I'm a qualified mechanic, of all the different cars I have owned, my current daily (owned it for 5 years now) E39 528i Msport with M52B28TU and 5HP19 is by far the best and most reliable car of them all. I've had faster, more expensive, more rare cars but this one is a real gem. I don't love it more than my E39 M5 but it's given me less trouble and gets driven more often, I'm more confident that I can just jump in it and drive anywhere I need to go in comfort and no thought of it breaking down. M52TU and M54 engines are true masterpieces of engineering.
I couldn't agree with you more. I've owned 5 E39's and each has been a gem. I drove my 98 528i over 250 miles in the middle of the night with a broken fan clutch, it would overheat every time I would slow down but as soon as I would get it up to speed it cooled like a champ. i just said "screw it" I'm getting home tonight. That M52 not only didn't freeze up I later drove it another 50K miles. Hell of an engine.
Agree. M52TU in my 728i has never left me stranded over the past 20 years and 200000 km. Runs as silky and powerfully as of the first day, and requires MINIMAL maintenance (oil change at 30000 km)
Definitely, bought my third e36, a 97 328i for a daily last September with 174k, has treated me great almost a year later. Cooling system overhaul is the only thing it has gotten so far, which is a must when you buy one in my opinion.
Cooling system and like every interior piece made from plastic. Mine disintegrated literally overnight last year. Thankfully there are still new old stock parts available
I have a E46 1999 323i one-owner with 73k original miles and it was always garage kept. Learned how to take care of it and things to look out for and it will last me a long time.
E39 523i 1999 with M52TU owner for 11 years. I love it. I LPG'd it 2 years ago, runs like heaven and costs me 6$/60miles (LPG is pretty cheap in Europe) Love it, even though it's a bit of wrench time.
When I bought my x3 e83 2.5 (M54) I got a lot of discouraging comments from people around me. It was on the market for almost a year before I bought it; simply because of the stimga. But honestly, most people who bad talk bmws really don't know shit anyway. The M54 is reliable and everyone who owns one that wasn't abused will agree. Thanks Nathan- and like always; you're right.
You don't have to know much these days but statistics and ownership satisfaction don't lie, you just have to look at vast surveys for most mainstream brands and you will not only notice BMW but most German brands are always at the bottom for reliability and overall satisfaction, yes there are few that do go on without issues but having owned and driven almost all types of German brands, all I can say is they are fantastic in comfort and performance but for medium to long term or out of warranty then it is is big NO, they are like cancer you fix one problem then another pops up, now I just lease them and give it back even then the amount of time I had to book in with the dealers for repairs has made sure I will never own one outside warranty.
2005 M54B30 3.0L Petrol Engine. Dead. Eventually found Replacement Engine with far more Km's, and to fit it was difficult and expensive. Generally too many brittle plastic parts, fail, engine then overheats, and being Aluminium it warps too easily. Thermostat often fails, by the time you know it's overheated it's already destroyed. Tragically flawed engine, in a car prone to multiple failures.
E46 m54b30 190 thousand miles , 2003 , regular maintenance and still pulling hard and strong daily drive. Secret ? Never drive in town or hard traffic, always open road an highway. Always respect manufacturer service maintenance and it will run for ever .
I love my M52TU dual vanos. I have an E39 528i. My first ever Bimmer and I will never look back. It's not fast, but it runs good and gets me where I need to go. Original 1999 model year with 110k miles and still runs like it's brand new. Previous owners took amazing care of the car and kept up on all maintenance. I plan to do the same.
M50/M52 (non TU) are the most reliable out of them. Simply because the CCV-System is nowhere near as prone to failure as on the M52tu/m54. Its build much simpler. Also the cooling system is more reliable on these, because most of the time they got an 88 degree celsius thermostat, which overall lets the cooling system run at a lower pressure. Oh, and additionally the sound on the M50 is the greatest because of the grey cast iron block.
I am new to the e36’s, so any advise is welcome. Bought my girl a 98 328is with an auto and m52tu, came with a 93 325 with the 50 and 5 speed. Was planning on building out the m50 and swapping along with the 5 speed when done. Made this choice based mainly on reliability comments I have heard. We just started tear down of the m50. Again, welcome to any thoughts.
Buy a new water pump but use the one that has the metallic rotor not plastic one and just take a drill and do a few small puncutres to the new thermostat so in case it fet stuck closed you never overheat the car and that how you solve the all your cooling problems ^^. If the system is full of rust just change all the block and heater hoses (around 180€) and flush the system with a radiator cleaner and you'll be as good as just realsed frim the factory :)
@@StudioGuitarra actually the BMW Genuine ones nowadays are made of a plastic compound, which turns out more reliable than the metal one. The first plastic ones are shitty, then they switched to a metal design and then finally to a plastic compound. The metal ones got this issue, that the Waterpumpshaft separates from the impeller. The idea to drill a hole into the thermostat is genius haha
@@TheNickfisch mine is a Meyle metalic one and never got any problem. The thing in my country is that the BMW dealers have tons of stock so if a go to buy a genuine one from BMW it can be even one of the old ones hahahahahhas. Dont drill big holes, just 3 o 4 small ones in case the thermostat gets stuck closed.
I have the 2002 540i m62tu. I realized after changing the heads and re-timing it, it lasted me longer from 2014 to 2020 without any single issue if I didn't drive it like an idiot as most bmw owners do when they buy them brand new. They may be high performance cars but if you punch it every time at the traffic light they will be done before they reach 30k miles. When I bought it one night I decided to go hit it all the way to 149 mph...it felt great...but a few weeks later it started to give me leaks everywhere. I learned my lesson and this time because it is time I am re doing the valley pan and the whole gasket o-rings shabang for a 2nd time in it's life. So if you decide to get a 540i...buyer beware...you could be buying an abused bmw and possibly a money pit. I just kept mine this long because I love how I can move around traffic without feeling like it will roll over and the center of gravity is near perfect from any other cars i've driven in the past.
I also have an M62TU in a 2001 540i. The chain and guides were changed. In my opinion, after the timing chain and guides have been changed, the M62 engines are extremely reliable. You have to understand that for a 4.4L V8, 286bhp is not a lot of power, so the engine itself is probably under very little stress. It's a true big lazy V8 cruiser that should go forever
@James Edward That is exactly what happened to me. I was nicer to it and lasted me much longer than when I got it. Bmw can't be claiming they are performance cars if they can't last without leaking fluids or vacuume leaks
I have owned a 530i 2001 (M54B30 is a great engine) for 10 years and have come to a conclusion that it is probably the optimal e39 model, having the largest 6-cyl engine that is also very reliable and consumes less fuel than the V8's. Of course, I have done tons of repairs and preventative maintenance, after which the car is a joy to own and drive. Still, I dream of the e39 M5.
Loved my e39, 5 speed. Drove that all up and down the east coast for work. My son drives it now, 200,000 miles plus, still running. Yes to your coolant comment. Just prior to 100,00 the complete cooling system was replaced.
I have an E39 525i with M54 engine. Bought it 2 years ago. Engine was laaaaaazy, not much low end torque, oil leaks, original fuel filter from 2001, .... This car didn't get love from the previous owner(s). I'm not a car mechanic but i replaced parts on the engine thanks to Nathans videos (and others). Parts are indeed pretty cheap and there are many companies building parts for the E39. Now the car runs perfect. Wheel spin in 2nd gear, top speed of 238 kph. I even made my own "custom made" aluminum intake pipes giving the engine a bit more ... roar. Nathan, thank you for your tips and tricks.
Completely agree... M54 is the best production road engine BMW ever made. I've been using them continuously for over 20 years - my first being in my 325Ci Sport manual that I bought brand new in 2003. I also have a one owner 325i Sport manual that I bought 16 years ago. They're just a stunning motor in every way.
@@garaiselvis order a bottle of Forte..Ebay. black bottle, pink cap and label has pink on it. It's a UK only product that works! And order royal purple HMX 5w30 from summit racing so you know you're getting the real thing. RP HMX has additives that condition and swell the seals and gaskets. Do what I'm telling you! And the very worst case scenario you'll have to add a half quart at 2000, or a quart by 3000. With the Forte..you may not have to add Any! Do what I'm telling you, you won't regret it! Have a nice day.
