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8 Most Common BMW N52 Engine

Problems
/ BMW, Engine / By Admin

The BMW N52 engine is one of the most reliable and successful inline-6
engines ever produced by BMW.

This engine was produced from 2004 to 2015, and to name a few, itʼs
been used in various 3 series, 5 series, X1, X3, X5, and also the Z4. Itʼs
also the first engine I have driven in my 3 series.

As the N52 is known for its smooth performance and solid reliability, itʼs
still a mechanical component. And as with any other machine, the N52

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is also prone to face some common problems.

These common problems are mostly valve cover gasket failure to

carbon buildup, fuel injectors, ignition coils failure, etc.

So, in these blogs, weʼll discuss the 8 most common BMW N52 engine
problems. By knowing these problems you can make better decisions
for scheduled inspections for those components and do proper
maintenance.

And if you tackle these common problems your N52 will show you why
it is one of the reliable engines in BMWʼs playbook.

So, letʼs delve right into it.

Table of Contents

Common BMW N52 Engine Problems

These are the most common problems associated with the N52 engine.

Apart from these, you wonʼt face any other problems and youʼll know
why the N52 is known as the reliable one.

Know about these common problems & do scheduled maintenance

and you can enjoy the reliability of your N52 engine.

So, here are they:

1. Hydraulic Valve Adjusters (Lifters) Ticking Issues

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This is a common problem, where at higher mileage your vehicle will

start making an annoying ticking noise from the engine.

This annoying ticking noise will be persistent whenever youʼre driving.

The main reason for this noise is the hydraulic valve adjusters(li�ers)
are not working properly due to insu�icient oil.

The main culprit here is the hydraulic valve adjusters (li�ers) due to the
poor design of the cylinder head and the li�ers itself, which block
proper oil circulation.

And this issue only persists in earlier 2008 models. Because in

December 2008, BMW changed the cylinder head and li�er design and
fixed this issue.

How To Fix Lifter Ticking Noises

So, there are two solutions, temporary & permanent, the permanent is
pretty costly, but itʼs worth it. However, it would help if you first tried
the temporary solution cause itʼs free & some guys I know have solved
the issue by doing that for some time.

Temporar y Solution: The free solution is you should “bleed” the li�ers.

To do that drive in high RPM (>4,500 rpm) for about 30-35 minutes only
on a highway. It may work for you a couple of times, but remember this
is just a temporary solution.

And you need a permanent one to solve the annoying ticking noise.

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Permanent Solution: The permanent solution is to replace your li�ers

and cylinder head with a post 2008 designed ones. But thatʼs gonna
cost you about $2,500 to $3,000.

But, thereʼs another way, just continue with the annoying ticking noise.

Suggestion: If you have the budget go for the replacement, and get rid
of the noise.

Repairing Cost : about $3,000 at an Auto shop

DIY Level: Very di�icult

2. VANOS Failure

The N52 uses BMWʼs VANOS system, which is a variable valve timing
system used in the intake and exhaust valves.

This technology uses VANOS solenoids, which are responsible for

controlling the oil flow to the actuators to move the cam gears, which
control the opening and closing of the valves.

The failure of solenoids is one of the common problems with the N52.
In this case, you could still run your vehicle, but it will result in loss of
power, poor/rough idling, issue starting, poor fuel economy, etc.

These solenoids commonly tend to last for about 70,000-75,000 miles.

So, we recommend you replace them at this time interval because
otherwise, it will result in loss of performance, and luckily itʼs not that
expensive and labor intensive.

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So, the basic engine code for VANOS failure would be:-

• 2A82: Vanos Intake Solenoid Malfunction

• 2A87: Vanos Exhaust Solenoid Malfunction

These two problems are easy to solve, and they are the same (Vanos
solenoids), so just buy 2 VANOS solenoids and replace the faulty ones.

Repairing Cost : About $454 to $547, where about $230-$250 will be the
solenoids and the rest are labor costs. (labor costs can saved by DIY)

DIY Level: Intermediate

BMW N52 Engine Diagnostics/Problems - Everything You N…

3. Ignition Coil Issues

The Ignition Coil failure issue in the N52 engine is a very commonly
reported issue among the N52 owners.

The ignition coil is basically an electric transformer, which converts the

electricity from a 12V battery and directs that to the spark plug.

