Reliability of the N55s

wantm135i · 10-14-2013, 10:23 PM

fastest bmw x1 35i msport to date 12.5 1/4 mile para this past friday night

ze_german · 10-17-2013, 04:07 PM

September '10 build 2011 Model. One owner lease car until I got it, now has 61k miles on it. Not a single problem yet with oil changes every 6k miles.

shepard10 · 10-23-2013, 07:42 PM

22,000 miles and no problems whats so ever

335iFFM · 10-23-2013, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wantm135i

fastest bmw x1 35i msport to date 12.5 1/4 mile para this past friday night

Photoshop doesn't seem to be your friend :-D. Nice try, though.
P.S.: Nice brakes :-D. Where did you get the picture Form?

wantm135i · 10-23-2013, 08:57 PM

ist my car just had a guy and gray to the rims to see if i would like it.

ronny214 · 10-25-2013, 10:45 AM

2011 N55. 50870 miles. Only issues I've had are a rattling that just requires a rubber stopper to dampen the noise on the driveshaft and HPFP went out.

Cobb AP tuned, intercooler, catless dp, etc.

hetzle · 10-28-2013, 01:51 PM

Just took my car in for a 2DCE code (Valvetronic failure), apparently it's a common problem for the N55. 39k miles, being replaced under warranty

bk335ilci · 10-28-2013, 03:18 PM

What build date is your car?

hetzle · 10-28-2013, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk335ilci

What build date is your car?

I believe it's March 2011

WildBee659 · 10-28-2013, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C230AMG

24K miles, original owner, 13K miles since PPK and no major problems, only minor issues: increase battery discharged when not driving it for 3 days and surging at idle every now and then.

I have the same battery issue when the car is not driven for a few days. 24,980 miles, PPK and PE around 7k miles. I pretty much drive it like I stole it. Why baby a performance car with a 4yrs/50k miles warranty or 6yrs/100k like in my case. Maintenance on BMW's dime. SO, put gas in it, replace tires as needed, and ENJOY IT!!! Its what I do.

hetzle · 10-29-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBee659

I have the same battery issue when the car is not driven for a few days. 24,980 miles, PPK and PE around 7k miles. I pretty much drive it like I stole it. Why baby a performance car with a 4yrs/50k miles warranty or 6yrs/100k like in my case. Maintenance on BMW's dime. SO, put gas in it, replace tires as needed, and ENJOY IT!!! Its what I do.

Amen, I've got the extended warranty here as well and drive the piss out of my car.

WildBee659 · 10-29-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hetzle

Amen, I've got the extended warranty here as well and drive the piss out of my car.

Its the only way to drive them. After all, they are the "ultimate driving machines".

My brother bought a 06 330i, did the european delivery and has driven the piss out of it.

He has over 100k miles and his having a few minor issues now. This is why I bought a BMW, I know how he drives.LOL

C230AMG · 10-30-2013, 11:08 AM

If you don't drive the car too often, there is one fix from BMW, the battery disconnect retrofit. I forgot the exact name of it and part #, it runs ~ $70.00 for the part which will disconnect the battery after long periods of no starts.

hetzle · 10-30-2013, 01:50 PM

Turned out my whole Vanos unit needs to be torn down/fixed. Symptoms were extremely intermittent CEL's/misfires/stalls over the better part of the year. The car would just sputter upon restarting it (fire forever without cranking), but would start fine on the second attempt. Eventually became a horrible idle/permanent limp mode. Terry says this is a fairly common issue on N55's, so be warned

Code was 2DCE

bk335ilci · 10-30-2013, 03:17 PM

Is your car tuned?

Delta0311 · 10-30-2013, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk335ilci

Is your car tuned?

If you are talking about the dude above your post then I would say yes it is.

2011 335i sedan 6MT, JB4 w/FlexFuel wires, AA 4" DP, VRSF 7" FMIC, AA turbo-back exhaust, ER CP, BMS OCC, Arkym CF trunk

hetzle · 10-30-2013, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk335ilci

Is your car tuned?

Yes, though I had been getting intermittent limp modes since I purchased the car (14k miles) so it's possible my unit was botched form the start. They gradually started becoming more common, and I *do* drive the hell out of my car

WildBee659 · 10-31-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hetzle

Turned out my whole Vanos unit needs to be torn down/fixed. Symptoms were extremely intermittent CEL's/misfires/stalls over the better part of the year. The car would just sputter upon restarting it (fire forever without cranking), but would start fine on the second attempt. Eventually became a horrible idle/permanent limp mode. Terry says this is a fairly common issue on N55's, so be warned

Code was 2DCE

Thank you for the warning. Other than the PPK and PE, I'm not planning on any other performance upgrades. This way I don't have to worry about returning the car to stock and hopefully the engine will have no issues. Only time will tell.

Andrewe92 · 10-31-2013, 03:38 PM

there's a pdf around here that really goes in depth of the n55 and how there are a handful of changes from the n54 that aren't obvious that really make for a more reliable motor.. if you ever have time read into it. I say go for it I am enjoying the n55

E92only · 11-04-2013, 09:18 PM

Almost 50k miles on my N55 and it still no issue(s)

bk335ilci · 11-05-2013, 08:52 AM

Talk to a BMW master tech about the vanos bolts that break. He said he has seen them break in cars with really low miles and also seen cars with higher miles that have yet to break. I don't understand why they just don't have a recall if it is such a issue. When the bolts break they can some times harm the engine. BMW revised the vanos gear with better bolts now.

hetzle · 11-07-2013, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bk335ilci

Talk to a BMW master tech about the vanos bolts that break. He said he has seen them break in cars with really low miles and also seen cars with higher miles that have yet to break. I don't understand why they just don't have a recall if it is such a issue. When the bolts break they can some times harm the engine. BMW revised the vanos gear with better bolts now.