N52 FOR LIFE!!! EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT SELLING MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2006 325I, I JUST CAN'T JUSTIFY IT! EXTREMELY RELIABLE AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE NOSTALGIA YOU GET FROM THE SOUND OF A NATURALLY ASPIRATED STRAIGHT 6 BMW ENGINE!!!
Before my daily driven '99 M3 (s52 engine) was T-boned it had 289mi. on the clock. That engine gave me zero issues. I made the Zionsville all aluminum radiator w/electric fan the top priority upgrade when it was first purchased with 170k on it already. Now, my daily driven, new to me 03' 530 Sport has 175k on it along with a CSF M5 all metal radiator paired with the Zionsville electric fan shroud upgrade. Needless to say my overheating anxiety in non-existent and yes the e39 CSF radiator is thicker thank stock but still drops right in snugly without any modifications.
Hell yeah, this past weekend my M54B30's oil pump nut fell off while driving on the highway. Turned it off immediately and had it towed home. Overnighted parts from FCP and fixed it the next day. I used loctite and safety wire on the nut so it won't happen again. Still runs like a champ, and as a bonus my oil pan doesn't leak anymore. Super reliable engine, especially with EU2 tune.
@@garaiselvis look up o2 pilot mod. mine burns zero oil at 190k miles. I went on a 1600 mile road trip and the dipstick stayed at the full mark the whole time.
The M42 engine on my 318i is pretty reliable when I got the car it had 328000 and now it has 412000. The one think i did replace was the water pump and fan clutch, and after that just oil changes every 3500 miles.
I'd say its the m50 iron block. If you replace the plastic impeller waterpump, its done, you are ready to drive. No vanos, no fancy stuff, just an engine on a 5 speed manual, it takes effort to destroy them, and they are not even bad on power, the stock 25i was almost 200hp, and it could also take a fair ammount of boost too
M50 are more prone to headgasket failiure, due to the fact that steel and aluminum expand at different rates, it inherently puts more stress on headgaskets during regular heat cycles. Not only that but if you do blow a headgasket, and overheat, you'll be lucky if you don't have to source a new head sue to stress cracks between cooling channels and combustion chamber. M54 has its own crux in that you will very likely have to retrhread or helicoil/timesert the block In the case of an extreme overheat. Still seems preferable to have block rethreaded then source a new cylinder head. I personally blew a headgasket on my iron/aluminum 142k m50tu, from a minor overheat, whereas I've had a waterpump failiure paired with a pretty major overheat on a 210k mile m54b25 in an e46, all I had to do was replace the pump, car now has 245k and is still going strong on the original engine and transmission.
Cant complain with my m54 on my e83 x3 did few things to it previous owner neglected on doing. And runs like a champ, very easy engine to diagnose too. Gotta say 194k and still runs tight on corners and feel steady.
I would say m52b28. Decent power, fuel economy, quiet and smooth. For its age. It doesnt swallow oil like m54, no vanos problems, no electronic thermostat etc.
I have owned cars with both M52TU and N52s. I agree the M52TU was very reliable, I feel that N52 is a better engine overall. Just more refined. It represents the perfection of BMW’s flagship naturally aspirated 3L inline 6s.
No flagship BMW has an N52...It's an okay engine but considering an M52 with an M50 manifold can make about the same power while being reliable tells me the N52 is kind of a downgrade from the M52.
@@jacoblami1731wouldn’t you also realistically need a m50 mani, ASC delete boot as well as a CAI? 190 stock then with all three combined should put you around 230-240 which is what the n52 has (NA ones anyways not euro)
Thank Nathen you are very right I am a mechanic in general and have Owen a 328I now for 6 years 2010 straight N51 with 106,000 miles 3 owner, never had a problem other than constant maintenance on time or before and I would say that maintenance is king. So far the only thing I have changed is the spark plugs. Oil of course, filter, all fluids and check every month or less, all and all I love my BMW for me it has been very reliable. Thanks again for a great you tube experience.
Nathan, could not agree with you more! My 2003 530ia is a cream puff at 136700 miles it does not leak oil, of course I R&R all the ignition coils and plugs, disa, oil pressure and level censor, cam sensors. Oil and filter. No codes! The other day I received my first speeding ticket in forty five years 125 in a 75. My 1998 540ia non Vanos has been a great car it another good cruiser, it does leak oil!! But goes too damn fast, it handles the back roads at speed without any compromise! The M54 is one the easiest engines to work, especially in the E39 chassis! Thanks, keep up the great work!!!
The M43 in my E36 has only needed routine servicing and a vacuum hose for the idle control valve. The part was a reasonable price from the dealer and I was able to fit it in the car park. I documented it on my own channel.
bmw 316i with 1.8l 8 valve engine. I had to sell the car because they tried to steal the car too many times from me. It had 350k kms and was easy to work on.
My '95 e34 m50 has needed a valve cover gasket replacement, water pump, starter, plugs, belts and hoses. I am only getting it broken in at 114,000 miles, though. The car has never been towed in 25 years.
Love my 328 m52tu and to be honest (not much in it) would rate this above m54 due to the better piston ring design, so its not an oil burner. BUT. How about m50/m50tu. USA has iron blocks so u avoid the bolts pulling out if it overheats!
M57 diesels made before 2006 (when the timing chain issues started) are the way to go here in Europe. By now most of them have over 300 thousand miles and are still running strong without having to add any oil between 10k oil changes, even examples with over 500 thousand miles aren't anything special. These engines tend to outlast the cars themselves.
There are ton of problems with diesels....intake manifold cracks, leaks or swirl flaps destroy your engine...turbos dies or blows up, fan clutch problems and many more....glow plugs, injectors, abs pump, high preasure fuel pump from bosch, fuel pumps......and many more problems. I own e39 525d and i fixed all those problems....
Actually all M57 engines are free of timing chain problems. You're thinking of the later N57 engine where they moved the chain to the back of the block. You can buy an E60/61 530/525d all the way up until 2010 and they will all have M57 engines. The E9x generation of 6cyl diesels switched to N57 around 2007-2008 I think.
Both M47 and M57 diesels are great engines to last long. These engines are internally sound and reach extensive mileages when maintained correctly. BTW, in manual transmission cars they came without swirl flaps. Of course, injectors, high pressure pumps and turbos could be an issue, but repairing or replacing them is much cheaper today as it was back then, when the cars were new. There are M57 engines around with 1 million kms on them.
@@vviiper I'd like to correct you here, the M57D30TÜ and newer version have had timing chain issues. Not as common as on F10, but it becomes a problem with higher mileage.
@@andyb6851 The M57 does not have timing chain issues and the F10 never came with M57 engines. The N57 have timing chain issues at higher mileage, and the F10's did come with N57 engines
I've got a 92 525i m50 motor it's got 360,587 miles on it ,original starter, original alternator, replaced 2 radiators, I run nothing but Mobil 1 15 50 in it, my cat converter just went bad though I think it's BMWs best motor!
I would lobby for the M50 engine. It's not a powerful engine but its a reliable one. I've had multiple e34's and have never had issues with them. They easily go 500k without blinking if you even minimally take care of them. By far the easiest engine to maintain. I currently have 3 M52/M54's which are reliable but like the the M62TU require a lot more care and feeding to keep it reliable. My E39 M62TU used required a LOT of care and feeding but I loved it.
I concur @Nathans BMW Workshop... My 2003 (E39) 525i Touring is the best driving and reliable car I've ever owned. They have certain quirks that if you don't address can be real problems, but smart preventative maintenance and replacing the parts that are known to be potential problems goes a long way to realizing the potential of the engine, etc...I may be biased, but I think the E39 is the nicest looking series out there...
Even though I purchased a beat down (under the hood) 2003 530i e39 (189,000 miles) which original owner ordered with M Sport package, I replaced the sport suspension and many externals to the engine, gaskets, seals, pulleys, o-rings, ccv and all vacuum lines, etc. I have put 25,000 miles on the engine without a hiccup. Still runs strong. M54 best engine around.
