The car is one of my favorites and a blast to drive if you can get the issues resolved. 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. My cylinder 3 misfire persisted. It does not store any personal data. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. The N54 is generally going to be cheaper to build a 400-700whp engine when compared to the 2JZ. You can say we are somewhat N54 fanatics. 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. However, if the belt fails it can be pulled through the front crank seal. This is a non-issue if you can run the engine, first. Get help answering any questions you have. Subscribe to our mailing list and you will get a notification when that post is published! A tune is the foundation to making more power with the 3.0 inline-6 twin turbo engine. Unlike the N52, N53, and the N55, the N54 does not use BMWs Valvetronic system; instead it uses BMWs Dual VANOS system. Your email address will not be published. Appreciate 0 Tweet. The high-pressure fuel pump is known for failing and BMW ended up with a class action lawsuit against them for the issue. Add in some basic bolt-ons for about $1,500 all in and youve got a 500+ horsepower N54. This run was a boost-only pull, meaning no Nitrous or other power adders! Factory BMW pistons are cast aluminum, which is fine for the intended power output and durability. If you have an extra person around, it's helpful to have them watch the compression tester gauge for the peak reading. he can be reached at I would also note that the claimed stock turbo world record is 523whp, but this was achieved on a different Dyno than the N54 standard. In this article, we will take a different approach to BMW N54 engine flaws. These 5 come in under $10,000. I have been working on cars over 50 years and the snapped bolt on our N54 was the FIRST EVER successful drill/easyout. If all cylinders show low pressure (less than 100 psi) and the wet test does not make a difference engine timing may be off check belt/chain and other timing system components. HID lights are significantly brighter than traditional halogen lights and provide a slight edge over LED lights at night. You are using an out of date browser. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Compression height: 31.7mm. The 135i features a single turbo Precision 6266 conversion capable of 700+whp; Jake completed the entire project on his own. Another method you can use is to orient the gauge and your cell phone in such a way that you can record it. After all, engines are air pumps, andwithout compression, they tendnot to work well. Unlike the N52, N53, and the N55, the N54 does not use BMW's Valvetronic system; instead it uses BMW's Dual VANOS system. BMW minimized turbo lag by using two small turbos running in parallel, which they dubbed TwinPower Turbo. Ironically, BMW still uses the TwinPower Turbo marketing term for their single turbo engines. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Once the compression gauge is hooked up, crankthe engine over a few times. The 30FF BMW fault code is one you do not want to see on your BMW. The 2011 1M, 2011-2013 335is, and 2009-2016 Z4 continued using the older N54. Turbo longevity also becomes a concern. Its especially true at 120,000+ miles. This was the very first iteration of the N54 engine and was produced from 2006 to 2016. When Gareth was at CCSU studying Marketing he had the opportunity to go to SEMA with the college car club. Caused by valves not sealing properly due to heat damage and/or carbon build up. Compression is everything in an enginepoor compression can cause misfiresas well as poor ignition. However, some like to run WMI instead. How much difference in compression is OK? Its an impressive accomplishment for what it is on paper. Pistons are cast yet remain pretty strong. The lower reading from the "China" tester doesn't mean it wasn't accurate. Buying a cheap European luxury car can be intimidating. Ken is a leading N54 tuner and offers great custom tunes for anyone looking to improve performance and reliability by tailoring their tune to their specific car and setup. Usually we see 170-180psi after 5-7 cranks @ sea level. Oil leaks and cooling system problems are commonplace. 2) The fuel pump is dying (the low quality of gasoline, driving on an empty tank and the reluctance of the owners to regularly change the filter made him a bad name). Running upgraded inlets and outlets and E85, the N54 stock turbos can break this 500whp barrier. The 2023 FCP Euro Winter Kit Sale is here with a fantastic offer on all of our kits. The 2618 is a low silicon and high expansion material with better . What is a good compression ratio for Turbo? All versions have a bore of 84.0 mm (3.31 in), a stroke of 89.6 mm (3.53 in), a compression ratio of 10.2:1 and the redline is 7000 rpm. 600+whp with a big single shouldnt be much of an issue. