bait! The head casting is junk so I'm done.
All of the gaskets, hoses, etc. were purchased and it is now too late to return them.
For anyone else that is doing this job I will sell it all at a big discount from the already hard shopped prices I paid.



'97 528i, 152k miles, aside a cracked head no issues and in nice condition.
I can get my hands on a re-man head and do the repair for a whisper under $1k, a significant portion the car's resale value. Doesn't make much financial sense.
Usual protocol in this instance would be to source a good used engine or head but none on the horizon near me (Chicago) and I won't buy an unknown from a wrecker. The bummer is I've sold off two of these engines, cheap, complete and running well in the past year or so. Now, none around me.

What to do?

Meanwhile, it gets pushed aside as I've bought another car.

[effduration]

As a seasoned poster, you have heard it all before.

Forget about resale value, what is it worth to you?

I would wait until you find a cheap used car with a running M52 engine in your local area. do a compression test on the engine. Use the engine and part, sell or scrap the rest of it.

[jmc1590]

Might also want to check the E36 forums. I believe the M50TU head is identical and a swap to an M52. (There might be something about # of sensor ports, but I don't remember.)

[waters17]

Have you checked http://www.car-part.com ?

There are 9 unknowns within 60 miles of you, and a few running a little further away.

[bluptgm3]

Have you checked http://www.car-part.com ?

There are 9 unknowns within 60 miles of you, and a few running a little further away.

…I think they are guaranteed …


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[waters17]

…I think they are guaranteed …


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Car-part is just a junkyard search engine. Any guarantees are up to the yard.

For what I refer to as 'unknowns' the descriptions are either missing or say something like 'security no start no key', 'need start', etc. However, the ones further away from Chicago have descriptions like 'nice runner', 'runs good', etc.

You could also check out Bavarian Auto Recycling. They're a vendor on the forums.
http://www.bmrparts.com/used_bmw_engines.html

[ross1]

As a seasoned poster, you have heard it all before.

Forget about resale value, what is it worth to you?

I would wait until you find a cheap used car with a running M52 engine in your local area. do a compression test on the engine. Use the engine and part, sell or scrap the rest of it.

It's utility value exceeds it's "book" value but I still hate being upside down. I'm not going to put another G into it no matter what.
Ideally I will sit tight until a wreck comes along or some other opportunity presents itself. I thought about parting it out but I've done that before and requires lots of time, space and patience.

- - - Updated - - -

Have you checked http://www.car-part.com ?

There are 9 unknowns within 60 miles of you, and a few running a little further away.

Thanks for the lead, I don't much trust junkyards but I'll look into what they have.

- - - Updated - - -

Might also want to check the E36 forums. I believe the M50TU head is identical and a swap to an M52. (There might be something about # of sensor ports, but I don't remember.)

excellent idea. I remember seeing something about two different casting #s(mine ends 400)that interchange. I'll remember to check the sensor # and locations.

[ross1]

Too late for me to return purchased parts to fix this.
For anyone doing their M50tu or M52 head I'm now stuck with all the gaskets, hoses, blah, blah. PM me for a great deal on these items