[Gamb1t]

Hi can anyone tell me what's the Color of the original OEM vcg? I bought a used E90 and noticed mine is red?! From the searched there seems to be black?

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Hi can anyone tell me what's the Color of the original OEM vcg? I bought a used E90 and noticed mine is red?! From the searched there seems to be black?

Hahaha, well its definitely not red. But IIRC from 2007 its a black plastic. 2006 and earlier its a magnesium cover.

[fravel]

Originally Posted by bluewater328

Hahaha, well its definitely not red. But IIRC from 2007 its a black plastic. 2006 and earlier its a magnesium cover.

He's asking about the gasket, not the valve cover itself.

OP, what car? '06 cars powered by N52 (325/330) will have an orangish-red gasket (I'm guessing that's what yours is. I believe the '07 and newer N52s (328) have a black rubber gasket, this is due to the difference in valve cover materials that bluewater pointed out. Not sure about '07+ N54 and N55 cars (335).

[Efthreeoh]

fravel is correct. OE VCG is orangeish/redish.

[Gamb1t]

It's an 06 330i.
Until I learn up the n52 lore....is there a fundamental difference in the pre/post LCI n52?

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by fravel

He's asking about the gasket, not the valve cover itself.

OP, what car? '06 cars powered by N52 (325/330) will have an orangish-red gasket (I'm guessing that's what yours is. I believe the '07 and newer N52s (328) have a black rubber gasket, this is due to the difference in valve cover materials that bluewater pointed out. Not sure about '07+ N54 and N55 cars (335).

and that's a "doh" for the reading fairy....should have put 2+2 together...

[BimmerNugget]

I can confirm my friend's 2010 E92 328i has a orange/red gasket and so does my 2011 E90 328i.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

It's an 06 330i.
Until I learn up the n52 lore....is there a fundamental difference in the pre/post LCI n52?

The only large difference in the motors is the changes to the head design that helps with the hydraulic lifter tick that occurred in 02/2009 (ish) - don't quote me on that. it's near that though.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

It's an 06 330i.
Until I learn up the n52 lore....is there a fundamental difference in the pre/post LCI n52?

Outside of the USA, the N52 came in both 2.5L and 3.0L versions.

For the USA, there was no change between pre and post LCI N52s (LCI refers to slight changes in the body style only starting in 2009). In the US in 2007, BMW dropped the two versions of the N52 (non-DISA for the 325i and the DISA version for 330i) and came out with the 328i which did not have DISA but in a slightly higher tuned state vs. the 325i. The main difference after '06 was change in design of the crankcase ventilation system where the oil separation happens in the valve cover rather than a catch-can style system that the magnesium valve cover version ('06 N52) has. The PCV change is denoted by the use of the plastic valve cover used starting 2007 and forward. As tlow98 stated, the head was slightly redesigned and was in production starting December 2008 (per Wikipedia) to address the valve tick that some engines had. The valve noise in the old head design does not damage the engine in anyway.

I have a '06 N52 and a '08 N52 (Nov. 2017) and neither have the valve tick; or it if they do I really don't hear it, or don't know what it sounds like

[Gamb1t]

I too have no idea whether my 330i has the valve tick. Can't telll the noise. But I tell ya, it's nothing compared to the lifter noise from my wife's n20 X1! OMG, does it ever sound like a tractor in the morning. I miss the inline-6 harmonics.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Hi can anyone tell me what's the Color of the original OEM vcg? I bought a used E90 and noticed mine is red?! From the searched there seems to be black?

Black