Common problems with the E46 are very similar to those with the E36. However, the E46 has a few unique issues of its own. One of the most well-known issues with the E46 is subframe cracking. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the E46 subframe design, repeated stress can cause a fatigue failure which eventually leads to fractures.
1) BMW M60 Nikasil Damage. This issue is mostly a thing of the past. However, there could be a few M60 engines still out there that went under the radar and weren’t fixed. Early M60 cylinder liners are made from Nikasil, which is a combination of aluminum, nickel, and silicone.
The S52 is the straight-6 DOHC M-variant engine found in US and Canadian-spec E36 M3s and Z3Ms. While the S52 lacks some of the tech found on the Euro-spec S50 engine, the S52 is a fantastic engine in its own right. The S52 is, in most basic terms, a bored and stroked M52 engine. The M52 was BMW’s replacement for the widely loved M50 engine