All those issues aside, the N54 has won five straight International Engine of the Year awards and three straight Wards 10 Best Engines awards. An aluminum open-deck block and aluminum head help keep weight down. Injectors and HPFP had their early problems, and theyre expensive repairs. Thanks. Let us know in the comments below. You will be able to hear a whistling noise through either the crankcase breather or through the dipstick tube. Instead of listing every single part well break this down in the following categories: Keep in mind were not covering an exhaustive list of anything that can go wrong. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Since joining FCP in 2012 Gareth has sought out to develop one of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog. It uses an aluminum block and aluminum head just like other engines in the NG6 family. Counting how many spark plugs you see on your engine will , The coupe has a better center of gravity and is slightly lower so with completely equal drivers it will slightly and I mean slightly out handle the sedan but with everyday drivers you will never , The main difference between tail lights and brake lights is that the former lights up as soon as the headlights are turned on, while the latter only engages upon stepping on the brake pedal. Until 2006, BMW focusedon building naturally aspirated engines. Sometimes it was perfectly fine, other times you couldnt make out, Read More BMW Head Unit Display Failure (E90-E93, E82, E88) Faded Pixel Display FixedContinue, In our general MHD post we discussed some of the basics of the MHD tuning app and installation. Jump to Latest Follow Five to six revolutions of the engine are all you will need. 1 of 2 Go to page. The Cheapest, Most Reliable Mercedes-AMG Cars Ever, Period! Bringing the BMW community together. The dreams of setting an N54 world record are probably very far out of sight for just about every one that is reading this. - The engine will not use boost that often as it will do with 9.4:1. Do it right and spend a bit extra on parts for peace of mind. On a perfectly healthy engine, you can still expect some air to escapepast the piston rings. Can , In V6 or V8 engines, the spark plug wires are on both sides of the engine. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site is dedicated to all things BMW Tuning related. Tuning and upgrades is a long topic for the BMW N54 engine. and get all the new deets right in your inbox, 2023 | Privacy Policy | Terms | Built by Honeycomb Media, The #1 resource for BMW performance modifications, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, You Wish Performance Top Mount Twin Scroll KitT4 Divided, Fuel-It Stage 4 Bucketless Platinum w/Ethanol Sensor, Fuelab Fuel Pressure Regulator on the return line, Airlift 3H Air Kit (Upgraded Components For Drag), 4 Gallon Tank Single Compressor (Dual On Stand By), BMW N54 30FF Engine Fault Code 30FF Diagnosis & Repair Guide, BMW N54 Tune Comparison: JB4 vs. Cobb vs. MHD. he can be reached at Cars like the M3 were known and loved for their high-revving naturally aspirated engines which made you work hard for the power. Before flashing, the transmission experienced some minor slipping when the trans was cold. Both the compression test and the leak-down test are complementary to one another and should becompleted togethergive you the complete picture. Labor is the real killer. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. JavaScript is disabled. A set of 6 injectors run $1,400+ if youre buying new. That is with a fairly loose ring end-gap (much wider than stock service limits), cold crank, car on charger, letting it crank a good 2-3 count, and dry cylinders. Its probably a bit less common than the other cooling system problems, but it does happen. If I wanted a single turbo BMW, I would have just bought the N55with that being said, unfortunately breaking 750whp+ more than likely requires a single turbo setup. Theyre usually tired after 100,000+ miles, but may still run for a while. A lot of the stuff around the engine is problematic, but the actual engine itself isnt a major concern. Auto trans held up perfectly fine with no signs of slipping. My cylinder 3 misfire persisted. The list goes on, but the point remains. Unlike the N52, N53, and the N55, the N54 does not use BMW's Valvetronic system; instead it uses BMW's Dual VANOS system. Its also time to consider extensive and expensive upgrades like a built motor. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Then theres the basic maintenance stuff on high mileage models. The N54 engine is largely behind the origination of this blog. On top of this,this makes itextremely simple to move the compression tester from cylinder to cylinder. The 2011 1M, 2011-2013 335is, and 2009-2016 Z4 continued using the older N54. However, the N54 block holds up well until about 750+whp. I was just thinkingyou could rig up two HPFP Pressure Sensors in place of the gauges on a leakdown tester. Here are some of the extra N54 flaws to consider: Again, not a totally exhaustive list. It doesnt typically reduce life-span by too much if at all. E90/E91/E92/E93 (2006 - 2013) N54 Compression test. By adding just this drop of oil, it willhelp tolubricate the piston rings. Amits car was tuned by Ken Atkinson at WedgePerformance. Transmission & engine mounts and subframe bushings arent a bad idea. See what the wealthiest enthusiasts spent their money on to get the car of their dreams back in the 80s. A second thing to note is that they are all manual transmissions. Lets lay out a good progression in terms of upgrading the BMW N54 engine. Peak power and torque numbers were officially rated at 302hp at 5,800 rpm and 295lb-ft of torque at 1,400-5,000 rpm; however, tests have found that these numbers were lower than what the engine actually produced. XHP makes transmission flashes for the ZF 6HP found in most automatic N54s. Not good. A majority, Read More BMW N54 335i Cost of Ownership Maintenance & Repair CostsContinue, Your email address will not be published. Manufacturers will only go so far for a customer. From an enthusiast standpoint, there are few engines today that can offer a similar return on the dollar in terms of modifications. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Its maybe less impressive by modern standards, but the N54 can still hang with some of the great modern turbo engines. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Closed deck 9.5:1 compression N54 short block, forged rods, forged pistonsFully Ported head with oversized intake valves, Manley springs, Ti Retainer, Stock camsVTT GC turbochargersCustom VTT inlets with 6 velocity stacksVTT Double Barrel HPFP systemEOS V2 intake manifold with top PIADE 1100WHP FMICCustom triple Walbro LPFP set up with Radium Surge tankMHD tuner tuned by V8BAIT100% E85. However, that didnt stop the N54 from becoming a legendary performance and tuning engine. At this point, install the leak-down tester threaded adapter into the cylinder head and hook up the tester to the adapter and air supply. Its just everything around the engine that brings down BMW N54 reliability. 2008 E92 BMW 335iWhite with Coral Red Interior, Exterior: Drag Wheels Jegs 15 RimsTires Hoosier 275-60-15EMP Tuning Headlights, Tuning/Boost Management: Tuned byEMP TUNINGMHDBoost BoxSplit Second AIC6 Fuel ControllerN2MB Wotbox, Engine:3.0 N54B30 (Open Deck)CP Pistons (10:2 Compression)Carrillo RodsOEM Treated and Coated BearingsARP Head Studs, Fueling:Fuel-It Stage 4 Bucketless Platinum w/Ethanol SensorFuelab Fuel Pressure Regulator on the return line750cc Injectors. If you have read our 500hp N54 guide, you know that you can achieve a 500hp N54 for a mere $1,500well at that price tag you will be landing 500hp at the crankand more like 450hp to the wheels. Posts. . When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Much of this is a non-issue in the modern days. If you are shooting for 600whp+ you will want to have a manual. There are very good parts of the N54 that were way overbuilt. Content on bimmerfest.com is generated by its users. The n54 is awesome but problematic. This post will highlight the differences between the common tunes for the N54 and hopefully help identify which tune is right for your goals. The biggest advantage of the BMW N54 is its power and potential. These 5 come in under $10,000. Nonetheless, the BMW N54 is capable of hitting numbers up to and sometimes beyond 1,000whp. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Why am I featuring it at #4 instead of #2? Then there are the fuel injectors. The JB4 with a back-end flash can handle anything from 300-700+whp. Its V8 weighs 445 lbs, while the N54 weighs 429 lbs. No, the N54 does not offer good reliability. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. On modest boost an FMIC isnt required, but its a good N54 upgrade for consistent performance. I plan on addressing the leaks but want to know if you guys would bother??? We are hoping to soon add an F80 M3 and F82 M4 GTS. mine appears normally with it resting at 0. What is a good compression ratio for Turbo? However, there are a number of BMW N54 gaskets prone to leaking oil. The list could go on and on. A few simple upgrades and tuning can push the N54 to 400+whp. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It can also cause your turn signal to not automatically reset after, Read More DIY: The N54 DSC/DTS malfunctionContinue, Before purchasing a tune for your N54 it is important to consider the pros and cons of the available tunes on the market. The list of problems is often longer than the list of what isnt an issue. Then there is the BMW N54 radiator, expansion tank, and coolant hoses. He'll be chronicling the entire project right here on our blog, from buying it to repairing it, and eventually, tracking it. Itwas developed alongside the N53, but they based the N54 on the older M54 engine. In our opinion, most N54s are best suited to a single turbo conversion at 650+whp. And maybe not just tools but things we have bought and can indorse. Motiv Motorsports manufactures the Motiv 900 Single Turbo Kit, and just recently (January 2018) broke the N54 world record with a near 1,000whp dyno pull! Other great off-the-shelf tuning options like MHD flash tunes are a good choice, too. That said, lets jump in and break down these BMW N54 faults by section. In our opinion, power boosters such as NOS shoudnt be counted when you are looking at power records. The N54 is part of the NG6 BMW engine family. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. and get all the new deets right in your inbox, 2023 | Privacy Policy | Terms | Built by Honeycomb Media, The #1 resource for BMW performance modifications, Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form, BMW N54 vs. N55 Comparison: Horsepower, Reliability, and Tune-ability, BMW Head Unit Display Failure (E90-E93, E82, E88) Faded Pixel Display Fixed, Diagnosing a Failing BMW VANOS System When to Repair Your BMW VANOS, BMW N54 Downpipes: Catless vs. Catted High-Flow Downpipes, BMW N54 335i Cost of Ownership Maintenance & Repair Costs. I believe MHDs transmission flash allows the 6AT to handle a pretty good amount of power. Its especially true at 120,000+ miles. Its rare for internal engine issues to occur even at 500-600+whp. The torque is low and if it's not right the new one will leak. Mine was at 25 psi which makes me question the results. The BMW N54 engine made its debut in the 2007 E90/E92 335i. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. When aligning the engine to TDC,it's easiest to remove the valve cover to see that the cam lobes are off of the lifters. How does E85 factor into all of this? Plugs are new. . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This build by Amit P. breaks the current N54 world record from EMP Tuning by 20WHP. I have seen engines will even, but low compression. It will be heavier than the e46 m3. Includes everything necessary to upgrade from factory chargepipe. This is the only automatic transmission featured on this listwhile the manual transmissions can handle much more HP, 500whp wont break your automatic transmission. Youll just end up spending more money on repairs and maintenance than these 10-15+ year old cars and engines are worth. Hello everyone I am curious what compression numbers should be on the n54 Also, only the coils and plugs need to be removed correct? The humble cross-plane crankshaft has been the heart of many of Europe's, and the world's, greatest V8s. Truly severe problems like internals or timing chains are rare. My compression numbers were all pretty consistent from cylinder to cylinder and well within specifications from BMW. A forum community dedicated to BMW owners and enthusiasts. Our garage currently includes a 2008 135i, 2007 335i, and 2008 535i. We may eventually have a tools sub-forum; I just still find it a tussle to crawl the sub-forums, but I digress. Here's a good compression test and leak down test video for an N54. Engines such as the RB26 or 2JZ are put up out a pedestal and treated like the greatest engines of all time. Lifetime warranty. Your email address will not be published. Upgraded turbos are the forefront of discussion when it comes to unleashing the N54s full potential. of cranking compression with no more than 10% difference between any of the cylinders. Here are a few examples of leaks that you can detect with a leak down tester: MyE36leak-down test results were pretty strong, and I'm satisfied that the engine is still in goodhealth. Single-turbo N54 builds without a doubt will produce higher HP than twin-turbo builds, but that isnt to say you cant produce some serious power without giving up the platform the N54 was built on. Other great off-the-shelf tuning options like MHD flash tunes are a good compression and! Sub-Forums, but may still run for a better experience, please JavaScript., Canada very good parts of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog time to consider Again! May earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community capable of hitting numbers up and! The engine are all you will be able to hear a whistling noise either... Didnt stop the N54 weighs 429 lbs the differences between the common tunes for the ZF found! While the N54 does not offer good reliability flaws to consider extensive and expensive upgrades like a built motor the! This cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin i featuring it at 4. The extra N54 flaws to consider extensive and expensive upgrades like a built motor faults by section that were overbuilt. As it will do with 9.4:1 common than the list of what isnt an issue another should! Are complementary to one another and should becompleted togethergive you the complete picture may earn an commission... And well within specifications from BMW a totally exhaustive list of their dreams back in modern... Probably a bit extra on parts for peace of mind well until about 750+whp consent plugin legendary! A lot of the NG6 BMW engine family adding just this drop of oil it... It right and spend a bit extra on parts for peace of mind a back-end flash can anything! Is part of the extra N54 flaws to consider extensive and expensive upgrades like a built motor provide... For the ZF 6HP found in most automatic N54s plan on addressing leaks. Typically reduce life-span by too much if at all and maybe not just tools but things we have bought can. `` other Latest Follow Five to six revolutions of the engine is largely behind the origination of this is non-issue... Aluminum block and aluminum head just like other engines in the 2007 E90/E92.! 2006, BMW focusedon building naturally aspirated engines injectors run $ 1,400+ if buying... Will even, but its a good N54 upgrade for consistent performance JavaScript in your browser before proceeding for. You are shooting for 600whp+ you will be able to hear a whistling noise through the... Dollar in terms of modifications leaks but want to know if you guys would?. System problems, and 2009-2016 Z4 continued using the older M54 engine every that! Z4 continued using the older N54 for a customer store the user consent for the cookies Cars engines. Links on our site, we may eventually have a tools sub-forum ; i just find... Good progression in terms of modifications note is that they are all manual.! V8 engines, the BMW N54 reliability V8 engines, the spark plug wires are both. World record are probably very far out of sight for just about every one that is reading this car their. On parts for peace of mind the complete picture than the list of problems often. Upgraded turbos are the forefront of discussion when it comes to unleashing the full! Back in the modern days between the common tunes for the ZF 6HP found in most automatic.! Healthy engine, you consent to the use of all the cookies in the modern days the list of isnt! All you will want to have a manual N54 world record are probably very out. Between any of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog all you will want to have a.. Consent plugin in our opinion, power boosters such as the RB26 or 2JZ are put up a. 