Engine Identification help

[mjpapajon]

Just purchased an e46 - 2000 323i with 230k on the odometer

Seller said the engine was swapped and I would like to get a positive ID on which engine it has.

Found the engine stamp below on the block below the intake manifold. Here is what it is

3 6 3 0 2 2 8 6

25 6S 4

And yes the 6 is on the end of the top row - just couldn't get it in the photo.

Here is a pic.

https://s701.photobucket.com/user/JC...stamp.jpg.html

Anyone help ID this engine? And yes, I have been searching but came up empty.

Any help or knowledge on who else to ask is appreciated! Thanks

[Breeze1]

Hello and welcome to the forum,
The pic is not going to show because there is a minimum amount of posts required before you can post attachments (don't remember how many). Your engine is a M52B25 (a 2.5l inline six mounted in 323i/523i), likely a M52TUB25 (which was used in E46 chassis, the M52B25 being used in E36's, as far as 3 series are concerned).
If you can upload the pic to a file sharing site and post the link here, we will be able to confirm if it's a TU or not.

[mjpapajon]

thanks for the reply Breeze

So you can tell it is an M52 from the block stamp numbers I listed in the original post? I do realize the stock motor was an M52 - I want to verify for sure since the seller told me they swapped in a M54.

And if ECUs are specific could I be farily certain by checking that or did ECUs cross over to a number of motors?

Appreciate the help

[328 Power 04]

Often there is a VIN on the back of the engine near firewall. Either on the head, or on the block. That may be more helpful.

[Breeze1]

You're welcome. I actually just googled the second row of numbers you provided without spaces, and it came up with M52B25 but with pics of both M52B25 (the older version, mounted in the E36, 1st pic below) and M52TUB25 (the newer one, that goes with the E46, 2nd pic below), both being 323i models, with the same hp outputs (170) and a slight difference in torque/better MPG due to a few Technical Upgrades (that's where the TU comes from) .
So I doubt it's a M54B25 (which goes into the 325i).

m52b25.jpg


M52TUB25.jpg

[shadowpuck]

Often there is a VIN on the back of the engine near firewall. Either on the head, or on the block. That may be more helpful.

yup - i was trying to recall if there was a vin plate on this era engine and was thinking there was. i'd definitely look for that.

[mjpapajon]

Thank you all!

DUH - I was searching with terms like ' BMW engine stamp identification' - why not just enter the numbers and see what comes up? This old dog learns slow.

I will break out the mirrors and look for a VIN plate on the back side to confirm. Betting this is the original motor.

[bmwdirtracer]

M52 was single Vanos
M52TU was dual vanos, and the first electronic throttle - which used a throttle cable, although it used motors to drive the throttle. It uses an MS 42 DME.
M54 is of course dual Vanos, but uses a fully drive-by-wire throttle, (no cable), and has a "non-return" fuel system. It uses an MS 43 DME.

I would guess that it would be possible to use all the ancillaries (manifold, fuel lines, throttle, etc) from an M52TU on an M54 block and head, and have everything work, using the original MS 42 DME. There may be differences in sensors, secondary air, or other areas I'm not thinking of right now.