Nathan, I have watched so many of your videos, and I think you are , not only acknowledged but humble and sincere... Trust worthy ! I blew the engine on my 2001 525i... let it sit for a year and found an E 39 with everything... trans, a/c compresor ... all the parts for $500. It cost me $1,500 to install, plus some $700 in parts that were installed to the engine prior of putting it in the car... Add.. But a month later I hit 140mph on the freeway... No cops ... Thank God... I love the E 39 and my car is smoking ... cause I drive with a cigar lit... all the time ! God Bless !
My M50b25tu in my E34 is a hell of a reliable engine, only had one problem so far in almost a year of ownership which was the crankshaft sensor. She already has 275k km on her aswell
One good thing in common the M54 and S62 is 80C thermostats. I was looking today for example the M62 has a 108C thermostat. That extra heat has a lot to do with wearing timing chain guides, frying seals, O rings, valve covers etc... I've had an M50, M54 and now an N55. The M54 is easily a 300k to 400k engine if you keep the maintenance up. I know the N55 sure as hell wont be!
Not to say heat doesn't play a large part in the plastics breaking down prematurely, but it's fairly well established at this point that the reason the m62tu guides become problematic is that the tensioner fails. It's a 100$ part and takes about 25 minutes to replace, assuming you have guides that are in good condition, big assumption, you can change the tensioner every 60k miles, and the guides will very likely last the life of the engine.
I still use my E46 since 2012, its a 320i with the M52TU engine, got a Getrag 250 in it, done like 230k Miles as of July 2024. It still rocks..! its my daily drive.
I'm glad to hear your opinion on the m54 being the most reliable, my first BMW ever driven 2002 BMW E39 530IA M54 (Bluewater metallic). I bought a few years ago for my daily from 2nd owner. It had just over 100k when I bought it from private owner, now it has 220,035 miles on it and I rarely baby it. I've never seen this many miles on any car, so I'm slightly nervous that it's just going to quit on me at the worst possible moment miles from anywhere. But it has been reliable throughout my ownership aside from the damn fuel gage, it like to tell me I have 21 miles left to go then suddenly I'm out of fuel, last time it did that it told me I have 77 miles left. A few other maintenance parts I've replaced as well, so easy to work on and it still looks clean. A rock caught my windshield "SMACK!" I saw it coming right at my face perfect size for a throwing rock, chasing down a Maserati at 130mph. Put a very small chip in the glass, I repaired that close to 6 months later and never grew. Anyway, my favorite car I've ever owned and possibly the best. I'm no mechanic, so I research until my eyes bleed when I'm diagnosing issues then research more before I repair myself (I have Bently manuals, they help a little). Thanks Nathan you've helped me in many ways you don't even know, you and Ryan Schultz are my go to guys for repair videos. Thank you for all your help!
Two answers: 1. The most reliable BMW engine ever made hasn't even been built yet. 2. The engine was developed and has been running constantly 24/7, trouble-free for decades in some obscure BMW laboratory in some tucked away corner of some country and the BMW engineer who designed it was taken out back behind the building and shot.
You clearly are lacking information and have never looked at these cars with a thought. The m52/m54 are pretty solid motors. Cooling system? Yes problem. Valve cover gasket leaks? Yes problem. Vanoss replacement? Yes, maintenance. M54’s (i have two and know most about the M54B30) go 250k+ miles. It’s not a corolla, u might have to get ur hands a little dirty, but they are stout engines and monsters of overall reliability. My ‘05 330ci zhp 6speed has 112,600 k mile, ‘02 330ci vert (auto!) has 161k miles. Both run strong, lil sludge in the vert but still should get at least 250k on her. Read forums, look at it with a different perspective not just confirmation bias. They drive great, handle great, and are definitely more reliable then you think.
My 97 M62 (no tu) and 4L30E e39 540i has 213,000 miles on it (timing guides done at 112k just did a 600 mile 100mph round trip with ease. Leather & power and Grace - no issue with meeeeee.
My 1995 BMW 325i with the M50B25 engine has never left me stranded, and currently has 253,000 miles on it. Borla Cat back, K&N cold air intake filter properly mounted and housed, and a "sports" chip. Many other upgrades including the cooling system. Just did a 0-60 run at 6.8 seconds, and a milage check producing 24 mpg. Top speed? Well I've had it up over 140 mph and it performed well. Not a muscle car, but it is quick and fast producing a little over 200 HP would be my guess. An engine has to be fairly reliable to get 250K miles on it. I remember when a car's engine that could get over 100K was considered reliable. I think BMW peaked in the 1990's, began a slow decline after 2000, and entered a steep decline in product and quality after 2010. But in the 90's they did make the ultimate driving machine.
M70. Everyone is scared to death, because it is a 12 cyl. but in fact it is simple as a piece of rock. No EGR, no VANOS, no turbo, nothing. As long as it has water and oil, it lives forever. The most funny thing is that this huge monster can be easily maintained with DIY methods and the E31's engine bay is so generous, that you can pretty well access everything unlike newer, more cramped designs.
Between my e39 530i with the m54 or the e28 528e with the m20 I'd say they are pretty even. I've put about 200,000 miles on both engines since I got them and most I've ever had to do was change spark plugs.
@@thsarethbreaks if it's over 100.000miles i would go for the full synthetic Mobil1 5W40 or the Castrol, with these 2 oils my bmw engines smiled at me back the most. (I've owned more than 20 bmw's)
@@90MinutenLang020Damsko Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to learn as much as i can about the BMW's as far as what is reliable and not reliable, and how much maintenance is required.
@@thsarethbreaks yes it's good to know what's happening under the hood of your car. Treat it good and you will have the most fun in your BMW, all the normal maintenance and others things when and what needs to be done, ofcourse. But to treat it good doesn't mean give all your money to the mechanic, there is tons of information on the internet or tutorials on youtube to watch.
If M20b25 had hydraulic valve lifters it would have fewer problems. Rocker issues are common when valve adjustments have not been done. The timing belts need to be kept up. Definitely not trouble prone.
I picked up an 02 E39 530i M Sport for $1000 flat, less than $300 in on the cooling system overhaul, valve/head gaskets are still good, only thing else that needs immediate attention is a few suspension components and brakes and it’ll be completely finished
Had a '03 Z4 with the 3.0 M54 and six speed manual and it was going STRONG at 221K. Didn't use oil, ran at proper temps even when run hard w a/c and in full blast summer heat, etc. One of-if not THE-best powertrains I've ever had. The car was in amazing shape as well, in and out. Top motor didn't work but so what....just flipped it up and flipped it back down in all of 30 seconds. Sadly the car was destroyed by a water pipe bursting above it in a garage. My comp policy covered it, but you can guess where it booked. Had just put BC coilovers and new Firehawk Indy 500's on it too. Someone got a nice Copart donor car. But main point: could not agree more: at least in my experience the M54, if not abused and the cooling parts are kept up, is bulletproof.
My 330i E46 engine overheated at 150k miles when the when the Thermostat blew. But the car is currently at 220k miles and engine is still running strong. Definitely one of BMWs best Engines. The E46 is a classic beauty and it's Chassis still hold up well against brand new cars.
A few years ago I basically got an E39 530i (M54B30) for free when I bought a Focus and the owner just said I could have the BMW if I get it running. I just placed a new battery on it and it started right up. did some basic maintenance and flipped it right away after a month. I regret doing that but I needed the cash. Right now I recently got an E36 320i (M50B20) and it runs great. hopefully I own it for a while and it stays reliable.
Good to hear. Just bought a pre-owned E46 (330ci) with the GM Trans. Runs great. Fun car! Local mechanic went through it. Currently at 160K miles, hope to get a few years out of it. Car needed little TLC, but how smooth it was running when I started it, surprised me. Hope it says a good little car for us for a few years. M54!
I hope Nathans is right my M54 had been sat under a tree for 3/4 years before I bought it and the owner kept topping up with oil rather than fixing gasket leaks but with Nathans videos, I have got it running and it sounds sweet. One thing I have learnt is to invest in a good battery to get rid of a load of problems, look for the highest cranking etc and buy when you are not in a rush and stuck.
I have a BMW 525i E60 2004 with the M54B25 engine and 200.000 miles on it. It consumes a bit of oil and sometimes with a cold start, you can hear the valves a little bit but other than that? Flawless…
m54 doesn't have show stoppers really, except maybe the oil-pump nut thingy. I love mine, no plans to change. If I had to though I'd go n52 although you don't rate it.