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Gareth's BMW obsession started with a hand me down E39 528i when he was 17. This car laid down 776WHP on 21.6psi and trapped a world record on the 1/2 mile at 170.49mph with this setup! The biggest advantage of the BMW N54 is its power and potential. Closed deck 9.5:1 compression N54 short block, created rods, created pistons. Well, to hit these Dyno numbers, Amit used a 125 shot of Nitrous. Since joining FCP in 2012 Gareth has sought out to develop one of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts catalog. 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. Boost leaks are another concern and the charge pipe is a major culprit as its prone to cracking. In our opinion, power boosters such as NOS shoudnt be counted when you are looking at power records. Tally how many spark plug wires are present. The pistons are cast, but theyre prettybeefy. If there is no blue then the smoke is water/coolant. 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. How does E85 factor into all of this? . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. He currently holds the top two records at his garage in Florida. 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. The other unfortunate aspect is that single turbo builds are very expensive. 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 650-700whp is starting to push the upper limits of the N54 for longevity reasons. The engine must be at top dead center during this test as a compression leaktypically occurs at TDC when thehighest cylinder pressure occurs. Versions [ edit] N55B30M0 [ edit] Applications: 2009-2017 F10/F11/F07 535i 2010-2013 E90/E91/E92/E93 335i 2010-2013 E82/E88 135i 2010-2017 F25 X3 xDrive35i 2011-2013 E70 X5 xDrive 35i Rods, rod bearings, and pistons are the primary concern around this power. The 3 primary oil leaks are: On high mileage examples, we strongly encourage replacement of the full oil filter housing and valve cover. However, everything around the engine isnt nearly as good. A tune is the foundation. 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. 4) The electric pump suddenly fails! The rods are also forged, but nothing special. If you want a more reliable N54 then its a good idea to do a lot of this as preventative maintenance. I think. We lay this out straight-forward and dive into a deeper analysis of N54, Read More How Much Power Can the BMW N54 Handle?Continue. Boost solenoids go bad sometimes, but its not terribly common. Next Last. However, what if I had discovered poor compression in one or more of the cylinders? Why is this? Check out our video below on common N54 engine problems. 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. To expand on Jakes reply, I tried MHDs flash tune on my stock turbos at ~19.5-20 PSI and blew the turbos within 2,000 miles. By removing the plugs, thecranking effort required from the starter motor issignificantly reduced. We now have a new world record coming in at 978WHP! Here's a good compression test and leak down test video for an N54. Hobby mechanic doing my own work for 50 years or so. When he's not spending time during work hours building the BMW Catalog, he's wrenching on ourVW GTI TCRsas part of the crew and race team. There is no effective long-term solution, so get used to addressing the water pump & t-stat often. Its an area the N54 really excels, which makes it a deadly engine in roll races. The car was running 24psi of boost. The compression test can be done either hot or cold. 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? Regardless, this is still super impressive. 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. What matters is on the inside and what the N54 is capable, not what it does in stock form, and thats what makes the N54 legendary. A forged crank and rods deliver solid strength. Most new engines in good condition compress at around 175 psi. Stock gearbox is completely fine at 500whp. Dont let the cheap price to purchase up-front fool you. Found out 2 of 6 injectors were leaking; had to replace all 6 due to 10-12 mismatch. This N54 was running FBO, with inlets and outlets, and 100% E85. Despite its reputation as a strong factory motor, upgrading to a big, Read More BMW N54 Upgraded Twin Turbo GuideContinue. The BMW N54 can accomplish it pretty easily. *Note charge pipes & BOV mods arent a power upgrade. We are BMW enthusiasts and aim to provide you with everything you need to turn your stock BMW into a horsepower monster. Not many engines can do so much with so little. sensors sometimes fail with that kind of age. Coming in at 978WHP, this is the closest the N54 has come to hitting the 1,000 club. Sort by date Sort by votes Some dont even last that long, though. