Is the S52 reliable?
We rate the S52 80 of 100 for reliability: strong. The rating is one of the inputs to every Guide Score below, and it is argued for on the method page with the others.
Why that rating
The lit mark is the S52; each grey mark is another engine on the engines page.
The 1996 to 1999 E36 M3's 3.2 six, also in the 1998 to 2000 Z3 M Roadster and M Coupe, is a US-only engine built from BMW's regular iron-block six.
Durable at its core; the bills are age items: the plastic-heavy cooling system, the single VANOS unit, and oil leaks from the valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets.
Cars in this guide with the S52
| Car | Years with this engine | Reliability | Guide Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| M Roadster and M Coupe E36/7 | 1998 to 2000 | 73 | 80 (2000) |
| M3 E36 | 1996 to 1999 | 73 | 79 (1999) |
Reliability is each car's score out of 100 for the years it had this engine: the engine rating plus that car's own known problems, service costs and age. The Guide Score is for the car's best year to buy.
Other engines
Every engine we rate, from the most reliable down, is on the engines page.