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With an ignition coil issue, you will experience engine misfires, check
the engine light, bad fuel economy, and continuous limp mode. Except
for a malfunctioned coil, it can also cause issues due to worn spark
plugs.

When a spark plug is worn, it forces the ignition coil to work more to
make up the spark plug wear.

However, the ignition coil is not expensive and you should replace it as
soon as possible. You could also save labor costs by doing it
yourself(DIY).

Repairing Cost : The average cost of ignition coils is about $180-$259

and $120-$250 for labor.

DIY Level: Easy

Reading Also: BMW N54 Intake Valve Cleaning: Step By Step

Process

4. Water Pump Failure

The BMW is infamous for its water pump failures, and the N52 was not
an exception.

The N52 introduced an electric water pump instead of a traditional

mechanical unit, with many advantages itʼs ECU can change the flow
rate according to your driving, which was a very new technology for the
manufacturers.

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The water pump was made out of plastic, which was more prone to
damage, and cracking over time. So, there were many instances where
they were damaged in 40,000-45,000 miles, my one damaged at the
verge of 47,000 miles.

When the water pump fails you would notice your engine overheating
and sometimes smoke coming out of the radiator.

The water pump fails around 80,000-1,20,000 miles, however, itʼs better
to replace them between these marks.

When replacing, I would recommend replacing the plastic impeller with

a metal impeller, it would last longer.

Repairing Cost : $400 to $650 for the water pump, and $1,200 to $1,550
including labor cost

DIY Level: Intermediate to Di�icult

5. Valve Cover Gasket Leak

Valve cover gasket leaking oil is a very common issue among multiple
BMW engines.

The valve cover is made out of plastic, so over time from the engine
heat it wears down and starts to crack. And, this results in oil leaking
into the engine bay.

But the main issue is to identify a damaged valve cover gasket.

Because it doesnʼt give any warning signal for leakage in the gasket,

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you have to manually check that. BMW will only show a low oil sign, so
youʼve to manually diagnose any oil buildup, a�er removing the valve
cover. And, the spark plugs and ignition coil will be covered by oil.

Also, you will notice many symptoms such as the smell of burning oil,
smoke from the valve cover, low engine oil light, oil leakage, etc.

The best way to fix that is to replace the damaged valve cover gasket
with a new one or replace/fix the valve cover gasket.

Repairing Cost : About $486 and $592 for the labor and parts are about
$85-$110.

This cost could increase to $600-$1000 according to the labor cost in

your area. And if your valve cover needs replacement youʼre looking at
double the bill amount.

DIY Level: Intermediate to Di�icult (DIY could save you the labor cost)

6. Thermostat Failure

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This is another BMW N52 common problem where the thermostat fails.
Sometimes the water pump failure is mistaken as a thermostat failure
and vice-versa.

The thermostat starts in a “close” position, to let the car reach the
operating temperature faster. Then a�er a certain operating
temperature it “opens” up and forces the hot coolant into the front
radiator to cool down.

A�er the water pump pushes the cooled coolant from the radiator to
the engine.

The thermostat is like an on and o� switch which happens based on the

coolant temperature.

The thermostat can fail in two positions “open” or “closed”. If it fails in

the “closed” position, it will stop the flow of cold coolant which will
quickly cause the engine to overheat.

Because of engine overheating, the engine is prone to serious damage

due to extremely high temperatures.

And if you used the engine continuously youʼre looking at radiator

cracking, blown head gasket, various damaged/cracked cooling
components, and many other serious engine damage.

Basically, the N52 is designed to fail in an “open” position.

And if it fails in the “open” position the risk is lowered, and itʼs the more
desired option. But still, in both situations, itʼs not good for the engine,

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and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible, otherwise youʼre looking at

thousands of dollars to fix the engine.

The major symptoms will be extreme engine overheating(closed

position), coolant leaking near the thermostat, taking a longer time to
get operating temperature (open position), etc.

If the thermostat fails you should replace it as itʼs not that costly.

Repairing Cost : The part costs about $70-$165, and the labor costs
around $240 to $450

DIY Level: Intermediate

7. Oil Filter Housing Leak

Like the valve cover gasket, the oil filter housing gasket is also prone to
deteriorate over time.