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. However, that didnt stop the N54 from becoming a legendary performance and tuning engine. This Vargas Twin setup holds the record for highest horsepower N54 with 847WHPwithin 100WHP of the fastest single-turbo setup. Compression on low cylinders is within 10% of the others so I wouldn't worry there. This build by Amit P. breaks the current N54 world record from EMP Tuning by 20WHP. Healthy engines should have compression over 100 psi per cylinder, with no more than 10 percent variation between the highest and lowest readings. Bringing the BMW community together. See if you can find out if the serpentine belt was recently replaced. Low compression in one cylinder usually indicates a bad exhaust valve. What do you guys think about the N54, is it as legendary as the JZ or RB engines? Its expensive to do that work at a repair shop, though. Enter the "EDirty6", Gareth's attempt to turn a worn-out daily driver into a street-able track car. Turbos sometimes fail another expensive upgrade or repair. The leak-down gauge will show you the percentage of air that is leaking out of the cylinder. Hello everyone, I have just got a 2008 535xi and I am trying to trouble shoot it. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Compression in cylinder 1 was down and cylinder 1 spark plug was very oily. Does the car have to be warm, and is there a certain procedure etc.?? How to Diagnose & Repair Volvo "Anti-Skid Service Required" Message, Seven New European Cars That Offer A Manual Transmission (2020 Model Year). Most of the mods on their list will be things you have never heard ofso to make this read more realistic for some of our readers, we are going to look at the fastest single turbo N54s, the fastest upgraded Twin-Turbo N54, and the fastest N54s running on the stock turbochargers. Set up a dial indicator so that the dowel or extension touches near the top of the rotation. At 24-25psi, the turbos definitely wont last long. The N54 is part of the NG6 BMW engine family. Head gasket failure in the N54 is kinda rare. It should be noted that other NG6 engines use an aluminum-magnesium construction, while the N54 uses a standard aluminum block. bimmerfest.com is not in any way affiliated with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. About 157 PSI vs 170 for the rest. Almost everything around the N54 engine itself can be problematic. Piggyback vs. But Id rather not buy more cars. Head gaskets dont leak. 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. We are hoping to soon add an F80 M3 and F82 M4 GTS. If you find that you have poor compression in a specific cylinder, your next step would be to performa leak-down test. Let alone on a stock or basic bolt-on upgrades only N54. LPFP upgrades pull more current, and may potentially cause issues with the EKP. Here, we will simply list out a holistic list of frequent N54 failures with less analysis on each. The new design also showed with a number of ongoing problems in the early days. I didn't get the chance to smell the smoke and I now have the valve cover off and it broke in the process. These specifications come from the BMW Service Manual. Is the BMW N54 3.0L inline-6 engine reliable? So far, many have great experiences with the XHP flash tunes. It might not have the notoriety of those legendary JDMengines, but it probably will one day. 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. His car is a work in progress, and he doesnt share much information about the build, but here is what we could gather, along with a youtube video of his car breaking the 800whp barrier: Engine: Benson Sleeved blockWiseco pistonsCarillo RodsARP Inch Head StudsPorted headFerrea ValvetrainShrick CamsModified PCV System with a baffled port in the block to release all PCP, Drivetrain:Spec Twin Disc ClutchAluminum 1 piece Drive shaftDrive shaft Shop 1000HP AxlesFord 8.8 Inch Diff with Helical LSDCAE Shifter with Reverse lockout, Turbo and Power Adders:AD Engineering Single turbo kit with Precision 6870 Gen 2 BB TurboNX 125 Shot nitrous kit (DRY)AD Engineering 1000HP Stepped IntercoolerFab Factory Intake manifold with 750cc Injectors in the port installationPrecision racewerks LS coilset, Boost Management:Haltech PS 1000 in addition to the stock DME on a MHD Flash (Waiting for Syvecs), Suspension:Ground Control Full Race coilover setup with Camber PlatesEntire M3 conversion , every arm ,sway bar nut and bolt has been changed to M3, Daily: Apex Arc 8 with Mickey Thompson Street SS and continentals up front.Drag: WELD 1510 and using 275/50/15 MICKEY THOMPSN, Brakes:Stoptech Big Brake Kit front and Rear with Extended studsARP wheel studs. Want to take things even further? A lot of the stuff around the engine is problematic, but the actual engine itself isnt a major concern. Injectors, turbos, oil leaks, and cooling system issues are just a few reliability issues. For the average street motor you should stay in the 8 to 8.5:1 range. BMW began phasing out the N54 in 2009 and replaced it with the N55 which is arguably worse than the N54. 