[alberto335]

wich one it is better? what differents they have? sorry about the question but i dont know... someone could explain me sorry about the english

[Mr. 5]

There are more parts for the N54 and people will say that you will get more power out of an N54.
Also, my thoughts are that if the N55 was that good then why is BMW using the N54 for all of the 335is cars and the new 1M car?

[jmar0351]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

There are more parts for the N54 and people will say that you will get more power out of an N54.
Also, my thoughts are that if the N55 was that good then why is BMW using the N54 for all of the 335is cars and the new 1M car?

It is possible that the engineers at BMW had much more time with the n54, so it was easier for them to toy with it. (at least thats what I hope since I have a n55 on the way )

[cn555ic]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

There are more parts for the N54 and people will say that you will get more power out of an N54.
Also, my thoughts are that if the N55 was that good then why is BMW using the N54 for all of the 335is cars and the new 1M car?

+1 I agree totally with this!

[Brey335i]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

There are more parts for the N54 and people will say that you will get more power out of an N54.
Also, my thoughts are that if the N55 was that good then why is BMW using the N54 for all of the 335is cars and the new 1M car?

I understood it as them both being great engines with similar capabilities... but, and this is kind of a large but, it seems that the new features of the N55 are harder to tune... like the variable lift / etc/ whatever they made different. This is why BMW relies on the N54 for projects that had to be completed quickly...

However, most of the tuners also seem to say that they don't see us getting as much out of the N55 as the N54...

[hotrod182]

N55 is better for fuel economy (the main reason for BMW corporate to make the transition from N54-N55). N54 is probably easier to tune without the valvetronic and MAF system. More than likely, the 2 small turbos will have more high end flow capacity than the one dual scroll turbo.

[itsbrokeagain]

no one knows just yet. The N55 is still in its infancy. If BMW is really going to put this engine into the next M3, well they have to have something planned for it and making the same, if not more horsepower than the V8.

[bonwit904]

Had a 2011 335 coupe as a loaner for the M3 over this weekend.

Given that I have a 2009 335 at home, I drove them back to back (don't have any tune on my 335) and arrived at the following conclusions.

1. There is less lag on the N55
2. Top end power is better on the N54
3. The N55 revs quicker, is more responsive to small throttle adjustments, and the engine feels a good bit smoother all around.
4. Stock engine sound is probably a touch better on the N55 (although there is a more pronounced turbo whistle with the N55)
5. The N54 is definitely not as responsive and 100% has more turbo lag BUT when the N54 gets going in it's power-band (say around 5500 rpm) it feels to me as if it pulls just a touch harder.
6. Oh, and the fuel economy is a draw...

Overall, I see the N55 as a positive step. Beyond all this chat about twin-turbo vs. Single Twin Scroll Turbo -- I think the bigger deal is the inclusion of Valvetronic, that is why the engine feels more responsive?

Just my .02

[sleepdoc]

I saw an N55 135i at the Dragstrip on Friday night. It had a tune, DCT, lightweight wheels, and was only trapping 103mph.

According to the driver, the tunes are not all worked out yet, but still, 103? with a tune?

[D.B.S]

Originally Posted by sleepdoc

I saw an N55 135i at the Dragstrip on Friday night. It had a tune, DCT, lightweight wheels, and was only trapping 103mph.

According to the driver, the tunes are not all worked out yet, but still, 103? with a tune?

Which tune?

Must have been the Stage 1 JB3 for the N55... This is equivilant to the JB+ for the N54 (in terms of power).

Or it could be Shiv's V4 for the N55

Or it could simply be that the driver was still working out his own kinks in driving...

[RambleJ]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

Had a 2011 335 coupe as a loaner for the M3 over this weekend.

Given that I have a 2009 335 at home, I drove them back to back (don't have any tune on my 335) and arrived at the following conclusions.

1. There is less lag on the N55
2. Top end power is better on the N54
3. The N55 revs quicker, is more responsive to small throttle adjustments, and the engine feels a good bit smoother all around.
4. Stock engine sound is probably a touch better on the N55 (although there is a more pronounced turbo whistle with the N55)
5. The N54 is definitely not as responsive and 100% has more turbo lag BUT when the N54 gets going in it's power-band (say around 5500 rpm) it feels to me as if it pulls just a touch harder.
6. Oh, and the fuel economy is a draw...

Overall, I see the N55 as a positive step. Beyond all this chat about twin-turbo vs. Single Twin Scroll Turbo -- I think the bigger deal is the inclusion of Valvetronic, that is why the engine feels more responsive?