Yes Indeed have a 1997 E39 M52 motor done 345,000 Ks do regular maintenance myself change oil and filter every 10, 000Ks replace parts as required ,it just goes and goes. Only issue 20 year old plastic parts small crack in thermostat housing and end of pipe came off when I removed hose replaced housing cost $90.00
I'm 5'11" and no problem fitting in my e46. That's simply me of course. I know about the substructure issue(s). Mine is an automatic with the GM trans, so the substructure issue doesn't bother me so much. If ever needed, I'll do the epoxy fit reinforcements as not to negate metal strength elsewhere. M52tub25 in mine. Not a hot performer. It's still sitting there. Thinking things through, I'm thinking of simply addressing each problem simply 1 at a time. Maybe in 12-24 months, I'll be back on the road with it. Unfortunately, I had some health issues set me back, but there's always another time if necessary.
The M52 is a slightly modified M54 and the S54 is a slightly modified M54 with a iron block that is a variant of the M52. Thank the M52 for the M54 and S54 because the design of the engine carried on with the last 2 with reliability.
So just to be clear then: M52 is the actual winner, but you are putting it in second place due to age. I was really hoping for a "pure design" evaluation. If you put all new parts in a freshly rebuilt m52, isn't that going to be the most reliable winner here? Or is there something I am missing?
@@alimpje 5:03 "...to be totally honest with you, the only thing simpler than an M54 is an M52..." And then he says how it is older and probably has more miles.... And my comment was all about wanting him to focus on just the actual engineered item. Forget about miles or time and just focus on which DESIGN is best. So he was being honest and saying M52 is simpler (because simpler is more reliable), and then says but they are kinda getting old. Not if they are freshly built. An M54 isn't new either. Right?
i live in europe and drive the e39 520i m52 tu double vanos with 106,000 kilom...as we speak and so far very happy lacks a bit of power but it will still hit 220 kil... no problem and you don,t feel a thing i buy and sell these and just kept a nice one for me
Nice video. Short and sweet. I have a 2003 530i with M54. Working on inlet/outlet heater pipes at the moment. I agree. Engine is good, but the plastics around it are a different story.
Hey Nathan, I know you're not a fan of the newer engines at all but what do you think of the b58. So far the reports on them don't seem to be too bad at all but then again they're all pretty new and under warranty.
I use to have a 03 530i and I loved it and it was the first BMW I ever owned and is what got me into the BMW brand. I now have an 09 328i 6spd manual with the sport package and premium package and love it. It does have some suspension issues and the dash looks like a Christmas tree right now and since the ABS light is on, the DTC wont engage now.😔 Its still a beautiful car though and head turner and I hope to fix it soon and it already has alot of work done on it like new waterpump,valve cover gasket,coil packs and plugs, etc.
A friend of mine gave me his old 2006 X3, and I was glad that the engine is M54, it has been left out in the parking lot for quite a while so I have to fix those worn out parts. Cost me 5K for parts and labor, hopefully she will run fine from hereon... cross fingers...
Hey Nathan you forgot about 1 really good BMW engine the "M30" engine man!! E32 735I and E34 535I also earlier 6 series 633I and 635i! I had a 1989 E32 before I got rid of it 245k miles quality engine and car!!
Didn't had many BMW but : E30 323i M20 , E46 325ti M54 , X1 E84 23d N47 , E30 318is M42 . On each engine i had some problems M20 - head gasket, M54 some sensors and radiator oil leaks, N47 timing chain, M42 oil leaks as a top i would put M20 this can go forever with a good cooling system and if you change the belt, ,M54 some oil leaks and famos radiator /exapansion tank problems M42 - a have this currently it is nice to work but already developed some timing chain noise , N47 timing chain problems in the future perhaps some injector problems other wise decent engine. Also you have overlooked the M50 non vanos basicaly an M20 with 24 valves and timing chain i didn't have that engine but as far as i;ve heard is a very good engine.
Always reliable info...would love to be able to have you redo my 530i, 2002. Keep up the great work and the valuable insight that you provide; much continued success.
Probably Not Spam I love my 1998 540ia, leaks oil, outside of that only minor problems at 154800 miles! The non Vanos engine has great HP and will cruise all day at 120 to 130 if I could find a place to still do it here in Texas since this Pandemic BS the police are cracking down and being creeds here!
The most reliable engine is indeed the M54. The E46 chassis has, like you said, the subframe problem and E39's tend to rust with age (atleast here in the North-western part of the EU), but you won't find that much E60's that rust. I've an E60 with M54b25. It has 382.000km and still going strong. I do add oil, but that's only just 0,5L every 12.000km and change the oil at every 20.000km or 25.000km if I'm lazy... I can't complain when I see other M54 owners and if I put the o2pilot mod on that will probably zero out the oil consumption completely. These cars and engines just need care by giving them proper maintenance so they take care of you. Driving habit is important as I keep the revs under 2,5K when cold until 90'c watertemp. Nothing broke down in my ownership. Even the factory DISA is still working perfectly. I just prematurely change the waterpump and thermostat every 150k KM and prematurely changed the CCV at 280.000KM. Great engines. Thanks for the video.
Actually ur right i have x5 e53 from 12 years…really the engine is strong cz the temperature is always stable and never overheats with few problems according to the engine’s age 19 years old!!!
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
I’m glad to say the M52 in my E36 has never left me stranded in 25 years and nearly 400,000 miles.
2.8 M52?
@@antiochiaadtaurum3786 Yes.
That is a good run!
Have you ever flushed your transmission?? At what mileage if yes
@@kalalp2 if its over 200k dont bother
I'm a qualified mechanic, of all the different cars I have owned, my current daily (owned it for 5 years now) E39 528i Msport with M52B28TU and 5HP19 is by far the best and most reliable car of them all.
I've had faster, more expensive, more rare cars but this one is a real gem. I don't love it more than my E39 M5 but it's given me less trouble and gets driven more often, I'm more confident that I can just jump in it and drive anywhere I need to go in comfort and no thought of it breaking down. M52TU and M54 engines are true masterpieces of engineering.
I couldn't agree with you more. I've owned 5 E39's and each has been a gem. I drove my 98 528i over 250 miles in the middle of the night with a broken fan clutch, it would overheat every time I would slow down but as soon as I would get it up to speed it cooled like a champ. i just said "screw it" I'm getting home tonight. That M52 not only didn't freeze up I later drove it another 50K miles. Hell of an engine.
I drive an E39 528i and I love it :)
I have a 1999 bmw 528i, best car I ever own owned
Agree. M52TU in my 728i has never left me stranded over the past 20 years and 200000 km. Runs as silky and powerfully as of the first day, and requires MINIMAL maintenance (oil change at 30000 km)
@@TheMuston oil change should be done every 10000-15000km depending on how you drive. Never do it at 30k km. Bmw says that so the engine dies
I'm definitely in the m52/m54 camp. My old e36 has 187k and doesn't skip a beat.
Definitely, bought my third e36, a 97 328i for a daily last September with 174k, has treated me great almost a year later. Cooling system overhaul is the only thing it has gotten so far, which is a must when you buy one in my opinion.
Cooling system and like every interior piece made from plastic. Mine disintegrated literally overnight last year. Thankfully there are still new old stock parts available
i have the m54 and i can confirm it still runs smooth as butter
I have a E46 1999 323i one-owner with 73k original miles and it was always garage kept. Learned how to take care of it and things to look out for and it will last me a long time.
1991 e34 525i m50, 358k miles on it, and still running strong.
E39 523i 1999 with M52TU owner for 11 years. I love it. I LPG'd it 2 years ago, runs like heaven and costs me 6$/60miles (LPG is pretty cheap in Europe)
Love it, even though it's a bit of wrench time.
When I bought my x3 e83 2.5 (M54) I got a lot of discouraging comments from people around me. It was on the market for almost a year before I bought it; simply because of the stimga. But honestly, most people who bad talk bmws really don't know shit anyway. The M54 is reliable and everyone who owns one that wasn't abused will agree. Thanks Nathan- and like always; you're right.