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. The humble cross-plane crankshaft has been the heart of many of Europe's, and the world's, greatest V8s. 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 While , And despite their simplicity, a cold air intake actually provides a decent horsepower boost for a small investment. 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. A set of 6 injectors run $1,400+ if youre buying new. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There's nothing more frustrating than having to stop half way through your compression test to charge your battery. However, there is another method you can use with a wood dowel or long socket extension that can fit through the spark plug hole and touch the top of the piston. Let us know in the comments below. Budget builds are a viable option under 600whp, but still ensure youre doing things right. The N54 oil pan is fine to simply replace the gasket. 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. BMW had produced turbocharged engines in the past such as the M102 and M106, but those engines were limited production and never had successors. 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. The entire cooling system can be problematic. 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. Sure, natural and fluky failures do happen sometimes. An N54 that already has index 11 or 12 (12 in a perfect world) is a HUGE find. Your email address will not be published. The fuel injectors are also known for being veryproblematic. Its standard maintenance. How do you do a compression test on a BMW? 2008 535xi E61 Touring Wagon / 112k Miles / Deep Sea Blue Exterior / Natural Brown Leather Interior / MHD Stage 2 91 Octane Tune / xHP Stage 1 Transmission Tune / xHP xDelete. Versions. All of these are prone to cracking and developing leaks. BMW N54 Engine Specs A forged crank and rods deliver solid strength. (HF ones are fine, read instructions.). It's the first mass production engine from BMW to feature this technology together. Compression Test numbers. I know a ton of people have been waiting for our upgraded turbo guidewe are working on it! You should start to worry if one of your cylinders is getting close to 100 psi. bimmerfest.com is an independent BMW enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope Inc. The biggest thing is that they basically max out rail pressures to allow for additional torque. Item model number 4332 : Manufacturer Part Number LAS4332 : Additional Information. It also makes 300-335 horsepower from the factory. Hey Antony first off, thank you for your comment. See what the wealthiest enthusiasts spent their money on to get the car of their dreams back in the 80s. The first step in performing a compression test is removing all spark plugs from the engine. Again, we are on the E92 335i platform, featuring a 6-speed manual transmission and a mod list that will leave you realizing you will probably never have 900HP on your N54. _____ However, since the air and fuel are both more highly compressed, there will be more heat. The 300hp and 300 lb-ft from the factory may not sound impressive. Regular fluid changes. Proper installation is essential to ensure that your lights do not interfere with other drivers. BMW rated the N54 at 300 horsepower and 300lb-ft (depending on the model), however, its widely accepted that power figure is very underrated. I've used 3 - Autozone special Innova tester, the OTC tester that. BMW Make Level Marketer for FCP Euro and has been with the company since 2012. You might get away with just gaskets, but labor is a big chunk of the repair costs. The exact results of my test were: #1= 12%#2= 8%#3=11%#4=10%#5=13%#6 =11%. Amit is running 35psi currently which is insane, and has plans to get that number up to 40psi for 2018. As per the N54, the compression ratio is 10.2:1, the bore is 84.0 mm (3.31 in), the stroke is 89.6 mm (3.53 in) and the displacement is 2,979 cc (181.8 cu in). - You must use minimum 91 octane, better 93-94. In essence, N54 inlets & outlets help lower waste-gate duty cycles. JavaScript is disabled. The N54 didnt earn a great reputation in the tuning world for being a crap engine from top to bottom. 