Based on experience the only time they do move off the centre is on an overheat. An extreme overheat registers in the ECU and is readable with diagnostic software. M52s will take an ECU registered overheat and be ok. The first thing to pop, unless it's a head gasket, is the header tank. Those can do collateral damage due the violent nature of the boom.
We had a fault alarm with remote start coupled with a fan switch failure on the E36 compact we dropped the M52B28 into. Engine is fine, new radiator (and headlights damaged by the explosion) and it has been fine for many years.
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