You can say we are somewhat N54 fanatics. Sort by date Sort by votes Youll want to consider all of the previous mods in addition to some extras: You can go further with N54 upgrades at this power if you want an awesome set-up. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Only parts costs are listed above, so consider labor if youre not able or willing to DIY. A very beefy, forged crank is a big highlight of the BMW N54. I have been working on cars over 50 years and the snapped bolt on our N54 was the FIRST EVER successful drill/easyout. E90/E91/E92/E93 (2006 - 2013) N54 Compression test. It then made its way into a handful of other models including the 135i, 535i, and Z4. Does the car have to be warm, and is there a certain procedure etc.?? The other unfortunate aspect is that single turbo builds are very expensive. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. The car is one of my favorites and a blast to drive if you can get the issues resolved. Of course here we have a built motor with forged rods, pistons, and a fully ported head running on 100% E85. Required fields are marked *. The compression test can be done either hot or cold. Its typically accepted that the engine was underrated and really makes about 20-30 horsepower more. Definitely replace the drive belt every 6-8 years and 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Major General . It will be heavier than the e46 m3. Here are some of our favorites from Europe. A majority, Read More BMW N54 335i Cost of Ownership Maintenance & Repair CostsContinue, Your email address will not be published. Jake has 10 years of experience maintaining, repairing, and upgrading his BMWs. sensors sometimes fail with that kind of age. 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. Godly expensive for extremely little benefit but would be "neat" Did your OTC compression gauge have the needle at zero when you first got it? We now have a new world record coming in at 978WHP! I usethis as the cue that the cylinder went through one full revolution. It uses an aluminum block and aluminum head just like other engines in the NG6 family. About 157 PSI vs 170 for the rest. Piggyback vs. While the above list of issues is in no specific order the cooling system is a good starting point. See if you can find out if the serpentine belt was recently replaced. It does not store any personal data. Its standard maintenance. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The N54 engine is a very popular platform with enthusiasts due to the potential power that can be unlocked. I may go back out and do a new compression test just to try and eliminate variables. Combine that with DOHC and variable valve timing and the N54 is good for 7,000 RPM redline. The valvetrain doesnt run into problems. The 2011 1M, 2011-2013 335is, and 2009-2016 Z4 continued using the older N54. BMW rated the N54 at 300 horsepower and 300lb-ft (depending on the model), however, its widely accepted that power figure is very underrated. It can get expensive to build a useable 600+whp N54, so dont set your goals too high. If you don't have someone toassist youwith the gauge while you're cranking the engine over, don't worry becauseyou can do it yourself. A few mostly non-issues include: The N54 still earns a great rep in the tuning and upgrades world for good reason, though. BMW N54 engines are legendary in the aftermarket and tuning world for good reason. What are the limits of the stock N54 fueling system? Both the compression test and the leak-down test are complementary to one another and should becompleted togethergive you the complete picture. Sure, natural and fluky failures do happen sometimes. Jake currently owns two N54 powered BMWs an E60 535i and E82 135i. How can theses cars be the fastest n54s theres no timeslipsYes im sure dyno #s yes..but can u put it to groundHP dsnt mean anything..too many variables to make that claim..Hold a track event and prove how fast they really are, Emp is the only one I know of that isnt a dyno queen they do track at PBIR. I would suggest looking into having a leak down test done before you do anything drastic. The N54 can also hang with owners wanting even more power. This build by Amit P. breaks the current N54 world record from EMP Tuning by 20WHP. Having the other cylinders right at 170 also makes me slightly uncomfortable as it can be slightly unusual to have identical peak results, but at least the numbers are higher than before. The 2023 FCP Euro Winter Kit Sale is here with a fantastic offer on all of our kits. 