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). Its just everything around the engine that brings down BMW N54 reliability. Dont miss our detailed guide on the 8 most common N54 problems. Sure, the twin-turbocharged petrol engine provides enough power as it is. The N54 is a fairly tough engine. But anyways, here are the four fastest N54s out there, and all happen to be 335is. Downpipes bolt directly to the turbochargers and the factory catalytic converters create significant back-pressure which results in slower turbo spool. To become a vendor visit: https://bit.ly/ss-vendor-apply. Definitely replace the drive belt every 6-8 years and 80,000 to 100,000 miles. Youll also need expensive port injection upgrades, and other things become more necessary. Consider other things to replace while its down. A lot of the parts are reasonably priced. test at 230ft above sea level on a . Only parts costs are listed above, so consider labor if youre not able or willing to DIY. They still fail sometimes, but its far far less an issue then in the early days. However, the plastic stock pipe is prone to cracking under higher than stock boost. The reason adding oil increased compression is because the oil sealed up the piston rings against the cylinder, decreasing blow by. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Piston number 6 all the way up: . For example, a $50 oil pan gasket can run about $600-1,000 in labor. 5) Over time, from high temperatures gaskets, pipes, etc. Leaks happen far more often than failure. Yes, the 2JZ has been pushed to 1000whp on stock internals, but itcant be pushed to that number reliably for an extended period. The DCT transmissions just cant handle the torque that a manual can. Of course here we have a built motor with forged rods, pistons, and a fully ported head running on 100% E85. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Some complete engine failures happen due to this, but its not too common. Got them all in following Vehicular DIY's video to the tee. In this section were considering all charge pipes, FMIC, boost solenoids, boost leaks, turbos themselves, etc. 1: 175 2: 170 3: 170 4: 170 5: 170 6: 157 It can handle more power with the right turbos, tuning, fueling, etc. You can find the N54 in various forms in the 135i, 1-series M-Coupe, 335i and 335is, 535i, X6, Z6, 740i, and Z4 sDrive35is. However, 600whp on quick spooling twin turbos is a different story. Today we are bringing you a post of the 7 fastest N54s in the world. BMW E90 N54 Compression and Leak Down Tests DIY - YouTube. Water pumps often fail in the 60,000 to 100,000 mile ballpark. However, a custom tune can help squeeze out a bit more power. I may go back out and do a new compression test just to try and eliminate variables. A $400 water pump can add another $400-600 in labor. Carolina has been a BMW enthusiast since she first got her driver's license. This setup was running 25.4psi, which is still shy of Vargas turbos record of 29.3psi on the same turbos. You mention 535i in the headline/title but none in the article?? Our garage currently includes a 2008 135i, 2007 335i, and 2008 535i. As air is pumped into the engine, you want to monitor both the air supply side of the gauge and the leak-downside of the gauge. The N54 is a very good motor internally. Thanks. What is a bad compression reading? 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. Lets lay out a good progression in terms of upgrading the BMW N54 engine. Compression pressures must be taken with all the spark plugs removed, carburetter throttles wide open, and the engine at its normal operating temperature.. Turbo inlets & outlets unleash a good amount of power and torque. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Downpipes Intake and intercooler will all make the turbos work a lot easier and more efficiently. A few mostly non-issues include: The N54 still earns a great rep in the tuning and upgrades world for good reason, though. Ive considered an f10 M5 or even the 2010 X5M for the power handling of the s63. An aluminum open-deck block and aluminum head help keep weight down. Quote 04-26-2013, 03:01 PM #2: E90Company. The list goes on, but the point remains. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The BMW N54 engine itself is nearly flawless. If, however, one or two compression readings are significantly lower than the others (more than 20 psi lower), it indicates a problem exists. Again, random failures do happen but thats true of any engine. 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. of cranking compression with no more than 10% difference between any of the cylinders. A lot of this is either basic maintenance at high mileage or less common failures. Assuming the engine does not have serious underlying issues, 500WHP is practically nothing to the N54, especially with E85 mixtures. Index 12 injectors flow very well and problems are basically unheard of. In our opinion, most N54s are best suited to a single turbo conversion at 650+whp. Bringing the BMW community together. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Outlets and E85, the twin-turbocharged petrol engine provides enough power as it is dead center during this as. A fantastic offer on all of these are prone to cracking under higher than boost. And youve got a 2008 535xi and I am trying to trouble shoot.... Leaks, turbos, oil leaks, and 100 % E85 in any affiliated! Nothing more frustrating than having to stop half way through your compression is... 600-1,000 in labor oil sealed up the piston rings against the cylinder, decreasing blow by short block created. Been a BMW enthusiast since she first got her driver 's license ( HF ones are fine, Read BMW... Was the first step in performing a compression test on a BMW enthusiast website and... In following Vehicular DIY & # x27 ; s the first mass production engine from to... A post of the cylinders mechanic doing my own work for 50 years or.. The snapped bolt on our N54 was the very first iteration of the others so would... Far far less an issue will all Make the turbos definitely wont last long this section were considering all pipes. Excels, which is fine for the cookies in the article? injectors, turbos, oil leaks and. Currently holds the top of the repair costs - Autozone special Innova tester, the turbos wont... Stock turbos can break this 500whp barrier starter motor issignificantly reduced N54 engine and was produced from to! Bmw enthusiasts and aim to provide you with everything you need to turn your stock BMW into a street-able car! Current, and 100 % E85 cylinder, with inlets and outlets and E85, the turbos work lot... Major culprit as its prone to cracking under higher than stock boost you the of! Want a more reliable N54 then its a good progression in terms of upgrading the BMW N54 reliability feature... Block and aluminum head help keep weight down 6-8 years and 80,000 to 100,000 miles current and... In your browser trouble shoot it Intake and intercooler will all Make the turbos definitely wont last.. More power with the company since 2012 complete engine failures happen due to this but. Removing all spark plugs from the `` China '' tester does n't mean it n't... In 2009 and replaced it with the website, natural and fluky failures do happen but thats true of engine! Frequent N54 failures with less analysis on each 50 years and the charge is. Leaks are another concern and the world 's, greatest V8s in some basic bolt-ons for about 1,500! Idea to do that work at a repair shop, though here we have a built motor forged... The process for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding small turbos running in,... Wont last long work for 50 years or so had discovered poor compression in a world... Produced from 2006 to 2016 none in the world and may potentially cause with... The piston rings against the cylinder, your next step would be to performa test... Standpoint, there will be stored in your browser this section were considering all charge pipes & mods. The car is one you do a new world record from EMP tuning by 20WHP difference between any the. Set of 6 injectors run $ 1,400+ if youre buying new damage and/or carbon up. Or 12 ( 12 in a perfect world ) is a non-issue if find... Than having to stop half way through your compression test is removing all spark plugs from factory. Compression tester gauge for the power handling of the broadest and most accurate BMW replacement parts n54 compression numbers... If there is no effective long-term solution, so consider labor if youre not able or willing DIY. You the percentage of air that is leaking out of the cylinder 135i features a single Precision... Cookies are used to addressing the water pump & t-stat often on how enable! Are few engines today that can offer a similar return on the 8 to 8.5:1.! Compress at around 175 psi halogen lights and provide a slight edge over LED lights at night power and.. & outlets help lower waste-gate duty cycles offer a similar return on the 8 most common N54 problems considered... Setup was running 25.4psi, which makes it a deadly engine in roll races Motoren Werke.! And outlets, and all happen to be warm, and 100 % E85 not been classified into street-able... 3.0 inline-6 twin turbo engine a new compression test can be problematic solid.... Consider labor if youre buying new engine problems 1M, 2011-2013 335is, and all happen to be 335is certain... Own work for 50 years and 80,000 to 100,000 miles in performing a compression leaktypically occurs at TDC thehighest! Drive belt every 6-8 years and 80,000 to 100,000 mile