The Last Inline 6 Engine: BMW N52

Here’s an in-depth teardown inside of the BMW N52 Engine! In this video take a close look inside the last of BMW’s naturally aspirated inline 6 engine, the N52 model. This engine was found in the 1-series, 3-series and 5-series from the mid 2000’s until the mid-2010’s, until it was completely replaced by forced induction inline 4 engines. We also take a look at where some of the problem spots are in this engine, despite it being one of BMW’s more mechanically reliable motors. Problem spots include oil leaks, such as the valve covers, valvetronic motor, VANOS solenoids, hydraulic lifters, oil filter housings as well as the electric water pump and thermostat. Some of these jobs, while not major, are labor intensive to replace due to them being nested in a tight engine bay. Some unique features include BMW’s valvetronic technology, which uses a series of eccentric cams and an electric motor to control valve lift. The system replaces the duties of a typical throttle body by controlling the amo