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Message: <blockquote data-quote="E46Fanatic" data-source="post: 295485" data-attributes="member: 81">Actually, the N52KP while is a newer generation engine with some technical advancement from the original N52, its also a manufacturing cost cutting engine. Example the original N52 has a magnesium valve cover while the newer N52KP's black top is a plastic valve cover. However, it has a lighter hydroformed camshaft compared to the N52 which should compensate for the lighter magnesium valve cover (also likely cheaper to manufacture)  N52 (<a href="http://www.mwerks.com/artman/publish/features/printer_960.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.mwerks.com/artman/publish/features/printer_960.shtml</a>)"Magnesium finds its way into other engine components as well, including the valve cover, but more important is its use in the bedplate. Derived from BMW’s motorsports efforts, the bedplate does away with the individual bearing caps used in conventional construction in favor of one solid piece that houses the sintered steel bearing surfaces. No conventional gasket is used; instead, a liquid sealant is injected under high pressure into a groove on the contact surface between the bedplate and the crankcase. " N52KP (<a href="http://www.1addicts.com/goodiesforyou/n54-1.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.1addicts.com/goodiesforyou/n54-1.pdf</a>) The enhanced and improved version of the original N52 is referred to as the N52KP ormore accurately the N52B30O1. This engine includes cost saving measures as well asvarious technical improvements. The N52KP will eventually replace the N52 in all vehicleapplications. One of the first vehicles to use the N52KP will be the 328i coupe (E92) inSeptember.The technical highlights of the N52KP include:• New engine management (MSV80)• New HFM (digital)• New throttle - EGAS8 with magnetoresistive position feedback• Plastic valve cover with integrated crankcase vent valve and oil separation• Stronger connecting rods• Exhaust valve stem increased to 6mm• New electric water pump (2nd generation)• Lightweight camshafts (hydroformed) For the 2.5 ltr N52 (valvetronic) there is little information on the KP variant in terms of difference in power output. However for N53 2.5 ltr (HPI), while the power is maintained 218hp there is a nice jump in torque figures. Also a downside (for now) for the N52KP variant, is that the ECU is locked by BMW (MSV80), i.e. can't be flashed for tuning purposes. BMW has a long term plan to lock all their ECUs to prevent tuning and on top of that provide ECU/engine diagnostics through sophisticated equipment which constantly gets revised in firmware to support newer variants, and updates BMW directly on the history of the car, issues, errors etc which should see less and less 3rd party mechanics being able to maintain and service their cars. Good for authorized BMW dealers and service centers but bleak future for 3rd party mechanics. Also based on tech info, magnesium and aluminium actually contract and expand at similar rates "As magnesium and aluminum expand and contract at similar rates to each other, but significantly different than that of steel, special bolts were also required. The bolts used to attach parts to the magnesium components are made of aluminum, further reducing the total weight of the engine" and the pistons are not magnesium and instead aluminium (similar to the aluminium sleeve) which shouldn't see tolerances increases due to heat expansion and retraction. Meaning the theory of blowby caused by different metal rate expansion of piston vs. sleeve (same materials) is probably unlikely. What is known however, is that BMW Malaysia uses a scope machine to peer inside the engine to confirm the oil burn issue. I believe its oil sludge related perhaps due to the N52 water and oil pump design which has since been revised in the N52KP. Just my theory tho hehe. The missing "oil" becomes sludge forming in the engine causing power loss and in more extreme conditions, oil leaks as well. "The N52’s capacity-controlled oil pump works in a similar manner. By determining the engine’s actual lubrication needs based on current temperature and pressure, the pump provides only as much oil as is required by conditions. In contrast, a typical oil pump delivers a high quantity of oil and bypasses the unneeded oil back to the sump. This unneeded amount can be as much as 80% of what is pumped. The N52’s oil pump thereby consumes nearly 3 horsepower less than a conventional oil pump."Innovative, but could be the cause of these side effects.</blockquote>

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