The oil filter gasket seals the oil filter housing and if it is cracked/
damaged it will cause oil leakage. In the N52 and the whole N5x family,
the oil filter housing leak is the common component for oil leaking.

As normal oil leaks are very crucial, the leakage from the oil filter
housing is very dangerous because it can cause serious engine

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problems if ignored.

Because leaking oil is prone to leak into the serpentine belt, then the
belt gets covered with oil and slips o� towards the timing cover, which
chews it o� and causes bits of the belt to go into the front crank seal
and the engine.

Eventually, it will cause your engine to be completely destroyed, and in

the best-case scenario, youʼre looking at thousands of dollars of repair.

There will be similar signs of valve cover gasket leaks, burnt oil smell,
oil leakage below the car, oil around the intake manifold, etc.

Repairing Cost : About $35-$54 for the gasket, and about $400-$452 for
the Oil Filter Housing (if needed) plus $250-$420 for labor cost.

DIY Level: Intermediate

Reading Also: BMW N54 Tuning Guide & Tips for Beginners

8. Mis�res Or Rough Idling

Continued misfires or rough idling is a clear sign of the N52 engine

failure.

This issue can be caused by faulty ignition coils, spark plugs, and faulty
fuel injectors. This will eventually result in loss of engine performance/
power, poor fuel mileage, slow starts, and a damaged catalytic
converter.

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All the symptoms are the same as the VANOS solenoid failure, where
you wonʼt get an engine code as youʼll get with VANOS failure.

As mentioned earlier the major culprits in this case are the spark plugs
and ignition coils. So, you just need to replace these parts with a new
one.

By the way, you should replace these parts on your N52 engine every
35,000-60,000 miles.

Repairing Cost : Spark plug is about $70-$130, and $150-$255 for labor.
And, ignition coils are about $180-$259 and $120-$250 for labor.

Itʼs always better to DIY these replacements, theyʼre very easy to

perform.

DIY Level: Easy

Note: The labor costs mentioned above can vary depending on your
location, labor expertise, and the particular dealership/shop.

Symptoms Of Common BMW N52

Engine Failures
Here are some common symptoms youʼll face when youʼre N52 engine
is failing.

• Warning Engine Light on the Dashboard

• Rough Idling or Misfires
• Reduced Engine Performance

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• Poor Fuel Economy

• Burning Smells and Oil Leakage
• Unusual Noises

What BMW Models Has The N52

Engine?
The N52 engine is one of the most reliable and successful inline 6
engines of BMW. And, it has been used in various BMW models.

Starting from the multiple generations of the 3-Series, 5-Series, 6-

Series, 7-Series, Z4, and X series.

To know more about the models that use the N52 engine, read here:
What BMW Models Has the N52 Engine?

Conclusion
So, now you know about all the possible common problems the BMW
N52 engine faces.

As you know by now, these problems are the most common problems
associated with any mechanical unit. And thereʼs a reason why the N52
engine is one of the most reliable engines ever.

So, let me know if youʼve driven an N52 engine before, or if youʼre

thinking of getting one with an N52.

Image Credit: Facebook

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FAQ

I s T h e N 5 2 B M W E n g i n e Re l i a b l e?
Yes, the N52 is the most reliable inline 6 engine ever produced by BMW.
Apart from minor wear & tear, this engine is really good in terms of
longevity.

W h at I s T h e C o m m o n P ro b l e m W i t h t h e N 5 2 E n g i n e ?
The most common problem in the N52 engine is oil leakage through the
oil filter housing, oil pan gasket, and valve cover gasket.
Also, other common problems like ignition coil failure, water pump,
thermostat failure, VANOS failure & li�er ticking also happen.

I s N 5 2 B u l l et p ro o f ?
Yes, you could say that. The N52 is known for its lifelong reliability. If
you maintain the N52 well, it will probably last for your lifetime.

W h at I s T h e L i f e s pa n O f A N 5 2 ?
It can easily last anywhere between 200,000 and 300,000 miles.
However, Iʼve heard of instances where the N52 has lasted well over
300,000 miles and running without any issues.

W h y i s t h e N 5 2 s o go o d ?
Starting from the year 2011, the BMW N20 turbocharged four-cylinder
engine started to replace the N52 until the N52 engine production
stopped in 2015.

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