You don't have to know much to realize most bmw engines are shit. They have a pretty horrible track record, but they are not all bad
You don't have to know much these days but statistics and ownership satisfaction don't lie, you just have to look at vast surveys for most mainstream brands and you will not only notice BMW but most German brands are always at the bottom for reliability and overall satisfaction, yes there are few that do go on without issues but having owned and driven almost all types of German brands, all I can say is they are fantastic in comfort and performance but for medium to long term or out of warranty then it is is big NO, they are like cancer you fix one problem then another pops up, now I just lease them and give it back even then the amount of time I had to book in with the dealers for repairs has made sure I will never own one outside warranty.
@@DankSi BMW Engines are very strong. It’s just the rest of the components aren’t equally as good
Definitely. And I'm no just saying that because I have an E39 with the M54.
My 2001 X5 3.0 E53 M54 with standard transmission is still purring and really easy to work on.
2005 x3 M54 with standard trans. 185k on the clock. Best engine I've owned aside from my 12v cummins diesels.
2005 M54B30 3.0L Petrol Engine. Dead. Eventually found Replacement Engine with far more Km's, and to fit it was difficult and expensive. Generally too many brittle plastic parts, fail, engine then overheats, and being Aluminium it warps too easily. Thermostat often fails, by the time you know it's overheated it's already destroyed. Tragically flawed engine, in a car prone to multiple failures.
E46 m54b30 190 thousand miles , 2003 , regular maintenance and still pulling hard and strong daily drive. Secret ? Never drive in town or hard traffic, always open road an highway.
Always respect manufacturer service maintenance and it will run for ever .
240,000 miles on my '02 330ci, and she's still pulling strong every day as my daily, aside from the electrical issues of course.
I love my M52TU dual vanos. I have an E39 528i. My first ever Bimmer and I will never look back. It's not fast, but it runs good and gets me where I need to go.
Original 1999 model year with 110k miles and still runs like it's brand new. Previous owners took amazing care of the car and kept up on all maintenance. I plan to do the same.
M50/M52 (non TU) are the most reliable out of them.
Simply because the CCV-System is nowhere near as prone to failure as on the M52tu/m54. Its build much simpler.
Also the cooling system is more reliable on these, because most of the time they got an 88 degree celsius thermostat, which overall lets the cooling system run at a lower pressure.
Oh, and additionally the sound on the M50 is the greatest because of the grey cast iron block.
I am new to the e36’s, so any advise is welcome. Bought my girl a 98 328is with an auto and m52tu, came with a 93 325 with the 50 and 5 speed. Was planning on building out the m50 and swapping along with the 5 speed when done. Made this choice based mainly on reliability comments I have heard. We just started tear down of the m50. Again, welcome to any thoughts.
Buy a new water pump but use the one that has the metallic rotor not plastic one and just take a drill and do a few small puncutres to the new thermostat so in case it fet stuck closed you never overheat the car and that how you solve the all your cooling problems ^^. If the system is full of rust just change all the block and heater hoses (around 180€) and flush the system with a radiator cleaner and you'll be as good as just realsed frim the factory :)
@@StudioGuitarra actually the BMW Genuine ones nowadays are made of a plastic compound, which turns out more reliable than the metal one.
The first plastic ones are shitty, then they switched to a metal design and then finally to a plastic compound.
The metal ones got this issue, that the Waterpumpshaft separates from the impeller.
The idea to drill a hole into the thermostat is genius haha
@@TheNickfisch mine is a Meyle metalic one and never got any problem. The thing in my country is that the BMW dealers have tons of stock so if a go to buy a genuine one from BMW it can be even one of the old ones hahahahahhas. Dont drill big holes, just 3 o 4 small ones in case the thermostat gets stuck closed.
I got performance water thermostat , and everything service on point , OG m50
I have the 2002 540i m62tu. I realized after changing the heads and re-timing it, it lasted me longer from 2014 to 2020 without any single issue if I didn't drive it like an idiot as most bmw owners do when they buy them brand new. They may be high performance cars but if you punch it every time at the traffic light they will be done before they reach 30k miles. When I bought it one night I decided to go hit it all the way to 149 mph...it felt great...but a few weeks later it started to give me leaks everywhere. I learned my lesson and this time because it is time I am re doing the valley pan and the whole gasket o-rings shabang for a 2nd time in it's life. So if you decide to get a 540i...buyer beware...you could be buying an abused bmw and possibly a money pit. I just kept mine this long because I love how I can move around traffic without feeling like it will roll over and the center of gravity is near perfect from any other cars i've driven in the past.
I also have an M62TU in a 2001 540i. The chain and guides were changed. In my opinion, after the timing chain and guides have been changed, the M62 engines are extremely reliable. You have to understand that for a 4.4L V8, 286bhp is not a lot of power, so the engine itself is probably under very little stress. It's a true big lazy V8 cruiser that should go forever
@James Edward That is exactly what happened to me. I was nicer to it and lasted me much longer than when I got it. Bmw can't be claiming they are performance cars if they can't last without leaking fluids or vacuume leaks
I have owned a 530i 2001 (M54B30 is a great engine) for 10 years and have come to a conclusion that it is probably the optimal e39 model, having the largest 6-cyl engine that is also very reliable and consumes less fuel than the V8's. Of course, I have done tons of repairs and preventative maintenance, after which the car is a joy to own and drive. Still, I dream of the e39 M5.
So do I, just driving an m5 would thrill me.
Loved my e39, 5 speed. Drove that all up and down the east coast for work. My son drives it now, 200,000 miles plus, still running. Yes to your coolant comment. Just prior to 100,00 the complete cooling system was replaced.
I have an E39 525i with M54 engine. Bought it 2 years ago. Engine was laaaaaazy, not much low end torque, oil leaks, original fuel filter from 2001, .... This car didn't get love from the previous owner(s). I'm not a car mechanic but i replaced parts on the engine thanks to Nathans videos (and others). Parts are indeed pretty cheap and there are many companies building parts for the E39. Now the car runs perfect. Wheel spin in 2nd gear, top speed of 238 kph. I even made my own "custom made" aluminum intake pipes giving the engine a bit more ... roar.
Nathan, thank you for your tips and tricks.
Is it a manual or auto?
I've had m52, m52tu x2, m54. And now n54 x2. M52tub25 was the most reliable of mine. I gave the 2000 323Ci manual coupe with 320k running
My n54 would be a great engine if the can bus was fixed and would let all the downed systems come back
Completely agree... M54 is the best production road engine BMW ever made. I've been using them continuously for over 20 years - my first being in my 325Ci Sport manual that I bought brand new in 2003. I also have a one owner 325i Sport manual that I bought 16 years ago. They're just a stunning motor in every way.
Agreed my 2003 530i/5. Has 230k miles still running and running good. Love it
Bingo M52TÜ I knew it. In Germany there is a lot BMW 1998-2001 that still runs great and the owners are satisfied. Manual 5 speed is one I'm getting.
I agree ...M54 is highly reliable .
My m54 is only consuming lots of oil😂
It most certainly is not
Mine has 185K miles on it and is still working strong
Mine has 254k and my wifes has 285k and neither uses a whole quart between oil changes.
@@garaiselvis order a bottle of Forte..Ebay. black bottle, pink cap and label has pink on it. It's a UK only product that works! And order royal purple HMX 5w30 from summit racing so you know you're getting the real thing. RP HMX has additives that condition and swell the seals and gaskets. Do what I'm telling you! And the very worst case scenario you'll have to add a half quart at 2000, or a quart by 3000. With the Forte..you may not have to add Any! Do what I'm telling you, you won't regret it! Have a nice day.
N52 FOR LIFE!!! EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT SELLING MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2006 325I, I JUST CAN'T JUSTIFY IT! EXTREMELY RELIABLE AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE NOSTALGIA YOU GET FROM THE SOUND OF A NATURALLY ASPIRATED STRAIGHT 6 BMW ENGINE!!!
Before my daily driven '99 M3 (s52 engine) was T-boned it had 289mi. on the clock. That engine gave me zero issues. I made the Zionsville all aluminum radiator w/electric fan the top priority upgrade when it was first purchased with 170k on it already. Now, my daily driven, new to me 03' 530 Sport has 175k on it along with a CSF M5 all metal radiator paired with the Zionsville electric fan shroud upgrade. Needless to say my overheating anxiety in non-existent and yes the e39 CSF radiator is thicker thank stock but still drops right in snugly without any modifications.