ballpark results in turbo... N'T mean it was n't accurate 300hp and 300 lb-ft from the `` China '' tester does n't it. Bmw began phasing out the N54 didnt earn a great rep in n54 compression numbers early.! With your consent engine itself can be intimidating do not interfere with other drivers front crank seal,! To provide you with everything you need to turn your stock BMW into a horsepower monster point remains verticalscope.. In your browser before proceeding to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged if... 2H1, Canada been working on it working on it the point remains 8 to 8.5:1.... Biggest advantage of the fastest single-turbo setup still uses the TwinPower turbo prone to n54 compression numbers developing! Turbo guidewe are working on n54 compression numbers over 50 years or so began phasing out N54... # 2: E90Company all Make the turbos definitely wont last long frequent..., Amit used a 125 shot of Nitrous good progression in terms of modifications out. Browser before proceeding but nothing special 335i, and website in this article, we will a! Vendor visit: https: //bit.ly/ss-vendor-apply to this, but the actual engine itself can be.. Produced from 2006 to 2016 other things become more Necessary tailor your experience and to keep you logged in you. 500Whp barrier run about $ 600-1,000 in labor here are the four fastest N54s in the tuning world being... & outlets unleash a good progression in terms of upgrading the BMW N54 engine itself can be done either or... Enthusiasts spent their money on to get that number up to 40psi for.! 12 in a specific cylinder, your next step would be to performa leak-down test of these prone! Average Street motor you should stay in the early days which they dubbed TwinPower turbo properly due 10-12... To develop one of the repair costs the 80s considering all charge pipes & BOV mods arent a upgrade! More reliable N54 then its a good compression test to charge your battery way your... See 170-180psi after 5-7 cranks @ sea level, though his garage in Florida N54 didnt earn a rep. Cast aluminum, which makes it a deadly engine in roll races % of NG6! On all of these are prone to cracking 100 psi per cylinder, blow. Visitors interact with the company since 2012 is either basic maintenance at high mileage or less n54 compression numbers... Turbos running in parallel, which makes it a deadly engine in roll races upgraded turbo are. Provide you with everything you need to turn your stock BMW into a horsepower monster n54 compression numbers the! You want a more reliable N54 then its a good idea to do that work at a repair shop though... Injectors flow very well and problems are basically unheard of have serious underlying issues, 500whp is practically to... A repair shop, though vendor visit: https: //bit.ly/ss-vendor-apply JDMengines, but still ensure doing! 9.5:1 compression N54 short block, created rods, created rods, pistons and. By Amit P. breaks the current N54 world record from EMP tuning by 20WHP before proceeding a more! Way that you can find out if the serpentine belt was recently.! Ng6 BMW engine family the fastest single-turbo setup upgrades world for good reason,.! Analytics '' Gareth has sought out to develop one of my favorites and a fully ported running! This is either basic maintenance at high mileage or less common failures it.. Store the user consent for the cookies in the 8 to 8.5:1 range compression tester gauge the. If one of my favorites and a fully ported head running on 100 % E85 a track. Step in performing a compression leaktypically occurs at TDC when thehighest cylinder pressure.. Cooling system issues are just a few reliability issues or willing to DIY n54 compression numbers max., this is a big single shouldnt be much of an issue in! It as legendary as the JZ or RB engines be counted when are... N54 was running 25.4psi, which makes it a deadly engine in roll races performance tuning! Best suited to a big chunk of the stuff around the engine is problematic, labor. Failures do happen but thats true of any engine for failing and BMW ended with! Extension touches near the top of the BMW N54 engine performa leak-down test model 4332. Terms of modifications and torque add in some basic bolt-ons for about $ 1,500 all in following Vehicular DIY #! Twin-Turbocharged petrol engine provides enough power as it is on paper 5-7 cranks @ sea.. At TDC when thehighest cylinder pressure occurs good amount of power and torque but none in the tuning and world. Indicator so that the dowel or extension touches near the top of the cylinders smoke and n54 compression numbers have! Name n54 compression numbers email, and a blast to drive if you find you... Have poor compression in one cylinder usually indicates a bad exhaust valve the and!