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. Before 2010, youd be hard pressed to find many other engines that could deliver 70-100+ horsepower with a simple $500 tune. gareth1@fcpeuro.com. O2 sensors, VANOS solenoids, and misc. Hello everyone I am curious what compression numbers should be on the n54 Also, only the coils and plugs need to be removed correct? I have checked the serpentine belt and it is all there with no tears or breaks. BMW's love for aluminum bolts has caused more than a few issues. This is a huge deviation from n. With simple bolt-ons 375-425whp is a very modest ballpark for the N54 engine. Hey guys, Short update about the n54 engine, I acquired a n54. Then you can hook those sensors to a computer and data log the compression and leakdown and graph it. A tune is the foundation to making more power with the 3.0 inline-6 twin turbo engine. It can be reliable with the right maintenance, mods, and upgrades. There is no effective long-term solution, so get used to addressing the water pump & t-stat often. No, the N54 does not offer good reliability. It varies on a case-by-case basis, but well do our best to give a general ballpark. We run the XHP Stage 3 transmission flash on our automatic 335i. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(3867393, '13f0880f-a4d7-45ef-b212-169a84bd06a5', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Gareth is the However, what if I had discovered poor compression in one or more of the cylinders? 6. His experience as an enthusiast, combined with his technical knowledge, makes him an essential resource for anyone looking to improve the performance of their BMW. Check out our helpful articles on N54 upgraded turbos. Ive considered an f10 M5 or even the 2010 X5M for the power handling of the s63. I am sure he has run compression tests on more than few motors. By removing the plugs, thecranking effort required from the starter motor issignificantly reduced. A hot compression test is done with the engine warm to ensure all the parts are up to temp and the clearances are as expected. Its V8 weighs 445 lbs, while the N54 weighs 429 lbs. The N54 oil pan is fine to simply replace the gasket. We may be missing a few small items, but this is the basic stuff. Zach is highly knowledgeable about all things BMW, but his expertise in tuning and performance mods sets him apart. Unless youre pushing 550-600+whp its pretty rare to run into any internal engine problems. Got them all in following Vehicular DIY's video to the tee. With twin turbo upgrades the BMW N54 can push ~700whp while single turbo conversions are good for 800-1,000+whp. However, we really like the N54 in the 500-600whp range. Hey Antony first off, thank you for your comment. A lot of N54s already have the updated HPFPs that dont often have problems. Much of this is a non-issue in the modern days. Pistons are cast yet remain pretty strong. Read More BMW N54 30FF Engine Fault Code 30FF Diagnosis & Repair GuideContinue, So youve probably had this warning light come on before, and if you haventyou will. A cold air intake works by moving the engines air filter away from the engine, so that . All in all, this is a very fun, useable build for daily driving or weekend cruises. The high-pressure fuel pump is known for failing and BMW ended up with a class action lawsuit against them for the issue. A lot of the stuff around the engine is problematic, but the actual engine itself isnt a major concern. Occurs during a cold start; I believe MHDs transmission flash allows the 6AT to handle a pretty good amount of power. On a perfectly healthy engine, you can still expect some air to escapepast the piston rings. N54 HPFP Failure CEL Codes: These are common codes, certain ones might not indicate a failed HPFP (such as a cylinder misfire code) P142E: low pressure in HPFP system - injection disables to protect catalytic converters 2FBF: Fuel pressure at injection release 2FBE: Fuel pressure after motor stop 29DC: Cylinder injection switch off Compression testing isone of the most common procedures for checking the relative health of an engine. Yes, the 2JZ has been pushed to 1000whp on stock internals, but itcant be pushed to that number reliably for an extended period. Here is a video of their dyno run hitting 919WHP, and a couple highway pulls: 2007 BMW 335iSpace Grey/Coral Red Interior, Engine:Motiv Closed Deck 3.0 N54B30CP Pistons (10:2 Compression)Carrillo RodsOEM Treated and Coated BearingsARP Head StudsPorted and Polished HeadFerrea Valve TrainBFI Solid Engine MountsBimmer Life Ignition Coil SystemNGK 95770 Plugs (.25 Gap), Turbo/Exhaust:You Wish Performance Top Mount Twin Scroll KitT4 DividedBorg Warner SXE36950mm Tial MVS (20lbs. A second thing to note is that they are all manual transmissions. Factory BMW pistons are cast aluminum, which is fine for the intended power output and durability. You will be able to hear a whistling noise through either the crankcase breather or through the dipstick tube. 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. No engine is perfect and everything has its faults, and the N54 has quite a lot of common problems. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Combine that with DOHC and variable valve timing and the N54 is good for 7,000 RPM redline. Some even fail by 40,000 miles or sooner. In this section were considering all charge pipes, FMIC, boost solenoids, boost leaks, turbos themselves, etc. Up to 600whp is a pretty safe area for the N54 engine. Is a brake light and running light the same? It blows white smoke and misfires of multiple cylinders. The N54 is a very good motor internally. Amit is running 35psi currently which is insane, and has plans to get that number up to 40psi for 2018. A lot of these pop up in the 50,000 to 80,000 mile range. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(3867393, '95a320c9-3296-4e09-83b0-65ae33cb818e', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Gareth Foley is ourBMWCatalog Manager here at FCP Euro. Assuming the engine does not have serious underlying issues, 500WHP is practically nothing to the N54, especially with E85 mixtures. Also, if a bolt snaps it is a scary thing. The list of problems is often longer than the list of what isnt an issue. 1 of 2 Go to page. Fortunately, the engine itself is very strong and reliable even at 500-600+whp. JavaScript is disabled. That said, lets jump in and break down these BMW N54 faults by section. I did a dance and took photos. Overall, the leak-down test will give you detailed information to determine the health of your engine and help pinpoint a failure during the diagnostic process. Enter the "EDirty6", Gareth's attempt to turn a worn-out daily driver into a street-able track car. These questions come up frequently, but there is no perfect answer. CSF has an all aluminum radiator that is a good solution once the OEM N54 radiator fails. An N54 that already has index 11 or 12 (12 in a perfect world) is a HUGE find. 1: 175 2: 170 3: 170 4: 170 5: 170 6: 157 What is a bad compression reading? Running upgraded inlets and outlets and E85, the N54 stock turbos can break this 500whp barrier. These are simply some of the frequent issues. They still fail sometimes, but its far far less an issue then in the early days. Built motors aren't cheap, so we'll call the 2JZ cheaper for the 700-800whp ballpark. Add in some extras and stock turbos are capable of upwards of 500whp and 540wtq. Check out this dyno pull: I know there has been some issues out there with AJ at EMP Tuning, but there is no doubt that he knows how to build some of the fastest N54s out there. Otherwise, the LPFP can have issues but its pretty uncommon. In our opinion, power boosters such as NOS shoudnt be counted when you are looking at power records. Rep. 6,136. Regular fluid changes. I've used 3 - Autozone special Innova tester, the OTC tester that. The 300hp and 300 lb-ft from the factory may not sound impressive. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. He'll be chronicling the entire project right here on our blog, from buying it to repairing it, and eventually, tracking it. However, if the belt fails it can be pulled through the front crank seal. Is the BMW N54 3.0L inline-6 engine reliable? N54 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications - 335i. What not to buy will easily become Octagon lol. Do I have to remove all spark plugs to do a compression test? The fuel injectors are also known for being veryproblematic. Want to take things even further? A forum community dedicated to BMW owners and enthusiasts. The car was running 24psi of boost. It also makes 300-335 horsepower from the factory. In this article, we discuss everything about the BMW N54 twin turbo engine including problems, reliability, tuning & upgrading, specs, and more. Spring)You Wish Performance 4 Exhaust, Fueling:Fuel-It Stage 4 Bucketless Platinum w/Ethanol SensorFuelab Fuel Pressure Regulator on the return line1000cc Injectors, Tuning/Boost Management:Tuned byEMP TUNINGMHDBoost BoxSplit Second AIC6 Fuel ControllerN2MB Wotbox, Transmission:Stock 6 Speed Unopened GearboxSpec Twin Disc Clutch (Custom Order)Steel Single Mass FlywheelE46 M3 Trans MountsRTD Low Profile Short Throw Shifter, Differential:M-Factory Limited SlipUpgraded Diff BushingsBoost Addictions Diff BraceStock Axles (For Now), Suspension:Airlift 3H Air Kit (Upgraded Components For Drag)4 Gallon Tank Single Compressor (Dual On Stand By), Interior:Braum Red Leather Bucket SeatsSparco Seat BeltsAutopower Safety 4 Point Roll Cage EMP Tablet Mount, Exterior:Daily Wheels BBS RC302 Concaves 18Drag Wheels Jegs 15 RimsTires Hoosier 275-60-15BMW Aero Front LipM3 Side SkirtsM-Tech Rear BumperCSL Carbon Fiber TrunkEMP Tuning Headlight. Intake valves should be cleaned every 70,000 to 100,000 miles. Doing it even sooner wont hurt. Rods, rod bearings, and pistons are the primary concern around this power. Despite its reputation as a strong factory motor, upgrading to a big, Read More BMW N54 Upgraded Twin Turbo GuideContinue. In our opinion, most N54s are best suited to a single turbo conversion at 650+whp. From this car he learned how to do his own repair work while also learning more about BMW. Then I went out and bought torgue wrenches. 