N52 has iron cylinder sleeves?

F32Fleet · 12-04-2007, 07:24 AM

I was having a discussion with another BMW fan who drives a Z3, and he asked me of the new engines had iron cylinder sleeves. His opinion was that aluminium block engines w/out iron cylinders sleeves do NOT do well after ~100k miles.

Thoughts?

AlB · 12-04-2007, 08:46 AM

I think BMW knows a thing or two about engines NTW

AlB · 12-04-2007, 08:51 AM

In the North American market, the inline-4 engine was complemented by a larger straight-6 engine in 1997: the 2.8 L M52B28. This engine, similar to the BMW M52 in the 328i except with an all aluminum block and head, was especially desirable with its 189 hp

epiphone3 · 12-04-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

I was having a discussion with another BMW fan who drives a Z3, and he asked me of the new engines had iron cylinder sleeves. His opinion was that aluminium block engines w/out iron cylinders sleeves do NOT do well after ~100k miles.

Thoughts?

The guy doesn't know shit!

The N52 doesn't have iron sleeves, but it does have a hard, low-friction ceramic coating over the alumium cylinder surface.

In case you aren't aware, modern sportbikes rev to 14,000 - 16,000 rpm (depending on engine size and model) and last easily over 100,000 km. They run cyliner coatings of a similar type to our BMWs.

Cylinder wear won't likely be a problem in these N52 and N54 engines.

F32Fleet · 12-04-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epiphone3

The N52 doesn't have iron sleeves, but it does have a hard, low-friction ceramic coating over the alumium cylinder surface.

In that case..he does know what he's talking about, because if the cylinder didn't have the ceramic coating then it probably WOULD have issues down the road.

Thanks!

epiphone3 · 12-04-2007, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

In that case..he does know what he's talking about, because if the cylinder didn't have the ceramic coating then it probably WOULD have issues down the road.

Thanks!

of course it would have issues without the coating! It is an iron ring rubbing an aluminum cylinder!

turbotko · 12-04-2007, 01:19 PM

We've had alusil lined cylinders in the V8's for over 10 years. The early V8's had issues with the nikasil coating and the fuel in the states, but most of those short blocks were replaced with alusil blocks and lasted as long or longer than a regular cast iron sleeve.

The guy is talking out his ass.............and he drives a Z3.

epiphone3 · 12-04-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbotko

We've had alusil lined cylinders in the V8's for over 10 years. The early V8's had issues with the nikasil coating and the fuel in the states, but most of those short blocks were replaced with alusil blocks and lasted as long or longer than a regular cast iron sleeve.

The guy is talking out his ass.............and he drives a Z3.

sorry to tell you bud, but those V8's you are talking about were running the iron sleeves in an Aluminum block with the alusil coating... alusil is a low-wear coating.

It is not the new hard-ceramic coating that I was discussing above.

F32Fleet · 12-04-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epiphone3

of course it would have issues without the coating! It is an iron ring rubbing an aluminum cylinder!

Yeah..there was a time, well my guess is that before you were born, when AL blocks were built w/out an iron cylinder sleeve, and these engines would develop all sort of compression issues.

I didn't think the N52 had iron, so I was concerned with what they would have used as a substitue if any (couldn't imagine they didn't). Remember, BMW considers 100k as lifetime of the car.

epiphone3 · 12-04-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

Yeah..there was a time, well my guess is that before you were born, when AL blocks were built w/out an iron cylinder sleeve, and these engines would develop all sort of compression issues.

I didn't think the N52 had iron, so I was concerned with what they would have used as a substitue if any (couldn't imagine they didn't). Remember, BMW considers 100k as lifetime of the car.

I'd be careful what you assume about my age... when I was born, there definately wasn't aluminum engine blocks yet and I don't even know if aluminum heads existed outside of F1 racing at that time! hahaha!

O-cha · 12-04-2007, 05:01 PM

N52 does not have iron sleaves. They have an aluminum silicon composite material. N54 does however have iron sleeves.

smellthebeans · 12-10-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-cha

N52 does not have iron sleaves. They have an aluminum silicon composite material. N54 does however have iron sleeves.

Correct

12-04-2007, 07:24 AM	#1
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3572 Rep 10,352 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	N52 has iron cylinder sleeves? I was having a discussion with another BMW fan who drives a Z3, and he asked me of the new engines had iron cylinder sleeves. His opinion was that aluminium block engines w/out iron cylinders sleeves do NOT do well after ~100k miles. Thoughts?
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12-04-2007, 08:46 AM	#2
AlB Private First Class 11 Rep 194 Posts Drives: 2006 330i MT gry/blk Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SF iTrader: (1)	I think BMW knows a thing or two about engines NTW __________________ 06 330i gry/blk everything but iWreck, nav & pdc carbon splitters, door trim, grill, roof spoiler CDV delete, B&M Short shifter, cyba scoops
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12-04-2007, 08:51 AM	#3
AlB Private First Class 11 Rep 194 Posts Drives: 2006 330i MT gry/blk Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SF iTrader: (1)	In the North American market, the inline-4 engine was complemented by a larger straight-6 engine in 1997: the 2.8 L M52B28. This engine, similar to the BMW M52 in the 328i except with an all aluminum block and head, was especially desirable with its 189 hp __________________ 06 330i gry/blk everything but iWreck, nav & pdc carbon splitters, door trim, grill, roof spoiler CDV delete, B&M Short shifter, cyba scoops
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12-04-2007, 01:19 PM	#7
turbotko Lieutenant 67 Rep 527 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2007 Location: georgia iTrader: (3)	We've had alusil lined cylinders in the V8's for over 10 years. The early V8's had issues with the nikasil coating and the fuel in the states, but most of those short blocks were replaced with alusil blocks and lasted as long or longer than a regular cast iron sleeve. The guy is talking out his ass.............and he drives a Z3. __________________ 10 AW on fox E90 M3 with 2 pedals, gentleman’s ride 08 AW on fox E92 M3 also 2 pedals, a bit more rowdy
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12-04-2007, 05:01 PM	#11
O-cha Brigadier General 218 Rep 4,726 Posts Drives: Mcoupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In front of you iTrader: (2)	N52 does not have iron sleaves. They have an aluminum silicon composite material. N54 does however have iron sleeves. __________________
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