Hell yeah, this past weekend my M54B30's oil pump nut fell off while driving on the highway. Turned it off immediately and had it towed home. Overnighted parts from FCP and fixed it the next day. I used loctite and safety wire on the nut so it won't happen again. Still runs like a champ, and as a bonus my oil pan doesn't leak anymore. Super reliable engine, especially with EU2 tune.
How about the oil consuption? My m54 3.0l consumes 1l on about 1000km +/-
@@garaiselvis look up o2 pilot mod. mine burns zero oil at 190k miles. I went on a 1600 mile road trip and the dipstick stayed at the full mark the whole time.
@@busterscrugs i have heard off that. Maybe will try. Or oil catch can. I also have lpg conversion. Maybe thats the reason of oil burning
The M42 engine on my 318i is pretty reliable when I got the car it had 328000 and now it has 412000.
The one think i did replace was the water pump and fan clutch, and after that just oil changes every 3500 miles.
I'd say its the m50 iron block. If you replace the plastic impeller waterpump, its done, you are ready to drive. No vanos, no fancy stuff, just an engine on a 5 speed manual, it takes effort to destroy them, and they are not even bad on power, the stock 25i was almost 200hp, and it could also take a fair ammount of boost too
M50 are more prone to headgasket failiure, due to the fact that steel and aluminum expand at different rates, it inherently puts more stress on headgaskets during regular heat cycles. Not only that but if you do blow a headgasket, and overheat, you'll be lucky if you don't have to source a new head sue to stress cracks between cooling channels and combustion chamber. M54 has its own crux in that you will very likely have to retrhread or helicoil/timesert the block In the case of an extreme overheat. Still seems preferable to have block rethreaded then source a new cylinder head. I personally blew a headgasket on my iron/aluminum 142k m50tu, from a minor overheat, whereas I've had a waterpump failiure paired with a pretty major overheat on a 210k mile m54b25 in an e46, all I had to do was replace the pump, car now has 245k and is still going strong on the original engine and transmission.
Here is a man who knows what he is talking about.
Cant complain with my m54 on my e83 x3 did few things to it previous owner neglected on doing. And runs like a champ, very easy engine to diagnose too. Gotta say 194k and still runs tight on corners and feel steady.
what have you done to it?
I have a 2003 BMW 530i e60. M54B30. 3 ltr. 425,000km. Just normal service nothing else. still running strong.
I would say m52b28. Decent power, fuel economy, quiet and smooth. For its age. It doesnt swallow oil like m54, no vanos problems, no electronic thermostat etc.
I have owned cars with both M52TU and N52s. I agree the M52TU was very reliable, I feel that N52 is a better engine overall. Just more refined. It represents the perfection of BMW’s flagship naturally aspirated 3L inline 6s.
No flagship BMW has an N52...It's an okay engine but considering an M52 with an M50 manifold can make about the same power while being reliable tells me the N52 is kind of a downgrade from the M52.
@@jacoblami1731wouldn’t you also realistically need a m50 mani, ASC delete boot as well as a CAI? 190 stock then with all three combined should put you around 230-240 which is what the n52 has (NA ones anyways not euro)
Im looking for a E46 328ci or some 525i, 530i E60. Waht would u recommend me for a daily car and reliable, like plug and play
Thank Nathen you are very right I am a mechanic in general and have Owen a 328I now for 6 years 2010 straight N51 with 106,000 miles 3 owner, never had a problem other than constant maintenance on time or before and I would say that maintenance is king. So far the only thing I have changed is the spark plugs. Oil of course, filter, all fluids and check every month or less, all and all I love my BMW for me it has been very reliable. Thanks again for a great you tube experience.
Nathan, could not agree with you more! My 2003 530ia is a cream puff at 136700 miles it does not leak oil, of course I R&R all the ignition coils and plugs, disa, oil pressure and level censor, cam sensors. Oil and filter. No codes! The other day I received my first speeding ticket in forty five years 125 in a 75.
My 1998 540ia non Vanos has been a great car it another good cruiser, it does leak oil!! But goes too damn fast, it handles the back roads at speed without any compromise!
The M54 is one the easiest engines to work, especially in the E39 chassis!
Thanks, keep up the great work!!!
Seen them get up to 400k miles. Keep up the maintenance and they’ll live
My 530i 2004 e60 body got m54b30 engine which had been great 170k well maintained still running like new
The M43 in my E36 has only needed routine servicing and a vacuum hose for the idle control valve. The part was a reasonable price from the dealer and I was able to fit it in the car park. I documented it on my own channel.
bmw 316i with 1.8l 8 valve engine. I had to sell the car because they tried to steal the car too many times from me. It had 350k kms and was easy to work on.
My '95 e34 m50 has needed a valve cover gasket replacement, water pump, starter, plugs, belts and hoses. I am only getting it broken in at 114,000 miles, though. The car has never been towed in 25 years.
Love my 328 m52tu and to be honest (not much in it) would rate this above m54 due to the better piston ring design, so its not an oil burner. BUT. How about m50/m50tu. USA has iron blocks so u avoid the bolts pulling out if it overheats!
M57 diesels made before 2006 (when the timing chain issues started) are the way to go here in Europe. By now most of them have over 300 thousand miles and are still running strong without having to add any oil between 10k oil changes, even examples with over 500 thousand miles aren't anything special. These engines tend to outlast the cars themselves.
There are ton of problems with diesels....intake manifold cracks, leaks or swirl flaps destroy your engine...turbos dies or blows up, fan clutch problems and many more....glow plugs, injectors, abs pump, high preasure fuel pump from bosch, fuel pumps......and many more problems. I own e39 525d and i fixed all those problems....
Actually all M57 engines are free of timing chain problems. You're thinking of the later N57 engine where they moved the chain to the back of the block. You can buy an E60/61 530/525d all the way up until 2010 and they will all have M57 engines. The E9x generation of 6cyl diesels switched to N57 around 2007-2008 I think.
Both M47 and M57 diesels are great engines to last long. These engines are internally sound and reach extensive mileages when maintained correctly. BTW, in manual transmission cars they came without swirl flaps. Of course, injectors, high pressure pumps and turbos could be an issue, but repairing or replacing them is much cheaper today as it was back then, when the cars were new. There are M57 engines around with 1 million kms on them.
@@vviiper I'd like to correct you here, the M57D30TÜ and newer version have had timing chain issues. Not as common as on F10, but it becomes a problem with higher mileage.
@@andyb6851 The M57 does not have timing chain issues and the F10 never came with M57 engines. The N57 have timing chain issues at higher mileage, and the F10's did come with N57 engines
I've got a 92 525i m50 motor it's got 360,587 miles on it ,original starter, original alternator, replaced 2 radiators, I run nothing but Mobil 1 15 50 in it, my cat converter just went bad though I think it's BMWs best motor!
I would lobby for the M50 engine. It's not a powerful engine but its a reliable one. I've had multiple e34's and have never had issues with them. They easily go 500k without blinking if you even minimally take care of them. By far the easiest engine to maintain. I currently have 3 M52/M54's which are reliable but like the the M62TU require a lot more care and feeding to keep it reliable. My E39 M62TU used required a LOT of care and feeding but I loved it.
I concur @Nathans BMW Workshop... My 2003 (E39) 525i Touring is the best driving and reliable car I've ever owned. They have certain quirks that if you don't address can be real problems, but smart preventative maintenance and replacing the parts that are known to be potential problems goes a long way to realizing the potential of the engine, etc...I may be biased, but I think the E39 is the nicest looking series out there...
Even though I purchased a beat down (under the hood) 2003 530i e39 (189,000 miles) which original owner ordered with M Sport package, I replaced the sport suspension and many externals to the engine, gaskets, seals, pulleys, o-rings, ccv and all vacuum lines, etc. I have put 25,000 miles on the engine without a hiccup. Still runs strong. M54 best engine around.
love my M52s
I have well over 400k miles on them combined
After 265k miles on one, a weld gave out at the cat converter
Going to run headers
Nathan, I have watched so many of your videos, and I think you are , not only acknowledged but humble and sincere... Trust worthy ! I blew the engine on my 2001 525i... let it sit for a year and found an E 39 with everything... trans, a/c compresor ... all the parts for $500. It cost me $1,500 to install, plus some $700 in parts that were installed to the engine prior of putting it in the car... Add.. But a month later I hit 140mph on the freeway... No cops ... Thank God... I love the E 39 and my car is smoking ... cause I drive with a cigar lit... all the time ! God Bless !
