[Jeyoller]

Hey everyone!

Opening this thread to see how reliable has been the n55 engine to everyone here in the forum. I've recently moved from an n54 platform to an N55 (feel like it was a mistake) for "reliability" purposes but now that i got mine i did a little bit more research and i've been finding a lot of people with engine rod bearings going bad on them. My car currently have 75k and have had these parts replaced (under warranty)


2011 N55 E90 75k


Valve cover
Valve cover gasket
OFHG (oil filter housing gasket) - I've read this is a common thing that if done wrong could get gasket pigments into the engine and damage the rod bearings

Mods:
Stock


If you guys can post your year, millage, mods and problems you've encountered with your n55 platform that'd be awesome for research/documentation purposes.

Here the links i've found so far:

Forums
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=rod+bearing

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=883580


Youtube:

@335MRod

Thanks in advance to anyone that helps with the information gathering! BTW has anyone make it to 125k in an N55 platform???

[JETmn]

I wouldn't say there are a lot of problems with rod knock, there have been a few cases though. Still too early to try and figure out where the issue lies. One thing to remember is that we just finally got reliable tuning for these cars. The stock fuel system also runs out of juice pretty early. If you start to detonate by running lean, then you can kill a rod bearing fast. We haven't seen enough good info from the failures so far to try and figure out if there is a common issue.

And yes, there are many over 125k. I am over 100k on my car and it has had a tune since 12k.

[Jeyoller]

hmm what do you mean by lean? i've had 1 case of loosing engine power and getting codes for "mixture too lean" is this what you're referring to?

Thanks, JETmn

[JETmn]

Originally Posted by Jeyoller

hmm what do you mean by lean? i've had 1 case of loosing engine power and getting codes for "mixture too lean" is this what you're referring to?

Thanks, JETmn

Likely that was too lean, but a log is what you really need to be able to tell. Any time you start knocking you are asking for trouble in any platform. Knock puts a huge stress on the whole rotating assembly.

These cars are getting cheap enough that we are starting to get people that come from a mature market (evo, subi, etc) and they think they can just crank these up and that is not the case. Every platform goes through a learning process of what works and what doesn't, unfortunately the what doesn't usually results in broken parts. That is where we are now. We just have to figure out how to prevent it, but we need to identify the issue first and we only get that from data.

[Jeyoller]

Sounds like a plan! im getting my JB4 today and ill prob set it to Map 5 (auto tune) + turn logging ON so i can get this information!

[BoosTonian]

My buddy had a rod bearing issue in his e90 n55, 2012MY.

Bmw had him send in oil samples, asked him for receipts of oil changes, etc before replacing his engine.

My n55 on the other hand is running strong, of course now that I say that my engine will fall out tomorrow

[cahme]

IMHO, if you dig enough on any car, you'll turn up some issues. There is a car here with 160k+ mi (I think?, in Canada?) and I'm around 147k now. I've had the typical OFHG and WP changed at the same time (100k) as well as HPFP, diverter valve, expansion tank, and starter since then. I unnecessarily replaced the VC gasket since it was replaced with the VANOS bolt recall. I may be forgetting about something else ... I bought it at 113k two years ago and plan on keeping it to over 200k miles.

[Jeyoller]

Originally Posted by cahme

IMHO, if you dig enough on any car, you'll turn up some issues. There is a car here with 160k+ mi (I think?, in Canada?) and I'm around 147k now. I've had the typical OFHG and WP changed at the same time (100k) as well as HPFP, diverter valve, expansion tank, and starter since then. I unnecessarily replaced the VC gasket since it was replaced with the VANOS bolt recall. I may be forgetting about something else ... I bought it at 113k two years ago and plan on keeping it to over 200k miles.

Glad to hear some of these cars have gone pass the 150k mark! ill be making sure i keep all my data log as far as oil changes and replacement parts goes.

Thanks guys for contributing to this post!

[katatonia]

110kms

Oil filter gasket
Belt, tensioner, pulleys
Charge pipe
Spark plugs twice
Coils

Ppk tuned until 100km, mhd stage 1 till now

[andreu12qw]

Thank you for this! I have a May '11 build N55 with 111,150 miles. I average over 600 miles a week (due to work). Change oil every 5-7k miles with Liqui Moly 5w40. Will be happy to supply feedback for anyone with questions.