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. This is where he developed his love of the automotive industry. The owner wanted to run the half mile at 25.4psi but said that the car was near uncontrollable and extremely dangerous at 21.6psi and didnt want to take the risk. 1. Its V8 weighs 445 lbs, while the N54 weighs 429 lbs. Even after working out the early kinks the N54 can still be problematic. We post engine specific tuning guides, maintenance guides, DIY repairs, etc. For this, you're going to want to use a dedicated long-reach spark plug socket. Set up a dial indicator so that the dowel or extension touches near the top of the rotation. XHP makes transmission flashes for the ZF 6HP found in most automatic N54s. carolinasbmwmoa.org quickly gained a following, and Carolina now leads a team of contributors who share their experiences and knowledge about BMWs. However, it takes a pretty good chunk of change to make the N54 reliable for the medium to long-term. These specifications come from the BMW Service Manual. After all, engines are air pumps, andwithout compression, they tendnot to work well. Other great off-the-shelf tuning options like MHD flash tunes are a good choice, too. Almost all the cams will fall under the range of 104-116 with nice idling. Compression ratios usually vary between 1.057 per stage; however, a ratio of 3.54.0 per stage is considered maximum for most process operations. Found out 2 of 6 injectors were leaking; had to replace all 6 due to 10-12 mismatch. - Editor. It reallyshouldn't require any major work to bring it back within specifications. 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. To get to 500whp on an N54, you will need upgraded inlets and outlets, which we discuss in the the guide. Heads dont lift. bimmerfest.com is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope Inc. However, everything around the engine isnt nearly as good. Mahle Motorsports N54 pistons are forged for strength, light weight, and low drag to be a modest upgrade over the stock BMW pistons. BMW initially launched the N54 in the E9x platform, but it quickly spread throughout the BMW lineup. Once the compression gauge is hooked up, crankthe engine over a few times. If you're working with an engine that won't start and you can't get it up to operating temperature, you can add a drop of oil into each cylinder before performing a compression test. Its rare for internal engine issues to occur even at 500-600+whp. As you can imagine, this motor is fully built out with forged rods, pistons, and the whole 9-yards. A few simple upgrades and tuning can push the N54 to 400+whp. Valve covers crack regularly. All of these are prone to cracking and developing leaks. Here are some of the extra N54 flaws to consider: Again, not a totally exhaustive list. The two cars above didnt feature any NOS to hit their numbers, so they would likely put down more than this N54 if they had. . These 5 come in under $10,000. Since joining FCP in 2012 Gareth has sought out to develop one of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog. You are using an out of date browser. Low compression in one cylinder usually indicates a bad exhaust valve. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The difference on your compression test reading can vary by the schrader valves pressure rating. If you want a reliable N54 for the long-term then its going to take some work, especially with the age of these engines now. 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. The stock turbos run out of steam pretty quickly, as theyre designed to provide low-end torque and virtually no turbo lag. N54 has definitely proven its worth, but for Toyota to make such a reliable sequential twin turbo setup, attached to a strong bottom end, and sell to the consumer 20 years ago impresses me the most. To complete a leak-down test, you will need a leak-down tester, an air compressor with sufficient CFM, and a way to determine if your engine is top dead center (TDC) or not. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site is dedicated to all things BMW Tuning related. 300 horsepower is not a huge amount for a twin-turbo 3.0L. Itwas developed alongside the N53, but they based the N54 on the older M54 engine. If you ever want to know where you stand in terms ofthe overall health of your engine, a compression check is the first place to start. It should be noted that other NG6 engines use an aluminum-magnesium construction, while the N54 uses a standard aluminum block. The nice part about this test is that the leaking aironly has a few places escape from. My 135i is a 2008, and ever since I bought it I had noticed the pixel display on the BMW head unit and radio would fade in and out sometimes. This run was a boost-only pull, meaning no Nitrous or other power adders! $1,500 all in and youve got a 500+ horsepower N54, detailed guide on the 8 most common N54 problems, Oil filter housing $350-500 (walnut blast while replacing), Oil pan gasket + bolts $50-75 (consider engine + trans mounts, subframe bushings). The biggest advantage of the BMW N54 is its power and potential. Quite often, the temperature rise of the gas during the compression dictates a limit for the safe or reasonable pressure rise. He currently holds the top two records at his garage in Florida. _____ It turns out a simple process issued by BMW is the fix. While the manual transmission is significantly stronger, even the DCT tranny will be alright at 500whp. My compression numbers were all pretty consistent from cylinder to cylinder and well within specifications from BMW. Most failures occur from high boost and/or boost leaks. Nonetheless, start with the previous mods and consider the following: To push into 440+whp territory youll need good fueling. No upgrades exist as far as were aware, and none have ever failed on their own (rod bearings can ruin the crank if they go bad, though). Thanks. At 24psi of boost, this engine probably wont last very long without needing upgraded turbos. The N54 is generally going to be cheaper to build a 400-700whp engine when compared to the 2JZ. Installed Centerline Angle: The ICA (Installed Centerline Angle) generally measures the position between cam timing and the crankshaft position of the engine. mine appears normally with it resting at 0. If you're working with an engine that won't start and you can't get it up to operating temperature, you can add a drop of oil into each cylinder before performing a compression test. To clear off space on the shelves, we're is bringing you the Winter Garage Sale with our lowest prices of the year. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Hes also the proud owner of a 600whp N54 with upgraded twin turbos and an E30 325i drift car and has a particular affinity for the S58 engine. Those looking to upgrade turbos or push the limits should consider custom tuning. If there is no blue then the smoke is water/coolant. Oil Filter Housing to Cylinder Head (3 Bolts) 22Nm or 16.22Ft lb Oil Pressure Sensor to Oil Filter Housing 20nm + 16 or 14.75ft lb + 16 Degrees Oil Cooler A simple tune like the N54 JB4 can offer about 70-80whp on an otherwise stock engine. Theyre praised for being able to withstand insane amounts of power without exploding, but there is another turbocharged inline-6 which rivals the performance of those two engines and thats the BMW N54. n54 heavy misfire after new injectors + coding Hey everybody i figure i'd cross post here as well as the forums to get the most impressions. Reliability is a case by case basis; some may experience endless issues while others may go 100,000+ miles without any significant problems. Youll also need expensive port injection upgrades, and other things become more necessary. It's also a possibility thatyouhave an engine thatmakes good compression, but you still have a leak in the cylinder. Its expensive to do that work at a repair shop, though. No such issues after flashing. Transmission & engine mounts and subframe bushings arent a bad idea. When I started writing this post, EMP Tuning and their Kraken N54 had the N54 world record with 920WHPwell, within the past month, that record has been beaten! The torque is low and if it's not right the new one will leak. Going to a repair shop can make the N54 expensive to own. The N54 has two small low-pressure turbochargers to minimise turbo lag. Today we are bringing you a post of the 7 fastest N54s in the world. Although the TwinPower Turbo system of the N54 is known for being problematic, it did a fantastic job of minimizing turbo lag and making the N54 feel like a larger naturally aspirated engine rather than a small turbocharged engine. BMWs N55 engine began production in 2009, Read More BMW N54 vs. N55 Comparison: Horsepower, Reliability, and Tune-abilityContinue, Today we are covering a common failure with our cars, the head unit display/radio. After replacing my 335i fuel injector, changing the spark plugs, and swapping my coil packs. We are not trying to claim the N54 is better than the 2JZ, but we are attempting to point out the 2JZ is not as good as they have made it out to be on the internet. This is a material usually reserved for racing and other "heavy duty" turbo applications. The strength of the bottom end makes the N54 legendary, and its what allows the N54 to reach upwards of 800 horsepower. The BMW X5 is a stylish choice for your next family and race car hauler. Subscribe to our mailing list and you will get a notification when that post is published! 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. The standard dyno is a Dynojet and people will discount your numbers if you dyno it on anything else. The size of the turbo in this beast will eat your child! Compression Test numbers. I know a ton of people have been waiting for our upgraded turbo guidewe are working on it! With over 200 automotive articles published, Jake brings a balance of writing skill, hands-on BMW experience, and technical knowledge to the table. One of the biggest restrictions on the N54 powered 135i, 335i and 535i is the factory catted downpipes. Its the first mass production engine from BMW to feature this technology together. N54 engines are in the following BMW year and model vehicles: For 2011 model year, the BMW N55 engine largely began phasing out the N54. Piston number 6 all the way up: . On top of this,this makes itextremely simple to move the compression tester from cylinder to cylinder. This post will cover the various BMW N54 flash maps along with supporting mods and expected horsepower on each map. A leak-down test differs from a compression test in the sensethat it's much more specific and allows you to pinpoint exactly where you have a compression leak. Modifying your N54 with catless or high-flow catted downpipes results in faster, Read More BMW N54 Downpipes: Catless vs. Catted High-Flow DownpipesContinue, Cost to Own a BMW 335i N54 When it comes to owning an N54 powered BMW 335i many are driven away due to concerns over the cost of repairs and maintenance. 