magnesium engine block - when was it introduced?

[c-square]

Dear all, When was the magnesium engine introduced into the 525 on both the local and Japan specs? Is it worth paying the extra money to ensure that the 525i one buys has the magnesium engine block?

 

[t2ribena]

Sept 2005 onwards e60/61...

depends on you if worth it or not...

 

[astroboy]

Cast iron block good, cukup timbang..

 

[bc23]

Sifus, wat is the different huh?

 

[astroboy]

Weight! to further improve the chassis weight distribution, same goes with the E60 aluminum front.. to achieve ultimate driving/handling pleasure..

 

[thule]

difference is it's horsepower...
M54 engine - 192bhp
N52 (Magnesium) - 218hp!!! :top:

 

[fabianyee]

Not sure about long term maintenance on this new technology.. especially when auto parts prices in Malaysia is subjected to high import taxes.

 

[fabianyee]

Cast iron block good, cukup timbang..

I think all of the current engine line up from BMW are alloy blocks either Alu or Mg...

M50 - cast iron
M52 and later - Aluminum alloy

 

[c-square]

Not sure about long term maintenance on this new technology.. especially when auto parts prices in Malaysia is subjected to high import taxes.

Fabs.... not sure what you mean. Care to elaborate?

 

[thule]

I think that fabianyee is trying to say not sure about long term maintenance of this new N52 Magnesium block engine??
My opinion is that since you have already splashed so much $$$ for this UDM, I'm sure that you are prepared for the parts that are on the high side compared to Japanese counterpart???
But then, if you take good care of your car... it will last longer. No machine or part is 100% efficient!

 

[astroboy]

difference is it's horsepower...
M54 engine - 192bhp
N52 (Magnesium) - 218hp!!! :top:

The construction material for the engine block has nothing to do with power la. If power-to-weight ratio, then yes.

Power is determined by the compression ratio, displacement, ignition timing etc but not the engine block material. The use of magnesium alloy is purely for cutting down weight and upset the manufacturing cost because magnesium more expensive la..

Maintenance cost for the engine block? I can only think of crack welding or block replacement. What other thing to maintain for the block?

 

[c-square]

I think that fabianyee is trying to say not sure about long term maintenance of this new N52 Magnesium block engine??
My opinion is that since you have already splashed so much $$$ for this UDM, I'm sure that you are prepared for the parts that are on the high side compared to Japanese counterpart???
But then, if you take good care of your car... it will last longer. No machine or part is 100% efficient!

It appears to suggest that there could be some (suspect?) issue in terms of strudiness and long-term durability of the magnesium block compared with the aluminium and cast iron blocks. Is it the problem with our fuel grade, the additives added to the fuel, engine oil compound or the general Malaysian weather that caused the magnesium block to degenerate at a relatively quicker pace, as with the Nikasil engine block? Care to share your thoughts and what you have heard?

 

[fabianyee]

It appears to suggest that there could be some (suspect?) issue in terms of strudiness and long-term durability of the magnesium block compared with the aluminium and cast iron blocks. Is it the problem with our fuel grade, the additives added to the fuel, engine oil compound or the general Malaysian weather that caused the magnesium block to degenerate at a relatively quicker pace, as with the Nikasil engine block? Care to share your thoughts and what you have heard?

hahaha.. u worry too much.. end up not buying anything.
This magnesium engine has new technologies in it, which is good.. the extra hp is not from the change of block, it has more to do with the valvetronic throttlebody-less intake design
As for durability for the engine as a whole, it's still an unknown since it's a relatively new engine.

Buy a new one, no need to worry for few years..

 

[c-square]

Thanks, Fabs... for the explanation. Before shelling out a fortune, one need to convince oneself that all angles have been considered. Hahahaha

 

[rohitz]

don't know which one is better

I am attracted to BMW 5 Series models just because of its muscle shape body. Last week, I booked a 2005's BMW 525i with an highline engine. Then few days later, a good friend of mine told me not to take any models with highline engine because of its weight which can increase fuel consumption. Instead, he asked me to consider models with magnesium engine.

So, I am in a big dilemma now. Can anybody here advice me the pros and cons of the two? :love:

 

[dzuljazz2001]

so true .....but there are weaknesses that needs to be explore further ....look up more threads and you will see what I mean.