Power Mods:
Cobb AP with Stg 1 Sport W/FMIC tune
Cobb Chargepipe
Wagner Tuning FMIC
K&N panel Filter

I have had 3 Blackstone lab reports done and they all have come back glowing. I can upload if anyone is interested. I have experienced some weird noises since I purchased a year ago but nothing serious has come up. The car has been to two HPDE events and the car/ engine held up well!

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by andreu12qw

Thank you for this! I have a May '11 build N55 with 111,150 miles. I average over 600 miles a week (due to work). Change oil every 5-7k miles with Liqui Moly 5w40. Will be happy to supply feedback for anyone with questions.

Power Mods:
Cobb AP with Stg 1 Sport W/FMIC tune
Cobb Chargepipe
Wagner Tuning FMIC
K&N panel Filter

I have had 3 Blackstone lab reports done and they all have come back glowing. I can upload if anyone is interested. I have experienced some weird noises since I purchased a year ago but nothing serious has come up. The car has been to two HPDE events and the car/ engine held up well!

Awesome!

I'm almost at 97,000 miles. I haven't done an oil analysis yet, but I think I will next change. Post yours!

[rich_mane]

I'm also at 97,000 miles and I just ordered a blackstone lab kit to test my oil on the next change. This thread was a good reminder that I've needed to do that!

Been running stage 2/E30 tunes from MHD since about 70,000 miles. No problems with the engine other than a blown charge pipe when I first bought it, couple of oil leaks from the standard places and that's really it.

[mrjcover]

Originally Posted by rich_mane

I'm also at 97,000 miles and I just ordered a blackstone lab kit to test my oil on the next change. This thread was a good reminder that I've needed to do that!

Been running stage 2/E30 tunes from MHD since about 70,000 miles. No problems with the engine other than a blown charge pipe when I first bought it, couple of oil leaks from the standard places and that's really it.

What are the standard places???? Mines is leaking but I can't seem to figure where... Its the the Oil Filter Housing either nor Valve Cover*( Maybe )

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by mrjcover

What are the standard places???? Mines is leaking but I can't seem to figure where... Its the the Oil Filter Housing either nor Valve Cover*( Maybe )

Oil Filter Housing Gasket
Valve Cover Gasket
Oil Pan Gasket
Front Main Seal (less common)

[EB89]

Anyone else have N55 coolant leak issues?

Ive had the coolant reservoir crank and that has been replaced, but now im seeing a weekly drain where i need to top it up at least one per week, sometimes more.

I cant see any visible leak or fluid on the ground. Im hammered the car to get it hot then stopped and looked for a good 10 mins from above.

[JETmn]

Originally Posted by EB89

Anyone else have N55 coolant leak issues?

Ive had the coolant reservoir crank and that has been replaced, but now im seeing a weekly drain where i need to top it up at least one per week, sometimes more.

I cant see any visible leak or fluid on the ground. Im hammered the car to get it hot then stopped and looked for a good 10 mins from above.

Coolant reservoir, radiator (usually driver's side) and t-stat housing are the normal culprits.

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by EB89

Anyone else have N55 coolant leak issues?

Ive had the coolant reservoir crank and that has been replaced, but now im seeing a weekly drain where i need to top it up at least one per week, sometimes more.

I cant see any visible leak or fluid on the ground. Im hammered the car to get it hot then stopped and looked for a good 10 mins from above.

Losing coolant might be your oil filter housing gasket. Get it changed asap as this gasket will allow oil and water to mix.

And yes, all n5x (and all bmw's really) have issues with the plastics used on the cooling system failing. My coolant reservoir split in half at 90k miles. ABS is used because it's light and prevents heat-soak, but abs plastic is not very durable over time. It becomes brittle and plastic welds fail especially so with how hot our cars run for economy's sake (236f coolant).

[andreu12qw]

For your reading pleasure. This inclues info from the last three oil changes. Also working from my tablet i had to cut down the photo size. Hope this helps!

[andreu12qw]

One more previous review.

[MiamiM3]

What oil are you running?

[andreu12qw]

Originally Posted by MiamiM3

What oil are you running?

Liqui Moly top tech 5w40 and motul xcess 5w40

[dleccord]

This topic is really concerning. If my car still runs with tune, can I still get after market warranty? Will they cover rod bearings and engine replacements?