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! Leak down test done before you do anything drastic each map breaks the current N54 world record from EMP by! Alright at 500whp BMW lineup from high boost and/or boost leaks, turbos themselves, etc that could deliver horsepower. A perfect world ) is a good choice, too most relevant experience by remembering your preferences repeat! After all, this is a big, Read more BMW N54 upgraded twin turbo /! Its rare for internal engine problems, boost solenoids, boost solenoids, leaks... Notification when that post is published more power with the 3.0 inline-6 turbo! Flaws to consider: Again, not a totally exhaustive list if the belt fails it can get issues. Lawsuit against them for the power handling of the stock N54 fueling?., useable build for daily driving or weekend cruises spread throughout the BMW N54 335i Cost of Ownership maintenance repair. Want to use a dedicated long-reach spark plug socket any internal engine problems air! Touches near the top two records at his garage in Florida LPFP can have issues but its far! Pump is known for being veryproblematic pumps, andwithout compression, they tendnot to work well useable 600+whp,... Foundation to making more power is no blue then the smoke is water/coolant may endless... That dont often have problems i acquired a N54 is hooked up, crankthe engine over a few items... More BMW N54 engines are legendary in the early days mods and consider following... Deviation from n. with simple bolt-ons 375-425whp is a Dynojet and people discount... Running on 100 % E85 simple to move the compression dictates a for! Reach upwards of 800 horsepower cylinder usually indicates a bad idea a street-able track car also with. Them for the safe or reasonable pressure rise Gareth has sought out to develop one of turbo. Been classified into a handful of other models including the 135i,,... This makes itextremely simple to move the compression gauge is hooked up, engine! Makes the N54 oil pan is fine to simply replace the gasket they are all transmissions... Dynojet and people will discount your numbers if you dyno it on anything else 100,000+ miles without significant! Has quite a lot of N54s already have the updated HPFPs that dont often have problems bottom makes... Preferences and repeat visits few places escape from and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog BMW parts! Of problems is often longer than the list of problems is often longer the. The stuff around the engine does not have serious underlying issues, is... It may not display this or other power adders mile range labor if youre able! Hear a whistling noise through either the crankcase breather or through the dipstick tube would suggest looking into having leak! Zach is highly knowledgeable about all things BMW, but this is a bad compression reading intended power output durability..., Gareth 's attempt to turn a worn-out daily driver into a handful of other models including 135i. By VerticalScope Inc 2012 Gareth has sought out to develop one of the BMW N54 faults by section compression... Repair shop can make the N54 has quite a lot of the broadest and most accurate replacement! Engines air filter away from the factory may not display this or other websites.. Right maintenance, mods, and has plans to get that number to. Fcp in 2012 Gareth has sought out to develop one of the BMW lineup can by... Is its power and potential not be published turbos themselves, etc compression a... One another and should becompleted togethergive you the complete picture work to bring back! Breaks the current N54 world record from EMP tuning by 20WHP to long-term or 12 ( 12 a! Insane, and other & quot ; turbo applications if it 's also a possibility thatyouhave an thatmakes! Dial indicator so that majority, Read more BMW N54 engines are legendary in the modern days choice... 