Yeah they found 2 Vanos bolts in my oil pan and 1 by my exhaust cam, luckily there was no damage. Really stupid issue, only 39k miles

10-14-2013, 10:23 PM	#45
wantm135i Lieutenant 44 Rep 463 Posts Drives: x1 35i m sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: va iTrader: (0)	fastest bmw x1 35i msport to date 12.5 1/4 mile para this past friday night __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-17-2013, 04:07 PM	#46
ze_german Autobahn Addict 23 Rep 173 Posts Drives: '11 E92 N55 6MT Msport Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW E92 335i [0.00]	September '10 build 2011 Model. One owner lease car until I got it, now has 61k miles on it. Not a single problem yet with oil changes every 6k miles. __________________ defi boost gauge in custom 3d printed pod, jb4, bms cdv/cs, er cp, vrsf 7" ic, m3/poly diff/tranny mounts, st coilovers, cyba 3.8 tips
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2013, 07:42 PM	#47
shepard10 First class N55 47 Rep 291 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (1)	22,000 miles and no problems whats so ever __________________ BMW \| BURGER TUNING \| VALENTINE \| VMR \| VREDESTEIN \| BILLY BOAT \| FESLER BUILT \| FILM DYNAMICS \| Instagram: colarbear http://www.flickr.com/photos/98044295@N08/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2013, 08:57 PM	#49
wantm135i Lieutenant 44 Rep 463 Posts Drives: x1 35i m sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: va iTrader: (0)	ist my car just had a guy and gray to the rims to see if i would like it. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-25-2013, 10:45 AM	#50
ronny214 M3 Driver 57 Rep 369 Posts Drives: 2015 ///M3 Black/Black Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [0.00]	2011 N55. 50870 miles. Only issues I've had are a rattling that just requires a rubber stopper to dampen the noise on the driveshaft and HPFP went out. Cobb AP tuned, intercooler, catless dp, etc. __________________ 2015 M3 // Black Sapphire Metallic / Black Extended Merino Leather / Carbon Fiber Trim / Executive Package / M Double-Clutch Transmission w/ Drivelogic / 19" Black Light-Alloy Wheels / Adaptive M Suspension / Harman Kardon surround sound Other // Shell Rotella T6 5w40
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-28-2013, 01:51 PM	#51
hetzle First Lieutenant 32 Rep 373 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Francisco, California iTrader: (0)	Just took my car in for a 2DCE code (Valvetronic failure), apparently it's a common problem for the N55. 39k miles, being replaced under warranty __________________ 2011 335i sedan 6MT, 515whp/530wtq. Pure Turbo Stage 2, Motiv SST TwinDisk Clutch/FW, Motiv Flash, AA 4" DP, ER FMIC, AA turbo-back exhaust, Quaife LSD, ST Coilovers, BMS Intake, UUC DSSR+SSK, ER CP, BMS CDV, BMS OCC, Arkym CF trunk
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-28-2013, 03:18 PM	#52
bk335ilci Private First Class 7 Rep 174 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Alpine White Join Date: May 2013 Location: Brooklyn NY iTrader: (0)	What build date is your car?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 11:08 AM	#57
C230AMG First Lieutenant 11 Rep 316 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York iTrader: (1)	If you don't drive the car too often, there is one fix from BMW, the battery disconnect retrofit. I forgot the exact name of it and part #, it runs ~ $70.00 for the part which will disconnect the battery after long periods of no starts.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 01:50 PM	#58
hetzle First Lieutenant 32 Rep 373 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Francisco, California iTrader: (0)	Turned out my whole Vanos unit needs to be torn down/fixed. Symptoms were extremely intermittent CEL's/misfires/stalls over the better part of the year. The car would just sputter upon restarting it (fire forever without cranking), but would start fine on the second attempt. Eventually became a horrible idle/permanent limp mode. Terry says this is a fairly common issue on N55's, so be warned Code was 2DCE __________________ 2011 335i sedan 6MT, 515whp/530wtq. Pure Turbo Stage 2, Motiv SST TwinDisk Clutch/FW, Motiv Flash, AA 4" DP, ER FMIC, AA turbo-back exhaust, Quaife LSD, ST Coilovers, BMS Intake, UUC DSSR+SSK, ER CP, BMS CDV, BMS OCC, Arkym CF trunk
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 03:17 PM	#59
bk335ilci Private First Class 7 Rep 174 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Alpine White Join Date: May 2013 Location: Brooklyn NY iTrader: (0)	Is your car tuned?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-31-2013, 03:38 PM	#63
Andrewe92 enthusiast 120 Rep 997 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 lci 335xi Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 bmw 335 xdrive [10.00]	there's a pdf around here that really goes in depth of the n55 and how there are a handful of changes from the n54 that aren't obvious that really make for a more reliable motor.. if you ever have time read into it. I say go for it I am enjoying the n55
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2013, 09:18 PM	#64
E92only Second Lieutenant 83 Rep 227 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335i 6MT M-Sport Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Glendale, CA iTrader: (0)	Almost 50k miles on my N55 and it still no issue(s)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2013, 08:52 AM	#65
bk335ilci Private First Class 7 Rep 174 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Alpine White Join Date: May 2013 Location: Brooklyn NY iTrader: (0)	Talk to a BMW master tech about the vanos bolts that break. He said he has seen them break in cars with really low miles and also seen cars with higher miles that have yet to break. I don't understand why they just don't have a recall if it is such a issue. When the bolts break they can some times harm the engine. BMW revised the vanos gear with better bolts now.
	Appreciate 0 Quote