My M50b25tu in my E34 is a hell of a reliable engine, only had one problem so far in almost a year of ownership which was the crankshaft sensor. She already has 275k km on her aswell
M54 with 355,000 miles and counting! 2004 525i
Wagon?
@@E39ForLife0 no sedan I wish it was I love the wagon
So it's an e60 not e39
@@E39ForLife0 yes, that is why I put 2004 525i in my post sir
@@Rooster_joe so you have the m54tu, which is almost the same but slightly better
Yep. It's one of the primary reasons why I sought out an e46.
One good thing in common the M54 and S62 is 80C thermostats. I was looking today for example the M62 has a 108C thermostat. That extra heat has a lot to do with wearing timing chain guides, frying seals, O rings, valve covers etc... I've had an M50, M54 and now an N55. The M54 is easily a 300k to 400k engine if you keep the maintenance up. I know the N55 sure as hell wont be!
If you shorten oil service intervals that works also
Not to say heat doesn't play a large part in the plastics breaking down prematurely, but it's fairly well established at this point that the reason the m62tu guides become problematic is that the tensioner fails. It's a 100$ part and takes about 25 minutes to replace, assuming you have guides that are in good condition, big assumption, you can change the tensioner every 60k miles, and the guides will very likely last the life of the engine.
I agree if you don't run the M54 hot it is very very durable.
I agree, i have a m52 signal vanos e39. I seem to be dealing with oil leaks and a sluggish gm box (4L30E) other than that its a solid car.
I still use my E46 since 2012, its a 320i with the M52TU engine, got a Getrag 250 in it, done like 230k Miles as of July 2024. It still rocks..! its my daily drive.
I'm glad to hear your opinion on the m54 being the most reliable, my first BMW ever driven 2002 BMW E39 530IA M54 (Bluewater metallic). I bought a few years ago for my daily from 2nd owner. It had just over 100k when I bought it from private owner, now it has 220,035 miles on it and I rarely baby it. I've never seen this many miles on any car, so I'm slightly nervous that it's just going to quit on me at the worst possible moment miles from anywhere. But it has been reliable throughout my ownership aside from the damn fuel gage, it like to tell me I have 21 miles left to go then suddenly I'm out of fuel, last time it did that it told me I have 77 miles left. A few other maintenance parts I've replaced as well, so easy to work on and it still looks clean. A rock caught my windshield "SMACK!" I saw it coming right at my face perfect size for a throwing rock, chasing down a Maserati at 130mph. Put a very small chip in the glass, I repaired that close to 6 months later and never grew. Anyway, my favorite car I've ever owned and possibly the best. I'm no mechanic, so I research until my eyes bleed when I'm diagnosing issues then research more before I repair myself (I have Bently manuals, they help a little). Thanks Nathan you've helped me in many ways you don't even know, you and Ryan Schultz are my go to guys for repair videos. Thank you for all your help!
Two answers:
1. The most reliable BMW engine ever made hasn't even been built yet.
2. The engine was developed and has been running constantly 24/7, trouble-free for decades in some obscure BMW laboratory in some tucked away corner of some country and the BMW engineer who designed it was taken out back behind the building and shot.
You clearly are lacking information and have never looked at these cars with a thought. The m52/m54 are pretty solid motors. Cooling system? Yes problem. Valve cover gasket leaks? Yes problem. Vanoss replacement? Yes, maintenance. M54’s (i have two and know most about the M54B30) go 250k+ miles. It’s not a corolla, u might have to get ur hands a little dirty, but they are stout engines and monsters of overall reliability. My ‘05 330ci zhp 6speed has 112,600 k mile, ‘02 330ci vert (auto!) has 161k miles. Both run strong, lil sludge in the vert but still should get at least 250k on her. Read forums, look at it with a different perspective not just confirmation bias. They drive great, handle great, and are definitely more reliable then you think.
My 97 M62 (no tu) and 4L30E e39 540i has 213,000 miles on it (timing guides done at 112k just did a 600 mile 100mph round trip with ease. Leather & power and Grace - no issue with meeeeee.
My 1995 BMW 325i with the M50B25 engine has never left me stranded, and currently has 253,000 miles on it. Borla Cat back, K&N cold air intake filter properly mounted and housed, and a "sports" chip. Many other upgrades including the cooling system. Just did a 0-60 run at 6.8 seconds, and a milage check producing 24 mpg. Top speed? Well I've had it up over 140 mph and it performed well. Not a muscle car, but it is quick and fast producing a little over 200 HP would be my guess. An engine has to be fairly reliable to get 250K miles on it. I remember when a car's engine that could get over 100K was considered reliable. I think BMW peaked in the 1990's, began a slow decline after 2000, and entered a steep decline in product and quality after 2010. But in the 90's they did make the ultimate driving machine.
M52 are amazing, and regarding M54 I bet you meant 3 liter ones, since the rest have oil consumption issues.
M70. Everyone is scared to death, because it is a 12 cyl. but in fact it is simple as a piece of rock. No EGR, no VANOS, no turbo, nothing. As long as it has water and oil, it lives forever. The most funny thing is that this huge monster can be easily maintained with DIY methods and the E31's engine bay is so generous, that you can pretty well access everything unlike newer, more cramped designs.
I’ve owned E46s for 13 years and of the 4 I’ve owned, all went well over 200k miles with ease. But the caveat is a MANUAL m54 is the most reliable.
Yes I have a 3.0 liter M54 with a 6 speed gearbox . It's sweet ... Love the sound
Between my e39 530i with the m54 or the e28 528e with the m20 I'd say they are pretty even. I've put about 200,000 miles on both engines since I got them and most I've ever had to do was change spark plugs.
What brand of oil did you use in your 530i?
@@thsarethbreaks if it's over 100.000miles i would go for the full synthetic Mobil1 5W40 or the Castrol, with these 2 oils my bmw engines smiled at me back the most. (I've owned more than 20 bmw's)
@@90MinutenLang020Damsko Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to learn as much as i can about the BMW's as far as what is reliable and not reliable, and how much maintenance is required.
@@thsarethbreaks yes it's good to know what's happening under the hood of your car. Treat it good and you will have the most fun in your BMW, all the normal maintenance and others things when and what needs to be done, ofcourse. But to treat it good doesn't mean give all your money to the mechanic, there is tons of information on the internet or tutorials on youtube to watch.
If M20b25 had hydraulic valve lifters it would have fewer problems. Rocker issues are common when valve adjustments have not been done. The timing belts need to be kept up. Definitely not trouble prone.
I picked up an 02 E39 530i M Sport for $1000 flat, less than $300 in on the cooling system overhaul, valve/head gaskets are still good, only thing else that needs immediate attention is a few suspension components and brakes and it’ll be completely finished
Had a '03 Z4 with the 3.0 M54 and six speed manual and it was going STRONG at 221K. Didn't use oil, ran at proper temps even when run hard w a/c and in full blast summer heat, etc. One of-if not THE-best powertrains I've ever had. The car was in amazing shape as well, in and out. Top motor didn't work but so what....just flipped it up and flipped it back down in all of 30 seconds. Sadly the car was destroyed by a water pipe bursting above it in a garage. My comp policy covered it, but you can guess where it booked. Had just put BC coilovers and new Firehawk Indy 500's on it too. Someone got a nice Copart donor car. But main point: could not agree more: at least in my experience the M54, if not abused and the cooling parts are kept up, is bulletproof.
My 330i E46 engine overheated at 150k miles when the when the Thermostat blew. But the car is currently at 220k miles and engine is still running strong. Definitely one of BMWs best Engines. The E46 is a classic beauty and it's Chassis still hold up well against brand new cars.
A few years ago I basically got an E39 530i (M54B30) for free when I bought a Focus and the owner just said I could have the BMW if I get it running. I just placed a new battery on it and it started right up. did some basic maintenance and flipped it right away after a month. I regret doing that but I needed the cash. Right now I recently got an E36 320i (M50B20) and it runs great. hopefully I own it for a while and it stays reliable.
