BMW N52 Compression Test

Performing a compression test on a BMW N52 motor.
We show you how to deal with the Valvetronic motor to ensure valve lift is Optimised for a fair compression test.
We achieved 11.5 to 11.75 bar accross all 6 cylinders. About 165 to 170psi.

[@MechaniclifeJDM]

Excellent video, would you mind if I added some value? If so I will remove no hard feelings Gent.
Specifications I found are as follows:
Compression pressure: 9/18 Bar or 130/261 PSI Min/Max
Compression variance: 2 Bar or 29 PSI
Blow off area around coils and plugs before removal
Once testing is completed:
Key off
Return all to a normal state
Reconnect anything disconnected, coils, plugs (torque to spec, saves you a huge headache), fuses connectors, do so securely but carefully! don't break stuff!
Key on
Wait 2 mins
listen for click click from valvetronic, or run a limits relearn
clear codes
key off wait 1 min
key on
start, this should eliminate two things
1) Rough start
2) Brown streaks in your knickers
Two things I love more than these cars, 1) Our helpful community members/culture 2) My parts guy Don
Will try and post a video to my channel with the results of my testing.

[@buildabeemer]

Great contribution - thank you!

[@RSTDriver7]

Hi, I've perfrormed this test today as well. I checked the VVT value via INPA software. Another method might be to adjust the motor counter clockwise until you can feel the slightest resistence - this equaled 174° in my case. It is possible to adjust the VVT motor via INPA with just one click to 170° - should be fine for a compression test.
Although I just have a cheap compression tester (which I compared to a high quality version) I can confirm values between 11-12bar - my engine ran 324.000km so far, so I am quite happy with the outcome.
This video was extremely helpful as a reference, thank you very much! =)
Kind regards,
Phil

[@Nords_e87_130i]

Can confirm, also set my Valvetronic in INPA to 170° (Actual value was 166 which was exactly on 176 +-10°) so I was fine with that. Had to disconnect the plug going into Valvetronic motor after setting it to 170 because the Valvetronic otherwise returned back to its previous angle with 46° after about 8 seconds. Make sure to do that and check the angle sensor after that to be 100% sure to have the correct Valvetronic rotation angle while testing.
Also after the test was completed and everything was reassembled, I set the Valvetronic to 45° via INPA and pressed F8 (An DME zurück / Back to DME).
After clearing the fault codes, the car started relatively normal, just had some variance in RPM between 800 and 1200RPM for a minute, guess because of some adjusting/self test etc. and went back to normal after that.
I had 10 Bar (9,95 to 10,15 variance) on mine with a cheap no name compression tester. Not too sure what to think of that, maybe my compression tester is just off by 10-15% or there is some other reason behind that. Most important to me is that the cylinders are close to each other and that is the case.

[@112rorz]

Hi. You can get the compression values/ranges from within ISTA under troubleshooting/repair.

[@Camm3ey]

Is that a secondary air injector upgrade? -connected to the line running over your valve cover

[@kennyk4706]

Where do I go in ista to run this test?

[@MechaniclifeJDM]

I will try to see the eccentric shaft value with bimmergeeks diag sw today and post a video to my channel soon as a follow up to this gentlemans excellent video, thank you good sir for your diligence in providing the details.

[@spikeconn3715]

please can you explain the setup of your catch can?

[@aaronpapandrea2406]

Where did you get the aftermarket CCV system from?

[@user-oo4hg9ub5p]

how is that oil catch can holding up ?

[@Gr4v3r]

Have you found a way to see/set the valvetronic angle without ista?

[@buildabeemer]

No, unfortunately not.

[@jorfus43]

I know people have their own reservations about Carly. But... I was able to use my Carly adapter to see 'live data' and read out the valvtronic position real time. The parameters are:"Vvt actual value" and "Vvt Eccentric actual value" in the Live Data menus.

[@Nords_e87_130i]

I was able to do it in INPA, also able to set the angle to 170° via INPA, had to disconnect the connector on the Valvetronic motor though because it kept going back to its previous angle after about 8 seconds. After the test before starting the engine, I switched the Valvetronic to 45° via INPA and after that pressed F8 (An DME zurück / Back to DME)
After that, cleared fault codes and the engine started relatively normal, just some 800-1200 RPM variance for a minute, went back to normal after that.

[@cleanname4439]

Can be done in inpa and protools

[@bobbyz23]

If you take your ignition coils out there's no need to pull a fuel pump fuse or relay the engine is not going to start while doing a compression test.