torque. Applications: 1998-2000 E46 323i, 323Ci 1998-2000 E39 523i 1998-2000 E36/7 Z3 2.3i M52B28 The version of the M52 debuted in 1995. It has a bore of , a stroke of and produces . The compression ratio is 10.2:1. Applications: 1995-1999 E36 328i, 328is 1995-1998 E39 528i 1995-1998 E38 728i, 728iL 1997-1998 E36/7 Z3 2.8 1997-2000 Land Rover Defender (South Africa only) M52TUB28 The "technical update" in 1998 included double VANOS, which improved low rpm torque. Applications: 1998-2000 E46 328i, 328Ci 1998-2000 E36/7/8 Z3 2.8 1998-2000 E39 528i 1998-2000 E38 728i Nikasil problems with high sulfur fuels The aluminum M52 engine received criticism in some markets with high levels of sulfur in the petrol during the late 1990s. Sulfur has a corrosive effect on Nikasil and led to many early M52 and M60 engines having premature bore-liner wear. Countries with high sulfur fuel (such as the United States) received an iron block version of the M52 (except for the M52B28 in the Z3 which was an aluminium block), so the Nikasil problem does not apply to most M52 engines in these countries. Once the Nikasil coating was determined to be the cause of the problem, steel cylinder liners were used instead of the Nikasil coating. Therefore, the M52TU engine was not affected by the Nikasil problem. S52 The S52 is a higher performance version of the M52, which replaced the S50B30US in the post-facelift (1996-1999) North American E36 M3. Compared to the European-spec S50, the S52 is less powerful. The S52 also shares more in common with the regular M52 engine than the S50 did with the M50, for example sharing the engine block (cast iron, as per North American M52 engines) and cylinder head. Unique to the S52 is a bore of and stroke of for a total displacement of 3,152 cc. Compression ratio is 10.5:1. Other upgrades over the M52 include lighter camshafts (with increased lift and duration), valve springs and the exhaust system. The S52 produces at 6,000 rpm and of torque at 3,800 rpm. The S52 has a redline of 7,000 rpm while the M52 has a 6,500 rpm redline. Applications: 1996-1999 E36 M3 (Canada and United States only) 1998-2000 E36/7/8 Z3M (Canada and United States only) See also BMW engines BMW M50 BMW M54 References M52 Straight-six engines Gasoline engines by model