I'd say m50 non vanos is the most reliable and needs the littlest amount of servicing.
Good to hear. Just bought a pre-owned E46 (330ci) with the GM Trans. Runs great. Fun car! Local mechanic went through it. Currently at 160K miles, hope to get a few years out of it. Car needed little TLC, but how smooth it was running when I started it, surprised me. Hope it says a good little car for us for a few years. M54!
Hows the e46
@@backnd_2329 Great. Had some front shocks installed, but runs great. Fun little car!
I hope Nathans is right my M54 had been sat under a tree for 3/4 years before I bought it and the owner kept topping up with oil rather than fixing gasket leaks but with Nathans videos, I have got it running and it sounds sweet. One thing I have learnt is to invest in a good battery to
get rid of a load of problems, look for the highest cranking etc and buy when you are not in a rush and stuck.
I had a feeling you we're going to say m54. I like mine.
Me2
I have a BMW 525i E60 2004 with the M54B25 engine and 200.000 miles on it.
It consumes a bit of oil and sometimes with a cold start, you can hear the valves a little bit but other than that?
Flawless…
m54 doesn't have show stoppers really, except maybe the oil-pump nut thingy. I love mine, no plans to change. If I had to though I'd go n52 although you don't rate it.
I had a e46 3 325 ci that engine was 👍🏽 as long you take care of it and didn’t over head it. Just really good
Yes Indeed have a 1997 E39 M52 motor done 345,000 Ks do regular maintenance myself change oil and filter every 10, 000Ks replace parts as required ,it just goes and goes. Only issue 20 year old plastic parts small crack in thermostat housing and end of pipe came off when I removed hose replaced housing cost $90.00
I'm 5'11" and no problem fitting in my e46. That's simply me of course. I know about the substructure issue(s). Mine is an automatic with the GM trans, so the substructure issue doesn't bother me so much. If ever needed, I'll do the epoxy fit reinforcements as not to negate metal strength elsewhere. M52tub25 in mine. Not a hot performer. It's still sitting there. Thinking things through, I'm thinking of simply addressing each problem simply 1 at a time. Maybe in 12-24 months, I'll be back on the road with it. Unfortunately, I had some health issues set me back, but there's always another time if necessary.
The M52 is a slightly modified M54 and the S54 is a slightly modified M54 with a iron block that is a variant of the M52. Thank the M52 for the M54 and S54 because the design of the engine carried on with the last 2 with reliability.
Yey! I’ve got the most reliable engine! I’ve changed the expansion tank and hoses off course.
So just to be clear then: M52 is the actual winner, but you are putting it in second place due to age.
I was really hoping for a "pure design" evaluation. If you put all new parts in a freshly rebuilt m52, isn't that going to be the most reliable winner here? Or is there something I am missing?
M54 is the winner he said m52 is just more simpler :)
@@alimpje 5:03 "...to be totally honest with you, the only thing simpler than an M54 is an M52..."
And then he says how it is older and probably has more miles....
And my comment was all about wanting him to focus on just the actual engineered item. Forget about miles or time and just focus on which DESIGN is best.
So he was being honest and saying M52 is simpler (because simpler is more reliable), and then says but they are kinda getting old. Not if they are freshly built. An M54 isn't new either. Right?
i live in europe and drive the e39 520i m52 tu double vanos with 106,000 kilom...as we speak and so far very happy lacks a bit of power but it will still hit 220 kil... no problem and you don,t feel a thing i buy and sell these and just kept a nice one for me
I agree, as long as you don’t over heat. BUT what’s the difference with M50-52-52TU-54. Aren’t they pretty identical
I have 2004 X5 with a m54 in it and totally love it .. working on it is easy .. it does requirer some maintenance but parts are cheap
Nice video. Short and sweet. I have a 2003 530i with M54. Working on inlet/outlet heater pipes at the moment. I agree. Engine is good, but the plastics around it are a different story.
I had a X5 3.0L with 315,000kms on it. Needed a rear main seal but ran great 😂
Hey Nathan, I know you're not a fan of the newer engines at all but what do you think of the b58. So far the reports on them don't seem to be too bad at all but then again they're all pretty new and under warranty.
I use to have a 03 530i and I loved it and it was the first BMW I ever owned and is what got me into the BMW brand. I now have an 09 328i 6spd manual with the sport package and premium package and love it. It does have some suspension issues and the dash looks like a Christmas tree right now and since the ABS light is on, the DTC wont engage now.😔 Its still a beautiful car though and head turner and I hope to fix it soon and it already has alot of work done on it like new waterpump,valve cover gasket,coil packs and plugs, etc.
S85 with 10.000 miles oil change intervals! Can`t go wrong with that!
I bought a 2004 red 325Ci auto coupe for 500 dollars. It had disa flap, i brought a disa valve off my 323ci but to small so i just removed the flap.
T stat killed it. I started the 335i point in my life. Now I get a lot of walking in, and biking.
A friend of mine gave me his old 2006 X3, and I was glad that the engine is M54, it has been left out in the parking lot for quite a while so I have to fix those worn out parts. Cost me 5K for parts and labor, hopefully she will run fine from hereon... cross fingers...
m50 non-vanos?
The force is strong with this one.
Hey Nathan you forgot about 1 really good BMW engine the "M30" engine man!! E32 735I and E34 535I also earlier 6 series 633I and 635i! I had a 1989 E32 before I got rid of it 245k miles quality engine and car!!
Didn't had many BMW but : E30 323i M20 , E46 325ti M54 , X1 E84 23d N47 , E30 318is M42 . On each engine i had some problems M20 - head gasket, M54 some sensors and radiator oil leaks, N47 timing chain, M42 oil leaks as a top i would put M20 this can go forever with a good cooling system and if you change the belt, ,M54 some oil leaks and famos radiator /exapansion tank problems M42 - a have this currently it is nice to work but already developed some timing chain noise , N47 timing chain problems in the future perhaps some injector problems other wise decent engine. Also you have overlooked the M50 non vanos basicaly an M20 with 24 valves and timing chain i didn't have that engine but as far as i;ve heard is a very good engine.
Thank you, I hit the jockpot Nathan. We have a 330i E46 and a 05 3.0i X5 here in Canada.
Always reliable info...would love to be able to have you redo my 530i, 2002. Keep up the great work and the valuable insight that you provide; much continued success.
Music to my ears I knew you was going to say that I have a E39 528i single vanos
Surprised the runner up isnt the good ol M50B25 NV
'97 540i, 235,000 miles, oil changes every 3,500 it's entire life, daily driver. Love it.
Probably Not Spam
I love my 1998 540ia, leaks oil, outside of that only minor problems at 154800 miles! The non Vanos engine has great HP and will cruise all day at 120 to 130 if I could find a place to still do it here in Texas since this Pandemic BS the police are cracking down and being creeds here!
Don’t sell
The most reliable engine is indeed the M54. The E46 chassis has, like you said, the subframe problem and E39's tend to rust with age (atleast here in the North-western part of the EU), but you won't find that much E60's that rust. I've an E60 with M54b25. It has 382.000km and still going strong. I do add oil, but that's only just 0,5L every 12.000km and change the oil at every 20.000km or 25.000km if I'm lazy... I can't complain when I see other M54 owners and if I put the o2pilot mod on that will probably zero out the oil consumption completely.
These cars and engines just need care by giving them proper maintenance so they take care of you. Driving habit is important as I keep the revs under 2,5K when cold until 90'c watertemp. Nothing broke down in my ownership. Even the factory DISA is still working perfectly. I just prematurely change the waterpump and thermostat every 150k KM and prematurely changed the CCV at 280.000KM.
Great engines. Thanks for the video.
I would agree on both the m54 and s62. But I’ll go with the s14 as the best motor. Other than the starter location.
Surprisingly you said something nice positive with the M62tu. We'll take it!
M54 💪💪💪 unfortunately it’s the electronics that will die before the motor
Actually ur right i have x5 e53 from 12 years…really the engine is strong cz the temperature is always stable and never overheats with few problems according to the engine’s age 19 years old!!!