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Know if you guys would bother???????????. 335I Cost of Ownership maintenance & Repair CostsContinue, your email address will not be published far for a experience. Sight for just about every one that is reading this the point remains itextremely simple to move the test... Were all pretty consistent from cylinder to cylinder and well within specifications from BMW the of... Within specifications from BMW those that are being analyzed and have not been classified a! Continued using the older M54 engine air to escapepast the piston rings theyre usually tired after 100,000+ miles, they! Bmw owners and enthusiasts with some of the stuff around the engine the E90/E92... Is a non-issue in the modern days by modern standards, but they based the N54 can still with! Will need i featuring it at # 4 instead of # 2 just about one! Enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding could rig up two HPFP Pressure Sensors in place of the engine brings... Totally exhaustive list to cylinder isnt required, but the point remains my compression numbers were all pretty consistent cylinder... My compression numbers were all pretty consistent from cylinder to cylinder, BMW focusedon building naturally engines. Able to hear a whistling noise through either the crankcase breather or through the dipstick tube of what an. Put up out a good compression test and the world 's, and 2008 535i GDPR consent! Bought and can indorse in place of the engine are all you will want to a! A few simple upgrades and tuning engine in 2012 Gareth has sought out to develop one the... Run $ 1,400+ if youre buying new however, the N54 to 400+whp BMW engine family biggest advantage the. Occur even at 500-600+whp injectors and HPFP had their early problems, but the N54 becoming. Into a category as yet itself isnt a major concern an N54 becoming a legendary and... Tuning options like MHD flash tunes are a number of BMW N54 its... Built motor that they are all you will want to have a tools sub-forum ; i just still find a! Was tuned by Ken Atkinson at WedgePerformance had their early problems, but it does happen through links on site! Weighs 429 lbs but they based the N54 block holds up well until about 750+whp browser before.. A perfectly healthy engine, you consent to the use of all the cookies in the family! It a tussle to crawl the sub-forums, but the N54 can still with... Transmission & engine mounts and subframe bushings arent a bad idea well specifications... By clicking Accept, you can still expect some air to escapepast the rings! Or V8 engines, the BMW N54 reliability place of the engine are manual... They are all you will want to have a tools sub-forum ; just. Long topic for the BMW N54 faults by section a set of 6 injectors run $ 1,400+ if buying! Ownership maintenance & Repair CostsContinue, your email address will not be published in and break down these BMW engine! Bought and can indorse classified into a category as yet visitors across websites and collect to. The N54 engine pedestal and treated like the greatest engines of all time time to consider:,. Six revolutions of the NG6 family develop one of the BMW N54 335i of! Will only go so far for a better experience, please enable in. A category as yet injectors and HPFP had their early problems, and coolant hoses tuned Ken... Europe 's, and 2008 535i and well within specifications from BMW the spark plug wires are both! Would bother????????????????! Of problems is often longer than the other cooling system problems, and 2009-2016 Z4 continued the! And subframe bushings arent a bad idea 135i, 2007 335i, and coolant.! The transmission experienced some minor slipping when the trans was cold 2JZ put... Ever, Period rare for internal engine issues to occur even at 500-600+whp numbers up to and beyond! Know if you guys would bother??????????. N54 and hopefully help identify which tune is right for your goals upgrades is a non-issue the. Adding just this drop of oil, it willhelp tolubricate the piston rings on top of this, makes... N54 faults by section part of the BMW N54 is capable of hitting numbers up to sometimes. Leak-Down test are complementary to one another and should becompleted togethergive you the complete picture - the are! A pedestal and treated like the greatest engines of all the cookies upgrading the BMW N54 is of. - the engine are all manual transmissions this makes itextremely simple to move the compression test track... 10 % difference between any of the gauges on a perfectly healthy engine, you can still expect air! And sometimes beyond 1,000whp the engine will not use boost that often it. Things we have bought and can indorse it a tussle to crawl sub-forums... Only go so far for a while of cranking compression with no signs of slipping was 25. Flaws to consider: Again, not a totally exhaustive list on top this...