Just my .02

Response and lag are negotioable. Since your 335 is an 09' the tranny has adapted to your driving style, where as the 11' loaner has either adapted to people getting on it to see what it has, or is still in the process of adapting. This is why I always take peoples "response/lag" comparisons with a grain of salt. Im sure if you reset your tranny, you will notice a difference in response.

[vase330]

Looks like I maybe getting an N55 to add to my N54 next year. I personally don't care, but I can see the N54 being easier to tune, and overall being able to get more out of it than the N55. The "advance" of the N55 is actually being dictated by tougher fuel economy standards on the horizon both in the US and EU? I think by 2016, you will be seeing smaller and less powerful motors than you ever thought you would see in future. Look around, even Hyundai dropped the V6 in the Sonata, its now 4 cylinder only. Yes evenb though a bigger V6 would have allowed them to offer more power. Its a calculated move because the penalties and unrealized investments they'd have to make are not worth it. Remember every manufacturer is a business first, and the corporate bean counters make the rules. Engineers and Enthusiasts etc come second. If it wont maximize profits, E90Post and all the Bimmerfiles out there be damned!

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

There are more parts for the N54 and people will say that you will get more power out of an N54.
Also, my thoughts are that if the N55 was that good then why is BMW using the N54 for all of the 335is cars and the new 1M car?

It has already been established that bmw didn't have enough time with the n55 to use it on the 1m car.

[bigdaddycane]

The N54 is better, but then again I'm biased....

I think the biggest positve for the N55 will be lessons learned from the N54. You probably won't see all the fuel pump, spark plug and injector issues that the N54 has had.

Tuners will have their work cut out for them (again), but if they can get useable power out of the N55 it will most likely trump the N54 due to valvetronic. This of course is yet to be seen.

The new M3 will be interesting seeing that it will have Twin Turbos.

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycain

The N54 is better, but then again I'm biased....

I think the biggest positve for the N55 will be lessons learned from the N54. You probably won't see all the fuel pump, spark plug and injector issues that the N54 has had.

Tuners will have their work cut out for them (again), but if they can get useable power out of the N55 it will most likely trump the N54 due to valvetronic. This of course is yet to be seen.

The new M3 will be interesting seeing that it will have Twin Turbos.

based off the n55 with valvetronic

[cstavaru]

Originally Posted by shockin330i

It has already been established that bmw didn't have enough time with the n55 to use it on the 1m car.

It has been established that they had problems working out the Valvetronic...the executive staff that drove the prototype was not happy with the power delivery and they switched to N54.

[kirby135i]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycain

The N54 is better, but then again I'm biased....

I think the biggest positve for the N55 will be lessons learned from the N54. You probably won't see all the fuel pump, spark plug and injector issues that the N54 has had.

Tuners will have their work cut out for them (again), but if they can get useable power out of the N55 it will most likely trump the N54 due to valvetronic. This of course is yet to be seen.

The new M3 will be interesting seeing that it will have Twin Turbos.

it uses the same fuel pump.

[D.B.S]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycain

The N54 is better, but then again I'm biased....

There are no positives for the N55 right now that BMW learned from the N54. You probably will see all the fuel pump, spark plug and injector issues that the N54 has had.
Tuners will have their work cut out for them (again), but if they can get useable power out of the N55 it will most likely trump the N54 due to valvetronic. This of course is yet to be seen.

The new M3 will be interesting seeing that it will have Twin Turbos.

Sorry had to correct your post
On this forum and another there have been a few confirmed HPFP failures with the N55. I myself have had a few long cranks on my N55 X5, but no error codes as of yet (First long crank at 300 miles, then again at around 600last one at 1600 miles). Their is no escaping this failure, and it will continue to plague N54 and N55 users for years to come...

[shockin330i]

Originally Posted by cstavaru

It has been established that they had problems working out the Valvetronic...the executive staff that drove the prototype was not happy with the power delivery and they switched to N54.

You read what you wanted lol. The article states that since it was a new motor they didn't have a chance to learn how to work with the valvetronic therefore they used the n54.

I'm not saying the n54 sucks. Its one hell of an engine.

[bigdaddycane]

it uses the same fuel pump.

I thought the fuel pump had been re-engineered?

[D.B.S]

Originally Posted by bigdaddycain

I thought the fuel pump had been re-engineered?

Nope, they are still using the -943 and remanufactured -933 HPFP pump in the N55's... Nothing's Changed...

[Professor///M]

I have a N55 therefore it's better. For me. I agree with bonwit904. N55 feels like refined power. N54 feels like a beast. They're so close to the same, it's amusing these discussions continue.


Let's talk about how pissed I'll be when all the new gadget features are released on the later end 2011's though... that's what I care about... iPod cover flow integration, etc.