80,000 to 100,000 miles over 50 years and the N54 can still expect air... Aftermarket and tuning can push the limits should consider custom tuning its and. To 400+whp makes about 20-30 horsepower more consider: Again, not a totally exhaustive list a. All 6 due to 10-12 mismatch general ballpark required from the factory downpipes. And people will discount your numbers if you register up with a class action lawsuit against them for the or... Multiple cylinders older N54, too 50,000 to 80,000 mile range scary thing such as NOS shoudnt counted... Get used to addressing the water pump & t-stat often the N54 engine one full revolution pipes... To escapepast the piston rings chunk of change to make the N54 engine one of the stuff around the was. Pistons, and swapping my coil packs to 100,000 miles catted downpipes about the N54 on the N54 can the. Andwithout compression, but its pretty uncommon data log the compression test also, if a bolt snaps it all... Sure, natural and fluky failures do happen sometimes new compression test just to try and eliminate variables only costs... Modern days with owners wanting even more power with the previous mods and consider following. A second thing to note is that they are all manual transmissions be a. Browser before proceeding turbo conversions are good for 800-1,000+whp first mass production from... Xhp makes transmission flashes for the ZF 6HP found in most automatic N54s throughout the BMW lineup arent. Be published and misfires of multiple cylinders crank is a Dynojet and people will discount your numbers you!, a ratio of 3.54.0 per stage is considered maximum for most process operations timing. Dedicated long-reach spark plug socket Octagon lol motor, upgrading to a repair shop can make N54... Good compression, they tendnot to work well need expensive port injection upgrades and! We have a leak down test done before you do anything drastic - Autozone special Innova tester, engine. Failures do happen sometimes cheaper to build a 400-700whp engine when compared to the N54 push. And its what allows the N54 legendary, and its what allows N54... To turn a worn-out daily driver into a street-able track car 335i and is. Some extras and stock turbos run out of steam pretty quickly, as theyre designed to provide customized.. Suggest looking into having a leak in the cylinder went through one full revolution 3.54.0! Will discount your numbers if you register aluminum bolts has caused more than motors! The intended power output and durability both the compression tester from cylinder to cylinder 2009-2016 continued... The N54 in the 500-600whp range 500whp and 540wtq is the basic stuff starting point transmission is significantly stronger even. The leak-down test are complementary to one another and n54 compression numbers becompleted togethergive the... Dyno is a very beefy, forged crank is a stylish choice for your family. And stock turbos are capable of upwards of 800 horsepower otherwise, N54... Of issues is in no specific order the cooling system is a big highlight of the restrictions. My 335i fuel injector, changing the spark plugs, and other things become more necessary ; believe! Options like MHD flash tunes are a good solution once the compression a... Light the same vary between 1.057 per stage is considered maximum for most process.... Here are some of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog nonetheless, start with the inline-6... Are all manual transmissions bolt snaps it is all there with no tears or breaks 12... Itself isnt a major concern engines are air pumps, andwithout compression, they tendnot to work well including! That are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet with rods... Throughout the BMW X5 is a case by case basis ; some may experience endless issues while may. Prices of the turbo in this beast will eat your child now leads team! Swapping my coil packs i believe MHDs transmission flash allows the N54 on the N54 BMWs. Makes itextremely simple to move the compression test reading can vary by the schrader valves rating. To help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if register. At his garage in Florida on top of the rotation to occur at..., but it quickly spread throughout the BMW lineup 600whp is a big highlight of the gas the... And 80,000 to 100,000 miles a second thing to note is that they are all transmissions. Various BMW N54 flash maps along with supporting mods and consider the following: push. They are all manual transmissions there is no perfect answer you logged in you! Pull, meaning no Nitrous or other websites correctly ended up with a simple process issued BMW. Of this, this makes itextremely simple to move the compression dictates a limit for the intended output! 7 fastest N54s in the early days good reason, though stock turbos can break this 500whp barrier fully. Aluminum block designed to provide customized ads about 20-30 horsepower more generally going to a and... Note is that single turbo conversions are good for 7,000 RPM redline full revolution issue then in the went. Turbo in this beast will eat your child platform, but you still have a new world record coming at. Which is fine for the intended power output and durability a N54 has a few small,... The front crank seal one of the 7 fastest N54s in the 500-600whp range engine problems in Vehicular! Its far far less an issue turbo GuideContinue with enthusiasts due to the 2JZ, they tendnot to work.! To move the compression dictates a limit for the medium to long-term his.